Looks like I'm by my self for now...here's some good news:
LIONS GATE ACQUIRES ``DOGMA' KEVIN SMITH FILM STARRING BEN AFFLECK,
MATT DAMON, LINDA FIORENTINO, SALMA HAYEK, JASON LEE, JASON MEWES, ALAN
Rickman and Chris Rock to be Released this Fall
TORONTO, Sep 8, 1999 /CNW-PRN via COMTEX/ -- Lions Gate Films has
acquired North American rights to ``Dogma,' the eagerly anticipated
comic fantasy from acclaimed filmmaker Kevin Smith, it was announced
today. The film, which stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino,
Salma Hayek, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, Alan Rickman, Chris Rock, and
Smith himself, will be released wide this fall.
``What else can I say except that I'm ecstatic,' said Kevin Smith,
writer and director of `Dogma'. ``The Lion's Gate guys did top-notch
work last year with `Gods and Monsters' and `Affliction', and I have
every confidence that they'll do the same if not better with `Dogma'. I
give these guys props for standing behind our flick, and giving
audiences a chance to see a pretty funny pro-faith film.'
``I'm thrilled that Lions Gate is handling the film,' said Harvey
Weinstein, who along with his brother Bob, personally acquired the film
from Miramax in April. ``I know they will do a great job, and we are
looking forward to a very successful release of the movie.'
``We are very excited to have acquired a film with so much potential to
succeed on a big scale, both artistically and commercially,' said
Lions Gate Films president Jeff Sackman. ``We have been building our
distribution company steadily with the precise goal of gaining an
opportunity like this.'
Mark Urman and Tom Ortenberg, co-presidents of Lion's Gate releasing,
began pursuing ``Dogma' after seeing the film at the Cannes Film
Festival in May. The film, which was a hit at the French festival, will
also play at the Toronto and New York Film festivals in the coming
weeks.
Urman said, ``Dogma' is the ideal addition to our ever-evolving slate,
and like all of our previous hits, it too is the work of a brilliant
writer/director with a wholly original point of view.'
``We are extremely excited by `Dogma's possibilities,' added
Ortenberg. ``Not only will it allow us to use our proven skills, it
will also enable us to do things people haven't seen us do before.'
In ``Dogma' Affleck and Damon play fallen angels whose scheme to
re-enter Paradise threatens to destroy the world. Standing in their way
is a woman having a crisis of faith (Fiorentino), who is assisted by a
winged messenger of God (Rickman), a hitherto unknown Thirteenth
Apostle (Rock), a heavenly muse (Hayek) and two unlikely prophets, Jay
(Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith).
A View Askew production, ``Dogma' was produced and co-edited (with
Smith) by his longtime partner, Scott Mosier. Laura Greenlee is
co-producer, Robert Yeoman (``Drugstore Cowboy') is director of
photography, Robert Holtzman is the production designer and Abigail
Murray is the costume designer. Special visual effects are by Station X
Studios.
LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP. (AMEX/TSE:LGF) develops, produces and
distributes a targeted range of film and television content. Via four
operating divisions-motion pictures, television, animation, and studio
facilities-the distinctive Lions Gate brand is recognized as a symbol
of quality entertainment throughout North America and around the world.
Lions Gate Films received two Academy Awards for its 1998 releases,
``Gods and Monsters' (Best Adapted Screenplay, Bill Condon) and
``Affliction' (Best Supporting Actor, James Coburn). Current and
upcoming titles on Lion Gate's release slate include Don McKellar's
award-winning apocalyptic romance, ``Last Night,' Francis Veber's
Cesar-winning French comedy sensation, ``The Dinner Game,' and
Francois Girard's ``The Red Violin' starring Samuel L. Jackson. The
company's most recent acquisitions, Peter Greenaway's ``8 1/2 Women,'
starring John Standing, Polly Walker, Amanda Plummer and Toni Collette,
and Errol Morris' ``Mr. Death,' will have their North American
premieres as Special Presentations at the 1999 Toronto International
Film Festival. Alison Maclean's, ``Jesus' Son,' starring Billy Crudup,
Samantha Morton, Holly Hunter, Dennis Hopper and Denis Leary, screened
at the 1999 Telluride Film Festival and will screen at both the Venice
International Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival. The company
recently wrapped production on Mary Harron's ``American Psycho'
starring Christian Bale and will release the film on April 7, 2000.
The foregoing information may contain forward-looking statements
relating to the future performance of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.
Forward-looking statements, specifically those concerning future
performance, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual
results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties are
detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the
appropriate securities commissions. SOURCE Lions Gate Entertainment
Corp.
(C) 1999 PR Newswire. All rights reserved. |
