TNT Orders 2nd Season Of "Memphis Beat"

TNT is ordering a second helping of its hit series MEMPHIS BEAT, starring Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl) and Alfre Woodard (Three Rivers).  TNT has ordered 10 episodes for the second season of the series, which also stars DJ Qualls (Hustle & Flow).  The show is slated to return in 2011.

MEMPHIS BEAT premiered June 22 and quickly established itself as one of the summer’s hottest shows.  In its first season, MEMPHIS BEAT averaged 4.7 million viewers and ranked as one of ad-supported cable’s Top 5 new series of the summer and the #1 Tuesday series among adults 25-54.  MEMPHIS BEAT was created by Liz W. Garcia (Cold Case) and Joshua Harto (The Dark Knight).  The series comes to TNT from George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures and Warner Horizon Television. 

Magnet Releasing Takes US Rights To "Ong Back 3"

The Wagner/Cuban Company's Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures announced today that it has acquired US rights to Sahamongkolfilm International's ONG BAK 3, the third and final installment in one of the most beloved martial arts series of all time. International superstar Tony Jaa once again writes, directs and stars. Picking up at the cliffhanger ending where Ong Bak 2 leaves off, Jaa ramps up the epic supernatural elements of the previous film, while still maintaining the trademark bone-crunching action that the series is known for. This time he must face his ultimate enemy: a fierce supernatural warrior named "Demon Crow," played by fellow martial arts sensation Dan Chupong (Dynamite Warrior). Eagerly anticipated by martial arts aficionados for some time, the matchup of Jaa and Chupong is explosive.

Since Tony Jaa was introduced to the US by Magnolia in 2005 in Ong Bak, he has grown to be the most beloved action import since Jackie Chan. Magnet released Ong Bak 2 in 2009, and will release ONG BAK 3 in theaters on January, 2011.

"Tony Jaa is undoubtedly the greatest martial arts star of our time," said Magnet SVP Tom Quinn. "We're thrilled to be taking our journey with Tony full circle by bringing ONG BAK 3 to his American fans."

Quinn negotiated the deal with Sahamongkolfilm International's Gilbert Lim.

"Trigger" Exclusive Toronto Trailer

TRIGGER – Exclusive Toronto Teaser Trailer available now online on Apple Trailers

The story of a friendship between two women. Victoria “Vic” Sawchyn and Kathryn “Kat” Lake are friends from childhood who started a neighborhood band together — sort of like the Go-Go's meet Patti Smith with a little Siouxsie and the Banshees thrown in. Sticking to their rock ‘n' roll dream, they continued to trade up bands until they began to have real success with a hit single and a European tour. On the tour, things went to hell and, due to egos and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, the band imploded as did the friendship. Now it's 10 years later and a local record label is having a benefit concert to honor women in rock; Vic and Kat are expected to attend. They meet for dinner and it is clear that, although there is a desire to make amends, it's unclear to each of the women who really need to apologize. As we travel with them on a trip to the concert and a late night after-party, their stories are revealed and the true nature of their friendship is discovered.

Sunday, September 12 at 5:30pm at Bell Lightbox – 1st Public Screening

Monday, September 13 at 12:30pm at Bell Lightbox – Press & Industry 1

Wednesday, September 15 at 3:30pm at Bell Lightbox – Press & Industry 2

Saturday, September 18 at 12:45pm at Scotiabank – 2nd Public Screening

*Please note that TRIGGER will be the first film to screen at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

First Clip From James Wan And Leigh Whannell's "Insidious"

Check out the first clip from James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s upcoming thriller INSIDIOUS; world premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne) have a happy family with their three young children. When tragedy strikes their young son, Josh and Renai begin to experience things that science cannot explain. James Wan and Leigh Whannell, the co-creators of Saw, join forces with the producers of Paranormal Activity to take you on a mind-bending journey into the world of the unknown. INSIDIOUS is produced by Jason Blum, Steven Schneider, and Oren Peli and executive produced by Brian Kavanaugh-Jones.

Official Poster For "Client 9: The Rise And Fall Of Eliot Spitzer"

Enjoy the official poster for CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER!. Presented by Magnolia Pictures and directed by Alex Gibney. Premieres on Magnolia On Demand October 1, 2010 and opens in theaters November 5, 2010.

This documentary feature takes an in-depth look at the rapid rise and dramatic fall of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Nicknamed "The Sheriff of Wall Street," when he was NY's Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer prosecuted crimes by America’s largest financial institutions and some of the most powerful executives in the country.  After his election as Governor, with the largest margin in the state's history, many believed Spitzer was on his way to becoming the nation's first Jewish President. Then, shockingly, Spitzer’s meteoric rise turned into a precipitous fall when the New York Times revealed that Spitzer - the paragon of rectitude - had been caught seeing prostitutes.   As his powerful enemies gloated, his supporters questioned the timing of it all: as the Sheriff fell, so did the financial markets, in a cataclysm that threatened to unravel the global economy. With unique access to the escort world and well as friends, colleagues and enemies of the ex-Governor (many of whom have come forward for the first time) the film explores the hidden contours of this tale of hubris, sex, and power.

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Magnet Releasing Takes North American Rights to Killer Pig Flick "Chawz"

The Wagner Cuban Company's Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures announced today that it has acquired North American rights to CHAWZ,  a wild and funny Korean monster movie about a giant, vicious pig terrorizing an idyllic countryside. Directed by Jeong-won Shin, CHAWZ is an affectionate tribute to classing monster movies that boasts fantastically gory special effects of the porcine beast attacking innocent tourists looking to pick organic vegetables.

"If JAWS was looking to branch out to dry land, without a doubt he'd want to be CHAWZ," said Magnet SVP Tom Quinn. "Another worthy addition to the Korean monster hall of fame and the Magnet Releasing library."

Youngjoo Suh, CEO of Finecut comments, "I'm delighted to work again with Magnolia who did a brilliant job for the distribution of THE HOST. We very much look forward to our collaboration through CHAWZ."

The North American deal was negotiated by Magnet's Quinn and Peter Van Steemberg with Youngjoo Suh and Luna Kim from Finecut.

Pay What You Want for a Sneak Preview of Freakonomics: The Movie

Magnolia Pictures and the Green Film Company announced today a unique screening program in ten cities across the country that will allow filmgoers to choose how much they want to pay for an advance look at Freakonomics: The Movie.  The highly anticipated film version of the internationally bestselling book by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt hits theaters nationwide on October 1st. These pay-what-you-want screenings offer fans a chance to see the film on Wednesday, September 22nd, over a week before its official opening, at Landmark Theatres in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Denver and Seattle.

Tickets for the screenings are now available, and are being exclusively sold online through MovieTickets.com. Filmgoers can choose how much they wish to pay—anywhere in the range of $.01 to $100, with the completion of a short questionnaire. The survey, which after completion gives access to the ticket buying page on MovieTickets.com, is accessible here:

http://www.magpictures.com/freakonomics/freaksurvey.html

The data collected anonymously at the time of purchase will be analyzed by authors Dubner and Levitt to identify what factors and circumstances prompt movie-goers to pay more or less for their screening tickets.

In the spirit of the creative, incentives-based thinking behind Freakonomics, the pay-what-you-want screenings reference a popular experiment from the original book, in which authors Levitt and Dubner analyze how people interact with a weekly, pay-what-you-want bagel delivery service.

“The pay-what-you-want screening represents a fun and engaging way to illustrate the underlying premise of Freakonomics—the application of economics and incentives-based thinking to everyday situations to uncover surprising and sometimes controversial conclusions,” muses producer Chad Troutwine. “It seems only fitting, then, to engage Freakonomics audiences in their own local economic experiment, offering a chance to see the film in advance of its theatrical release while simultaneously bringing the concept of incentives thinking to life.”

Produced by Green Film Company and distributed by Magnolia Pictures, Freakonomics examines human behavior with provocative and often hilarious case studies brought to life by a dream team of Academy Award® and Sundance Film Festival winning directors. Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing (Jesus Camp) balance levity and candor with their eye-opening profile of underachieving kids incentivized to learn with cold hard cash. Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) delivers a visually arresting look at the crumbling facade of Sumo wrestling. Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) offers up a buoyant and revealing angle on the repercussions of baby names. Finally, Eugene Jarecki (Why We Fight) investigates an unsettling theory to explain why crime rates dramatically dropped in the early 1990s. Seth Gordon (The King of Kong) weaves the segments together with brisk interludes, providing context and commentary from authors Dubner and Levitt.

Space at the pay-what-you-want screenings are limited, and tickets available on a first come, first served basis. In addition to opening theatrically nationwide on October 1st, Freakonomics is also available for rent at a premium advance price on iTunes (www.iTunes.com/freakonomics), Amazon, and On Demand through major cable providers everywhere. 

Official U.S. Trailer For "Down Terrace"

Now watch the official US trailer for DOWN TERRACE exclusively on Apple Trailers

DOWN TERRACE opens in NY and LA on October 8th, and will expand throughout October.

Father and son Bill and Karl (real life father and son Bob and Robin Hill) have just been released from jail free and clear, but all is not well at Down Terrace. Patriarchs of a small crime family, their business is plagued with infighting. Karl has had more than he can take of his old man's philosophizing and preaching, and Bill thinks Karl's dedication to the family is seriously compromised when he takes up with an estranged girlfriend who claims to be carrying his baby. To make matters worse, there’s an unidentified informant in their midst that could send them all to prison for a very long time, and none of their associates can be trusted.

For more information please visit the Official Website or become a fan on Facebook.

Aussie Musical "Bran Nue Dae" Opens September 10th

"One of the most delightful, heartfelt and crowd-pleasing musical comedies in years."- Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru

****(Four stars) “I loved this film!”- Win Kang, OC Examiner

"Hilarious...A celebration. The next homegrown cinema classic" - MTV (Australia)

The film Stars Australian Idol winner Jessica Mauboy and Pirates of the Caribbean’s Geoffrey Rush!!!

"Lake Placid 3" Green Band Trailer

The monster crocodiles return in a frightening new installment of the successful horror franchise when the unrated Lake Placid 3 debuts on DVD October 26 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Colin Ferguson (TV’s “Eureka”), Yancy Butler (Kickass), Kacey Barnfield (Resident Evil: Afterlife), and Michael Ironside (Terminator Salvation) star in the latest incarnation of the campy, blood-thirsty horror series. Fans will eat up the steamy, sexy and gory Lake Placid 3 when it arrives on DVD for $24.96 SRP, boasting unrated, unreleased scenes suitable only for adult audiences.

Get ready for a living, feeding nightmare when a swarm of gigantic crocodiles terrorizes a secluded country lake. When local wildlife is brutally mauled and campers are reduced to carcasses, biologist Nathan Bickerman (Colin Ferguson) knows a voracious predator is on the loose. So does a feisty female hunting guide (Yancy Butler) out for her next trophy. As the body count rises, the local sheriff tries to keep things quiet and keep the tourists coming. But when the horrifying, hulking truth emerges, can anyone stop these cold blooded killers before they claim their next victim? Lake Placid 3 is pulse pounding, adrenaline pumping, pure horror film fun.

Lake Placid 3 has a running time of 93 minutes and is unrated. The film contains graphic violence and full frontal nudity.