How Defiant Studios Banks on a Financing Model With Microbudgets and Emerging Talent by Brian Welk | April 16, 2021 @ 1:47 PM
Producers Eric B. Fleischman and Maurice Fadida are finding success and earning trust with a plan modeled off the folded Paramount division Insurge
Within the DNA for Defiant Studios, the production banner behind Terry Crews’ 2020 hit “John Henry” and last month’s “Phobias,” are two companies: You’ve definitely heard of the scrappy, microbudget mentality that has made Blumhouse Productions a juggernaut. But you may have forgotten about Insurge, a one-time division of Paramount born with the mission to incubate young, first-time filmmakers.
RLJE Films Now Acquire Mickey Keating’s SXSW Horror Hit OFFSEASON
RLJE Films and Shudder have snags Mickey Keating s SXSW horror hit OFFSEASON! By Josh Millican
RLJE Films is a business unit of AMC Networks. Shudder is AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural. Today they announced the acquisition of North American rights to the wildly popular film
Offseason. It world-premiered to positive reviews at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival, with WTFilms taking international sales rights.
Written and Directed by Mickey Keating (
Darling, Carnage Park, Psychopaths). It stars Jocelin Donahue (
The House of the Devil) and Joe Swanberg (
Mickey Keating Horror Film ‘Offseason’ Acquired by RLJE Films and Shudder
Film starring Jocelin Donahue and Joe Swanberg debuted at 2021 SXSW Film FestivalBrian Welk | April 13, 2021 @ 10:28 AM
RLJE Films/Shudder
RLJE Films and the horror streaming service Shudder have acquired the North American rights to “Offseason,” the latest film from director Mickey Keating that made its premiere at this year’s SXSW.
“Offseason” stars Jocelin Donahue and Joe Swanberg and is an American Gothic horror about a woman who travels to a desolate island town after receiving a mysterious letter and soon becomes trapped in a nightmare. RLJE plans to release “Offseason” in theaters early next year. Shudder, which has also acquired UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand rights, will premiere the film on its platform later in 2022. WTFFilms took international rights.
New record label in Richmond aims to help music acts make it to the top
March 8, 2021 2
From left, Alexis Hitchman, Desiree “Des” Newman, Kelmisha Davis and Kayla Brown round out the team behind Siren Vibes Records. (
Courtesy of Siren Vibes Records)
Richmond’s newest record label is looking to tap into talent in Virginia, Maryland and D.C., and help acts make the leap into the big leagues.
Siren Vibes Records, with three artists already on board, was launched in the city in January by the three-woman team of Desiree “Des” Newman, Alexis Hitchman and Kelmisha Davis.
The company provides services such as distribution on digital music platforms, social media management, public relations, concert bookings and career development among other things.
Vertical Acquires Horror-Thriller Phobias, Where Five Directors Tackle Great Fears
Matt Donnelly, provided by
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“Phobias,” a group-directed genre title about our worst fears, has sold North American distribution rights to Vertical Entertainment.
The anthology film features the directorial debuts of three women Jess Varley, Maritte Go, and actor Camilla Belle. They’re joined by Chris von Hoffman (“Monster Party”) and Joe Sill (“Stray”).
More from Variety
The film follows five dangerous patients at a government testing facility, all suffering from extreme phobias. A crazed doctor attempts to weaponize these anxieties. Vertical is hoping for a theatrical release and a digital platform rollout in March.