PHASE 4 FILMS ACQUIRES ALL U.S. AND CANADIAN RIGHTS TO
MATT JOHNSON’S THE DIRTIES FOR KEVIN SMITH MOVIE CLUB
Los Angeles, CA (May 6, 2013) – Berry Meyerowitz, President & CEO of Phase 4 Films, announced today that the company has acquired all U.S. and Canadian rights to Matt Johnson’s THE DIRTIES. The film stars Johnson and Owen Williams from a screenplay written by Johnson, Evan Morgan and Josh Boles. The film was produced by Matthew Miller along with Johnson, Morgan and Jared Raab. THE DIRTIES made its world premiere at the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival, where it won the Narrative Grand Jury Prize. Phase 4 will release the film later this year in theaters and on VOD via its distribution partnership with filmmaker Kevin Smith’s Kevin Smith Movie Club.
THE DIRTIES follows two best friends as they film a comedy about killing the bullies in their school. One of them isn't joking.
Kevin Smith said: "I've always wanted to say this about a movie I made and mean it, but never could. Now, thanks to THE DIRTIES, I can: This is the most important film you will see all year. Matt Johnson has mashed-up the found footage film and the faux-documentary genres and crafted the most original, hypnotic, and human movie about a monster-in-the-making you will ever see. Not only is THE DIRTIES an astonishingly great first film, it has the stones to deal with some very real subject matter in a mature, important way. Big thanks to Kevin Smith Movie Club’s own Elyse Seiden as well as all of our partners at Phase 4 for landing this very big fish for the Kevin Smith Movie Club. I'm crazy proud to be associated in any way with THE DIRTIES - a landmark achievement in not just indie film, but cinema in general."
Previous films in the Kevin Smith Movie Club include Jordan Galland’s cult hit superhero comedy ALTER EGOS, a collaboration with Sean Lennon who composed the film, which earned over $1 million in North America on VOD after its initial theatrical release.
During Slamdance, Huffington Post called THE DIRTIES “the most controversial (and arguably best) film in all of Park City” and “the most empathetic and human portrait of bullying, and its deadly consequences, ever put on film.”
Phase 4 Films negotiated the deal with Nate Bolotin and Aram Tertzakian of XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers. Matt Johnson is repped by WME, Management 360, and Akin Gump.
http://www.thedirtiesthemovie.com
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About Phase 4 Films
Phase 4 Films is one of the leading full service independent studios. With offices in nine cities in the U.S. and Canada, the company provides a full range of services relating to the sales, marketing, licensing and distribution of feature films, television and special interest content across all media in the North American market.
kaboom! Entertainment is the dedicated kids & family label for Phase 4 Films. It is one of the most recognizable brands in the children’s and family market. Established in 2000, the label releases episodic properties that include Max & Ruby, Franklin and Chuggington, along with full length animated features including The True Story of Puss ‘N Boots and The Adventures of Young Doctor Dolittle.