InfoAnda - Small budgets, big dreams at Spirit Awards

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

U.N. council sanctions North Korea entities, officials | International | | 17 July 2009
Philippines: 17 killed in troop clash with rebels | 31 March 2009
4th typhoon in month lashes sodden Philippines | 31 October 2009

Chinese TV official among 12 held over fire: police | 12 February 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Small budgets, big dreams at Spirit Awards | Entertainment |

My Profile Top News Reuters top ten news stories delivered to your inbox each day. Subscribe You are here: Home > News > Entertainment > Article Home Business & Finance News U.S. Politics International Technology Entertainment Film Music People Television Arts Industry Sports Lifestyle Oddly Enough Environment Health Science Special Coverage Video Pictures Your View The Great Debate Blogs Weather Reader Feedback Do More With Reuters RSS Widgets Mobile Podcasts Newsletters Your View Make Reuters My Homepage Partner Services CareerBuilder Affiliate Network Professional Products Support (Customer Zone) Reuters Media Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Small budgets, big dreams at Spirit Awards Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:52pm EST Email | Print | Share | Reprints | Single Page [-] Text [+] By Alex Ben Block LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The Spirits have gone Hollywood. That's the oft-repeated cynic's take on the Spirit Awards -- the arthouse world's version of the Oscars -- which will on Saturday spotlight such studio specialty-division fare as "Milk," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and "Synecdoche, New York," each of which pushes the upper end of the $20 million budget limit set by Film Independent, the event's organizer. But tell that to Lance Hammer, the director of "Ballast," which has been nominated for six Spirits, including best feature. Hammer financed the film's paltry $700,000 budget largely out of his own pocket. To him, the Spirits represent the culmination of a year spent following the film around the world from its Sundance premiere to festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Telluride and Toronto -- and finally to Saturday's ceremony on the beach in Santa Monica. "It's just a comforting and reassuring way to put an end to a difficult year," Hammer says. "Your colleagues have said what you have done is OK. And it means I can keep pursuing this and it's not a totally ridiculous pipe dream." Indeed, despite the persistent criticism that the Spirits have sold out, the majority of films nominated this year cost less than $7 million, and in many cases well under that. "Wendy and Lucy," nominated for best feature and best female lead for Michelle Williams, cost about $300,000. Courtney Hunt's "Frozen River," nominated for six Spirits (as well as two Oscars the following day), was financed for about $1 million, much of it coming from business associates of Hunt's husband. These kind of dream projects have been the lifeblood of the Spirit Awards for more than two decades. In addition to putting a spotlight on unknown directors, producers, cinematographers and actors, the awards often provide a significant career boost. Seven-time nominee Gus Van Sant, who picked up his first Spirit in 1990 for "Drugstore Cowboy," directed "Milk," which collected four nominations. Darren Aronofsky, nominated this year with Scott Franklin for best feature for "The Wrestler," received three previous nominations and won best first screenplay in 1999 for "Pi." That kind of career trajectory is the goal for Hammer. As a USC architecture graduate, he did photographic renderings that caught the attention of Warner Bros., where he was hired to produce 3-D images. He rose to assistant art director on the Coen brothers' "The Man Who Wasn't There," but chafed under the tight controls of the studio system. So he began to develop projects of his own. "We got very far with a lot of this, but it was just incredibly frustrating," he says. "Creative control is really yanked from you when these other people get involved ... and creative control is really important to me." Hammer then teamed with producer Mark Johnson ("The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"), but when a project fell through, "He said, 'The hell with it. I'm going to go off and do this other movie in Mississippi,'" Johnson says. "And damned if he didn't." That "other movie" became "Ballast," which features a cast of unknowns drawn from the Delta region. "I decided to go for something very pure and simple," Hammer says, "and make it like a painting or a musical recording made in your house, where I could have great autonomy and isolation." After "Ballast's" success at Sundance, IFC offered to distribute the film but Hammer eventually decided the economics didn't work for him. Instead, he put together his own ad hoc group to self-distribute. For help he turned to New York-based publicist and producers rep Stephen Raphael, who arranged publicity and oversaw distribution at art house venues in nearly two dozen markets. Each of the awards and honors became part of the marketing campaign. "It's a very good example to show you don't need an entire studio with a marketing department," Raphael says. "Everybody worked below their usual rate because we all really believed in the movie." Continued... View article on single page Share: Del.icio.us Digg Mixx My Web Facebook LinkedIn Next Article: Legal battle erupts over film rights to Tupac's bio Also on Reuters Slideshow Slideshow: Barbie turns heads at NY Fashion Week China's artificially induced snow closes 12 highways Video Video: Stanford clients swarm banks More Entertainment News Warning! Oscar can be bad for your career Mickey Rourke loses beloved chihuahua in Oscar week U.S. festival spotlights Arab arts and humanity Oscar for Ledger would go to daughter Matilda | Video Hollywood writers' union pickets "American Idol" More Entertainment News... Editor's Choice Slideshow A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow Most Popular on Reuters Articles Video Latin Americans fret as Stanford crisis spreads Many seek their money as Stanford fallout spreads Privacy concerns frustrate Facebook North Korea warns of war as Clinton heads for Seoul Pope tells Pelosi: Catholics cannot back abortion UBS tax deal is Swiss bank secrecy's Waterloo Recession will be worst since 1930s: Greenspan GM debt mountain looms as key talks heat up | Video China's artificially induced snow closes 12 highways Groups caution Obama not breaking from Bush secrecy Most Popular Articles RSS Feed Video Stanford clients swarm banks Spaceship-like car to hit U.S. roads Obama mortgage relief plan Bernanke: No inflation threat China makes it snow Chopper ditches off UK coast Afghanistan now Obama's war Business Update: Grim Fed Bolivia's housing collapse Massive California prison release? Most Popular Videos RSS Feed Pictures Slideshow Grammy glam The Grammys raised the curtain on fashions that included Kanye West's sparkling tuxedo and M.I.A.'s bold maternity wear. Slideshow Slideshow Grammy performances Artists perform under the bright lights at the Grammy Awards, showcasing a wide selection of music. Slideshow Reuters Deals The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators Knowledge to Act Reuters.com: Help and Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Mobile | Newsletters | RSS | Interactive TV | Labs | Reuters in Second Life | Archive | Site Index | Video Index Thomson Reuters Corporate: Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy | Professional Products | Professional Products Support | About Thomson Reuters | Careers International Editions: Africa | Arabic | Argentina | Brazil | Canada | China | France | Germany | India | Italy | Japan | Latin America | Mexico | Russia | Spain | United Kingdom | United States Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Thursday, 19 February 2009
Karzai expects reduced tensions with U.S. | International |
Russia, Georgia agree plan to avoid new clashes | International |
Sarkozy tries to avert unrest with new aid plans | International |
Mexican drug gang menace spreads in Guatemala | International |
Israel's Peres begins consulting parties on PM | International |
Two professors theorize on bin Laden hideout | International |
Helicopter carrying 18 crashes off Scotland | International |
North Dakota House Passes Measure To Ban Abortion
Telecoms industry gets real in Barcelona | Technology |
Texas Wary Of Strings Attached On Stimulus Money
Update: Obama Unveils $75 Billion Foreclosure Plan To Help Homeowners
Asia's shoppers go online as Internet barriers fall | Technology |
Feb 18 Highlights Of Low Points In U.S. Economy
Formal brain exercise won't help healthy seniors: research | Technology |
Third Earthquake In Three Weeks Strikes New Jersey
Telecoms executives keep faith in emerging markets | Technology |
Arkansas Lawmakers Propose Raising State Minimum Wage To Federal Levels
Albuquerque, NM Police Find Mysterious Sixth Set Of Human Bones
Verizon picks Alcatel-Lucent for network | Technology |
Maryland Governor Opposed To State Senate President's Plan To Put Slot Machines At Airport
Clinton Arrives In Jakarta; Criticizes Myanmar's Military Junta
Chipmakers seek growth in small devices | Technology |
Scientists Warn Of Water Level, Temperature Rise Around New York Area
DTV coupon backlog seen gone within weeks | Technology |
Oscar for Ledger would go to daughter Matilda | Entertainment |
Judge rejects Polanski's bid to reopen sex case | Entertainment |
Famous Ethiopian singer has jail term cut | Entertainment |
Albuquerque, NM Police Find Mysterious Sixth Set Of Human Bones
Israel says no cease-fire until soldier comes home
Egyptian authorities free opposition leader Nour
Correction: Iraq exhibit story
US state's 'personhood' law would hit birth control: opponents
Iraqi who threw shoes at Bush due in court
Fed sees US contraction, moves toward inflation goal
NATO revisits Afghan strategy as US troops ready to deploy
Obama unveils 275 billion dollar housing plan
Egypt frees political dissident Ayman Nur
UBS admits US tax fraud, to identify scofflaw clients
Israel's Peres begins vetting parties for PM pick
Sarkozy unveils benefits package to stem protests
Palestinian unity talks delayed: Egypt
Stanford probe puts cricket chiefs on defensive
Jewish leaders: Punish UAE for banning tennis star
Brown calls for 'grand bargain' at G20 summit
Obama says mortgage program to help up to nine million
Rape, war, climate to top UN chief's African tour
Brazil climate change threatens top coffee crop
Russia: global warming to cause droughts, floods
Geronimo's Family Sues U.S. Gov't, Yale University, Secret Society To Recover Famous Apache's Remains
Obama heads to Canada
NASA, ESA Set Exploration Of Jupiter Moons
Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at Bush goes on trial
Appeals Court: Chinese Muslim Detainees From Gitmo Can't Transfer To U.S.
'Tough year' ahead in Afghanistan: US general
Jury Rules Philip Morris Must Pay $8M Damages To Widow, Son Of Chain Smoker
Counter-Narcotics Row Leads To Expulsion Of Second U.S. Diplomat In Ecuador
US commander: Troops 'stalemated' in Afghanistan
Lance Armstrong's stolen bicycle recovered
Search Yields No Avalanche Victims At Mountain Ski Resort
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 580
President Obama Not Interested In Re-Instating Fairness Doctrine
US-TECH Summary
Louisiana Gov. May Not Want All The Stimulus Money For His State
Lawmakers: US must enforce assault-gun import ban
Few report hitches as digital TV switch begins
Wall Street Finishes Flat As Stocks Fail To Rally On Relief Efforts
Mobile phones aim to be a 'doctor in your pocket'
Canadian Liberal Leaders Meet Obama On Thursday
T-Mobile USA tests $50 unlimited call plan
HP reports 13 pct drop in net profit, lowers outlook
French forces come under fire on Guadeloupe
New service unmasks blocked telephone calls
18 rescued after helicopter drops into North Sea
AMD stockholders approve Abu Dhabi investment
Facebook reverses course on privacy policy
Berlusconi death flight 'joke' opens Argentina row
Formal "brain exercise" won't help healthy seniors: research
Czech lower house approves EU's Lisbon Treaty
Mobile phones aim to be a 'doctor in your pocket'
EU's Solana heads for Belarus as relations thaw
Russia, Georgia take first step on conflict prevention
Russia, Ukraine in new row over envoy's comments
Hollywood writers' union pickets "American Idol"
Warning! Oscar can be bad for your career
Hollywood struggles to find wealth on the Web
Vietnam and Vatican discuss establishment of ties
Mickey Rourke loses beloved chihuahua in Oscar week
Snow business: China enjoys induced snowfall
Ubisoft to drive "Wheelman" for cash-strapped Midway
Japanese leader under pressure to resign
NZ wants action to prevent Antarctic cruise disaster
China hopes for continuity as Clinton visits
Philippine gunmen kidnap businessman, daughter
Underdogs have their day at Oscars
Asian Development Bank wants capital tripled: president
Hollywood writers' union pickets "American Idol"
Taiwan kills 600 pigs to contain foot-and-mouth
Pakistan repays maturing $500 mln Eurobond
Small fire at Tracy Morgan's NYC apt.; no injuries
Clinton hammers Obama message home in Asia
London takes a fresh look at Le Corbusier
South Korean won falls for 8th session
Malaysian politics thrown into further turmoil
'Sale of the Century' for Saint Laurent art collection
Seoul shares end down;banks, exporters lead losses
Japan PM apologises for finance minister debacle
Small budgets, big dreams at Spirit Awards
Air China says no additional fuel hedging: report
CEOs less popular than politicians: poll
Japan leaves interest rate on hold amid recession
Warning! Oscar can be bad for your career
China to step up auditing to ensure stability
Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee touts cologne
Japan's central bank leaves interest rates on hold
US-HOLLYWOOD-WEB
Korea Hot Stocks-LG Display, Daewoo Engineering rise
WRAPUP 2-South Korea says it can cope with debt burden
Australia, Indonesia talk trade, illegal migrants
Clinton says Indonesia shows Islam and modernity coexist
Geronimo's Family Sues U.S. Gov't, Yale University, Secret Society To Recover Famous Apache's Remains
Clinton: Obama may want to wait to visit Indonesia
Zimbabwe To Pay State Workers, Soldiers In U.S. Dollar
Green Comet Making Closest Approach To Earth On Feb. 24
Key hawk endorses Netanyahu for Israeli premier
NATO revisits Afghan strategy as US urges long-term effort
U.S. lawmakers make rare visit to Hamas-ruled Gaza
Kyrgyzstan shuts U.S. air base, NATO Afghan help sought | International |
Tupac Shakur's Estate Sued By Movie Company For Backing Out Of Film Agreement
Aussie Band Men At Work's Guitarist Arrested In LA For Threatening To Kill Lead Singer
Russia acquits all accused over Politkovskaya murder
Netanyahu wins backing in Israeli PM contest | International |
Tracy Morgan's New York Apartment Scorched By Fire
North Korea warns of war as Clinton heads for Seoul | International |
Iraqi shoe-thrower defiant as trial adjourned
US to press allies for more Afghanistan troops
Bush's icy smile enraged Iraq shoe-thrower | International |
BNP suffers 1.366-bln-euro 4th qtr loss
US Senator John Kerry visits Gaza
Kabul eyes control on aid, security in U.S. review | International |
BNP Paribas profit plunges to 3.0 bln euros
Iraq reporter who threw shoes at Bush goes on trial
Court acquits 3 of aiding murder of Politkovskaya | International |
Swiss Re posts historic annual loss
Pakistani Islamists ask Taliban for peace in Swat | International |
North Africa Qaeda posts photos of Western hostages | International |
Bangladesh ferry sinks with 19 dead | International |
Japan PM has support of most party chapters: poll | International |
John Kerry visits Gaza Strip
Kyrgyzstan MPs approve closure of U.S. air base
Obama to address protectionist fears on Canada trip
iPhone features everywhere in rivals' new phones | Technology |
Kerry Leads Congressional Delegation To Gaza; Condemns Hamas
Mobile advertising edges closer to breakthrough | Technology |
Funds For School Sports May Be Cut Due To Recession
Whereabouts of detained Egypt blogger unknown: Amnesty | Technology |
Bankrupt New York Retailer Fortunoff Stops Redeeming Gift Cards Without Notice; Customers Angry Over Lost Money
Hollywood struggles to find wealth on the Web | Technology |
First Lady Celebrates Black History Month With D.C. School Children At White House
Republicans, Mortgage Bankers Concerned About President's Foreclosure Plan
Few report hitches as digital TV switch begins | Technology |
Fed Forecasts High Unemployment Until 2011
Facebook reverses course on privacy policy | Technology |
Kyrgyzstan's Parliament Votes To Evict U.S. From Air Base; Only Military Supply Route For U.S. Troops In Afghanistan Will Be Risky Khyber Pass
Radical cleric Qatada wins payout for UK detention
T-Mobile USA tests $50 unlimited call plan | Technology |
Pope Speaks To Pro-Choice Pelosi About 'Dignity Of Human Life'
New York Post Editorial Cartoon Denounced As Racist
White House: Illinois Deserves To Know Full Extent Of Burris' Contacts With Blagojevich
Clinton says NKorean disarmament stalled
US says NKorea future leadership uncertain
Warning! Oscar can be bad for your career | Entertainment |
Ferry capsizes in Bangladesh with 60 onboard
Mickey Rourke loses beloved chihuahua in Oscar week | Entertainment |
Japanese woman impregnated with wrong egg
U.S. festival spotlights Arab arts and humanity | Entertainment |
Japan scrambles to ease credit crisis
Uighurs denied release in US: court ruling
China approves stimulus for light industry
Oscar for Ledger would go to daughter Matilda | Entertainment |
5 more suspects detained in Beijing hotel fire
Iran, Afghanistan pledge to boost bilateral trade
500 Internal Server Error
China calls on Russia to investigate ship incident
Thailand's exports plunge amid global downturn
Thailand hopes new cocktail can lure back tourists
Bank of Taiwan lowers deposit, savings rates
N.Korea accuses U.S. of planning nuclear strike
Hollywood struggles to find wealth on the Web | Entertainment |
Pakistani forex reserves rise to $10.37 bln
China calls for return of Guantanamo Bay inmates
Georgians take swipe at Putin with Eurovision entry | Entertainment |
ADB likely to cut 2009 Asian growth forecast
Small budgets, big dreams at Spirit Awards | Entertainment |
Movie dubber dies, was `voice' of Woody Allen
Japan leaves interest rate on hold amid recession
Taiwan dollar at 5-1/2-yr low, more weakness seen
Coogan catches indie spirit as awards show host
Legal battle erupts over film rights to Tupac's bio | Entertainment |
Is `Man on Wire' the best film of the year?
Stiller & Co. prepare for 'Little Fockers' | Entertainment |
'The Rock': No plans to return to wrestling ring
NY Post cartoon of dead chimpanzee stirs outrage
Lee in talks to direct 'Life of Pi' adaptation
AP's Bob Thomas wins lifetime achievement award
Ledger poised for Oscar win
Georgia Eurovision entry to poke fun at Putin
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01