Good morning: In today’s edition of The Industry, we look at:
Fincher’s obsession with details, Franco does Naples, SAG cancels Halloween and potato starch.
Let’s go!
IS NETFLIX FINCHER’S GUARDIAN ANGEL?
He’s designed a character that equals his meticulous nature.
The film centers on an assassin, played by Michael Fassbender, who is adept at looking through a lens of his own: a sniper scope.
The trailer showcases the assassin’s routine: precise stretches, heart rate monitoring, and selecting a music track for his murder—in effect, “scoring” his work.
It may be the most Fincher-esque character yet.
His films have always been influenced by obsession, a passion ignited by the challenges he faced directing his first feature, Alien 3.
His subjugation to studio whims defined the process, though it ultimately empowered him never to let it happen again.
After screening the first cut of Fight Club for Fox, Art Linson, the producer, noted the execs were:
Fincher then presented them with a 72-hour ultimatum to approve the cut. They did.
When Fincher signed a 4-year deal with Netflix in 2020, it was, in his own words:
His latest portrait, The Killer, opens with a limited theatrical release on October 27th.
In our last edition, we were critical of Netflix, but they have generously given Fincher the canvas to paint his vision.
We eagerly anticipate his next masterwork. Coming to Netflix on November 10th.
For More:
Why we’re not getting a third season of Fincher’s Mindhunter on Netflix: basically, he’s moved on to new projects, and we’re utterly disappointed.
Fincher’s next feature is Serenity’s Edge. Margot Robbie is being eyed for the lead role. The film is set on a spaceship exploring a distant planet. We’re getting major Alien vibes. Wouldn’t watching him redefine the space-thriller/horror genre be fantastic?
THE INDUSTRY NEWS
James Franco has found a new home as an international film star with his latest role as Dean Barry in the Italian drama Hey Joe.
Directed by Claudio Giovannesi (Gomorrah TV series), Franco plays a U.S. Navy sailor stationed in post-World War II Naples. Showcasing his linguistic versatility, Franco speaks both English and Italian, falling into a deep romance with a local woman named Lucia.
We had no idea he could speak Italian. But we’re also smitten.
Deadpool 3 just can’t find a date. Without Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman being able to promote the film due to SAG actors’ strike rules, the picture joins a myriad of other productions that have been pushed due to fear over negative box-office impact:
Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
- Nov ’23 → Mar ’24
Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 (Sony)
- Dec ’23 → Mar ’24
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (Warner Bros.)
- Apr ’24 → Dec ’24
Karate Kid (Sony)
- Jun ’24 → Dec ’24
Deadpool 3 (Marvel)
- May ’24 → Nov/Dec ’24
We love Deadpool and think Ryan Reynolds is a funny guy. But we welcome a breather after an onslaught of maybe not-so-incredible Marvel paint-by-numbers films (not you, Guardians 3, you were great).
Deadpool 3 could be something special; we look forward to his debut in the new universe… next year.
Did you want to see Margot Robbie in an Oppenheimer costume? Or Cillian Murphy as Barbie?
Well, this Halloween, SAG-AFTRA advises striking actors to steer clear of costumes from affected series and movies to send a clear message to the studios. The union recommends using generalized character outfits like ghosts, zombies, or spiders.
We feel SAG is overstepping a tad, but maybe seeing Heidi Klum as a worm wouldn’t be so bad. But seriously, she wore that last year.
George Clooney tries to bring the strike home with a 150M compromise. He and Tyler Perry, Scarlett Johansson, Emma Stone, and Ben Affleck presented a proposal to SAG-AFTRA to resolve the ongoing actors’ strike with the studios.
He suggested a revised residual structure, moving from the guild’s 500M target to 150M. SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee did not find the proposal convincing.
THE ACTOR SPOTLIGHT
“My body feels like the F train in New York ran over me, but emotionally I’m exhilarated.”
That’s what Annette Benning must have felt like after one year of training to play Diana Nyad, the 64-year-old who swam 110 miles from Florida to Cuba in 2013.
Benning’s performance, meant to showcase immense female power of will, ironically has become the focal point of a contentious debate over the authenticity of Nyad’s achievement.
The World Swimming Organization officially rescinded Nyad’s record in September. Without the film, perhaps her record would have stood.
As we await the movie’s release in theaters on October 20th, 2023, before streaming on Netflix on November 3rd, we are reminded that beneath the surface of significant accomplishments lie depths of untold narratives, challenging our perceptions of heroism and truth.
Emily Blunt is set to play the United States’ first female detective, Kate Warne. According to our sources, Warne was involved in stopping an early Lincoln assassination plot.
We’re salivating over seeing an Emily Blunt/Daniel Day-Lewis crossover film. Sadly, it’s wishful thinking as Day-Lewis has retired.
But we loved Blunt’s vulnerability and toughness as an FBI agent in Sicario.
We look forward to watching her in this untitled “propulsive action thriller,” directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Black Adam).
TECH SECTION
Brass tacks: two guys in LA start a new business called Death Dealer Props to fabricate customized dead bodies for film shoots on ultra-quick turnaround times.
When someone asked Vicente J. Morales to borrow a severed arm on Facebook, he was inspired to reach out to fellow prop fabricator Manuel Valladares. He noted:
They’d both worked at an LA prop shop that had gone under during COVID. They saw an opportunity to start Death Dealer Props, a shop specializing in custom dead bodies, skeletons, limbs, and organs.
Just in time for Halloween, they’ve already furnished the film CTRL ALT DEL, starring Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade), with some grizzly pieces.
We look forward to seeing their work on screen.
INDIE FILMMAKER SPOTLIGHT
Rodrigo Prieto has a resume to kill for.
He lensed Killers of the Flower Moon, after having served as the DP for indie films such as:
- Amores Perros
- Frida
- 8 Mile
- 25th Hour
- Brokeback Mountain
- Babel
- Argo
- The Wolf of Wall Street
- Silence
- The Irishman
- Barbie
In fact, he views cinema as:
Killers of the Flower Moon is set in the 1920s, so Prieto investigated color film at the turn of the century:
We couldn’t be more excited to see his work on Killers of the Flower Moon starting today in theaters nationwide. It’s a great reminder that indie DPs who focus on their craft can level up to work on larger productions.
For espionage thrillers and spycraft enthusiasts, John le Carré is synonymous with intricate storylines, high-stakes missions, deceptive characters, and morally ambiguous protagonists.
However, the documentary film The Pigeon Tunnel aims to reveal the lesser-known facets of the acclaimed literary figure.
The upcoming documentary, directed by Academy Award-winner Errol Morris, delves into the life, career, and untold anecdotes of former MI5 agent David Cornwell, known to the world as John le Carré.
The film spans 94 minutes and provides a personal and candid conversation between Morris and le Carré, incorporating rare archival footage and dramatized clips.
Inspired by le Carré’s memoir “The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life,” the documentary unveils previously undisclosed aspects of the celebrated author’s experiences.
The film premiered at Telluride and TIFF and is available for streaming on Apple TV+ today!
FILM FESTIVALS
Step over Robert Redford, Sundance is getting four brand new trustees. Tessa Thompson (Creed, Annihilation), Kimberly Steward (Producer, Manchester by the Sea), Nina Fialkow (Producer, The Great Hack), and Pete Nicks (Stephen Curry: Underrated) are joining Sundance’s Board of Trustees to usher in the next wave of rising filmmakers.
Win a meeting with Dallas Buyers Club producer Cassian Elwes. He’s re-opened his screenwriting fellowship for underrepresented writers. Winners will be flown to Sundance to chat with him in person.
The first-ever Pacific Island film festival, Cinema at Sea, kicks off November 23 – 29th in Okinawa. The closing night film is We Are Still Here, a movie composed of stories by and about First Nations people.
The movie has already been snapped up by ultra-low-budget indie film distributor Visit Films (Primer). We had the distinct pleasure of meeting these guys a few years back.
If you score a meeting with the co-founder Ryan, be sure to mention surfing.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Turkish Revenge Saga frightens TIFF. The story revolves around Sayara, a skilled fighter seeking revenge for her sister’s death. Sayara combines elements of martial arts action with a portrayal of a toxic relationship, providing a pretty intense viewing experience.
The director noted:
Seems like the Turkish version of Promising Young Woman cranked to 11.
Check out the terrifying teaser for Sayara on Variety.
Photophobia, shot in Ukraine during the Russian invasion, explores a young boy’s resilience and his family’s desperate search for refuge in a metro station during the tumultuous Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Slovak Oscar Entry and Venice Prize Winner has just garnered international sales agent Filmotor.
Best of luck to the directors Ivan Ostrochovský and Pavol Pekarcik; we can’t wait to see this film soon!
That’s it for today. Hope you enjoyed today’s edition; we’ll see you on Monday!
ON THIS DAY
1930 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes premieres on NBC radio
Today’s edition was written by: Gabriel Miller and Spencer Carter.
