When “My Dead Friend Zoe” filmmaker Kyle Hausmann-Stokes set out to adapt his own experiences as an Army vet onto the big screen, he made two very big changes: gender-flipping the main characters and two women of color in the roles.
Starring Sonequa Martin-Green and Natalie Morales, “My Dead Friend Zoe” is a dark dramedy that follows Merit (Martin-Green), a U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran who is at odds with her family thanks to the presence of Zoe (Morales), her dead best friend from the Army.
Director Hausmann-Stokes co-wrote the film with Aj Bermudez inspired by Hausmann-Stokes’s time serving five years in the Army as a paratrooper, during which he received the Bronze Star in Iraq, and the death of his good friend and platoon mate. “My Dead Friend Zoe” marks Hausmann-Stokes’s feature film debut after attending USC film school.
“My Dead Friend Zoe”/Michael Moriatis
“One of the first few ideas,...
Starring Sonequa Martin-Green and Natalie Morales, “My Dead Friend Zoe” is a dark dramedy that follows Merit (Martin-Green), a U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran who is at odds with her family thanks to the presence of Zoe (Morales), her dead best friend from the Army.
Director Hausmann-Stokes co-wrote the film with Aj Bermudez inspired by Hausmann-Stokes’s time serving five years in the Army as a paratrooper, during which he received the Bronze Star in Iraq, and the death of his good friend and platoon mate. “My Dead Friend Zoe” marks Hausmann-Stokes’s feature film debut after attending USC film school.
“My Dead Friend Zoe”/Michael Moriatis
“One of the first few ideas,...
- 3/10/2024
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
In August 2001, Kyle Hausmann-Stokes had just graduated from high school and wanted to escape the confines of his native Wisconsin. So he enlisted in the Army. Then 9/11 happened, and the teen would eventually head to Iraq, where he became a paratrooper. As his three-year enlistment was about to end, he was hit with a stop-loss order, an involuntary extension of active duty.
“I’m crushed. I have these big plans to go to film school,” Hausmann-Stokes remembers. “I get a call one night that the colonel wants to see me in his office. I was known throughout the battalion as the film guy. I was always secretly making films of our airborne jumps and our jungle warfare training. The colonel said, ‘I think you might be destined for something different than going to war with us right now. I’ve made arrangements for you and only you to be exempt from this stop-loss.
“I’m crushed. I have these big plans to go to film school,” Hausmann-Stokes remembers. “I get a call one night that the colonel wants to see me in his office. I was known throughout the battalion as the film guy. I was always secretly making films of our airborne jumps and our jungle warfare training. The colonel said, ‘I think you might be destined for something different than going to war with us right now. I’ve made arrangements for you and only you to be exempt from this stop-loss.
- 3/6/2024
- by Tatiana Siegel
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Legion M has unveiled the trailer and theatrical release date for feature doc William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill, announcing that it will debut on hundreds of screens across North America on March 22, as Shatner celebrates his 93rd birthday. Presale ticket packages are now available. View the trailer above.
Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company, is distributing the film and has partnered with Falling Forward Films for theater booking and FilmFrog for theatrical marketing. Vortex Media holds Canadian rights and will release the film simultaneously.
Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe, You Can Call Me Bill is billed as an intimate exploration of Shatner’s life and career. From his unforgettable portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise to the diverse accomplishments of a 70+ year career across film, television, and the arts,...
Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company, is distributing the film and has partnered with Falling Forward Films for theater booking and FilmFrog for theatrical marketing. Vortex Media holds Canadian rights and will release the film simultaneously.
Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe, You Can Call Me Bill is billed as an intimate exploration of Shatner’s life and career. From his unforgettable portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise to the diverse accomplishments of a 70+ year career across film, television, and the arts,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
“Air,” which opened in wide theatrical release on Wednesday and stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis, Chris Tucker and Jason Bateman, details how a then-underdog Nike bet its footwear future on then-rookie Michael Jordan. The film dramatizes boardroom pitches and frantic business phone calls into a tale of how capitalism was pretzeled into supplying fortune and glory to members of a demographic rarely on the receiving end.
So it makes sense that the Skydance and Mandalay-produced film is the first from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity. One of the selling points of the venture is a promise of profit participation for both above-the-line stars and below-the-line artists. The Hollywood titans dipped into their own fees, along with money saved during production via artist-driven efficiency, to create a discretionary bonus system, insiders told TheWrap.
Artists Equity is pitching the system as an old-school solution to a new...
So it makes sense that the Skydance and Mandalay-produced film is the first from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity. One of the selling points of the venture is a promise of profit participation for both above-the-line stars and below-the-line artists. The Hollywood titans dipped into their own fees, along with money saved during production via artist-driven efficiency, to create a discretionary bonus system, insiders told TheWrap.
Artists Equity is pitching the system as an old-school solution to a new...
- 4/7/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
William Shatner Documentary Beams Up 790,000 in Equity Crowdfunding, Selling Out in Less Than a Week
William Shatner fans bought up all the shares in the actor’s forthcoming feature-length documentary “You Can Call Me Bill” in less than a week — shelling out nearly 790,000 and topping the film’s funding goal.
Legion M’s equity crowdfunding round for the Shatner documentary, exploring the life and career of the beloved 91-year-old actor, as of Monday had sold out from reservation holders before the company opened the offering to the public. Within four days, the project raised 789,655 from 1,338 investors.
Unlike with other crowdfunding models, Legion M lets investors own an equity stake in the entertainment projects they’re backing. With the Shatner doc, fans were able to invest directly in the Shatner documentary for a minimum of 100, subject to certain SEC restrictions, and they will recoup their money before any profits are shared with Shatner, Legion M or the film’s producer, Exhibit A Pictures. While the offering has already reached the cap,...
Legion M’s equity crowdfunding round for the Shatner documentary, exploring the life and career of the beloved 91-year-old actor, as of Monday had sold out from reservation holders before the company opened the offering to the public. Within four days, the project raised 789,655 from 1,338 investors.
Unlike with other crowdfunding models, Legion M lets investors own an equity stake in the entertainment projects they’re backing. With the Shatner doc, fans were able to invest directly in the Shatner documentary for a minimum of 100, subject to certain SEC restrictions, and they will recoup their money before any profits are shared with Shatner, Legion M or the film’s producer, Exhibit A Pictures. While the offering has already reached the cap,...
- 1/31/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Selling independent films is a fraught business amid the chaos of the annual film festival circuit, but last year Legion M debuted an ace in its back pocket — hundreds of app users on smartphones, weighing on what titles were most likely to succeed.
That’s how Film Scout was born, the app that lets a mix of public and industry users on the ground at events like Sundance rate titles they’ve screened. In turn, its fan-owned parent company Legion M uses the insights to invest in acquisition titles and partner with filmmakers on future projects.
“It’s been fascinating because for the last two years, we look back at the data we have from thousands of people playing and voting on the platform, the predictions are pretty accurate to wide audience taste,” said Legion M Co-CEO Paul Scanlan.
His fellow Co-CEO Jeff Annison added that “our scores during Sundance...
That’s how Film Scout was born, the app that lets a mix of public and industry users on the ground at events like Sundance rate titles they’ve screened. In turn, its fan-owned parent company Legion M uses the insights to invest in acquisition titles and partner with filmmakers on future projects.
“It’s been fascinating because for the last two years, we look back at the data we have from thousands of people playing and voting on the platform, the predictions are pretty accurate to wide audience taste,” said Legion M Co-CEO Paul Scanlan.
His fellow Co-CEO Jeff Annison added that “our scores during Sundance...
- 2/26/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Legion M, the fan-owned entertainment company, announced its seventh round of fundraising and said it plans to allocate cash to Covid-19 affected businesses as a rewards program for investors.
Partner companies that will benefit include Alamo Drafthouse, Entertainment Earth and International Screenwriters’ Association. The re-allocated funds would have typically been spent on digital advertising over six weeks.
Legion M, launched in 2016, said it has raised $10 million from more than 25,000 investors — individuals who are interested in crowdfunding entertainment. Upcoming projects it’s involved with include Archenemy starring Joe Manganiello, alien sci-fi comedy Save Yourselves! and Girl With No Name (in development). The company uses equity crowdfunding laws enabled by the 2012 federal Jumpstart Our Business Startups (Jobs) Act.
“As the nation begins to emerge from months of quarantine, it is so important for us to give back to our friends and allies in the entertainment community who need it most during these challenging times,...
Partner companies that will benefit include Alamo Drafthouse, Entertainment Earth and International Screenwriters’ Association. The re-allocated funds would have typically been spent on digital advertising over six weeks.
Legion M, launched in 2016, said it has raised $10 million from more than 25,000 investors — individuals who are interested in crowdfunding entertainment. Upcoming projects it’s involved with include Archenemy starring Joe Manganiello, alien sci-fi comedy Save Yourselves! and Girl With No Name (in development). The company uses equity crowdfunding laws enabled by the 2012 federal Jumpstart Our Business Startups (Jobs) Act.
“As the nation begins to emerge from months of quarantine, it is so important for us to give back to our friends and allies in the entertainment community who need it most during these challenging times,...
- 8/6/2020
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Following its well-received world premiere at Sundance and in honor of Alien Day, Screen Media and Legion M have acquired North American distribution rights to Alexandre O. Philippe’s documentary Memory: The Origins of Alien, with a theatrical release planned for this summer.
Press Release: New York, NY – April 26, 2019– Screen Media and Legion M announced today the acquisition of all North American rights to Alexandre O. Philippe’s documentary feature film Memory: The Origins of Alien. The film premiered to rave reviews in the Midnight Section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and screened at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, Cph: Dox, Hot Docs and many others. Screen Media and Legion M plan to release the film in theaters this summer, timed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the theatrical release of Alien. The deal comes on the heels of Screen Media’s recent acquisition of Corporate Animals, which also...
Press Release: New York, NY – April 26, 2019– Screen Media and Legion M announced today the acquisition of all North American rights to Alexandre O. Philippe’s documentary feature film Memory: The Origins of Alien. The film premiered to rave reviews in the Midnight Section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and screened at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, Cph: Dox, Hot Docs and many others. Screen Media and Legion M plan to release the film in theaters this summer, timed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the theatrical release of Alien. The deal comes on the heels of Screen Media’s recent acquisition of Corporate Animals, which also...
- 4/26/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Exclusive: Screen Media and Legion M have acquired North American rights to Alexandre O. Philippe’s documentary feature Memory: The Origins of Alien, an exploration of the classic sci-fi film Alien. The companies release the film in theaters this summer, timed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Alien‘s theatrical release.
The deal marks the first since the partnership between Legion M and Css Entertainment, which owns film distributor Screen Media, was announced last December.
It also comes on Alien Day, an annual fan celebration of the 1979 Ridley Scott film. The holiday derives its name because the film’s colonial moon, Acheron, was originally known as Lv-426. Hence, the date of Alien Day has been fixed as April 26 each year.
Memory: The Origins of Alien unearths the largely untold origin story behind Scott’s cinematic masterpiece Alien, and reveals a treasure trove of never-before-seen materials from the archives of Alien...
The deal marks the first since the partnership between Legion M and Css Entertainment, which owns film distributor Screen Media, was announced last December.
It also comes on Alien Day, an annual fan celebration of the 1979 Ridley Scott film. The holiday derives its name because the film’s colonial moon, Acheron, was originally known as Lv-426. Hence, the date of Alien Day has been fixed as April 26 each year.
Memory: The Origins of Alien unearths the largely untold origin story behind Scott’s cinematic masterpiece Alien, and reveals a treasure trove of never-before-seen materials from the archives of Alien...
- 4/26/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Anne Hathaway's Colossal will be rampaging through theaters with help from fans.
Legion M, a fan-owned media company that launched in 2016, is partnering with distributor Neon for the film, which tells the story of an unemployed woman who realizes she's connected to a giant monster that is destroying Seoul, South Korea.
"Legion M’s mission is to unite passionate fans together to bring refreshing new ideas to the screen” said Paul Scanlan, co-founder of Legion M. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Neon, a company who embodies this same refrain, to introduce this wildly imaginative film as a first...
Legion M, a fan-owned media company that launched in 2016, is partnering with distributor Neon for the film, which tells the story of an unemployed woman who realizes she's connected to a giant monster that is destroying Seoul, South Korea.
"Legion M’s mission is to unite passionate fans together to bring refreshing new ideas to the screen” said Paul Scanlan, co-founder of Legion M. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Neon, a company who embodies this same refrain, to introduce this wildly imaginative film as a first...
- 2/17/2017
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Your soul for a sweet?” If you summon him, don’t take him up on his offer. The Man in the Rabbit Mask short film, an entry in the Storyhive contest, can be viewed in today’s Horror Highlights, which also includes The Room at the Top of the Stairs, Game of Thrones pens, The Field Guide to Evil, and the Famous Monsters Party in San Jose.
The Man in the Rabbit Mask Short Film: “A poem spoken over candlelight by two girls invites an unexpected visitor, offering a gift… for a price. As the allure of the ultimatum invokes their better judgement, the illusion of safety begins to fade in the presence of the masked stranger.
Director: Ariel Hansen
Actors: Iris Truong, Holly Burr, Chris Walters, Catherine Slingsby”
To learn more and to vote for The Man in the Rabbit Mask in the Storyhive competition, visit:
http://www.storyhive.
The Man in the Rabbit Mask Short Film: “A poem spoken over candlelight by two girls invites an unexpected visitor, offering a gift… for a price. As the allure of the ultimatum invokes their better judgement, the illusion of safety begins to fade in the presence of the masked stranger.
Director: Ariel Hansen
Actors: Iris Truong, Holly Burr, Chris Walters, Catherine Slingsby”
To learn more and to vote for The Man in the Rabbit Mask in the Storyhive competition, visit:
http://www.storyhive.
- 2/8/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Banking on the smart phone boom continuing, the 12-year-old maker of software that enables users to watch live TV today filed to raise as much as $75M in an Ipo. The filing did not indicate how many shares it will offer or the price. CBS, Fox and Disney’s ABC and Espn all have content deals with MobiTV, which has seen its minutes streamed grow from 264 million in 2007 to 1.4 billion in 2010. Gefinor Ventures is the largest investor in MobiTV, along with Oak Investment partners. JPMorgan Chase & Co and Deutsche are managing the Ipo for the Emeryville, Calif. firm, which was founded by Paul Scanlan, Phillip Alvelda and Jeff Annison.
- 9/1/2011
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
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