I’m off to Venice for Critics’ Week, so Matt is running things in my absence. I’ll leave comments open for this thread, if you have thoughts or questions about The Nines (or other topics of interest). There’s also a proper discussion forum running over at lookforthenines.com.
Ciao e grazie.
This site is run by screenwriter John August. Mostly, he answers reader-submitted questions about the craft, but occasionally he goes on tangents that run far afield of writing and filmmaking. You'll also find info on past, present and future projects.
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September 1st, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Just thought I’d provide a link to some positive information regarding The Nines’ two theatre debut.
/Film reports the following:
Congratulations and here’s hoping that these results propel some distributors to open it up to a wide release sometime soon!
September 1st, 2007 at 7:59 pm
As one great mind once said “If if’s and but’s were candy and nuts we would all have a merry christmas.” Everything has to have a start. There’s a little start and a big start, a slow start a fast start. A good start a bad start. A ‘propel start’ that has to be genuine loose lamina language for ‘with help from above. excellent reviews … good … the term ‘hoping’ ….not so good….
September 1st, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Maybe you might try looking for a “window open”. A “side entrance. A “chimney”. Sound familiar? Try this. Practice what you preach pastor. Try, lets say “give and ye shall recieve”. Did someone say “breaking into” is hard to do? Into hollywood?
September 1st, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Here’s a topic of interest. RED shipped it’s first 25 cameras yesterday. I’m sure you’d have considered using one if it had been out at the time of the Nine’s filming.
September 2nd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I’m curious about how people felt walking out of the theater. Also, if you were to forced to write a logline, what would you say the movie was about? (Without SPOILERS of course.)
September 2nd, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Get my take on the film here:
http://beyondfundamentalism.net/node/171
…and Alex’s amazing Score Samples, for quick and easy download, here:
http://alexwurman.com/Music%20Clips/media/19thenines/
September 3rd, 2007 at 8:28 am
Hey John!!
I just met you in Venice, about half an hour ago!!
I wanted to thank you for your autograph and your photo with me!!!
I hope you enjoy your stay in Italy!!1
If only everyone were as kind as you!!
Thanks again, keep up your excellent work!!
Giacomo
September 3rd, 2007 at 11:48 am
I noticed on one of the weekly box office websites that The Nines had the highest per screen average of any film in release over the weekend (over 11k, putting it past Halloween)– congratulations and hopefully this leads to a wider release!
September 3rd, 2007 at 1:10 pm
According to boxofficemojo.com, the per theater average is $11,800.
Borat: Niiiiccceee.
Larry David: Prettyyyyy. Pretttyyyyyyyy Good.
Nice job, here’s to having legs.
:-)
September 3rd, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Matt, Great blog site. Hope you got my message. Beyond fundamentalism. I like that brick. You throw it through reality and you get pieces of concept, all over the place. Pick one up, hope; its the right one, run with it. Have faith in the correct one, invite it in and know all the rest was just shattered glass. Walk through it all without ever getting cut. What have you got. In ‘Oh My God He’s Black’ I call it ‘ ‘ ‘ The Theory of Eternity ‘ ‘ ‘. Here’s hoping “nines” makes it to North Carolina so I can see it. Sidney
September 3rd, 2007 at 8:16 pm
LogLine: 3 lives led 3 lives interconnected 3 lives unraveled = the9s
September 4th, 2007 at 4:15 am
Hello there John August -
I just read the New York Times review about “The Nines” (I am a little behind the times:) which I find intriguing, especially because I just wrote a book called “Harley’s Ninth.” I live here in Venice, where, apparently, you happen to be at the moment. If you have a chance, please take a look at MySpace. Maybe it would be good to have a conversation, if you have the time.
Ciao & Grazie, Cat Bauer http://www.catbauer.com
September 4th, 2007 at 7:42 am
This is responding to Matt’s question about how people felt coming out of the theatre, and how they would describe the movie without giving things away. I was very exhiliarated coming out of the movie yesterday, mostly because of the intellectual daring of the film. I felt I had seen something unique and new, that was very well acted and well directed. In terms of how I would summarize the film, I would say, “It’s a metaphysical thriller about how we get trapped by the things we love, and have to free ourselves from them.”
One more comment: I really wished the third story were longer. It seemed a bit rushed and truncated. The least developed of the three. I hope when the film comes out on DVD there will be more to this section of the movie.
Cheers and good luck.
-Niall
September 4th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Matt –
I thought IMDB did pretty well: “A troubled actor, a television show runner, and an acclaimed videogame designer find their lives intertwining in mysterious and unsettling ways.”
September 4th, 2007 at 9:03 am
John, saw The Movie on Labor Day, and took some family. I loved it. They were confused by it, not having known what to expect. But we discussed it on and off for two hours afterwards. I’d call that “mission accomplished.”
As a loyal blog reader, the reference to Parade made for a nice bonus joke.
Dry, TV Guide-style logline: “A man’s identity crisis may reveal greater mysteries about the nature of his existence.” That’s a pretty bland description of a complex movie, but such is the nature of loglines.
September 4th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117971284.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562
Let the world rejoice!
Well, maybe that’s a bit extreme… but at least let the world see this movie.
September 4th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Breaking news from Variety…
GreeneStreet sells ‘Nines’ Unit lands international deals at Venice
By NICK VIVARELLI
GreeneStreet Films Intl. has sold U.S. helmer John August’s debut, “The Nines,� to distribs for a slew of countries at the Venice Film Festival.
Deals include Argentina (Telexcel), Eastern Europe (Blue Sky), Greece (Village Roadshow), Israel (Forum Film), Middle East (Italia Film), Scandinavia (Non-Stop) and South Africa (Ster Kinekor). Optimum Releasing holds previously acquired U.K. rights.
Newmarket micro-released this quirky Venice Critics Week entry in New York and Los Angeles to a boffo estimated $11,750 screen average.
“The Nines,â€? which was a hot Sundance title, consists of three short films, each featuring Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis and Melissa McCarthy, in different — and sometimes overlapping — roles.
Pic is about the connection between a troubled actor, a TV showrunner and videogame designer. source: variety.com
September 4th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Bravo!
September 5th, 2007 at 6:30 am
Congratulations ´bout that!
And thanks reminding folks of the soundtrack, @Matt – one can not tell enough about Alex Wurmans great score. :)
September 5th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
John! Just discovered your blog and can’t wait to get into it. I love to read what other writers, especially those who’ve been produced, have to say about their craft and the industry. I’ve got a few rants myself (myspace.com/sean1966ad) but otherwise worship movies, especially the classics, and a few odd-balls here and there. Also can’t wait to read your African journey blogs; you and Ryan did a great thing going there and am very glad you put it all up on flickr, that’s the way a website should be used.
Take care, and here’s to the written word!
Thanks, Sean