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Best known for playing Bill S. Preston, Esq. in the Bill & Ted movies (and for being one of the vampires in The Lost Boys), Alex Winter also has many directing credits to his name, including the 1993 cult classic oddball comedy Freaked. His latest feature directorial effort is Adulthood, which is described as a darkly comic modern noir – and Variety reports that Adulthood has secured a U.S. and Canada distribution deal with Republic Pictures. A release date has not yet been announced.

Winter provided the following statement: “I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Republic Pictures for the North American sales and release of our film. They have great instincts and are dedicated to quality indie movies.“

Scripted by novelist Michael M.B. Galvin, Adulthood tells the story of sister and brother Megan and Noah, who are barely hanging on in present day America. When they discover a dead body,...

Dylan Arnold is a relative newcomer to the entertainment industry. While hes been active in the industry professionally since 2010, most of his early work is in short films that havent been made available to the general public. 2012 saw his big break with the movie Fat Kid Rules The World after attending the University of North Carolinas School of the Arts.

Its only in the last few years that Arnold has found himself in projects that could really propel his career forward. Hes been in some of the most popular Netflix movies and TV shows of the last few years. Most recently, hes also appeared in an AppleTV+ series and has more short films on the way, but these are the best projects of his career so far.

The After Movies As Noah

After We Collided (2020) 5/10

After We Collided is the sequel to the 2019 film After, continuing the tumultuous relationship between...

Matthew Lillard has signed With Verve for representation.

Lillard can currently be seen in the Universal/Blumhouse box office and streaming hit, Five Nights At Freddys’, which opened to an astounding $80 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend — even with a day-and-date release on Peacock.

His breakthrough came in Wes Craven’s horror classic, Scream along with memorable turns in Hacker’s, She’s All That and Summer Catch. In 2002 he portrayed Shaggy Rogers in the live-action adaptation of Scooby -Doo and reprised the role in the 2004 sequel, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. Other notable feature credits include Alexander Payne’s The Descendants opposite George Clooney, Trouble With The Curve with Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams and Stephen Belber’s Match opposite Carla Gugino.

In 2012, he directed his first feature film, Fat Kid Rules The World, a coming-of-age drama that received critical acclaim for its authentic portrayal of adolescence...

Thirteen Ghosts, the 2001 supernatural horror from director Steve Beck, has a star-studded cast of household names taking top billing, but many didn't achieve this status until after the film's release. After inheriting a mansion from his uncle, widow Cyrus Kriticos (F. Murray Abraham) moves into it with his children and their nanny, only to find the house is haunted by ghosts. Thirteen Ghosts (2001) was a remake of the original of the same name, which was originally released in 1960.

At the time of release, the film got mostly negative critiques and was not well received by audiences, but over time became an unappreciated classic to many. In August 2023, it was announced that a television series adaptation inspired by the films was in development, but there has been no confirmation whether it will involve the 2001 film cast or not. However, it's clear from their established careers, they may not need to return to the Thirteen Ghosts universe.

Exclusive: Zero Gravity Management on Wednesday announced their expansion with the hiring of Karli Doumanis and Kendall Kramer as Talent Managers, and Houston Bradley and Ryan Lewis as Producers.

Prior to joining Zero Gravity, Doumanis spent three years at Brave Artists Management. Some of her notable talent include Tanzyn Crawford (Tiny Beautiful Things), Tyroe Muhafidin (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Sean Keenan (The Power of the Dog), Shannon Berry (The Wilds), Cooper van Grootel & Marianly Tejada (One Of Us Is Lying) and Asher Yasbincek (Heartbreak High). Clients with shows soon to launch include Sam Song Li (The Brothers Sun), Regan Aliyah and Annie Shapero.

Kramer brings with her clients including Erica Dasher (Jane by Design), Paulina Nguyen (Power Book IV: Force) and Travis Labranch (The Oval), having begun her career at A3 Artists Agency.

Both Bradley and...

Evan Rachel Wood, Josh Gad and Anthony Carrigan will star in “The Adults,” a new crime drama from Alex Winter.

“The Adults” follows a sister and brother, Megan and Nathan (Wood and Gad), whose lives are completely upended when they discover a dead body, long buried in their parent’s basement. That revelation sends them on an odyssey of crime and murder.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Evan, Josh and Anthony on this darkly comic crime drama, which takes a sly look at the challenges we all face today, trying to survive in the modern world,” Winter said.

CAA Media Finance, which is arranging financing for the film, will represent the domestic sale, while Rocket Science will launch international sales at the upcoming European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.

The film is being produced by Winter, Scott Kroopf of Many Rivers Productions, and Russell Hollander. It is executive produced by Connie Tavel.

Actor-turned-filmmaker Alex Winter (Showbiz Kids) has set the murder mystery The Adults, starring Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld), Josh Gad (Avenue 5) and Anthony Carrigan (Barry), as his next project behind the camera, with plans to also act in the pic.

The film penned by novelist Michael M.B. Galvin — who has previously adapted his own works Fat Kid Rules the World and Freak Talks About Sex for the big screen — follows siblings Megan (Wood) and Nathan (Gad), who are barely hanging on in present-day America, like all of us. Their lives are completely upended when they discover a dead body, long buried in their parent’s basement, sending them down a rabbit hole of crime and murder.

Winter will produce alongside Scott Kroopf of Many Rivers Productions and Russell Hollander, with Connie Tavel serving as exec producer.

As an obligatory part of the constant studio cycle of reviving things that people loved in the past, there’s going to be a new “Scooby-Doo” animated movie. While there are still plenty of iconic roles from the usual Mystery Machine gang left to sort out, it appears that this latest incarnation will feature two big names at the top: Will Forte is set to be the voice of Shaggy, Scooby’s trusted human companion, while Gina Rodriguez will add Velma to her ever-growing animation résumé.

While it’s far from a requirement that live-action versions of beloved characters make their way to animated adaptations, there’s at least one person from the pair of early-aughts live-action “Scooby-Doo” flicks that was a little bummed about not getting a chance to come back. When news broke yesterday about the new group of casting, Matthew Lillard tweeted out his disappointment at not...

Lucy Liu and Thomas Sadoski will star in the independent romantic drama “The Last Weekend in May” from director Matthew Lillard.

Producers Gabriela Revilla Lugo of Revek Entertainment and Andrew Carlberg unveiled the project on Thursday and said filming will start in early 2019. “The Last Weekend in May” marks Lillard’s follow-up to “Fat Kid Rules the World,” which won the SXSW audience award in 2012.

Ellen Wander of Film Bridge International will handle financing and worldwide rights to the film.

The script is written by Jeffrey W. Ruggles and tells the story of a Paul and Leah, who are caught in the throes of an extramarital affair. Knowing that the situation is untenable, they decide to rent a house and turn their backs on “real life” one last time before calling it quits. As the weekend progresses, Paul reveals he has left his wife and wants to convince Leah to do the same.

Exclusive: Lucy Liu and Thomas Sadoski (Life in Pieces) have signed on to lead the cast for director Matthew Lillard’s upcoming romance/drama, The Last Weekend in May. The project mark’s the helmer’s feature directorial follow-up to Fat Kid Rules the World which took home the SXSW Audience Award in 2012.

Producing the feature film is Gabriela Revilla Lugo (The Tribes of Palos Verdes) of Revek Entertainment and Andrew Carlberg (Sun Dogs). Ellen Wander of Film Bridge International will handle financing and worldwide rights to the film.

The film will start production early next year in Liu’s hiatus from the popular CBS TV series Elementary.

Scripted by Jeffrey W. Ruggles, The Last Weekend in May tells the story of Paul and Leah, two people caught in the throes of an extramarital affair. Knowing that the situation is untenable, they decide to rent a house and turn their...

The MusiCares Foundation, an affiliated charity of the Recording Academy with an outstanding four-star rating from Charity Navigator, announced today that the 2018 MusiCares Concert For Recovery will honor Grammy winner Mike McCready of Pearl Jam on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at The Showbox in Seattle (1426 1st Ave.).

McCready will receive the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award in recognition of his significant dedication to and support of MusiCares and his commitment to helping others in the addiction recovery process. The Concert For Recovery will feature performances by Latin Grammy winner Barrett Martin, Grammy winner Slash, multi-grammy winner Chad Smith; and artists Duff McKagan, Mike Ness, and Heart's Nancy Wilson. The evening will close with a special performance by McCready and friends.

The event, presented by Amazon Music, will benefit MusiCares, an affiliated charity of the Recording Academy with an outstanding four-star rating from Charity Navigator. MusiCares ensures music people have a place to turn in times of financial,...

He helped create the modern day nightmares brought forth by Bughuul in the Sinister films, and this November, he'll take us into the surreal world of The Sorcerer Supreme. But before Doctor Strange comes out this November, fans of screenwriter and author C. Robert Cargill can immerse themselves in his latest creation, As They Continue to Fall. Directed by Nikhil Bhagat from a screenplay by Cargill, the atmospheric, intriguing, and altogether haunting short film can now be watched in its entirety right here on Daily Dead.

Starring John Henry Whitaker as Walker, As They Continue to Fall pulls back the curtain on a world where not all angels watch over us with good intentions. Displaying a gritty, Blade-esque look, the short film introduces a compelling story that could be the start of something special. You can watch the short film below.

Press Release: Los Angeles, October 19, 2016 – Director Nikhil Bhagat has...

Read More: 'White God' Director On Unleashing 250 Dogs In Budapest And Why More Films Should Take Risks XLrator Media, the distribution company behind "Jimi: All Is By My Side" and "The Machine," has acquired the North American rights to "Time Lapse." Starring Matt O'Leary ("Fat Kid Rules The World"), George Finn ("Lol") and Danielle Panabaker ("The Flash" plus many Disney movies you've watched at sleepovers), the film is a time travel thriller that promises to blend action and twists with humor and smarts.  The official synopsis reads: "'Time Lapse' explores the possibilities of time travel through a machine that is capable of taking pictures 24 hours into the future. When three friends discover this mysterious machine in their neighbor's apartment, they encounter a number of pressing questions, not least of which is the whereabouts of their neighbor. Realizing the potential impact of the machine, Finn...

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like Quiet Earth on Facebook for breaking news and contests on-the-move, discussion with our staff and readers, and more!]

XLrator Media have acquired North American distribution rights to the time travel thriller Time Lapse starring Danielle Panabaker (The Flash), Matt O’Leary (Fat Kid Rules the World) and George Finn (Lol). It will release the film in theaters and on VOD on May 15, 2015 on its “MacAbre” genre label which you'll remember is getting digital distribution on Hulu.

Time Lapse is the feature directorial debut of Bradley Kin [Continued ...]...

EW has the exclusive first look at Rose McGowan’s debut in season 3 of Crackle’s series Chosen.

McGowan joins returning stars Chad Michael Murray, Sarah Roemer and Brandon Routh in the action series that follows Jacob Orr (Murray) and the Mitchell family in a mysterious game that has forced them all to kill. McGowan will play Josie, an experienced hunter living in the suburbs with her children trying to live an impossible life protecting them from the surrounding violence, who crosses paths with Jacob. Watch the trailer below:

All six episodes of the show will be available April 15. Chosen...

Exclusive: Under the first-look deal, Chosen creators/Eps Ben Ketai (Beneath) and Ryan Lewis (Fat Kid Rules The World) will develop additional scripted projects for the multi-platform entertainment network. Sony-owned Crackle announced in December it had greenlit Chosen for a third season. Star Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill) is returning and Rose McGowan (Charmed) has boarded the project as new character Josie Acosta. Sarah Roemer, Brandon Routh, and Caitlin Carmichael also will be back for the six-episode third season which will premiere at once later this year on the digital network. Milo Ventimiglia produces alongside Ketai and Lewis. The Crackle agreement is with Ketai and Lewis’ production company, Apa-repped Dissident Pictures. Apa brokered the deal along with Lewis’ attorney, Paul Miloknay.

The multimedia platform Crackle has announced that they've greenlit a third season of their original drama "Chosen" ahead of the premiere of its second season, which will go live in its six-episode entirety tomorrow, December 12. Production on the third season will begin on December 17 in Los Angeles. Executive producer and star Milo Ventimiglia will return, alongside series creators Ben Ketai ("Beneath," "30 Days of Night: Dark Days") and Ryan Lewis ("High School," "Fat Kid Rules the World") of Dissident Pictures. "Chosen" is written by Evan Charnov ("Lost Boys: The Thirst") and Ketai. Read More: How to Make An Action Series On An Indie Film Budget "Chosen" season two stars Ventimiglia ("Heroes"), Chad Michael Murray ("One Tree Hill"), Nicky Whelan ("Hall Pass"), Brandon Routh ("Superman Returns"), Sarah Roemer ("Disturbia") and Brett Davern ("Awkward"). The psychological thriller centers on Ian Mitchell (Ventimiglia) and his family, and as proven for Crackle that fans view.

The Sony-owned streaming video site Crackle may not have the profile of Netflix or Hulu, but its been investing in original series of its own as well, among them the Jerry Seinfeld-hosted "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" and the contract killer series "Cleaners," starring Emmanuelle Chriqui and Gina Gershon. But it's original thriller "Chosen" that's been Crackle's most-watched original series, a thriller created by Ben Ketai (director of "30 Days of Night" sequel "Dark Days") and Ryan Lewis (producer of "Fat Kid Rules the World") that stars Milo Ventimiglia as Ian Mitchell, a defense lawyer who finds a box with a gun and a photo of a stranger inside it, and gets pulled into a secretly, deadly game. The six-episode first season premiered in full on January 17, each episode a TV-ready 22 or so minutes long. Crackle is bringing back "Chosen" for a second season of six half-hour episodes on December 12th,...

While technology has allowed the military to operate with greater efficiency, intelligence and focus, the flipside is that it has removed a layer of responsibility from those pulling the trigger. We live in a time where from thousands of miles away, military personnel sitting in front of a bank of computers and monitors can unleash a devastating payload on a target with little more than few moves of the wrist. But what is the weight of those decisions, and how does it play into personal ethics and battlefield codes of conduct? It's against that backdrop that the thriller "Drones" unfolds. Directed by Rick Rosenthal, and starring Matt O'Leary ("Fat Kid Rules The World") and Eloise Mumford ("The River"), the film tells the story of two Air Force personnel operating an unmanned aircraft over Afghanistan from a trailer in the Nevada desert just outside Las Vegas. But their mission to take...

You may remember Jeff Ferrell, who brought us the creepy short Morella last year. He now returns with an indie feature film that looks equally as chilling. Check out the new trailer and and more from Ghostlight.

Written, directed, edited, and produced by Ferrell, Ghostlight stars Brian Sutherland ("Grimm," Fat Kid Rules the World), Lisa Coronado (Morella), Dennis Kleinsmith (Cthulhu, Morella), Russell Hodgkinson (Zombies of Mass Destruction, Big Fish), Eden Campbell, Ramona Freeborn, David Crellin, and writer-director Ferrell. Music is by Semih Tareen (Gomeda, Yellow, Morella).

For more on this project visit the official Ghostlight website, "like" Ghostlight on Facebook, and follow Ghostlight on Twitter (@ghostlightfilm).

Synopsis

Andrew (Brian Sutherland) wins a radio contest to spend one night alone in a haunted theater on the 80th anniversary of the bloody murder/suicide that occurred within its walls. His prize: $50,000. His task: Spend 12 hours alone inside. The catch: The theater has...

Netflix has "House of Cards" and "Hemlock Grove," Hulu has Richard Linklater's "Up to Speed" and the upcoming Seth Meyers animated series "The Awesomes," and Amazon just added a potential "Zombieland" series to its greenlit pilot slate. And though smaller in scale and in attention paid, Crackle has its own original series too -- "Chosen," a scripted thriller of which the company has just ordered a second season. "Chosen" stars Milo Ventimiglia and is the creation of Ben Ketai ("30 Days of Night: Dark Days") and Ryan Lewis (co-producer of "Fat Kid Rules the World"), with Ketai also writing and directing the series. The first season, which premiered in full on Crackle on January 17 of this year and will be available until mid May, was made up of six half-hour episodes, and had Ventimiglia playing Ian Mitchell, a divorced defense lawyer and father of a little girl who discovers a...

Garden Snakes: Griffiths’ Latest a Harrowing Tale with Compelling Lead

Director Megan Griffith’s follows up her well acted yet downtroddingly paced sophomore effort The Off Hours with an unnerving reenactment of sex trafficking from the mid 90s in Eden. While avoiding being exploitative in its depiction of cruelty and victimization, Griffith’s film is nonetheless a powerful tale of survival under degrading and harrowing circumstances. Certainly proving Griffiths’ growing talents as a director interested in compelling and often off-putting material, this latest work, which won the Audience Award at SXSW 2012, should definitely lead not only its director to wider acclaim, but also its lead actress, whose performance is the heart and soul of this somber tale.

In 1994 New Mexico, Korean-American teenager Hyuan Jae (Jamie Chung) lives an unromantic existence with her parents, who immigrated to the Us and now own a small convenience store. After sneaking into a bar...

New Indie DVD of the Month One of the most brutally honest and gritty films of recent years was writer-director Ira Sachs’ autobiographical Keep the Lights On (Music Box Films), a harrowing portrait of a relationship torn up not just by drugs but also a fundamental lack of communication. Nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (the extraordinary Thure Lindhardt), this festival favorite is a moving and powerful look at the highs and lows of love. Also out this month: Fat Kid Rules the World (Arc Entertainment), about the unlikely friendship between a chubby high school outcast (Jacob Wysocki, “Terri”) and a charismatic punk rocker (Matt O’Leary). New Foreign DVD of the Month In his follow-up to...

Read More...

"Banshee," the new action series created by novelists Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler and executive produced by Alan Ball (of "True Blood" and "Six Feet Under"), is currently in the middle of its first season on Cinemax. It's apparently going so well that the premium network today renewed the drama for a second season. "Banshee" stars Antony Starr ("Rush") as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who take on the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pa while being hunted by gangster seeking revenge for his betrayal years before. Joining him in the cast for the first 10-episode season are Ivana Milicevic, Ulrich Thomsen ("The Celebration"), Frankie Faison ("The Wire"), Hoon Lee ("Premium Rush"), Rus Blackwell, Matt Servitto, Demetrius Grosse, Trieste Kelly Dunn ("Cold Weather"), Ryann Shane, Daniel Ross Owens, Lili Simmons ("Fat Kid Rules the World") and Ben Cross...

Title: Fat Kid Rules The World Directed by: Matthew Lillard Starring: Jacob Wysocki, Matt O’Leary and Billy Campbell Running time: 99 minutes, Rated R, Available on Blu-ray Special Features: Five Featurettes and Trailer A suicidal obese high school kid steps in front of a bus and is saved by a dropout aspiring musician wanting to recruit him as the drummer in his start-up band. Jacob Wysocki is Troy, the invisible fat kid in school who suddenly becomes known and somewhat popular after the outgoing Marcus befriends him. Marcus of course is a bad influence, but he gives Troy the courage to come out of his shell. Troy is sad to [ Read More ]

The post Fat Kid Rules The World DVD Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

A few movies will be on Blu-ray and DVD this week. The best picks will be cop movie “End of Watch,” and the drama “The Paperboy.” And for the direct-to-dvd movies will include action sequel flicks “Death Race 3: Inferno” and “Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning.”

End of Watch

Synopsis: From the writer of Training Day, End Of Watch is a riveting action thriller that puts audiences at the center of the chase like never before. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña star as young La police officers who discover a secret that makes them the target of the country’s most dangerous drug cartel.

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The Paperboy

Synopsis: A sexually and racially charged film noir from Oscar®-nominated director Lee Daniels (Precious), The Paperboy takes audiences deep into the backwaters of steamy 1960s South Florida, as investigative reporter Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) and his partner Yardley Acheman (David Oyelowo) chase a sensational,...

‘Fat Kid Rules the World,’ the directorial debut of actor Matthew Lillard, will be released on DVD on January 22, 2013 by Arc Entertainment. The comedy, which was written by Michael Galvin and Peter Speakman, is based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Kl Going. The independent film was released in select theaters and on VOD, in October 2012. The film follows Troy (played by Jacob Wysocki), an overweight and suicidal 17-year-old. Just as he’s ready to end his life by jumping in front of a bus, Marcus (portrayed by Matt O’Leary), a high school dropout and street musician, saves Troy. The two begin an uneasy friendship [ Read More ]

The post Matthew Lillard’s Directorial Debut, Fat Kid Rules the World, Hitting DVD appeared first on Shockya.com.

You may remember Jeff Ferrell, who brought us the creepy short Morella last year. He now returns with an indie feature film that looks equally as chilling. Check out the trailer and some stills from Ghostlight.

Written, directed, edited and produced by Ferrell, Ghostlight stars Brian Sutherland ("Grimm," Fat Kid Rules the World), Lisa Coronado (Morella), Dennis Kleinsmith (Cthulhu, Morella), Russell Hodgkinson (Zombies of Mass Destruction, Big Fish), Eden Campbell, Ramona Freeborn, David Crellin and writer-director Ferrell. Music is by Semih Tareen (Gomeda, Yellow, Morella).

For more on this project visit the official Ghostlight website, "like" Ghostlight on Facebook and follow Ghostlight on Twitter (@ghostlightfilm).

Synopsis

Andrew (Brian Sutherland) wins a radio contest to spend one night alone in a haunted theater on the 80th anniversary of the bloody murder/suicide that occurred within its walls. His prize: $50,000. His task: Spend 12 hours alone inside. The catch: The theater has been...

Before Matthew Lillard begins his first interview ever as a director (this interview took place in March 2012 at SXSW), he calms down the clowning around (“Check out my boner!”) carried on by the two leads of his directorial debut, Fat Kid Rules the World.

“Guys, I’m trying to be serious,” Lillard says.

Such a call for control from a man with a post-party rasp in is voice doesn’t just ring with authority, but poignancy to the “metamorphosis” that Lillard is experiencing. Lillard may be most known for Scooby-Doo or Slc Punk!, but now he has a pivotal supporting role in The Descendants, and work in Trouble With the Curve on his resume. His biggest declaration of artistry so far is his movie Fat Kid Rules the World, starring Jacob Wysocki (Terri) as an overweight teen who befriends another lost adolescent, played by Matt O’Leary. The film celebrates...

Matthew Lillard has been in the movie business for a long time, racking up a sizable resume as an actor in films from Slc Punk and Scream to The Descendants and Trouble with the Curve, but with this year’s Fat Kid Rules the World, Lillard makes his directorial debut. Fat Kid Rules the World tells the story of Troy Billings, a lonely, overweight teen, and Marcus, the magnetic-yet-troubled local musician/high school dropout as they fight to save each other from their inner demons (depression/attempted suicide and drug addiciton respectively). After a serendipitous offer out of the blue and feeling an instant connection to K.L. Going’s source novel, Lillard spent years nurturing the project and is now feeling the gratification that comes with having followed your heart.

As we sat together in Manhattan, the director brimmed with excitement and enthusiasm saying, “The responses we’ve gotten are just fucking mind-blowing…...

Below, Matthew Lillard shares one of his favorite scenes from his directorial feature debut "Fat Kid Rules The World," currently playing in select theaters and slated to hit VOD October 25th (more details here). The coming-of-age tale stars "Terri" breakout Jacob Wysocki as the titular 'fat kid' Troy, who at the outset of Lillard's comedy attempts suicide by stepping in front of a moving bus. Enter Marcus (Matt O'Leary of "Natural Selection"), a charismatic young high school dropout, who saves Troy's life by pushing him out of the way. Before long, Marcus has enlisted Troy as drummer in his punk band, and though Troy's new identity gives him much-needed confidence and purpose, his father is less than thrilled by his choice of friends. ___________________ I have to pick a scene. One scene? Not easy. There are all kinds of pressure when you’re picking just one scene. It’s like "Sophie's Choice.

It’s not often you hear about an actor taking a successful turn to the director’s chair, but when you do, it’s one that counts. Ben Affleck certainly has proved himself three times now with the acclaimed pairing of “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town,” and this weekend's "Argo" proved he could step outside of the grimy streets of Boston and apply his directorial sensibilities to a story larger in scope. On the flipside of that coin, actor Matthew Lillard (“Scream,” “The Descendants,” “Scooby-Doo”) has his directorial debut continuing to roll out this weekend as well, and while it may not have the Oscar buzz or big stars attached to it as “Argo” does, it’s proven to be a success in its own right. Our own Playlister found Lillard’s first film “Fat Kid Rules The World” to be “a modestly affecting directorial debut,” and word on the film has been.

In the indie dramedy Fat Kid Rules the World, from first-time feature director Matthew Lillard, tells the story of 17-year-old Troy Billings (Jacob Wysocki). Overweight and suicidal, Troy meets Marcus (Matt O’Leary), a charming but troubled high school dropout and street musician, just as he’s about to jump in front of a bus and the two begin an uneasy friendship when Marcus enlists him to become the drummer in a new punk rock band. During this recent exclusive phone interview with Collider, Matthew Lillard talked about his journey to becoming a director, the 10 years it’s taken him to get this film to the big screen, what it was about this specific story that he most connected to, what he had learned about directing from all of his work as an actor and what he learned from the process itself, how he knew Jacob Wysocki was the film’s star,...

Matthew Lillard Talks Fat Kid Rules the World, playing in New York now, opening in Los Angeles this weekend

Playing in New York and opening this Friday in Los Angeles, Fat Kid Rules the World marks the directorial debut of actor Matthew Lillard.

Based on the bestselling novel by K.L. Going, the story follows Troy Billings Jacob Wysocki), an overweight teen who decides to end his high school career on a high note, by jumping in front of a bus. When Marcus Macrae Matt O'Leary), a charismatic punk rock superstar, tackles him to the ground moments before impact, it changes Troy's life forever.

Set against the backdrop of the Seattle music scene, Fat Kid Rules the World is a coming-of-age story about two dysfunctional teenagers searching for something more out of their completely hopeless existence. And it sets up director Matthew Lillard as a striking new voice in cinema.

We...

Matthew Lillard was one of the iconic faces of high school life in the 1990s. His roles in Scream, Slc Punk, Hackers and She’s All That cemented that image throughout a broad base of genres. Now, he’s returned to high school for his first stint as a director. In Fat Kid Rules the World, an obese kid is brought back from the suicidal brink by punk rock music and a new friend. Lillard took the time to speak with me about the annoying passivity of film acting, what he has in common with Tyler Perry and the ten-year journey of bringing this adaptation to an audience. Check out the interview below: Download This Interview Enjoy More Reject Radio...

Some actors-turned-directors jump out of the box fully-formed, fully utilizing a learned bag of tricks to properly convey their show business experience, to tell a story that burns inside of them. And some, lacking real vision, just want to take a shot at something new. It appears Matthew Lillard is among the latter group, as evidenced by his directorial debut “Fat Kid Rules The World.” Which isn’t bad, of course -- in adapting the source material of the same name, Lillard goes for clarity and humanity over artistry and esotericism. Modest as it may be, the film is not without its pleasures. Jacob Wysocki plays the depressed title character Troy, a young high schooler who sleepwalks through school, fantasizing about jumping in front of a bus one day and sending his blood and guts splattering all over the pavement. What’s notable isn’t that he has this thought,...

If a fat kid really did rule the world, then a movie version of Kl Going’s 2003 book Fat Kid Rules The World would have hit cinema screens years ago. But it took actor-turned-first-time director Matthew Lillard (Scream, The Descendants) almost a decade to get his adaptation of the young adult novel in the can and a subsequent, successful Kickstarter campaign to guarantee a run in theaters. (The film opens this Friday at New York’s Cinema Village, followed by a nationwide roll out. Fat Kid Rules The World will also be available on VOD and iTunes on Oct. 25.)

Below,...

Punked Up: Lillard’s Passion Project a Worthwhile Effort

Matthew Lillard, that 1990s alternative screen teen utilized to great effect by John Waters, Wes Craven, and in the cult classic Slc Punk! (1998), who’s all grown up now and peppering fare like The Descendents (2011) and Trouble With the Curve (2012) at last unveils his directorial debut, Fat Kid Rules the World, an effort nine years in the making. Based on the 2003 novel by K.L. Going, Lillard proves himself to be a worthy talent behind the camera. What may be lacking in narrative originality and cinematic aesthetic is more than made up for by his ability to capture three performances that carry this film.

Troy (Jacob Wysocki) is an overweight teenager without any friends, his only outlet on online gaming universe. His relationship with his ex-Marine dad, (Billy Campbell) and younger brother Dayle (Dylan Arnold) has been strained since the death of his mother,...

Actor Matthew Lillard (Scream) has had a long career with a wide assortment of roles, but has taken a role behind the camera for an adaptation of the Ya novel Fat Kid Rules The World by author K.L. Going.  Lillard actually discovered the book when he was hired to read it on tape and fell in love with the material.  It took him nine years to finally get the film together and now it's screening in various cities, while using Kickstarter to fund its theatrical release.  I'm a sucker for passion...

The trailer for Matthew Lillard's directorial feature debut "Fat Kid Rules The World" opens rather inauspiciously with a suicide attempt. Fortunately for Troy BIllings ("Terri" star Jacob Wysocki) --our eponymous fat kid -- a charismatic young high school dropout by the name of Marcus (Matt O'Leary) is there to push him out of the path of a speeding bus. Before long, Marcus has enlisted Troy as drummer in his punk band, and though Troy's new identity gives him much-needed confidence and purpose, his father is less than thrilled by his choice of friends. The story here is not new, but given the number of indie film fans who harbor nostalgic memories of punk rock adolescence, it will likely warm more than a few hearts. Check out the Indiewire review here.

Fat Kid Rules The World, the directorial debut of Matthew Lillard and based on the Ya novel by Kl Going, will be opening in theaters in New York on October 5th, followed by Los Angeles on October 12th and VOD October 25th.

In preparation, Matthew Lillard hosted a free screening of Fat Kid Rules The World last night (Tuesday, September 11th), followed by a streaming Q&A for The Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre in Hollywood, CA, and Wamg was there.

Check out the Q&A here:

Video chat by Stickam.com

Produced by Whitewater Films, the film won the Narrative Feature Spotlight Audience Award at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival and the Kickstarter campaign to support the domestic release raised over $150,000.

Fat Kid Rules The World stars Jacob Wysocki (Terri, TV’s Huge), Matt O’Leary (Natural Selection, Brick) and Billy Campbell (TV’s The Killing) and is based on the novel by K.

Fat Kid Rules The World, the directorial debut of Matthew Lillard and based on the Ya novel by Kl Going, will be opening in theaters in New York on October 5th, followed by Los Angeles on October 12th and VOD October 25th.

To celebrate, Wamg is giving away a pair of a pair of skip-to-the-front-of-the-line-guaranteed-seats tickets to the Tuesday, September 11th screening of Fat Kid Rules The World by The Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre in Hollywood, CA. Matthew Lillard will be hosting the screening, followed by a streaming Q&A.

Official Rules:

1. You Must Be In The Los Angeles Area The Day Of The Screening.

2. Fill Out Your Name And E-mail Address Below. Real First And Last Names Required.

3. Answer The Following Question: What would you like to ask Matthew Lillard?

Winners Will Be Chosen Through A Random Drawing Of Qualifying Contestants. No Purchase Necessary. Passes Will Not Be Substituted Or Exchanged.

Arc Entertainment, Whitewater Films and Matthew Lillard are taking the unconventional approach of launching the theatrical release of Lillard.s directorial debut, Fat Kid Rules The World, via the Vans Warped Tour and Tugg.com this summer. Through a series of promotional events and public appearances on the Warped Tour, Lillard is directly engaging the film’s punk rock fan base so they can set up Tugg screenings of the film along the course of the tour and anywhere else in the United States. Tugg is a collective action web-platform that enables individuals to choose the films that play in their local theaters.

To get tickets, visit: http://www.tugg.com/titles/fat-kid-rules-the-world

Produced by Whitewater Films, the film won the Narrative Feature Spotlight Audience Award at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival and the Kickstarter campaign to support the domestic release raised over $150,000.

Fat Kid Rules The World stars Jacob Wysocki (Terri,...

Billy Campbell, who plays troubled mayoral candidate Darren Richmond on AMC’s The Killing, is signing on for more killing. He has been set to play Abraham Lincoln in National Geographic Channel‘s Killing Lincoln, the two-hour docu-drama based on Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard’s book that chronicles the conspiracy behind Lincoln’s assassination. Scott Free Productions and Herzog & Co are producing the telefilm, which Erik Jendresen is showrunning and Adrian Moat (the same companies’ Emmy-nominated Gettysburg) is directing. Ridley and Tony Scott are executive producing along with O’Reilly, David Zucker, Mary Lisio, and Mark Herzog. The shoot is scheduled to begin this month in Richmond, Va. Campbell, who launched his career starring opposite Jennifer Connelly in 1991′s The Rocketeer, most recently was seen on the big screen in Matthew Lilard’s SXSW winner Fat Kid Rules The World. Related: Bill O’Reilly Book ‘Killing Lincoln’ Becomes...

Arc Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Matthew Lillard's "Fat Kid Rules The World," it was announced the today. Arc, Lillard and Whitewater Films (which produced the film) are taking the unconventional approach of launching the theatrical distribution of the film via The Vans Warped Tour and Tugg.com this summer. Through a series of promotional events and public appearances on the Warped Tour, Lillard will directly engage the film's punk rock fan base so they can set up Tugg screenings of the film along the course of the tour. "Fat Kid" premiered at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival, where it woon the Narrative Feature Spotlight Audience Award. Full press release below. June 14, 2012 - (Los Angeles, CA) – Arc Entertainment announced today that they have acquired North American distribution rights to Matthew Lillard’s directorial debut “Fat Kid Rules The World.” The film, which was produced...

Arc Entertainment acquired North American distribution rights to Matthew Lillard’s directorial debut Fat Kid Rules The World, a comedy that won the Narrative Feature Spotlight Audience Award at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival. The film will be launched through a social media strategy that includes a $150,000 P&A spend raised through Kickstarter. Pic stars Jacob Wysocki, Matt O’Leary, and Billy Campbell. Lillard, last seen in The Descendants, made his directing debut on a film based on the K.L. Going novel. The protagonist is 17, overweight, and suicidal, and when he’s about to jump in front of a bus, he’s saved by a charming street musician. The two begin an uneasy friendship when Marcus enlists the musically challenged kid to become the drummer in a new punk rock band. The youth’s father becomes increasingly concerned about his son’s new friendship. “We are proud to share Matthew Lillard...

HollywoodNews.com: The 38th Seattle International Film Festival, the largest and most highly-attended event of its kind in the United States concluded today with the announcement of the Siff 2012 Competition Awards and Golden Space Needle Audience Awards. The 25-day Festival, which began May 17, featured over 460 films from more than 70 countries, including 65 feature premieres (24 World, 25 North American, 16 U.S.) and over 700 screenings. Additionally, Siff brought in more than 300 directors, actors and industry professionals.

“A festival’s success is dependent on two basic principles: providing a platform for filmmakers to be celebrated and connecting them to audience members that would not otherwise be aware of their remarkable stories,” said Siff Artistic Director Carl Spence. “This year a record number of filmmakers participated in person and online with virtual Q&A’s successfully expanding the conversation around the best in cinema with passionate audiences, illuminating guests and distinguished industry in attendance.”

Siff Managing Director Deborah Person said,...

Over at Turnstyle, micro-budget filmmaker Lucas McNelly has a chat with actor-turned-director Matthew Lillard about Fat Kid Rules the World, which had its world premiere at Sundance this past January. Lillard is currently running a Kickstarter push to self-distribute the film, and is aiming to raise $150,000 for this purpose.

To my mind, the truly successful Kickstarter campaigns are those that approach the task of raising their target funds by using their creativity and finding innovative ways of reaching potential funders — and then engaging them. With Lillard’s campaign, he was greatly helped by a three-hour “Ama” session on Reddit, which he talks about below.

McNelly: Talk about the Reddit session you did. I’ve heard about it from people who have no idea I worked on the film, which tells me you probably did something right.

Lillard: When we achieve our Ks goal, it will be because of those 3 hours...

Welcome back to another edition of Kickstart This, FirstShowing's weekly column dedicated to spreading the word about cool indie projects that need your help to become a reality. This week, we've got three solid film projects that we want to highlight: actor Matthew Lillard's feature directorial debut called Fat Kid Rules The World; next, a twitter-inspired documentary called Follow Friday the Film; and a project trying to raise a million dollars to find the Meaning of Life. Take a look at these three new projects, sound off in the comments below, and don't forget to toss the filmmakers a few bucks if you can. See them below! If you only know Matthew Lillard as Shaggy from the live action Scooby Doo movies, then I highly suggest checking out his tremendous performance in a movie called Slc Punk! that came out back in 1999. But the actor has a passion project...

I can't remember a time I went to the Seattle International Film Festival (Siff) press launch and looked over the list of films and saw so many I was interested in seeing. The claim to fame for over the years is to call it the largest and most-highly attended festival in the United States. This is a fact I've often taken issue with as I don't equate quantity with quality. Granted, there has been a large number of quality features to play the fest over the years, including Golden Space Needle (Best Film) winners such as Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985), My Life as a Dog (1987), Trainspotting (1996), Run Lola Run (1999), Whale Rider (2003) and even recent Best Director winner, Michel Hazanavicius's Oss 117: Nest of Spies in 2006. That said, looking over this year's crop of films I see a lot of films I will be doing my absolute best to see.