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“A fashion photographer gets more than she bargained for when a roll of film in a used camera contains sinister imagery of high-society menace that sends her into a labyrinth of imminent danger,” reads the logline for China Test Girls, the second feature from Filmmaker 25 New Face Frankie Latina. In post-production, and with the final scenes just shot due to Latina’s own finding of an unused, refrigerated roll of Fuji film stock, the film looks to contain the ’60s/’70s exploitation vibe and anarchic underground weirdness that made his previous film, Modus Operandi, a favorite here at the magazine. Latina […]...

Danny Trejo has a sorted criminal past. Though he's become an established actor over the years, he has gone back to his prison roots, shanking a sound man and taking the director of his previous film Frankie Latina (Modus Operandi) hostage. Watch this Kickstarter hostage video, where Danny threatens to slit the filmmaker's throat if you, the fans, don't help fund their latest collaborative endeavor Snap Shot. If you're not convinced of the deadly fate awaiting Latina, then continue reading on after the video for more details.

Snap Shot - Kickstarter Video

Danny Trejo reunites with Modus Operandi director Frankie Latina for new indie thriller Snap Shot. The director goes for crowd funding through Kickstarter for Snap Shot and grabs plenty of attention with a clever video promo featuring the Mexican Badass himself, who says "I support independent film."

Through Kickstarter, more than 750,000 people have pledged over 75 million dollars to...

I’ve been a huge fan of Frankie Latina’s since I saw his awesome debut feature, the new wave-tinged exploitation flick Modus Operandi, at CineVegas in 2009. Scott shared my love of the movie and that same summer put Latina on Filmmaker‘s “25 New Faces” list. Modus Operandi came out in 2010, and since then Latina has been somewhat quiet. Until now, that is. Yesterday he launched a Kickstarter campaign for his new film, Snap Shot, with an excellent, attention-grabbing video starring Danny Trejo, who’s one of the leads in Operandi and will also appear in this upcoming project. Latina’s $75,000 target …...

Check out this very strange and cool campaign ad with grizzled action and genre star Danny Trejo and director Frankie Latina. Their new project Snap Shot, a noir-ish crime thriller, is hitting the bricks today through the Sundance Institute Artist Services program's curated page on Kickstarter, looking for funding.The proposed film follows a young, ambitious photographer who gets caught in a harrowing labyrinth of intrigue and danger when the "wrong" camera falls into his possession. The devil is truly in the details; and in this case in the 35mm photographs, as sinister wrongdoings frighteningly emerge within the images garnered from the now unfortunate find. Trejo had this to say about his directors previous award winning effort - "Modus Operandi reminded me a lot of working...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Although it was filmed way back in the year that was 2009, director Frankie Latina’s “Modus Operandi” — yet another grindhouse throwback designed to look like an old-ass motion picture — is finally getting a DVD release this February. So if you’re bummed about “My Pure Joy” not being released in time for Valentine’s Day, perhaps this title will fit the proverbial, instead. I doubt it, but you never know. I think this one looks promising, and I’m quite anxious to get my misshapen hands on a copy as soon as possible. Hint, hint, my dear wife. Hint, hint. As always, a synopsis is available for your brain to consume: Two briefcases with mysterious contents are stolen from top Presidential candidate Squire Parks, setting off a deadly series of double-crosses and betrayals. Desperate warring factions of subterranean organizations will stop at nothing to gain possession of the sensitive material.

#57. Skinny Dip - Frankie Latina What will be a sure fire hit only the fantasy film circuit, Frankie Latina's Skinny Dip a vigilante grindhouse pic stands a great chance at playing in Sundance's Park City at Midnight section due to the Danny Trejo effect (the actor was in Latina's debut film Modus Operandi), Pam Grier and the fact that co-star Sasha Grey made the switchover to film in Soderbergh's Sundance bowed The Girlfriend Experience. Gist: After being dared to go skinny dipping in stormy waters, a buttoned up Holly Haven loses her glasses, washes up at the wrong bonfire and finds herself the unwitting centerpiece of the local football team’s yearly “freshman initiation” – one that results in the unfortunate death of her boyfriend. When a female motorcycle cop shows up on the scene, Holly assumes justice will be served. Producers: Nicholas Shumaker (Another Earth) Gilbert Trejo and Jack Turner (Ioncinema.

Fans of 70’s exploitation films rejoice — Frankie Latina is bringing you “Skinny Dip”, which is set to star Pam Grier, Michael Madsen, Brigitte Nielsen, Sasha Grey and Danny Trejo. The plot will find former porn star turned (sorta) respectable movie actress Grey playing an innocent lass who “takes an innocent dare, ends up terribly victimized and then seeks shotgun-wielding revenge while wearing a stolen police uniform.” The film’s tagline? “They took her bikini. They took her virginity. She took her revenge.” And no, the irony of Grey (below) playing a “virgin” does not escape me. I’m sure that was the whole point of casting her in the first place. Latina, a self-professed fan of 70’s and 80’s shlock, last directed “Modus Operandi” in 2009, which also starred Danny Trejo. He will direct “Skinny Dip” from a script by Norman Lasca. The producers are shopping the film around in Cannes.

The 9th annual Lausanne Underground Film Festival may just run for a mere five days in Switzerland on Oct. 20-24, but it hits with the force of a 10p-ton megaton bomb over that time period, packing in so much mind-boggling underground madness it’ll make your head explode.

Every year, the fest feels like 5 or 6 festivals crammed into one. There’s the fest that pays homage to the history of experimental filmmaking, there are the retrospectives of several cult festivals, a feature film competition section, a short film competition section and more.

Three filmmakers are especially getting major retrospective love this year. First, there’s legendary Canadian experimental filmmaker Michael Snow who will be in attendance at screenings of his classic films Wavelength, <–> and La région centrale, plus several of his other short films.

Also being feted are German extreme horror filmmaker Jörg Buttgereit, who will attend screenings of his classic Nekromantik,...

Sept. 26

6:10 p.m.

Shattuck Cinemas

2230 Shattuck Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94704

Hosted by: Berkeley Video and Film Festival

Bay Area underground auteur Waylon Bacon will be debuting his latest magnum opus, Help Wanted, at the 19th annual Berkeley Video and Film Festival. The 20-minute short film will be preceded by three of Bacon’s earlier, shorter works: Poster Boy, Bob and My Worst Nightmare.

Plus: Advance buzz on Help Wanted has been so intense that a second screening has been added for Monday, Sept. 27 at 9:00 p.m. at the Revolution Cafe in San Francisco’s Mission District. If you’re in the Bay Area, make it to one screening or go to both!

Help Wanted follows a young man on an interview for what appears to be the worst job of all time. While the details of that job are being kept secret, let’s just say it involves a warehouse and dead bodies.

Exploitation films have made their way to the main stream with the popularity of movies like Planet Terror, Death Proof and the recent Machete. Moreover, filmmakers like Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino take their love affair with grind house films and create something new. Something like a Human Centipede of filmmaking. First time filmmaker, Frankie Latina delivers a new and very exciting entry into the exploitation spy genre with Modus Operandi. A high powered film that surprises with every turn creating something I have personally never seen on the screen.

Roughly Modus Operandi tells the story of Stanley Cashay (Randy Russell), a highly dangerous Black Ops C.I.A. agent who has fallen into a deep and tortuous depression when his wife is brutally murdered. But when two briefcases are stolen from a presidential candidate (Michael Sottile), Cashay takes the deadly mission to find the briefcases and to ultimately seek...

La Times is reporting that "Machete" stars Danny Trejo and Michelle Rodriguez are re-teaming for an independent thriller "Skinny Dip," which Trejo will also produce. The movie is a revenge picture involving a young woman who kills a policeman. Producing and co-directing will be Trejo's son Gilbert, who also has a small part in "Machete." The other director is a young filmmaker named Frankie Latina (Modus Operandi). Danny Trejo told the newspaper that he hopes his son makes it as a filmmaker "so he can give me a job." In reality, Danny doesn't need any help, since he is currently booking 10 to 13 gigs per year.

It seems as if Machete will not be the only film featuring the combined talents of co-stars Danny Trejo and Michelle Rodriguez. In a conversation with 24 Frames, Trejo confirmed that the two will reunite in the indie flick Skinny Dip. Produced, and potentially co-directed, by Trejo’s 22-year-old son Gilbert, the film is described as a “revenge picture involving a young woman who kills a policeman.” Also helming Skinny Dip is director Frankie Latina whose 2009 film Modus Operandi also featured the elder Trejo. While Trejo jokes in the interview that he hopes his son’s presence in the industry will garner him more work, the fine actor’s laundry list of upcoming projects (including another lead role in Vengeance) suggests he can land work all on his own.

For more from Danny Trejo and Michelle Rodriguez, check out our recent interviews with each here and here. You can catch the...

Chicago – The winners of the 17th Chicago Underground Film Festival were announced, with the short film winners awarded on June 27th, and the feature-length winners revealed on July 2nd.

The festival kicked off on June 24th, and included two world premieres, five Midwest premieres and four Chicago premieres. The Audience Award went to local favorite “Scrappers,” from documentarians Ben Kolk, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas. Winners received handmade art pieces constructed by Chicago artist Luke Breckon.

Frankie Latina’s ‘Modus Operandi’ won the Honorable Mention at the 17th Chicago Underground Film Festival

Photo credit: Frankie Latina Motion Pictures

This year’s Cuff jury included media exhibition coordinator Ross Nugent, filmmaker Spencer Parsons and the Assistant Director of Video Data Bank, Brigid Reagan. Here are the complete lists of winners:

Chicago Underground Film Festival: Feature Film Competition Winners

Best Documentary Feature: “Scrappers” by Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas

Best...

Update: Cuff has announced their feature award winners. Congrats to everyone!

Best Documentary Feature

Scrappers, dir. Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby, and Courtney Prokopas

Best Narrative Feature

Stay the Same Never Change, dir. Laurel Nakadate

Honorable Mention

Modus Operandi, dir. Frankie Latina

The 17th annual Chicago Underground Film Festival wraps up on July 1, but they’ve already announced their award winners. Although, as of right now, they’re still determining the Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature winners, but all the rest of the winners are listed below. I’ll update this post when the last two awards are announced.

And the winners are:

Made in Chicago Award

Fantasy Suite, dir. Kent Lambert

Best Animation

Everybody, dir. Steve Reinke and Jesse Mott

Best Experimental Film

L’Internationale, dir. Marianna Milhorat

Best Documentary Short

Sincerity: The Character of Ronald Reagan, dir. Chris Royalty

Best Narrative Short

Home Movie, dir. Braden King

Audience Award

Scrappers,...

Chicago – In Chicago, they are out and about on a daily basis. It is a simple pick-up truck, often bent and rusted with age. Most of the hauling areas in the back cabs of these trucks are outfitted with plywood extensions, increasing their ability to get more stuff in the back. They are the “Scrappers.”

This documentary follows two such men, as they prowl the alleys of Chicago, searching for the elusive metal that they can trade in for cash. Oscar is an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, working 14 hours a day to keep a subsistent level for his wife, child and family back home. Otis is a 73 year old African American man, proud and self-sufficient, who views scrapping as a noble and independent profession.

Co-directors Brian Ashby, Ben Kolak and Courtney Prokopas engage the two men, and use a point-of-view style to understand the often desperate circumstances of the scrap business and its practitoners.

Chicago – Day Two of the Chicago Underground Film Festival saves one of its most underground features for the appropriately late 10:30pm time slot. “Modus Operandi” is an indescribable James Bondage spoof (pun intended) that puts the “Be-Be-Be” in the bonnet of an underground B-Movie blast.

Part intentional grindhouse parody, part little-boys-playing-with-special-effects-toys, Modus Operandi has more quality kills and women willing to get nekkid than most Friday nights switching between the Chiller Network and Cinemax.

Fate Opens the Door for Stanley Cashay (Randy Russell) in ‘Modus Operandi’

Photo credit: Frankie Latina Motion Pictures

Presidential candidate Squire Parks (Michael Sottile) has two important briefcases stolen from him at a key moment in the campaign. Only one man can retrieve such sensitive and potential blackmailing material, and that is Stanley Cashay (Randy Russell). Cashay is Black Ops, but has been underground since the murder of his wife.

When Cashay does get involved,...

The Chicago Underground Film Festival is always a special occasion, but the 17th edition of this venerable institution, which runs on June 24 – July 1, is a little bit extra special. This year, Cuff will be honoring the lifelong underground film champion Jonas Mekas with their Lifetime Achievement Award!

Mekas will be in attendance at the festival at will appear at several screenings in his honor. On the 25th, there will be a screening of the new documentary Visionaries: Jonas Mekas and the (Mostly) American Avant-Garde, at which director Chuck Workman, Mekas and underground film historian Fred Camper will participate in a Q&A. Then, on the 26th, several of Mekas’ own films will screen and he’ll be presented with his award.

As for the rest of the fest, Cuff usually has some sort of unifying theme, at least as far as the features go. It’s not typically a stated theme,...

I'll give you a few details and some material from the press release right here ... but I've made an executive decision to place the brand-new poster for Frankie Latina's Modus Operandi beneath the jump -- but only because it's slightly "adult" in nature. Anyway, this flick sounds like a weird one, and of course I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Described by the Las Vegas Weekly as "a James Bond film directed by Ed Wood," the 8mm Modus Operandi is about ... heck, I'll let the press notes tell you: "Two briefcases with mysterious contents are stolen from top Presidential candidate Squire Parks, setting off a deadly series of double-crosses and betrayals. Desperate warring factions of subterranean organizations will stop at nothing to gain possession of the sensitive material. A covert branch of the CIA calls on notorious black ops agent Stanley Cashay, who has been barely existing...

The success continues to flow in for Frankie Latina and his unorthodox but beautifully creative film "Modus Operandi". Due to an extremely limited release many missed out on the opportunity to catch this gem on the big screen. But if you're around the Milwaukee area Thursday August 13th, you'll have your chance to catch this unique film at The Oriental Theatre at 7Pm.

The Details:

The Oriental Theatre

2230 n Farwell Ave

Milwaukee, Wi 53202

Chauffeur debuts @ 7pm

Check out our exclusive discussion with Mark Borchardt about the film right here!

• The current issue of Filmmaker Magazine has hit kiosks and the only reason why I'd be pointing this out is because it includes its annual "25 New Faces" feature (available here) which is basically: a sampling of the future voices, filmmakers, editors, actors and cinematographers who in the opinion of the magazine's editors represent the future of independent filmmaking and who, I admittedly know only two of the twenty-five. Sebastián Silva helmed The Maid, got rave reviews at Sundance and got picked up by Elephant Eye (read here), and Derek Cianfrance, who finally commenced filming Blue Valentine with thesps Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams on board - 2 bucks says that this preems in Park City. Here are the names of those who made the cut: docu-filmmaker Ian Olds (Fixer: The Taking of Ajmal Naqshbandi), filmmaking duo Eleanor Burke & Ron Eyal (Stranger Things), editor Nat Sanders (The Freebie), filmmaker Jessica Oreck

...

The battle for horror supremacy rages on and Fangoria continues to fight the undead army, leaving yet another pile of mangled flesh in the smoldering wreckage behind us.

Let's take a look back at the past seven days worth of Fangoria news, features, reviews, blogs and more in your Week in Review for 7/05/2009...

Fangoria Entertainment Updates:

Fangoria #285 Hits The Streets! Happy 4th Of July from Fangoria! Live webcast with Colin director coming Tuesday Win Night Train on DVD! Horror News:

First Trailer for La Horde aka The Horde Rumor: Possible street date for Trick 'R Treat? Early details on The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn A new image from Rob Zombie's Halloween II Frightfest UK lineup revealed! An Excerpt from Lloyd Kaufman's Produce Your Own Damn Movie! New Stills from The Final Destination Blood: The Last Vampire theaters announced Bad Biology and Maniac mavens get bloody in new movie Synapse...

When we started putting together a feature for Frankie Latina's Directorial Debut, Modus Operandi, we were looking at it as a feature for our Gorezone® website. You see, Modus is one of those films that can't be limited to just one genre. Sure there's the prerequisite gore to bring it into Fango territory, but there's also elements of hardcore exploitation, violence, and some good-old-fashioned nudity. Plus, it won over Fango's Matt Molgaard, so we're bringing this feature to Fangoria.

At last month's CineVegas Festival, The Hollywood Reporter said that Modus Operandi was "one of the world premieres to make a splash." With a cast that includes bad-ass Danny Trejo (MacHete) and American Movie's Mark Borchardt, why shouldn't it?

Examining Frankie Latina'S Modus Operandi - by Matt Molgaard

Two briefcases are stolen from presidential candidate Squire (Michael Sottile) Parks. The contents of said briefcases is initially unknown, but...

Of the seven features I watched in full whilst at the 2009 CineVegas Film Festival, it seemed that the bravest endeavors, those that took the greatest stabs into the unknown both formally and conceptually, were actually shot on film. If this isn’t notable enough in a space increasingly dominated by digital photography (and, all too often, an aesthetic indifference that fails to push beyond the ease of use of the tools), the fact that films like Impolex, Modus Operandi and Redland are all the first features of men either barely or not quite the age of 30 is astounding. While other young filmmakers exploit ever-changing technology to shrink production budgets and experiment with non-theatrical models of distribution, Alex Ross Perry, Frankie Latina and Asiel Norton have made uncompromising films that defy contemporary technological trends and notions of financial convenience. ...

More CineVegas coverage at Risky Biz blog

Las Vegas -- CineVegas, the annual gathering of indie film powerbrokers amid the slot machines and black-jack tables, wound down Sunday after providing several breakouts -- and more than a few surreal spectacles.

Among the world premieres to make a splash were Jeff Mizushima's "Etienne!," Frankie Latina's "Modus Operandi" and Kyle Patrick Alvarez's "Easier With Practice."

Mizushima's "Etienne!" was a conversation piece for many over the weekend. The film, a spiritual cousin to "Lars and the Real Girl," centers on a pudgy loner who has only one friend -- the titular dwarf hamster -- whom he decides to take on a bike trip up the California coast after the critter is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

"Operandi," meanwhile, was the talk of the festival among media and execs after its premiere Saturday night. Nominally a thriller involving a revenge-bent CIA agent,...

Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of interviews with directors whose films are screening at the 2009 CineVegas Film Festival. “Modus Operandi” (USA, 2009) World Premiere Director: Frankie Latina Cast: Randy Russell, Mark Borchardt, Michael Sottile, Danny Trejo, Barry Poltermann, Sarah Price, Xavier Leplae, Ayesha Mohan “Modus Operandi” is a revenge tale about a desperate CIA agent on a mission to find the man who murdered his wife. What …...