Hart-Lunsford Pictures | News and Press

Hart/Lunsford Pictures Co-Finances “Great Expectations”

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:32:37 +0000

(Louisville, Ky.) – Hart/Lunsford Pictures of Louisville, Kentucky has finalized a financing agreement that includes acquiring the North American rights to “Great Expectations,” a feature film recently shot in England. The film is co-financed by the BBC and the British Film Institute, and is now in post-production. A film version of Charles Dickens’ renowned novel, “Great Expectations” stars two-time Academy Award® nominee Ralph Fiennes, Academy Award® nominee Helena Bonham Carter, and Golden Globe® winner Sally Hawkins. The stellar cast also includes Jeremy Irvine, the lead in Steven Spielberg’s recent Academy-Award®-nominated film “War Horse,” and Holliday Grainger, star of the popular Showtime series “The Borgias.”

Directed by Mike Newell (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral”), the “Great Expectations” screenplay was written by David Nichols (“One Day”). Two-time Academy Award® nominee John Mathieson (“Gladiator,“ ”X-Men: First Class”) is handling the cinematography, two-time Academy Award® nominee Tariq Anwar (“The King’s Speech,” “American Beauty”) is editing the film, and Stephen Woolley (“Interview with a Vampire,” “The Crying Game”) is producing.

“Great Expectations” will open in theatres later this year, which is the bicentennial of Charles Dickens’ birth.

Ed Hart, managing member of Hart/Lunsford Pictures, remarked, “I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed reading Charles Dickens and “Great Expectations” is one of my favorites. Considering Charles Dickens is acknowledged to be one of the world’s great writers, I’m particularly proud to be associated with this blue-chip production, which has such outstanding talent both in front of and behind the camera.”

Hart added, ”This opportunity presented itself when Unison Films of New York City, which was looking for financing to complete the film, contacted us. We have financed many critically acclaimed projects and are familiar with both the production and distribution sides of the business. The opportunity to make a sound investment and also to be associated with a project of such high caliber made this a perfect fit for us.”

Asked about the strategy for distribution in North America, Hart answered, “We haven’t yet decided if we will sell the rights to one of the many U.S. distributors who have shown an interest or to distribute it ourselves. We might also choose to divide the various ancillary platforms (such as DVD, digital, and television) and sell those separately, while retaining the rights to theatrical distribution. We have plenty of time to formulate a distribution strategy, but our ultimate decision will be based primarily on what’s best for the film.”

As far as distribution outside North America is concerned, Hart stated, ”We’re in the very capable hands of HanWay Films, which is headquartered in London. HanWay has already secured millions of dollars in worldwide pre-sales for “Great Expectations.” We look forward to joining HanWay at the Cannes, Venice, and Toronto Film Festivals to coordinate our distribution efforts, and to collaborating with Unison to make sure “Great Expectations” gets the wide distribution it deserves. It’s a film for all ages with global appeal.”

Media Contact:
Edward J. Hart
502/473-0545, ext. 126
info@hlpictures.com

Producers Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford are making their mark on the movie business

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:24:02 +0000

Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford were recently profiled in the Courier Journal. Read the full article here.

Dirty Girl Director and Cast Join “It Gets Better” Project

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:51:26 +0000

Along with director Abe Sylvia, the cast of Hart/Lunsford Pictures’ Dirty Girl are the newest participants in Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” project. Click here to read the full article from The Huffington Post.

Click the following link to view the video - IT GETS BETTER – Cast and Filmmakers of “DIRTY GIRL”

Latest Review of Dirty Girl

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:27:33 +0000

Hart Lunsford Pictures’ Dirty Girl was recently reviewed in BUST Magazine. Click here to download the PDF.

Dirty Girl screened at Fresno Reel Pride festival

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:05:39 +0000

Hart-Lunsford Pictures’ Dirty Girl was shown on September 14 at the 22nd annual Fresno Reel Pride festival. Learn more at the Fresno Reel Pride website.

Hart/Lunsford Pictures to Premier “Dirty Girl” in Louisville

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:17:01 +0000

For Immediate Release – July 6, 2011

(Louisville, Ky.) – Hart/Lunsford Pictures (HLP) is proud to announce that it plans to premier its latest feature film, “Dirty Girl,” in Louisville near the time of the movie’s national release on October 7, 2011. Plans are still being finalized for the invitation-only premiere, to be hosted by HLP partners Ed Hart and Bruce Lunsford. The movie, filmed in 2010, stars Juno Temple, Milla Jovovich, Tim McGraw, William H. Macy, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam, and talented newcomer Jeremy Dozier and was directed by Abe Sylvia. It was purchased by the Weinstein Company at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival. Since then, Harvey Weinstein has worked closely with the director to lock a film that is both dramatic and comedic.

The film tells the story of Danielle (played by Juno Temple, who first won praise for her role as a manipulative sister in “Atonement” and who will soon be seen in “The Three Musketeers” and Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises”), the rebellious and raunchy “dirty girl” of Norman, Oklahoma’s high school circa 1987. When Danielle’s outrageous behavior gets her banished to “special ed” class, she meets Clarke (played by Jeremy Dozier), a shy and closeted teen with no friends. Forced together for a school project, they wind up fleeing town and hitting the road together, Danielle seeking the father she has never met and Clarke desperate to escape being sent to military school by his cold-hearted dad.

Ed Hart commented, “People of all ages, both men and women, have responded warmly to the film, which recently won the HBO Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at this summer’s Provincetown (Massachusetts) International Film Festival. We love this movie and we think Louisville will too!” Hart went on to say, “Harvey Weinstein has impeccable taste and he really likes this film. The Weinstein marketing machine is working full throttle to publicize Dirty Girl’s American debut.”

The trailer for “Dirty Girl” will be aired with three films scheduled for wide release in August and September: “Glee,” “My Idiot Brother,” and “I Don’t Know How She Does It.” The trailer was first seen nationally on July 4, airing on “Entertainment Tonight.” Hart noted, “We’ve gotten a great response from the trailer and we’re pleased with the good reviews we’ve received from advance screenings held for national film critics.”

To date, HLP has co-produced ten feature films, among them last year’s critically acclaimed “Me and Orson Welles,” starring Zac Efron, Claire Danes, and Christian McKay. In a final comment, Hart remarked, “We are fortunate that our films have been well received, but I must confess that, of all the films we’ve produced, “Dirty Girl” is one of my favorites. We’re really looking forward to hosting the Louisville premiere.”

Media Contact:
Edward J. Hart
502/473-0545, ext. 126
info@hlpictures.com

Tim McGraw Gets His Hands ‘Dirty’ This Summer

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:17:20 +0000

Dirty Girl actor and country musician Tim McGraw was profiled in a story in Aol’s The Boot this June. Read the full article at The Boot.

Abe Sylvia’s ‘Dirty Girl’ Wins Top Prize at Provincetown Film Festival

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:22:32 +0000

Dirty Girl won the HBO Audience Award for best narrative feature at the Provincetown International Film Festival in June. Read more at the Hollywood Reporter.

Hart/Lunsford Pictures Sells “Dirty Girl” for $3 Million at Toronto International Film Festival

hartlunsford — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:59:43 +0000

(Louisville, Ky.) – “Dirty Girl,” a feature film co-produced by Hart/Lunsford Pictures and iDeal Partners Film Fund and starring Juno Temple, Milla Jovovich, Tim McGraw, William H. Macy, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam, and talented newcomer Jeremy Dozier, was sold for $3 million to the Weinstein Company at the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival. The rights sold cover the U.S., U.K., France, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

“We were walking into the premiere this past Sunday evening when we got a call from Harvey Weinstein,” Ed Hart said. “So although we missed the premiere because of the ensuing negotiations, we sold the movie.”

“Dirty Girl” was written and directed by Abe Sylvia and is his first feature film. It tells the story of Danielle (played by Juno Temple), the “dirty girl” of Norman, Oklahoma’s high school circa 1987. When Danielle’s outrageous behavior gets her banished to “special ed” class, she meets Clarke (played by Jeremy Dozier), a shy closet-case with no friends. Forced together for a school project, they wind up fleeing town, Danielle seeking the father she has never met and Clarke desperate to escape being sent to military school by his cold-hearted dad.

The glorious ‘80’s soundtrack features a number of Melissa Manchester songs from the period. “It was a wonderful surprise,” remarked Mr. Hart, “when Melissa Manchester appeared at the after-party and serenaded us on the piano with some of her hits.”

Hart went on to say, “I don’t think there’s a better fit for “Dirty Girl” than the Weinstein Company. Harvey Weinstein has a great eye for talent and especially for indie movies with breakout potential. We look forward to seeing “Dirty Girl” get a wide release in 2011.”