Ori Marmur

Collider Goes to the Set of THE CHANGE-UP

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 31st, 2011 at 10:00 am

Several years ago, Georgia passed legislation promoting generous tax incentives to studios and producers, and as a result the filmmaking industry in the state has been booming.  Films shot here include Zombieland, The Crazies, Fast Five, Hall Pass, and the upcoming R-rated comedy The Change-Up.  This past January, I traveled to Powder Springs, GA with some fellow movie bloggers to visit the set of the film.  While director David Dobkin made a slight detour in 2007 with the family film Fred Claus, what I saw on the set convinced me that The Change-Up is going to be the worthy successor to Dobkin’s smash 2005 comedy Wedding Crashers.  The movie is an R-rated take on the classic body-switching premise that was best used in Freaky Friday. The interplay between stars Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds looked terrific, we saw some great jokes that had us struggling to suppress laughter so we could be quiet on the set, and as someone who has spent most of his life in Atlanta, I was pleased to learn that my hometown will actually be in the film as Atlanta.

Hit the jump for to read about my visit to the set of the film (and don’t worry—I’m not going to spoil any of the jokes).  The Change-Up opens August 5th.

Director Jonathan Liebesman, Producer’s Ori Marmur & Jeffrey Churnov, James D. Dever, and Screenwriter Chris Bertolini On Set Interview BATTLE: LOS ANGELES

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 30th, 2011 at 7:09 pm

In October of 2009, I was invited to visit the set of director Jonathan Liebesman’s Battle: Los Angeles while the production was filming in Shreveport, Louisiana.  At the time, I didn’t know much beyond the basics (aliens attack and the Marine’s have to kick ass), but with sci-fi being my favorite genre, I knew that I wanted to see the production up close.  Thankfully, everything I saw on set made me think Battle: Los Angeles is going to be a really cool movie and I’m very excited to see the finished film.

Anyway, while on set I got to talk to Liebesman, producer’s Ori Marmur & Jeffrey Churnov, screenwriter Chris Bertolini, and senior military technical advisor James D. Dever. Here’s some of the highlights:

• Liebesman talked about balancing the action and seriousness with some humor.  Says J.J. Abrams Star Trek was a great example of how to do both.  I agree.
• Talked about trying to get all the Marines some time on screen while also being truthful to the story
• Liebesman talked about why he was cool with a PG-13 rating
• Why they chose to use film over digital
• Discussed shooting with 3 cameras at the same time and how each take was slightly different. Also, why they were going for handheld camera for the movie. Liebesman mentioned Neill Blomkamp and Paul Greengrass filmmakers he admires
• Producer Jeffrey Churnov says 90% of the aliens in the movie will be CG. 10% of it will be real.

For a lot more, hit the jump:

Columbia Pictures Picks Up Shane Black’s DOC SAVAGE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 22nd, 2010 at 10:23 pm

Columbia Pictures will bring pulp hero Doc Savage back to the big screen with Shane Black co-writing and directing.  For those unfamiliar with the character, Doc Savage was a 1930s and 40s pulp fiction hero who was described by writer Lester Dent as “a mix of Sherlock Holmes’ deductive abilities, Tarzan’s outstanding physical abilities, Craig Kennedy’s scientific education, and Abraham Lincoln’s goodness.”

As we reported back in October, Neil Moritz and Ori Marmur would produce and while Shane Black was confirmed to write the film, it would only rumored he would direct.  Now, Variety confirms that Black will be getting in the director’s chair and make Doc Savage his first film since 2005′s brilliant Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.  Black is co-writing the script with Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry.  Presumably, they’ll still be setting the film in the 1930s rather than attempt to “modernize” the character, as tempting as that may be after the success of Sherlock Holmes.

Hit the jump to read what Columbia co-president Matt Tolmach had to say about jumping on board the Doc Savage bandwagon.

Exclusive: Producing Duo Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci NOT Producing DOC SAVAGE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 26th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

This past Saturday, Ain’t It Cool News reported that the amazing Shane Black (he used to be Shane Black the Great but now he’s amazing) will be writing and possibly directing the adaptation of the pulp fiction hero “Doc Savage”.  AintItCool also noted that power producers/screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci would be producing the film.  Contrary to popular opinion, Kurtzman & Orci do not produce every upcoming genre property passing through Hollywood.  It’s an honest mistake on AICN’s part but we know the film’s real producers.  Hit the jump to find out.

Filming Commences on THE GREEN HORNET

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: September 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 pm

While many thought “The Green Hornet” would never get made due to all the problems finding a director and Kato, thanks to a press release from Columbia Pictures, we know filming has actually begun!

I know some of you aren’t excited to see “Green Hornet” and to those…I’m sorry. Because any film directed by Michel Gondry is worth seeing and this is going to be the biggest budget he’s ever had. Come on…aren’t you a little bit curious? Anyway, I’ve posted the press release after the jump so take a look:

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