OSCILLOSCOPE
ACQUIRES SUNDANCE OPENER HOWL FOR SEPTEMBER RELEASE
ACQUIRES SUNDANCE OPENER HOWL FOR SEPTEMBER RELEASE
James Franco, Jon
Hamm, David Strathairn, Mary-Louise Parker, and Jeff Daniels
York, NY (April 22, 2010) – Oscilloscope Laboratories announced today
that it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to 2-time Academy Award®
winning director Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s first dramatic
narrative HOWL. Starring James Franco in a career-defining performance
as Allen Ginsberg, HOWL is the story of how the young poet’s seminal
work broke down societal barriers in the face of an infamous public
obscenity trial. HOWL was the opening night film at Sundance Film
Festival 2010 and also played in competition at 2010 Berlinale. The film
was produced by Elizabeth Redleaf and Christine Kunewa Walker of Werc
Werk Works, and Epstein and Friedman. Oscilloscope will release HOWL in
theaters and VOD on September 24, 2010.
In his
famously confessional style, Ginsberg – poet, counter-culture icon, and
chronicler of the Beat Generation – recounts the road trips, love
affairs, and search for personal liberation that led to HOWL, the most
timeless work of his career. HOWL interweaves three stories: the
unfolding of the landmark 1957 obscenity trial; an imaginative animated
ride through the prophetic masterpiece; and a unique portrait of a
man who found new ways to express himself, and in doing so, changed his
own life and galvanized a generation.
HOWL features James Franco,
David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Bob Balaban, Alessandro Nivola,
Treat Williams, with Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels.
David
Fenkel, co-founder of Oscilloscope says, “At O-Scope we love working
with passionate, creative filmmakers who make entertaining and
meaningful films, and the team behind HOWL perfectly fit this profile.
They put together a great cast, lead by a performance by James Franco
that people will be talking about for years.”
Rob Epstein and
Jeffrey Friedman say: “We're very happy that HOWL has found the
perfect home and partners. Oscilloscope is the coolest company around.”
Elizabeth
Redleaf, CEO of Werc Werk Works says: “We are very fortunate that
Oscilloscope has come on board to bring their passion and dedication to
this extraordinary and inspiring movie.”
Christine
Walker, President of Werc Werk Works says: “Adam Yauch and his team have
a terrific track record of nurturing unique films like HOWL and we look
forward to working with them and bringing it to the widest audience
possible.”
About Oscilloscope
Laboratories:
Oscilloscope Laboratories is a film production
and theatrical distribution entity launched in 2008 by Adam Yauch of
the Beastie Boys. Yauch modeled the company after the indie record
labels he grew up around, choosing films and then marketing them with
the same artistic integrity with which they were made. The
company, which is an extension of Yauch’s recording studio of the same
name, has an in-house DVD distribution and production arm, and the paper
packaging is reminiscent of the heyday of LP record jackets. All of
the company's DVD packaging is (free of any plastic) printed on FSC
Certified 80% post-consumer waste paper and produced in a
carbon neutral, hydroelectric plant. Other Oscilloscope theatrical
releases include Yauch's GUNNIN' FOR THAT #1 SPOT, Irena Salina's
FLOW, Caroline Suh's FRONTRUNNERS, Kurt Kuenne's DEAR ZACHARY, Kelly
Reichardt's WENDY AND LUCY starring Michelle Williams, So Yong Kim's
TREELESS MOUNTAIN, Gabriel Medina’s offbeat comedy THE PARANOIDS, the
Academy-Award® nominated THE GARDEN from Scott Hamilton Kennedy, Anders
Østergaard’s Academy-Award® nominated BURMA VJ, Nati Baratz's
UNMISTAKEN CHILD, and Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein’s NO IMPACT MAN.
Recent releases include Oren Moverman’s Academy-Award® nominated THE
MESSENGER, starring Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster and Samantha Morton,
Henrik Ruben Genz’s Danish thriller TERRIBLY HAPPY, Bradley Rust Gray’s
THE EXPLODING GIRL starring Zoe Kazan and Michel Gondry’s personal
family documentary THE THORN IN THE HEART. Upcoming releases include
Lance Daly’s award-winning Irish film KISSES, the re-release of Jules
Dassin’s classic THE LAW.
About Werc Werk Works:
Werc Werk
Works is an independent film production and finance company founded
by Elizabeth Redleaf and Independent Spirit Award nominated producer
Christine Kunewa Walker (“American Splendor” “Factotum”) and is
dedicated to the production and financing of high caliber, story-driven
films with wide appeal. The company strives to be a consistent supplier
of commercial projects for both the studios and strong independent
distributors worldwide.
Oscilloscope Laboratories
www.oscilloscope.net
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