July
2
Indie Ambush Stays Trim
While the indie film biz is under duress, one production company is steady as they go, making little movies and little deals and staying afloat by staying trim.
Ambush Entertainment just announced its ninth low-budget picture, the fishing saga The River Why, based on the 1984 David James Duncan coming-of-age novel.
The River Why will start principal photography in Portland, Oregon in early July, under the direction of Ambush partner Matthew Leutwyler. Ambush is partnering on the pic with producer Kristi Denton Cohen of Peloton Productions. They’re shooting, strike or no strike, under a SAG low-budget agreement, without a North American distributor in place.
Leutwyler, who runs Ambush with former actress Miranda Bailey, believes in efficient production on small budgets and tight shooting schedules. He plans to shoot The River Why, his fifth film as a director, in just five weeks. Founded in 2001, Ambush tends to hire inexperienced writers and directors on low-budget HD shoots under $5 million with name actors working for a price.
Their eclectic slate boasts three films in various stages of production. Starz Anchor Bay plans a fall release for Ambush’s $2.6 million comedy Lower Learning, starring Eva Langoria, which was shot in 18 days on one location with a Genesis camera. Still seeking distribution are the Louisiana-filmed drama Wonderful World, starring Matthew Broderick and Sanaa Lathan, and Against the Current, starring Joseph Fiennes as a man who swims the Hudson River. “It’s like playing Russian roulette,” says Leutwyler.
The filmmakers are planning a “green” production; a percentage of pic’s profits will be donated to organizations supporting fish and river preservation. It’s “socially-responsible film financing,” says Denton Cohen.
During production on The River Why, Ambush will also produce an environmental documentary that Bailey will direct. “Some films shoot in pristine areas of the world and leave the location in ruins,” says Bailey, who will use ‘The River Why’ to explore what can be done to go green.
Ambush produced the cult 2004 hit Dead and Breakfast, and Cyan Pictures and HBO Home Video released its $3-million 2006 comedy Oh in Ohio, starring Parker Posey, Heather Graham, Danny DeVito and Liza Minnelli. “We’re making films that are supposed to be small,” said Leutwyler. “Our financing doesn’t allow $7-million movies.” While the Ambush partners can raise more co-financing for bigger budgets, says Bailey, “we want to stay in control.”
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