Battle in Seattle

Blockbuster signs deals for indie exclusives Titles include Screen Media's Personal Effects, Battle in Seattle

Blockbuster has been quietly but aggressively adding rental title exclusives to its shelves.

A number of indie films, including Screen Media’s Personal Effects and Battle in Seattle and E1 Entertainment’s Baby on Board, are popping up within exclusive 30-day windows at Blockbuster before their wider release at other retailers.

Personal Effects is currently available only at Blockbuster until its May 12 larger retail bow. Baby on Board is expected on Blockbuster shelves this month before its wide June 2 release. Battle in Seattle was at Blockbuster in February before launching wide on March 10.

Some rival retailers, including members of the National Entertainment Buying Group, have expressed concern over not having the same ability to offer customers such films at the same time as Blockbuster.

However, in several instances, the Blockbuster exclusive was arranged outside of distributors’ control. For example, Screen Media lacked the rights to deliver Battle in Seattle and Personal Effects to its retail partners until Blockbuster’s 30-day exclusive on the title ended. In these two cases, the films’ producers struck separate deals with Blockbuster for their exclusive roll-out at the chain. Screen Media then negotiated with the producers, Redwood Palm and Insight Films, respectively, to distribute the titles to other retailers.

Read More »

First-time director charges into ‘Battle’

Stuart Townsend has recently made a promotional stop in Dallas where Todd Jorgenson reports. Townsend talked to the press about his american experience and the events in 1999, which spoke volumes to him about corporate culture in the U.S. 9 years later, the first time director has made a feature film of the riots and even snagged a high profile cast for the independant film. 

"...I really loved the story, and I wanted to tell it. This was a war against corporate power. Corporations were ruining our world. You have to have corporations, but the whole point is to try and make them sustainable and responsible..."

Read the full article here.

Read More »

Interview with Stuart Townsend and Martin Henderson

Artist Direct has caught up Stuart Townsend and Martin Henderson regarding their latest film, "Battle in Seattle". They talk about where they were when the actual battle in seattle happened, and the fact that most people don't remember the event. That being said, Townsend shares that it is because of this, he found it inspiring to big it to the big screen. They also both chat about the cast, the ideas and what they got out of the film.

"... wanted to use actors that young people really liked. If I made a documentary, no one would have seen it. By this approach, we thought that if we could make it more about the characters and the emotional connections, not just political connections, we could hit somewhat of a mainstream audience..."

Read the full interview here.

Read More »