Ed Pressman and John Schmidt of Content Film USA were in Galway on Friday to announce their 12 low budget feature film project partnership with Rapid Films. The agreement to produce 12 films over the next 3 years forms part of ContentFilm’s plan to establish similar partnerships in other countries to source and produce indigenous film scripts for international distribution. Rapid Film is ContentFilm’s partner in Ireland for this purpose.
ContentFilm was represented by Chairman, internationally acclaimed Producer Edward R Pressman and Company President John Schmidt, formerly Founder and Co-President of October Films 1992 – 1999. Rapid Film was represented by Producers Frank Cassidy and Gerry McColgan and Actor/Producer Patrick Bergin.
While producing the majority of these films, Rapid Film, set up by Cassidy, McColgan and Bergin, has also opened the door to other Irish production companies to avail of this agreement by acting as executive producers for selected scripts which already have production companies or producers attached.
As part of the ContentFilm/Rapid Film agreement, ContentFilm provide 50% of each film budget in the form of a sales advance once a script submitted to Rapid Film is agreed between both companies. Rapid Film source the remaining 50%.
The Rapid Film agreement brings new opportunity to produce a diverse range of film projects in Ireland for international distribution. Rapid Film provides a structure for writers and producers who submit scripts to the Company to avail of the new opportunities in digital filmmaking. The promotion of talent in Ireland is a primary objective of Rapid Film and its directors Cassidy, McColgan and Bergin are excited about the opportunities this initial 3 year agreement presents. The task now for Rapid Film is to harness the wealth of existing and emerging talent that is in the Irish film industry and produce films which can impact on the international stage.
Films will be shot mainly, but not exclusively, on digital video. Each film will be shot mainly in Ireland with Irish crew. Budget maximum is $1,000,000.
Films will represent a cross section of the most creative emerging talents and they will endeavour to push the creative envelope regarding the unique possibilities of digital filmmaking.
ContentFilm’s distribution strategy is primarily theatrical and will be complimented by a series of output/licensing agreements with traditional off-line buyers of ancillary rights such as Encore Starz, Showtime, HBO, Bravo/IFC, Blockbuster and DirecTV. In addition to US domestic buyers, ContentFilm will seek similar arrangements with a number of foreign companies.
In a recent interview with Variety Magazine, Edward Pressman said that the ContentFilm plan allows him to get back to his creative roots. He describes the making of ‘Badlands’, also a low budget film, as the most productive and fulfilling period of his life. “Making films again with the creative freedom that low budgets allow re-energizes your creative instincts”. He added that the exciting thing now is the chance to discover the next De Palma or Scorsese.
Content Film President John Schmidt said “ContentFilm is building a network of superb producers around the world who will bring films under Content’s financing and distribution umbrella. We’re excited to bring Rapid Film into this group and look forward to launching film in Ireland”.
Besides with Rapid Film Ireland, partners in other countries with whom ContentFilm has established long term relations include a number of leading producers in the U.S. and Europe. These are:
- United States: Furst Films, Sean Furst (IFP Spirit Winner 2001, ‘Everything Put Together’), the William Morris Agency and one of the leading New York digital film producers, Blow Up Pictures (‘Chuck & Buck’, ‘Series 7’, ‘Lovely and Amazing’).
- United Kingdom: UK Cinema Fund, Paul Trijbits (‘Paranoid 1, ‘Young Americans’).
- Australia: Andrew Mason (‘Matrix’, ‘Dark City’).
Edward Pressman and John Schmidt launched ContentFilm on September 7, 2001. A fully financed production and distribution company based in New York. Within six months of its formation, ContentFilm greenlit a number of high-profile projects including ‘The Cooler’ a dark comedy set in Las Vegas starring William H Macy and Alec Baldwin; ‘Party Monster’, the chilling story of New York club-kid killer Michael Alig, to star Macaulay Culkin and Seth Green; ‘The Hebrew Hammer’ a ‘Jewxploitation’ comedy starring Adam Goldberg and ‘The Guys’ a motion picture based on the acclaimed one-act play by Anne Nelson commissioned in the wake of the September 11th attacks, starring Sigourney Weaver and Anthony LaPaglia. In addition, the company acquired worldwide rights to Larry Fessenden’s acclaimed cult thriller ‘Wendigo’, working with Magnolia Pictures on the film’s domestic release.
The deal between ContentFilm and Rapid Film was negotiated by ContentFilm Head of Business Affairs Michael Roban and Rapid Film’s Directors together with Lawyer James Hickey of Matheson Ormsby Prentice. ContentFilm’s New York Head of Production Sofia Sondervan will serve as a point person for Rapid Film and the projects that result from this agreement.
In another development, the Film Boards's announced details of two initiatives, for low budget and micro budget. The Board intends to 'encourage indigenous filmmaking at lower budget levels'. The low budget initiative will work with projects that have a budget of no more than €1m. Producers must provide at least 40% and the Irish Film Board propose to provide up to 60% of the total budget. Interestingly, the Film Board has the agreement of SIPTU to recognize the deferral of cast and crew deferrals as well as facilities deals. Partnerships include Xtravision for Irish DVD/Video rights (€20,000 marketing budget per title), and with RTE and TV3.
The Board's Micro budget initiative has a central impetus to support high-risk projects with low levels of funding. The Irish Film Board will provide loans of between €25,000 and €100,000 per project - mentors will be attached when appropriate to the project, and ‘schemes rate’ for cast and crew payments may be implemented on some projects
Whether there will be any co-operation between the Film Board and Rapid/Content, with the Film Board working with Rapid to access appropriate projects and provide 50% of the budget remains to be seen.
Rapid Film is based at: 10 Ballymun Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Tel: +353 1 8570866
Fax: +353 1 8570867
Email: rapidfilm@eircom.net
