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At 96 years old, movie producer Roger Corman described himself as "semi-retired" in a 2022 interview with Paste, noting that he still has a deal to remake "Little Shop of Horrors" for Paramount Pictures. With a career spanning over 400 movies, which helped launch the careers of filmmakers like James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola, Corman has made just about every kind of genre movie under the sun -- including a video game movie starring Mark Hamill.

"Virtually Heroes" isn't a movie based on a video game, but rather a low-budget precursor to "Free Guy," starring Robert Baker and Brent Chase as two video game characters who are tired of dying over and over again. In a nod to his most famous role, Hamill plays a wise monk in brown robes who agrees to teach Baker's character "the cheat codes of life."

Directed by G.J. Echternkamp and executive produced by Corman,...

To begin with a personal anecdote:

From 2000 to 2003, this author worked as an intern for New Concorde, a.k.a. Concorde New Horizons, Roger Corman's production company. As an intern, most of my duties involved going into oil-scented basement rooms to find physical advertising assets for long-forgotten "Emmanuelle" sequels and early Ron Howard pictures. I also had the privilege of reading a myriad of scripts, as many B-movie hopefuls would mail drafts to the known lord of the format. After several years, I was finally offered a job. I was to be paid a very modest amount to work as a production assistant on a Stacy Keach war movie called "When Eagles Strike," directed by Cirio H. Santiago. While the exteriors were filmed in the Philippines, the indoor scenes were filmed in a tiny studio just off of Melrose Blvd. in Hollywood, CA. The studio was made up to...

After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013, the Roger Corman-produced Virtually Heroes dropped off the map completely, but it’s finally getting a release here in 2023.

We’ve learned that Virtually Heroes will be available Digitally on January 17, 2023.

While you wait, you can check out the trailer below.

Robert Baker (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Out of Time), Brent Chase (Shameless, I Am the Night), Katie Savoy (How I Met Your Mother, NCIS: New Orleans) and Mark Hamill star in the film from director Gj Echternkamp (The Car: Road to Revenge).

“Two self-aware characters in a Call of Duty-inspired video game battle endless enemies and their own existential crises when Sgt. Books seeks help from a straight-talking Monk (Mark Hamill) who teaches him the cheat codes of life. Now he can finally break free from the game’s endless battles, take a break from...

Screen Media has nabbed North American distribution rights to “Virtually Heroes,” an action comedy that was produced by Roger Corman nearly a decade ago but was left without a home.

The release of the film has been a long time coming. “Virtually Heroes” was an official selection of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, but despite Corman’s legendary status as the Picasso of B movies, it never landed distribution. The film was directed and produced by Gj Echternkamp (“Frank and Cindy”) and stars Robert Baker (“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”), Brent Chase (“Shameless”), Katie Savoy (“How I Met Your Mother”) and Mark Hamill of “Star Wars” fame.

It centers on two self-aware characters in a “Call of Duty”-inspired video game as they battle endless enemies and their own existential crises. With the help of Hamill’s Yoda-like monk, they attempt to win the game and get the girl.

Before you buckle up for the race from Old New York to New Los Angeles, sharpen your pencil and get ready to take notes, because Frankenstein is here to teach you the rules of the road in a new video for Death Race 2050, out now on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

"Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! Frankenstein (Manu Bennett) is here to remind you of the "Rules of the Death Race" before you shift into Roger Corman's Death Race 2050, now available on Blu-ray™, DVD, and Digital HD from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment."

Previous Press Release: Universal City, California, October 6, 2016 – A delirious blend of high-octane action, razor-sharp political satire and full-throttle mayhem, Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 arrives on Blu-ray™ combo pack, DVD and Digital HD January 17, 2017, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The highly anticipated reboot of the cult classic Death Race 2000,...

Make way for the return of Frankenstein when Roger Corman’S Death Race 2050 arrives on to Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD on January 17, 2017 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment!

Now you can own the Blu-ray of Roger Corman’S Death Race 2050. We Are Movie Geeks has five copies to give away! All you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite movie directed by Roger Corman (mine is The Pit And The Pendulum). It’s so easy!

Good Luck!

Official Rules:

1. You Must Be A Us Resident. Prize Will Only Be Shipped To Us Addresses. No P.O. Boxes. No Duplicate Addresses.

2. Winners Will Be Chosen From All Qualifying Entries.

No purchase necessary

A delirious blend of high-octane action, razor-sharp political satire and full-throttle mayhem, Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 arrives on Blu-ray™ combo pack, DVD and Digital HD...

Stars: Manu Bennett, Malcolm McDowell, Marci Miller, Burt Grinstead, Folake Olowofoyeku, Anessa Ramsey, Yancy Butler, Charlie Farrell, Shanna Olson, D.C. Douglas | Written by G.J. Echternkamp, Matt Yamashita | Directed by G.J. Echternkamp

G.J. Echternkamp and Matt Yamashita, who previously worked together on Virtually Heroes – a video game movie that told the story of two self-aware characters in a “Call of Duty” style game – re-team with their producer on that film, Roger Corman, for a remake of one of Corman’s most popular and enduring films.

Set in the year 2050 (obviously given the title) Death Race 2050 sees America controlled by an all-powerful corporate government ruled by The Chairman (Malcolm McDowell). The masses have been brainwashed with violent virtual-reality entertainment; and the event of the year is the Death Race, in which a motley crew of violent drivers compete in a cross-country road race, scoring points for shamelessly running people over and...

Screeching around the corner, mowing down everyone in its path, and spitting gravel and bone matter in its wake, Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 roars onto Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD on January 17th courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. To celebrate the next chapter in Corman's iconic road rage series, we've been provided with five Blu-ray / DVD combo pack copies to give away to Daily Dead readers, including one DVD copy of Death Race 2000 for one lucky grand prize winner.

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Prize Details: (1) Grand Prize Winner will receive:

(1) Blu-ray / DVD combo pack copy of Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 (1) DVD copy of Death Race 2000 (1975)

(4) Runner-Up Winners will receive:

(1) Blu-ray / DVD combo pack copy of Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050

How to Enter: For a chance to win, email contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Death Race 2050 Contest”. Be sure...

Racing onto Blu-ray, DVD, and digital platforms everywhere on January 17th is Death Race 2050, which was co-written and directed by G.J. Echternkamp and produced by the legendary Roger Corman, who was also the producing force behind Death Race 2000 back in the mid-1970s.

In late 2016, just a day or two after the 2016 Presidential Election, Daily Dead had the opportunity to speak with Corman about this latest iteration of the Death Race universe. During our conversation, Corman discussed the socio-political relevance of both Death Race 2050 as well as the original Death Race, why they chose to return to the retro-futuristic realm for this iteration, collaborating with Echternkamp, and what keeps him going after enjoying a successful career in Hollywood for over 60 years now.

Great to speak to you today, Roger. I have a feeling this conversation would have went a little bit differently had the election gone a different way.

In 1975, the world was first introduced to the Roger Corman-produced cult action film “Death Race 2000.” Directed by Paul Bartel and starring David Carradine (“Kill Bill: Volume 2”) and Sylvester Stallone (“Rocky”), the film follows a murderous Transcontinental Road Race in a dystopian American society. Over the years, it garnered cult acclaim and eventurally produced a remake in 2008 followed by two direct-to-dvd sequels.

Read More: ‘Death Race 2050’ Red Band Trailer: Things Get Bloody in Roger Corman’s Post-Apocalyptic Racing Film

But now Roger Corman is back with a direct sequel to the original 1975 film entitled “Death Race 2050.” The film takes place in the not-too-distant future where America is controlled by a corporate government that peddles violent virtual-reality entertainment to the masses. Each year they organize a Death Race, where drivers compete in a cross-country road race, scoring points for running down pedestrians and killing each other. It...

"Ready for one last dance?" Universal has launched a new trailer for the racing reboot Death Race 2050, updating Roger Corman's 1975 camp classic Death Race 2000. We featured a short teaser trailer for this back in October, but now we have a full-length trailer and it's red band because they don't hold back on the violence and gore and nudity, which are always important aspects of Roger Corman's movies. Death Race 2050 brings back the character of Frankenstein, played this time by Manu Bennett, who takes on drivers in the deadly, violent cross-country road race. This also stars Malcolm McDowell, Burt Grinstead, and Marci Miller. This looks fun, but it doesn't look like that different from the original - just another reboot. Here's the new red band trailer for G.J. Echternkamp's Death Race 2050, direct from YouTube: In the not-too-distant future, America is controlled by an all-powerful...

From cult icon Roger Corman comes the sensational, action-packed film “Death Race 2050,” sequel to his 1975 post-apocalyptic picture “Death Race 2000.” The red band trailer, which was recently released, features even more car crashes, explosions, blood and pedestrian fatalities.

Directed by G.J. Echternkamp, the film is set in the year 2050 when America is controlled by a powerful corporate government ruled by The Chairman (Malcom McDowell). The story follows the most violent event of the year, as drivers compete cross-country in a road race, scoring points for shamelessly running people over, as well as crashing each other off the road.

“Now this is all about freedom,” says The Chairman. “The freedom to sit on your big, fat ass all day and watch the single greatest sports event known to man. Welcome to the Death Race.”

Manu Bennett co-star as Frankenstein, the reigning champion of the race. Additional cast members include Marci Miller,...

Snarling around the corner and mowing down everything in its path, the red band trailer for Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 offers a Nsfw look at a rage-filled race to the finish line ahead of the film's Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD release on January 17th from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Previous Press Release: Universal City, California, October 6, 2016 – A delirious blend of high-octane action, razor-sharp political satire and full-throttle mayhem, Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 arrives on Blu-ray™ combo pack, DVD and Digital HD January 17, 2017, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The highly anticipated reboot of the cult classic Death Race 2000, the Universal 1440 Entertainment original production straps viewers into the driver’s seat of the ultimate auto showdown, a blood-splattered no-holds-barred virtual-reality show that gleefully pits hardened road warriors against each other — and their audience. Exclusive bonus features reveal how filmmakers transformed the deadliest competition on wheels into a hair-raising,...

Make way for the return of Frankenstein when Roger Corman’S Death Race 2050 arrives on to Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD on January 17, 2017 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment!

Watch the all new trailer here:

A delirious blend of high-octane action, razor-sharp political satire and full-throttle mayhem, Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 arrives on Blu-ray™ combo pack, DVD and Digital HD January 17, 2017, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The highly anticipated reboot of the cult classic Death Race 2000, the Universal 1440 Entertainment original production straps viewers into the driver’s seat of the ultimate auto showdown, a blood-splattered no-holds-barred virtual-reality show that gleefully pits hardened road warriors against each other — and their audience. Exclusive bonus features reveal how filmmakers transformed the deadliest competition on wheels into a hair-raising, savagely funny game of life or death.

Legendary filmmaking icon, Roger Corman, is back with his most outrageous film yet in this sensational,...

50 points for running over seniors! Now that’s bloody fun.

Legendary filmmaker Roger Corman produced a new re-imagined Grindhouse-style Death Race 2050, starring Manu Bennett and Malcom McDowell.

In this high-octane race, a corporate government devised a way to maintain population control in futuristic America in the year 2050 by having a crew of violent drivers competing in a cross-country road race. As the drivers compete for the crown, they score extra points for running innocent people and killing each other on the path. And the crowds will love it.

The reigning champion and fan favorite, Frankenstein (Bennett), who’s half-man and half-machine, wants to take the crown, but his rebel spy co-pilot threatens his legacy.

The rest of the cast features Burt Grinstead, Marci Miller, Folake Olowofoyeku, Anessa Ramsey, Yancy Butler and Charlie Farrell. G.J. Echternkamp directed the film from the screenplay he co-wrote with Matt Yamashita.

Death Race 2050 will be available on Blu-ray,...

A delirious blend of high-octane action, razor-sharp political satire and full-throttle mayhem, Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 is the highly anticipated reboot of the cult classic Death Race 2000 (which itself was remade in 2008) . The film straps viewers into the driver’s seat of the ultimate auto showdown, a blood-splattered no-holds-barred virtual-reality show that gleefully pits hardened road warriors against each other — and their audience.

Legendary filmmaking icon, Roger Corman, is back with his most outrageous film yet in this sensational, action-packed and darkly humorous reboot of the original Death Race 2000! It’s the year 2050 and America is controlled by an all-powerful corporate government ruled by The Chairman (Malcolm McDowell). The masses have been brainwashed with violent virtual-reality entertainment. The event of the year is the Death Race, in which a motley crew of violent drivers compete in a cross-country road race, scoring points for shamelessly running people...

Roger Corman's Death Race Race 2050 burns rubber on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD on January 17th courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, and to help hold fans over until that day arrives, the official cover art, trailer, and release details have now been unveiled.

Press Release: Universal City, California, October 6, 2016 – A delirious blend of high-octane action, razor-sharp political satire and full-throttle mayhem, Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 arrives on Blu-ray™ combo pack, DVD and Digital HD January 17, 2017, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The highly anticipated reboot of the cult classic Death Race 2000, the Universal 1440 Entertainment original production straps viewers into the driver’s seat of the ultimate auto showdown, a blood-splattered no-holds-barred virtual-reality show that gleefully pits hardened road warriors against each other — and their audience. Exclusive bonus features reveal how filmmakers transformed the deadliest competition on wheels into a hair-raising, savagely funny game of life or death.

In 1975, Roger Corman released Paul Bartel’s “Death Race 2000,” a dystopian sci-fi satire starring David Carradine (“Kung Fu”) and Sylvester Stallone (“Rocky”) about a murderous Transcontinental Road Race and the group of drivers trying to survive and claim victory. The film has become a cult sensation in the past forty years, but now, Corman is back with a sequel entitled “Death Race 2050,” directed by G.J. Echternkamp. Watch the trailer below.

Read More: 9 Cult Films That Deserve a Television Prequel Series

The trailer begins with Malcolm McDowell announcing the beginning of the Death Race to the “United Corporations of America,” with such areas as One Percentia and Pharmatopia. Soon, it transitions into utter mayhem, with drivers running over innocent citizens for bonus points and other riding over cliffs into fiery explosions. In other words, it’s a Death Race.

“Death Race 2050” is not the only other film in the “Death Race” franchise.

Norman Reedus is set to attend Wizard World’s first-ever cruise! The cruise sets sail this December. Also: Death Race 2050 behind-the-scenes photos released in honor of Roger Corman’s 90th birthday, Cavity Colors’ Leatherface pin and Machete Zombie patch, The Curse of Sleeping Beauty trailer and stills, and Sherwood Horror Kickstarter details.

Norman Reedus on Wizard World Cruise: Press Release: “El Segundo, Calif., April 5, 2016 – Wizard World, Inc. (Otcbb: Wizd) and Rose Tours today announced its first Wizard World Cruise, a pop-culture, comic con-themed, three-night journey on the Norwegian Sky, December 2-5, from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas. The event will feature celebrities including Norman Reedus as well as an Artist Alley with noted comics creators, cosplay contests, exhibitors, parties, video game tournaments and more.

This will be the only cruise appearance for Reedus. Others scheduled to appear include Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, “Spin City...

Will Stallone return as Machine Gun Joe?!?

An outrageous action-packed film and reboot of the original Death Race 2000, Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 began filming February 8 in Peru. Filled with the full-throttle mayhem and black-hearted humor, this all-new film drops the flag on a phalanx of automotive gladiators who earn points for killing pedestrians — and their fellow drivers. Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050is an original release from Universal 1440 Entertainment, a production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The film will be available exclusively on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD in 2016.

In the decades since well-known independent film pioneer and Academy Award® winner Roger Corman first put the iconic anti-hero Frankenstein into the driver’s seat in Death Race 2000, this over-the-top cult classic has hurtled headlong toward cinematic immortality. Among the most enduring of the prolific producer’s legion of memorable films, Death Race 2000 has inspired a...

Roger Corman, the legendary film producer who has produced over 400 projects in his career, will be producing a reboot of Death Race 2000 called Death Race 2050 for Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, and it will star Malcolm McDowell.

The film is described in the press released as being “an outrageous action-packed film and reboot of the original Death Race 2000.” The story will revolve around a horde of automotive gladiators who earn points for killing pedestrians as well as their fellow drivers.

Corman was a producer on all of the previous Death Race films. The first one was released in 1975 and starred David Carradine, Simone Griffeth, and a young Sylvester Stallone. Paul W.S. Anderson remade the film in 2008, and that was followed by a couple of direct to DVD prequels, Death Race 2: Frankenstein Lives in 2011 and Death Race 3: Inferno in 2013.

For the most part, I’ve enjoyed the...

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that the legendary Roger Corman is returning to produce "Death Race 2050" which began production earlier this month in Peru.

A reboot of the original 1975 David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone film "Death Race 2000," the story follows a group of automotive gladiators who earn points for killing pedestrians - and their fellow drivers.

The new film stars Manu Bennett as Frankenstein, Malcolm McDowell as the Chairman, Burt Grinstead, Marci Miller, Folake Olowofoyeku, Anessa Ramsey, Yancy Butler and Charlie Farrell.

G.J. Echternkamp ("Hard Candy") helms from a script he co-wrote with Matt Yamashita. The film will be available exclusively on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD in 2016.

Source: Heat Vision...

Fans of the Death Race franchise can now buckle up for a new installment, as Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 is currently filming in Peru and will be released later this year on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

A reboot of the cult classic Corman-produced Death Race 2000 (the 1975 film shown above), Roger Corman’s Death Race 2050 stars Manu Bennett (Azog from The Hobbit films) as the feared driver Frankenstein and also features genre legend Malcolm McDowell as the Chairman. The new film is directed by G.J. Echternkamp (Hard Candy) from a screenplay by Matt Yamashita (Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda).

A Death Race remake directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil) was released in 2008 and was followed by two prequels, Death Race 2: Frankenstein Lives and Death Race 3: Inferno. Below, we have the official press release with full details on the new Death Race reboot:

Press Release: Universal City,...

Indie film Frank and Cindy has rounded out its cast as it heads into production. The based-on-a-true-story film about Frank Garcia, bassist of early 1980s one-hit wonder band Oxo, and his wife Cindy Brown, has added Oliver Platt, Jane Levy, Marc Maron and Johnny Simmons to its cast. Brown's son, G.J. Echternkamp, who made the documentary on which the film is based, is set to direct the feature. Platt will play Garcia while Rene Russo, who was previously announced as a member of the cast, will play Brown. Photos: Note Perfect: The 15 Best

read more...

Coral: Rekindling Venus

Directed by Lynette Wallworth

2013, Australia

The New Frontier selections at Sundance set out to explore the cross section of film, art and technology. It is in that spirit that Coral: Rekindling Venus, inspired in part by astronomer Edmond Halley’s appeal to the international community and subsequent expeditions taken on by a global cohort of scientists in 1761, forgoes the traditional narrative to create a visually stunning and wholly immersive experience, which includes both a full-dome planetary style presentation as well as an augmented reality app available for iOS and Android.

Filmmaker Lynette Wallworth’s visionary approach is both mesmerizing and emotionally resonate, capturing a world more alien than any likely to be found in the latest sci-fi blockbuster and all without the aid of gratuitous computer generated effects. Coral: Rekindling Venus reminds us of that other unexplored frontier and the precious resources that lie beyond the tiny mounds of earth we inhabit.

Virtually Heroes

Directed by G.J. Echternkamp

Screenplay by Matt Yamashita

2013, USA

Gamers like myself have had a long and storied history with the film industry. Movie adaptations of popular video games titles have often been met with derision from the gaming community, and with good reason. Starting with Super Mario Bros in ’93, Double Dragon (1994), and more recently the Resident Evil and Silent Hill franchises, Hollywood hasn’t exactly done right by the gaming industry. Luckily,Virtually Heroes, screening this year as part of the Midnight selection at Sundance, forgoes any specific source material, thereby skipping the middle man and moving right along to the B-movie.

Produced by genre luminary Roger Corman (the film also not so discretely borrows a good deal of stock footage from his films), Virtually Heroes offers tongue-in-cheek insight into the existential quandary that is the day-to-day of a video game hero. As vapid as the games...

As has been the case for several years now, Indiewire is the place to get to know the Sundance Film Festival filmmakers ahead of the annual event in Park City, Utah. Over the next week, we'll be posting the 2013 batch of filmmaker profiles leading up to the launch of this year's edition on January 17. Indiewire invited directors with films in the the Competitions, Next category and Midnight Madness section to take part by submitting responses to a series of questions in their own words. Go Here to view their responses.   Full List (click on name and title to view profile): 1. Calvin Reeder, "The Rambler" 2. The Team Behind "99% - The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film" 3. G.J. Echternkamp, "Virtually Heroes" 4. Mouly Surya, "What They Don't Talk About When They Talk About Love" 5. Morgan Neville, "Twenty Feet From Stardom" 6. Jacek Borcuch,...

A Necessary Death is a faux documentary from writer/director Daniel Stamm (The Last Exorcism). It follows student filmmaker Gilbert (G.J. Echternkamp) as he produces his senior project, a documentary about suicide. His crew, Valerie (Valerie Hurt) and Michael (Michael Traynor), are less comfortable with it, but they get sucked into the project once they pick the film's subject Matt (Matthew Tilley), a young man with terminal cancer. As they explore Matt's life and document the way he plans to kill himself, Valerie and Michael grow closer to Matt and feel increasingly uneasy about standing by while he kills himself.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Gilbert is an insufferable pseudo-artist who throws around lines about pushing buttons and how art isn't really art if it doesn't upset audiences. In reality, he is blinded by his own ambition to the point where he insists that the suicidal subject of his documentary must...

Chicago – Daniel Stamm’s “A Necessary Death” was such a conversation starter on the film festival scene that it essentially served as the calling card that got its director the job helming the excellent and underrated “The Last Exorcism.” In many ways, “And” is a better film. It’s a challenging work that uses a taboo subject in daring ways and is clearly the work of a talent to watch. It’s also finally available on DVD after years of being held back from the market (it was first released in 2008). Don’t miss it.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

A documentary filmmaker takes out an ad looking for someone who wants to die. He wants to make a film about something that we still don’t truly understand and most people aren’t willing to talk about — suicide. We’re scared to talk about suicide. Most of us don’t understand it or its motivations.

Sometimes we like to give an extra push to let you cats know about things that should be on your radar. This is one of those times. For those of you who want to free yourself of clutter and prefer your films downloaded legally ...

In 2008 a young director by the name of Daniel Stamm introduced a truly shocking little film onto the festival circuit. So controversial was the movie that Stamm was nearly lynched in Kosovo after screening a rough cut of it at a festival there. Eventually the buzz around A Necessary Death led the filmmaker to his biggest gig, The Last Exorcism. Deemed too odd to market by most distributors, the flick quietly hit DVD via Mpi home video and is now available for download via iTunes. If you haven't seen it, you should really give it a look as calling it unique is a bit of an understatement.

In 2008 a young director by the name of Daniel Stamm introduced a truly shocking little film onto the festival circuit. So controversial was the movie that Stamm was nearly lynched in Kosovo after screening a rough cut of it at a festival there. Eventually the buzz around A Necessary Death led the filmmaker to his biggest gig, The Last Exorcism.

Deemed too odd to market by most distributors, the flick quietly hit DVD via Mpi home video last Tuesday and if you haven't seen it, you should really give it a look as calling it unique is a bit of an understatement. A Necessary Death stars Matthew Tilley and G.J. Echternkamp. Check out the artwork and a trailer below.

Synopsis

Film student Gilbert (Gj Echternkamp) has a novel idea for his final thesis project -- find someone who wants to kill themselves and follow them through the final days of their life.

Father not only doesn’t know best, he wants to commit the worst: Kill his only son in G.J. Echternkamp‘s sick short film Captain Fork. Can humor be mined from a selfish single daddy having dreams of infanticide? Echternkamp happily trots along the cliff of “good” bad taste without falling over in this slick, well-executed — and hilarious — short movie.

What makes Captain Fork extra intriguing is that Echternkamp previously directed an autobiographical documentary that chronicled his own personal paternal issues. Frank & Cindy detailed the director’s unusual home life where his father figure was a washed up rock star.

Certainly, one doesn’t want to compare the genial, kind-hearted Frank to the monster in Captain Fork, but it’s hard not to wonder if some issues of parental abandonment didn’t inform the initial genesis of the short comedy, whether or not Echternkamp is aware of it.

Regardless, the...

The 14th annual Antimatter Film Festival in Vancouver, BC, Canada is an epic 9-day event of expanded cinema performances, feature-length documentaries an a ton of experimental short films and festivals.

There are seven feature documentaries screening including Marie Losier‘s hit The Ballad of Genesis & Lady Jaye, a profile of the pandrogenous entity, Breyer P-Orridge; and Chris Metzler & Lev Kalman’s popular Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone, about the legendary ska punk band. Plus, there’s Adele Horne’s And Again and more.

On the expanded cinema front, Antimatter welcomes retrospectives of Kerry Laitala, who will be presenting a selection of her 3D light and motion experiments; and Roger Beebe will screen a series of multi-projector performances.

As for the short films, the real highlight of the fest is a screening of Jaimz Asmundson‘s trippy and powerful The Magus, a fictional/documentary hybrid of his father’s Satanic painting process.

Rene Russo, who stars as Thor’s immortal mother in this summer’s comic-book tentpole, will next play the real-life groupie who married the young rock star of her dreams and then watched him burn-out in the indie, Frank and Cindy. Based on the 2007 documentary of the same name about Frank Garcia — bassist for the early 1980′s one-hit wonder Oxo, and his older wife, Cindy Brown – Frank and Cindy will shoot this summer, according to John Pierce, who will produce with actor Scoot McNairy (Monsters). Brown’s son, G.J. Echternkamp, who made the award-winning doc, will also direct the feature film.