LDS Films Weekend Box Office Report 2 May 2003

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Feature Films by LDS/Mormon Filmmakers and Actors Weekend Box Office Report (U.S. Domestic Box Office Gross) Weekend of May 2, 2003 [If table lines up improperly, use mono-spaced font, i.e. Courier]

Natl  Film Title                Weekend Gross
Rank  LDS/Mormon Filmmaker/Star   Total Gross Theaters Days
---  ----------------------------- -----------  -----  ----
28   Piglet's Big Movie                269,900    463    45
     Ken Sansom (3rd-billed actor)  22,413,215

33   The Core                          161,889    589    38
     Aaron Eckhart (lead actor)     30,486,630

59   Final Destination 2                33,766     56    94
     A.J. Cook (2nd-billed actor)   46,809,423

81   Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure   14,327     10   815
     Scott Swofford (producer)      14,545,767
     Reed Smoot (cinematographer)
     Sam Cardon (composer)
     Stephen L. Johnson (editor)

85   The R.M.                           12,363     17    94
     Kurt Hale (writer/director)       930,425
     John E. Moyer (writer)
     Dave Hunter (producer)
     Cody Hale (composer)
     Ryan Little (cinematographer)
     Actors: Kirby Heyborne, Will Swenson,
        Britani Bateman, Tracy Ann Evans
        Merrill Dodge, Michael Birkeland,
        Maren Ord, Leroy Te'o, Curt Dousett
        Wally Joyner, etc.

96   The Cremaster Cycle                 8,133      1    10
     Mathew Barney                      26,054
       (writer/producer/director/actor)

111  Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man    4,444      3  1095
     Reed Smoot (cinematographer)   15,186,747

129  China: The Panda Adventure          1,677      3   647
     Reed Smoot (cinematographer)    3,041,389

131  Galapagos                           1,446      4  1284
     Reed Smoot (cinematographer)   14,007,719

150  Jack Weyland's Charly                 446      1   220
     Adam Anderegg (director)          813,685
     Jack Weyland (book author)
     Janine Gilbert (screenwriter)
     Lance Williams (producer)
     Micah Merrill (producer, film editor)
     Tip Boxell (co-producer)
     Bengt Jan Jonsson (cinematographer)
     Aaron Merrill (composer)
     Actors: Heather Beers, Jeremy Elliott,
        Adam Johnson, Jackie Winterrose Fullmer,
        Diana Dunkley, Gary Neilson, Lisa McCammon,
        Randy King, Bernie Diamond, etc.

HENDERSHOT'S NEXT FILM - Prolific Latter-day Saint feature film director Eric Hendershot has announced his next film. Although Hendershot has directed 10 feature-length films already, this will be his first theatrical release. The title is "Pinewood Derby." 4 dads cross over from friendly competition to maniacal obsession as they prepare their sons wooden cars to race in a Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. The film will be produced through Hendershot's production company Pure Entertainment. Funding is already in place and production is moving forward. "Pinewood Derby" is a registered trademark of the Boy Scouts of America. The production has written permission from BSA to use the trademark names and concept. Hendershot's previous films include: Clubhouse Detectives in: Big Trouble; Clubhouse Detectives in: Search of a Lost Princess; Clubhouse Detectives in: Scavenger Hunt; Horse Crazy; Baby Bedlam; Message in a Cell Phone; A Kid Called Danger; The Robin Hood Gang (Angels in the Attic); Clubhouse Detectives.

CHARLY DVD RELEASED TODAY - As a part of the festivities of the DVD/video release of "Charly", the following signing events are planned:

Tuesday, May 6, 2003

ZCMI Deseret Book, Downtown Salt Lake - Noon - 2pm With Heather Beers ("Charly")

Friday, May 9, 2003 

Jordan Commons, Sandy (Doug Wright Movie Show) - 10am - 11am With Heather Beers

Fort Union Media Play - Noon - 1pm With Heather Beers

Cottonwood Deseret Book - 7pm - 8pm With Heather Beers

Orem Media Play - 6pm - 8pm With Adam Anderegg (Director) and
  Aaron Merrill (Composer/Producer of Soundtrack)

Riverdale Media Play - Noon - 2pm with Bernie Diamond ("Mr. Rafferty")

HANDCART ON DVD AND VHS JUNE 3RD - From a press release: Handcart's theatrical run has ended and we are quickly getting ready for the release of the video. We have the "Handcart: Special Edition" DVD and VHS. The VHS will have the special edition cut of the film. The DVD will be a two disc set that includes the New Cut on disc one, and disc two will include an extended documentary on the making of the film, from raising money to the production, from post production to the "garage" distribution that put the film into 50 theaters nationwide. Also available will be the soundtrack by Eric Hansen on CD. All products will be distributed by Thompson Productions and available at LDS bookstores and other locations.

MORE HANDCART - Another press release: Handcart will be available on June 3. It will be available on VHS and DVD. Both will have the new cut of the film. We have counted about 75 changes to the film, thus we are calling it "The Special Edition". It is made up of changes that was too late to make for the theatrical release, plus changes made from comments made from the good honest members of the church who loved the film, but wished for more. We actually went back out and filmed a few more scenes, filmed cutaways to existing scenes, and did a few digital effects. We also recut the story structure of the film to flow better.

The DVD Special Edition is a 2 disk set, disc 1 is the film and commentary and disc 2 are special features, including an hour long documentary on the making of the film called "Pushing Handcart". It is mostly about how we pushed the film out of the door with little money to our name, as well as how I distributed the film by myself out of my garage. Kind of fun. Also includes deleted scenes and outtakes, as well as 5 evolving previews made in raising money for the film. We will also be releasing the Motion Picture Sountrack on CD. All products are available from Thompson Productions. Deseret Book is one of the first to pick it up.

HANDCART PRESALES BEGIN - LDS Video Store (http://www.ldsvideo.com) appears to be one of the first places taking pre-orders for the DVD/video release of Kels Goodman's theatrically distributed feature film "Handcart." Deseret Book has also committed to carrying the product. The official release date is June 3, 2003.

WORK AND THE STORY SITE UPDATED - According to the trailer newly posted on "The Work and the Story" website over the weekend, the movie will be in theaters in August 2003. A new slogan appears at the end of the trailer:

"The Work and the Story:
Keeping the
SIN
out of
MORMON
CINEMA"

Also, note that the a scene with Richard Moll is featured in the trailer. Moll is best known for playing "Bull," the large, bald, somewhat dim-headed bailiff on the popular sitcom "Night Court." Note that Kirby Heyborne is featured much more prominently on the website and in the trailer than before. Heyborne and Moll now both receive poster billing, which they did not before.

"THE R.M." DVD RELEASE SCHEDULED - According to the trailer on the new "Charly" DVD, "The R.M." will be released on video and DVD in September 2003.

CAST AND CREW SOUGHT FOR ECTO - Forwarding from Action! Acting: The independent feature "Ecto: Home Grown Nuclear Acceleration" is seeking key crew. Looking for DP, Gaffer, Best Boy, Production Sound, Post Production Sound, Sketch Artist, and Key Grip. Production format is Mini-DV with an end title running time of about 60 minutes. Final mix and distribution format will be DVD with 5.1 audio. If you want to work on an extremely unique local independent production that will truly flex your technical skill and ability in a creative and fun way, please send information to Director/Producer Jared Buttars at ectomail@buttars.com. You may visit the movie site at www.ectofilm.com to learn more. Internship credit may be available to you if you are currently attending school. Check with your counselor. This is a non-paid position, but one that will assist in the gaining of experience, exposure, and flat out be a blast to work on.

NEW DOLLAR THEATER IN PROVO - See http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/43717 for article.

"TIMELINE" DELAYED - Science Fiction News is reporting that "Timeline," the blockbuster time-travel film starring Latter-day Saint actor Paul Walker in the lead role, has been delayed and will probably be released in November. A summer release had been planned. The schedule has been pushed back after difficulty scheduling re-shoots with the 8 key actors, all of whom have been busily employed on other projects. Also, The Music From the Movies Web site reported that producers have dumped Jerry Goldsmith's score for Richard Donner's Timeline movie and have turned to composer Brian Tyler (Frank Herbert's Children of Dune).

KNIGHT RIDER MOVIE AND SERIES - Current news about new incarnations of two TV series created by legendary Latter-day Saint TV producer Glen A. Larson: See http://www.scifi.com/sfw/current/news.html

GALACTICA GAME DEVELOPING - Warthog is developing a prequel video game based on the Battlestar Galactica TV series for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The Battlestar Galactica game will join the DVD and home-video release of the original TV series, as well as the SCI FI Channel's upcoming miniseries, to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary. The game, to be released by Vivendi Universal Interactive, puts players in the role of Ensign Adama, 40 years before the events of the original television show. Players will get to pilot retro versions of the famous Colonial Viper attack fighters, as well as an all-new Colonial heavy bomber and the familiar Cylon Raider. Vivendi Universal Interactive is owned by Vivendi Universal, which also owns SCIFI.COM.

SHAPE OF THINGS REVIEWS - Neil LaBute's "The Shape of Things" opens this Friday in limited release, mainly L.A. and New York, before expanding elsewhere. With 10 reviews counted, the RottenTomatoes.com score is currently 70% favorable reviews, with 10 reviews counted. Here are early reviews, many from the Sundance Film Festival premiere of the movie:

Slant Magazine (1.5 stars out of 4) - http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=3D665

Steve Rhodes (3 stars out of 4) - http://us.imdb.com/Reviews/347/34749

Filmcritic.com (4.5 stars out of 5)

CriminyPete.com (4.1 out of 5) - http://www.criminypete.com/theshapeofthings.html

Hollywood Reporter - http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hollywoodreporter/reviews/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=3D1805678

Boxoffice.com (4.5 stars out of 5) - http://www.boxoffice.com/scripts/fiw.dll?GetReview?&where=ID&terms=7356

Killer Movie Reviews (4 out of 5) - http://www.killermoviereviews.com/main.php?nextlink=display&dId=246