by Matthew CF

Ti West is a renowned filmmaker known for his work in the horror and indie film genres. Born on October 5, 1980 in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, West has made a name for himself as a multi-faceted figure in Hollywood, effortlessly juggling multiple roles within the industry. West’s unique blend of atmospheric tension and slow-burning suspense has earned him a devoted following among horror fans.

In 2024, his movie MaXXXine is looking to keep his name ascending in Hollywood off the back of his acclaimed movies X, and Pearl. With his distinctive style and wide range of creative pursuits, Ti West is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the world of independent cinema. So, here are 5 things you didn’t know about Ti West.

Ti West’s Love for Film Started at an Early Age

Ti West’s love affair with filmmaking began at a young age, and his passion only grew stronger as he pursued his dream. After studying filmmaking at the prestigious School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, West was fortunate to have Kelly Reichardt as his mentor, a renowned filmmaker known for movies like Ode, and River of Grass. Under her guidance, he learned the importance of minimalism, visionary conviction and the art of guerrilla filmmaking, which would later become hallmarks of his own distinctive style.

It was Reichardt’s influence that also led to West’s internship at Glass Eye Pix, a production company founded by the multi-talented Larry Fessenden. At Glass Eye Pix, West was able to hone his skills, writing screenplays and refining his creative voice. This experience proved to be a formative one, allowing him to develop his unique perspective and artistic vision before embarking on his own filmmaking journey…

Read full article at TVovermind.com

MaXXXine opens wide on 5 July 2024

Thanks to all who attended the screening and to Tinker Street Cinema for hosting.

BLACKOUT now streaming on your favorite platforms

FRIDAY, MAY 17 at 7:00PM
Q&A with Fessenden to Follow

At the Metrograph in New York, American Landscapes: The Cinema of Kelly Reichardt continues with two films Executive Produced by Fessenden: CERTAIN WOMEN and NIGHT MOVES.

by Mary Beth McAndrews 

Zombies are a horror staple, especially thanks to the works of one George A. Romero. We’ve seen slow zombies, fast zombies, smart zombies, zombies that eat brains, zombies that just eat flesh, we’ve seen it all. So how could you create something unique in an oversaturated landscape? Enter Jim Jarmusch, the mind behind Only Lovers Left Alive, who creates his own strange yet silly zombie-filled world in The Dead Don’t Die, which is dominating the charts on Max.

In the film, per Max, “Zombies terrorize a small town, whose sheriff happens to be Bill Murray. Hilarity and splatter ensue in this engaging horror spoof.“

The film doesn’t just feature Adam Driver and Bill Murray. Tilda Swinton, Tom Waits, Iggy Pop, Steve Buscemi, Chloe Sevigny, Selena Gomez, Austin Butler, Danny Glover, RZA, and Larry Fessenden also star in The Dead Don’t Die. Jarmusch stacks the cast with a who’s who of his favorite actors and musicians all to create his own strange version of life after the zombie apocalypse.

The Dead Don’t Die had its world premiere at the opening night of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Despite Jarmusch’s pedigree and the bevy of talent, the film was initially met with mixed critic reactions. Many criticized the script and the strange humor on display that never hits its stride. But others were tickled by the deadpan delivery and the way Jarmusch plays with genre expectations.

Read at Dread Central

Video: Alex Hurt Talks Finding His Footing on Broadway in PATRIOTS
Patriots is running on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.

Welcome to another Edition of The Roundtable on BroadwayWorld! This week, talk about an acting dynasty of a family… Alex Hurt is here! He is one of the stars of Patriots now playing at the Barrymore Theatre. His father, Academy Award-winning legend, William Hurt performed Hurly Burly at the Barrymore so things are full circle! What was Alex’s journey to Broadway? Why is this his “proper” Broadway debut? We find out!

Read / watch at Broadwayworld.com

This Boy’s Vida: Made in America has been awarded the Top Prize for Dramatic Pilot Writing (Joseph Castillo-Midyett) and the prestigious Caz Matthews Award at their recent SeriesFest world premiere.

Jury Statement: For the detailed and empathetic portrait of a boy in a world seldom depicted on television, the script that touched our hearts and made us want to see the next chapter in this boy’s life, the writing prize goes to Joseph Castillo-Midyett.

…

This Boy’s Vida: Made in America Series’s Logline: With the help of his imaginary future self, an American Latino boy who dreams of being an actor turns “Robin Hood” to feed his starving sisters, until the system catches up with him and forces him to choose between his family or dreams.

The Caz Matthews Award, which includes a one-time financial donation from the Caz Matthews Fund, honors “independent filmmakers who have important stories to tell and have the desire to both create work as well as find distribution opportunities that further promote tolerance, acceptance and understanding of all cultures and persons in the general population.”

“I want to thank SeriesFest and Caz Matthews for being true allies,” says Joseph Castillo-Midyett. “This is the story of SO many Americans TODAY.”

…

Read More at Broadwayworld

★★★★★
one of the most intelligent and interesting werewolf movies of the twenty-first century.
—Craig Ian Mann, OurCulture

“One of the 13 best horror films of the year (so far)…
a compelling and haunting drama about a man trying to atone
for his own beastly nature in a monstrous world”
—Matthew Jackson, AV Club

appealingly scrappy and thoughtful…
carves out its own moral seriousness about the monsters inside all of us…
the idiosyncratic earnestness of an experienced horrormeister…
makes for a substantial midnight snack.
—Robert Abele, The Los Angeles Times

★★★★★
not to be missed… Blackout is a fantastic film.
—Emily Von Seele, Daily Dead