Cherrybomb Distribution Campaign!

[Ivana]

Hi! This is my first post, and I'm actually not promoting my own film, I just want to draw your attention to this campaign.

Some of you may have heard about the upcoming film Cherrybomb, starring Rupert Grint (best known for his role in Harry Potter) alongside fellow young leads Kimberly Nixon and Robert Sheehan, and also starring James Nesbitt. It is a thriller/drama set in contemporary Belfast and jointly directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D'Sa.

Since its announcement last year there has been a lot of buzz surrounding this film, which has already played at the international film festivals in Berlin, Dublin and Belfast, and is showing at Cannes later this month.

However, the global economic downturn is having a very negative affect on the distribution of independent films, and Cherrybomb - like many others - is under threat of being sent straight to DVD. I think it's safe to say that there are a lot of people out there that want to see Cherrybomb. But unless potential distributors can be confident of this, the film may never reach the cinemas.

For this reason, fansite Ice Cream Man http://www.rupert-grint.us and The Little Film Company (the studio behind the picture itself) have launched the Official Cherrybomb Campaign in order to ensure the widest possible cinematic release for the film.

At the moment, there are six separate petitions targeting the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France, Italy and Brazil. Those countries were chosen according to statistics on areas who have either viewed the Cherrybomb trailer or shown the most interest in websites/communities that link Rupert Grint news.

If you are interested in supporting this film, please sign the UK petition, since the same distributor will probably be handling both the UK and Ireland: http://www.petitiononline.com/cherry10/petition.html

I have seen the film in Dublin, and you may read my review here at IMDB (the first review on the page): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1248971/usercomments

You can view the trailer here: http://www.drfunkenberry.com/2009/05...bomb-petition/

and read a few more reviews here:
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content/id...herrybomb.html
http://www.drfunkenberry.com/2009/02...os-before-hos/
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117...DB&p=H2BE&cs=1

Thank you for your time!

[Frank Kelly]

I think it's essential for the nourishment of the movie going public that films like this are available to be shared in a movie theatre. It's important to support smaller films and up and coming talent by giving them a platform to show their work. I think it is essential for the culture of film that films like this be seen in theaters, and not just studio films or blockbusters.

As an audience we need choice. As filmmakers we need chances. As a society we need culture.

[D Wheeler]

Originally Posted by fwkelly

I think it's essential for the nourishment of the movie going public that films like this are available to be shared in a movie theatre. It's important to support smaller films and up and coming talent by giving them a platform to show their work. I think it is essential for the culture of film that films like this be seen in theaters, and not just studio films or blockbusters.

As an audience we need choice. As filmmakers we need chances. As a society we need culture.

I think I'd rather see an approach to building new platforms for these type of films rather than trying to force them through the ever decreasing distribution gap that we all seem to accept as the only route.

[Frank Kelly]

What kind of platforms?

[D Wheeler]

Originally Posted by fwkelly

What kind of platforms?

Feckin hell Frank! I'm still working on that one. Lets keep plugging away on the films until then.

But seriously, I spend many a day studying the distribution system. Fortunetly I got to know it well in Ireland anyway through the film review set up as I had regular contact with Irish distribution reps. Its shark infested waters. But we know that.

The starting point has to be cinema chains and Im talking mainstream chains, not your Lighthouse cinema set ups. (with respect) After that I'm leaning closely towards the old Palace Pictures model from the 80s. They played a blinder with VHS in its infancy and then got cinema chains behind them. We've never tried that model in Ireland. Not wholely informed on international equivilents.

But the first and most important aspect of my proposed approach is the actual point of sale - the cinema. The multiplex concept was meant to deliver more films. But the big distributors just made sure that we got the same film on more screens.Unfortunetly they are nearly all international outfits, but its here that a bit of legislation from Leinster house can come in. Let me work it some more. Theres merit in it. Then i'll charge you all 100 euro to come listen in the IFC. Recession anyone? Frank I'll cut you in on the deal. We need it.

[Ivana]

Many thanks for your support. I should let you know that I have approached several media and asked them to support the campaing (among them The Irish Times, The Belfast Telegraph etc.), but so far they haven't done anything -- although for example the American cable television Reelz Channel featured the story on their website: http://www.reelzchannel.com/movie-ne...nts-cherrybomb
Makes no sense to me... oh well.

[Rob Kelly]

I think the trailer need some clarity - some info on what its about - preferable the compulsory voice over or even text or dialogue. Looks great don't get me wrong and I'll support it no bother but I don't think the film is being properly promoted with the trailer. What you think?

[TiernanSheridan]

It looks like straight-to-DVD material to me. Still good though, but not the kind of movie that gets regularly screened in our local mulitplexes. Seems to be a 'cool' British youth movie but the actors are too young to appeal to a wide audience. Also, that guy with the black hair was in Summer of the Flying Saucer and if that rubbish could get a theatrical release then there's still hope for this.

[Cannon-Fodder]

Robbie Sheehan is very good in the film, looks like he'll soon be regarded as the next big thing (if not already).

I would've thought the "Rup" Grint factor would've garnered some attention from some of the UK distributors?

There'd probably be some market for the film in Ireland, but I'd wager its a risky proposition.

If the sales agents are acknowledging a global downturn does this mean they're looking for softer deals from distributors?

[Ivana]

Originally Posted by Rob Kelly

I think the trailer need some clarity - some info on what its about - preferable the compulsory voice over or even text or dialogue. Looks great don't get me wrong and I'll support it no bother but I don't think the film is being properly promoted with the trailer. What you think?

Actually this is just a teaser trailer, put together by Generator Entertainment and TLFC so that they have something to show to potential distributors. What I've been told is that the eventual distributor would be in charge of making a proper theatrical trailer.

Oh and Cannon-Fodder, you're right, Robbie Sheehan is brilliant in Cherrybomb. Of the three young leads, he's the one who got the meatiest/flashiest role, and he aced it.
I met Robbie at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, and I also interviewed him a couple of months ago. He's a great kid, and I do hope he'll be the next big thing.