Variety: Gravitas scores three Slamdance films

  • Gravitas scores three Slamdance films

    Michael Urie comedy, more to get VOD release

    Gravitas Ventures has acquired three raucous Slamdance films: Steven Feinartz’s documentary “The Bitter Buddha,” Michael Urie’s comedy “He’s Way More Famous Than You” and Peter Baxter’s documentary “Wild In the Streets.” As part of the arrangement, each film will be released in the next three months in over 100 million VOD-equipped homes in North America.Debuting in select theatres on Feb. 15 and on VOD Feb. 19 is “Bitter Buddha,” which follows comedian Eddie Pepitone, a man often revered as a “comic’s comic” who is at war with himself and has the scars to prove it. Stand-up comedy, original animation and interviews with Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, Zach Galifianakis and others provide insight into Pepitone and his trademark style of offbeat humor.

    On April 23, director Peter Baxter and narrator Sean Bean unveil the violent sports documentary “Wild In the Streets.” Pic follows the people of Ashbourne, England as they gather in the center of their town to renew the longest running sports rivalry on earth ?Shrovetide Football, which originates from two medieval communities living opposite the river Henmore. Today, they’re known as the Up’ards and Down’ards and each team consists of hundreds if not thousands of people. The field of play is the town itself and there is no referee to enforce what few rules exist.

    “He’s Way More Famous Than You” premiered in dramatic competition at Slamdance and Gravitas Ventures plans to release the film on VOD April 8 followed by a theatrical run on May 10. Archstone Distribution will handle the remaining domestic rights and all foreign rights for the picture, which was produced by Christopher Sepulveda & Michael Anderson of Logolite Entertainment and Geoffrey Soffer with Imagination Pictures and Ur-Mee Entertainment. Deal was negotiated by Noor Ahmed of Reder & Feig LLP on behalf of the producers and Melanie Miller of Gravitas Ventures.

    Story follows a once-up-and-coming indie film starlet (Halley Feiffer) who loses her boyfriend, her agent and her career in one fell swoop and finally realizes that something has got to change ?she has to become way more famous. Armed with a stolen script and two pitchers of sangria, she enlists the help of her brother and his boyfriend to make a movie, starring herself and any A-list celebrity she can land. She will stop at nothing, even if it means hurting the only people who truly care about her.

    “We are thrilled to be working with such an array of talent coming out of Slamdance,” remarked Melanie Miller, VP of Acquisitions at Gravitas Ventures. “Nobody channels the cultural zeitgeist quite like Eddie Pepitone, no one with a competitive edge would want to be left out of hundreds of years of bloody town tradition in ‘Wild In the Streets.’ And, who doesn’t want to work & co-star in a movie with Halley Feiffer? At least that is what Halley believes & she’s got the moxie to convince you too!”

    Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com


    January 22nd, 2013 | jwilka |

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