Wide Theatrical Release for Redrock/HVX Combo

bvalente

bvalente

DVXuser Sponsor
Hi Folks,

FYI - October 19th there is a wide release (I'm talking 2,500 theater) of the feature film Sarah Landon and the Paranormal Hour. You can see their site at www.sarahlandon.com

This is the embodiment of the indie filmmaker dream - it's a 35mm print from the HVX/Redrock M2 combination shot with nikon lenses showing on the Big Screen.

Here's a little tidbit from the director:

"I just wanted to say hello and send a little update on the film I directed called "Sarah Landon and the Paranormal Hour." The release date has been moved up a week and is now being released nationwide on October 19th -- just in time for Halloween.

On Monday our TV campaign will begin on a show called The Hills on MTV so if you watch the show stay tuned for the commericals! The film is a PG ghost story mystery and our target audience is 9-16 year olds. Any word of mouth right now would be awesome....so if you have listerves, groups, or anyone that you know who might want to check it out we would greatly appreciate it! Our website is www.sarahlandon.com "


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Congrats to the filmmakers and to Panasonic and Redrock! I was wondering when we'd see one of the 35mm adapters make it to the big screen - plenty of stock DVX stuff did, so it's about time.
 
Does anyone know what the budget on this film is?

Also, 2,500 theater release? I live near Ft. Lauderdale Florida and I couldn't find show times near me.
 
I am sticking out my tongue at the Red Snobs over at Cinematography mag who say that the HVX can't do wide release....nah nah nah nah nah!
 
Honestly I did not like the footage that much. I hope this was because of the compression on the internet so a high-res clip would be cool. Besides that, story really really s*cks big time. Typical high-school "oh no I'm with my boyfriend in a scary house with funny noises and stuff" story, I can't believe people digging that, but then again, that is of no importance here since we are discussing this film for its looks.
 
On the idea of why it got picked up... because someone thinks that it might be a poor man's or I guess really a poor woman's Harry Porter...

Since the trailer was tied into the Nancy Drew movie... which I think flopped... but at the time if it did well... its getting all those dad's to take their little girls to a movie...
 
Yeah, the story is miserable. Haunted house, wow never seen that one before. But the footage looks nice and power to indie filmmakers.
 
Don't know if anyone caught it but there were television ads airing on The Hills/ MTV last night for the flick.


Brian
 
Just saw the trailer on TV. Looks great!

I think it's awesome that a team of filmmakers are able to pull this off with an HVX and M2 and have a wide theatrical release. The images look great.

Congratulations!
 
Nice job and kudos to the filmmakers, Red Rock and Panasonic. The film looks decent. Unfortunately, the acting looks a bit stiilted and the script seems really average but hey, there is a ton of that out there already for tweens so what the heck. And it may be that the trailer itself was not cut very well, the film may be better, that does happen on occasion.

I hope it does well, just to prove to all of those "serious filmmakers" that it's not holding you back from making a real film if you only have an HVX level camera and don't have access to film, Genesis, F900, etc.

Dan
 
I always like rooting for films like this to succeed - but this one didn't have any promotion behind it. boxofficemojo says it was in about 1,120 theaters for one week and made about $800,000, selling an average of $20 in tickets per showing (or 3 seats).
 
indeed - the first week's box office is always about the hype, never about the word of mouth (there isn't any). As we have the opportunity to focus on the production side of things, I thought I'd pass along a review someone sent me (excerpted). Sort of a back-handed compliment but definitely a milestone in 35mm film out and distribution for a film shot with Redrock and a simple 'ol HVX :)

The tools it does have save it enough to make it tolerable as a theatrical release. The sound is close to professional quality and that makes a big difference in the feel of the movie. Joseph Conlon’s score is better than the script and the acting and keeps you from laughing when you’re not supposed to (for the most part). But the most notable aspect of production is the picture quality. The Movie was shot on digital video with a Redrock micro lense adaptor and the picture quality holds up remarkably well to the blast of the big screen. I knew that I was watching video but forgot so after a while. I don’t believe the average viewer is even aware it’s not film. To a discriminating eye, video characteristics can be picked up on, but you have to be really searching. I’m surprised this isn’t seen as more of a breakthrough and bigger news. It’s the kind of thing Francis Coppola spoke of in the late seventies. It appears we are there. The picture quality of Sarah Landon comes close enough to film that you can settle in and concentrate on the 81 minutes you will never get back.
 
Congrats again Brian, those are pretty encouraging words for any of us trying to shoot pilots, features and docs with our HVXs.

Dan
 
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