George M Kostuch

MSN Goes to the Movies: There Are Secrets and There Are Secrets WELL, THE ACTING WAS GOOD— I know a few things about film festivals. Like, no matter how big or small, moneyed or struggling, glam or grassroots, the opening night selection of any fest is probably pretty good. Beyond that, much of the program is quite possibly mediocre. A few films are really bad. One or two may be intentionally bad. But we go to festivals for the thrill of making discoveries, and every festival usually has its share of those, too. I’ve never attended The Method Fest, the 11th edition of which takes place in Agoura and Calabasas March 26-April 2, but have always been intrigued by the concept of a film festival that hangs its hat on acting. Isn’t that like a cooking show that focuses on heated food? Plus, I was a fan of critic John Anderson, who helps program The Method Fest, long before he clocked nutty sales agent Jeff “The Dude” Dowd this past Sundance. Sounds to me like Dowd had it coming. So I asked the Method Fest press office for a preview DVD of the opening night film (“Adam,” starring Rose Byrne and Hugh Dancy, which also made news at Sundance by virtue of its acquisition by Fox Searchlight), which they couldn’t provide, and one or two others they thought were good, which they could, and did. In fact, they sent me eight features and a short. I watched six of the eight and am most excited about “Anytown,” directed by David Rodriguez, who opens his movie with a creepy patience that demands your attention while underscoring how computer file-sharing has forever changed our youth culture. The main cast, playing high school seniors bubbling with hormones and war lust, is terrific all around, to the degree that you trust them even when, during key scenes, the director doesn’t cut to close-ups of their faces when most would. But Rodriguez clearly has talent, and his movie reminded me of tragic youth classics like “Taps” and “The Outsiders.” As timely as “Tokyo Sonata,” and just as American, “Anytown” is, in its own way, unforgettable. www.methodfest.com BY JEREMY WALKER Anytown USA, 93 MIN, WORLD PREMIERE Director: Dave Rodriguez Writer: Dave Rodriguez, Zak Meyers Producer: Dave Rodriguez, Matt Keith, George Kostuch Cast: Matt O'Leary, Marshall Allman, Jonathan Halyalkar, Sam Murphy 'Anytown,' starring Matt O'Leary ('Brick,' 'American Son') revolves around a middle-American teenage boy who is negatively affected by the proliferation of the media surrounding terrorism and the war in Iraq. As a result, he and his friends become involved in an altercation that escalates into a hate crime against an East Indian classmate that shocks the entire nation. FRI 7 pm, Regency 1 .. object height="344" width="425"> .. FILMOGORAPHY FOR GEORGE M. KOSTUCH:___ ___What Planet Yre You From? starring Garry Shandling, Greg Kinnear, Linda Fiorentino, John Goodman and Ben Kingsley. Columbia Pictures: "Bank Employee"___ ___Arrested Soul starring RuPaul and George M. Kostuch (2001) based on a true story. Felony Bayou Pictures: Writer, Executive Producer, Lead___ ___The Dry Spell (2002). The Brothers Dowdle Productions: Co-Producer, "Dave". Winner: Special Grand Jury Award Slamdance Film Festival for Performance___ ___The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2005). The Brothers Dowdle Productions: Assoc. Producer. Highest acquistion ever from Tribeca Film Festival. Wide Release (2500 Screens) March 2008 by MGM___ ___Living Water (2005). HK Pictures and Most Wanted Films: Producer. ___The Rim Shop (2006). HK Pictures and Most Wanted Films: Producer___ Block Party 2 (2006). HK Pictures and Most Wanted Films: Producer___ ___This is the Day (2006). HK Pictures and Most Wanted Films: Producer___ ___Terror on the Bayou (2006). HK Pictures and Most Wanted Films: Producer___ ___Club 225 (2006). HK Pictures and Most Wanted Films: Producer___ ___Hood Hostages (2006). HK Pictures and Most Wanted Films: Producer___ ___Death Toll (2006). HK Pictures and Most Wanted Films: Producer, UPM___ ___Father of Lies (2006). HK Picture and Most Wanted Films: Producer, UPM___ ___Lockjaw: Rise of the Kulev Serpent (2008). Starring DMX. K2 Pictures, Most Wanted Films and Dirty District Entertainmant: Producer, Executive Producer, UPM. NBC/UNIVERSAL'S SCI-FI CHANNEL RELEASE SUMMER 2009. BARNHOTLZ ENTERTAINMENT N. AMERICAN DVD RELEASE SUMMER 2009. ___Mutants starring Michael Ironside and Steven Bauer (2008) K2 Pictures / Dirty District Entertainment / Spotlight Pictures: PRODUCER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER.___NBC/UNIVERSAL'S SCI-FI CHANNEL RELEASE SUMMER 09, BARNHOLTZ ENTERTAINMENT DVD RELEASE N. AMERICA SUMMER 09. ___Killzone: Operation Stalker starring Steven Bauer (2008) K2 Pictures / Dirty District Entertainment / Spotlight Pictures: PRODUCER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER.___ ____Killzone: Operation Stalker the Television Series starring Steven Bauer (2008) K2 Pictures / Dirty District Entertainment / Spotlight Pictures: CREATER, PRODUCER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER.___Anytown starring Matt O'Leary, Marshall Allman, John Savage, Sam Murphy and Natasha Henstridge (2008) K2 Pictures / Dirty District Entertainment / 13 Steps Entertainment: PRODUCER. SIREN: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / PROUCER WITH Billy Zane. Sci-Fi Channel Series. ___FILMOGRAPHY FOR MATT KEITH___ ___Glory Road -Casting Assistant- Disney___ ___Dukes Of Hazzard -Casting Assistant- Warner Bros.___ ___The Reaping -Locations Assistant- Warner Bros.___ ___Deja Vu -Casting Assistant- Disney___ ___Club 225 -UPM -HK Pictures/Most Wanted Films___ ___Block Party 2 -Casting Director- HK Pictures/Most Wanted Films___ ___Campus Confidential -Casting Assistant- Disney___ ___Terror On The Bayou -Assistant To Producers- HK Pictures/Most Wanted Films___ ___This Is The Day -Production Assistant- HK Pictures/Most Wanted Films___ ___Death Toll -Co-Producer- HK Pictures/Most Wanted Films___ ___BR City : DVD & Soundtrack -Co-Producer- Wright Studios___ ___Big Momma's House 2 -Production Assistant- Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.___ ___Rim Shop -Production Assistant- HK Pictures/Most Wanted Films___ ___Trunk Music -Producer- Dirty South Productions ___Hood Hostages -Co-Producer- HK Pictures/Most Wanted Films ___Father Of Lies -Co-Producer- HK Pictures/Most Wanted Films___ ___Ghetto Stories -UPM- Wright Studios___ ___Lockjaw -Producer- K2 Pictures/Most Wanted Films___ ___Jump Out Boys -Co-Producer- Most Wanted Films___ ___Mutants -Producer- K2 Pictures/Dirty District Ent___ Anytown starring Matt O'Leary, Marshall Allman, John Savage, Sam Murphy and Natasha Henstridge (2008) PRODUCER