News

Bloody Disgusting learned that Saban Films and Directv have acquired the North American rights to Small Town Crime, financed and developed by Avva pictures, which was written and directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms (Waffle Street, Night of the Dog, Lost on Purpose). Small Town Crime follows ex-cop Mike Kendall (John Hawkes) who discovers the body of a young woman and, in […]...

Eshom and Ian Nelms’ indie thriller Small Town Crime has completed a casting spree that has locked down the likes of Octavia Spencer and John Hawkes in key roles, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

There, they’ll be joining Anthony Anderson and Robert Forster in the Nelms’ latest feature, which has already entered production.

If the core ensemble wasn’t impressive enough, THR also goes on to reveal that Small Town Crime has attracted quite the supporting cast too, enlisting the likes of Clifton Collins Jr., Michael Vartan, Daniel Sunjata, Don Harvey, James Lafferty, Jeremy Ratchford, Caity Lotz and Dale Dickey.

John Hawkes will be serving as the narrative crux, though, stepping into the well-worn shoes of “an alcoholic ex-cop who finds the body of a young woman and, through an act of self-redemption, becomes hell-bent...

• Will Ferrell may play schlock film producer Russ Meyers in the indie film Russ and Roger Go Beyond. Written by Christopher Cluess (The Simpsons), the movie will explore the relationship between Meyers and film critic Roger Ebert as they collaborated on the 1970 satire film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. [Variety]

• Joseph Fiennes and Harry Potter’s Tom Felton will co-star in the first-century epic thriller Clavius. Kevin Reynolds (Waterworld) will direct the film told through the eyes of Fiennes’ character, an agnostic Roman Centurion forced to locate the missing body of Jesus of Nazareth. Production begins this month in Spain,...

Films screen all day at the Orpheum Theatre, Scottish Rite, Central Library, Historical Museum, Garvey Center, Hotel at Old Town and the C.A.C. Theatre at Wsu. Click here for Friday’s schedule.

Be sure to check out these films with Special Guests:

I Declare War, 1:30 pm at the Orpheum with Director James Lapeyre Lost On Purpose, 4:00 pm at the Orpheum with co-Director Josh Barrett Blackfish, 4:45 pm at the Scottish Rite with Producer Manuel Oteyza Her Aim Is True, 11:15 am at the Garvey Forum with Director Karen Whitehead Zipper: Coney Island’S Last Wild Ride, 1:30 pm at the Garvey Forum with Director Amy Nicholson A Band Called Death, 4:00 pm at the Garvey Forum with Director Mark Covino The Last White Knight, 11:30 am at the Garvey Med. with Director Paul Saltzman Barzan, 2:00 pm at the Garvey Med. with Producer Sarah Stuteville and...

Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” and John Wells’ “August: Osage County” will bookend the 2013 San Diego Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 2 to Oct. 6, the fest announced Wednesday. “Slave” opens the fest next Wednesday night, with screenwriter John Ridley and producers Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner expected in attendance. “August: Osage County” will close the fest, which features more than 100 screenings over the five days, including world premieres of “The Republic of Two,” “Lost on Purpose,” “Brahmin Bulls” and “Grave Secrets.” Also read: ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ to Screen at Rome Film Fest Before U.S....