Phil Brooks (aka CM Punk) in GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR)
Photos by: Andy Goodwin Copyright 2018 Queensbury Pictures

The recently launched production company, Queensbury Pictures, today announced the production wrap of GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR, the writing and directing debut of producer Travis Stevens and starring pop culture staple and former WWE superstar, Phil Brooks (aka CM Punk).

Shooting has wrapped in the Chicago suburb of Frankfort, Illinois – in a house that has long been considered by local residents to be haunted.

A name consistently in the news and synonymous with pop culture, mixed martial artist and comic book writer Phil Brooks is best known for his record setting career in the WWE under the name CM Punk. Brooks has a recurring role in Marc Maron’s IFC comedy series Maronand will appear in the remake of David Cronenberg’s Rabid. GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOORmarks his first leading role.

“I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to take on the lead role in GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR,” said Phil Brooks. “I’m a longtime personal fan of genre films and this project was an absolute natural fit for me.”

Producer Greg Newman said, “Phil Brooks has proven his abilities as an actor outside of the ring and is a natural fit for the lead. His range and performance will surely delight and surprise those who know him best from his athletic career. We’re thrilled and honored to have him on the project.

Writer/Director of GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR, Travis Stevens, has produced such acclaimed, wide-ranging films as We Are Still Hereand Starry Eyes,and Buster’s Mal Heart. Stevens will now be stepping behind the camera for the first time as a director.

Stevens said, “After many years nurturing the creative vision of other talented storytellers, I’m both grateful and humbled to receive the support of Queensbury Pictures, MPI Media and all the cast and crew who have crossed the threshold of this very strange, incredibly beautiful and unflinchingly terrifying house.”

The cast includes Trieste Dunnof Applesauce, United 93, Bansheeand many other films and TV series, Elissa Dowling, a genre veteran best known for We Are Still Hereand newcomer Sarah Brooksin a breakout role. Award-winning Special FX Technician Dan Martin(High Rise, Free Fire, Lord of Chaos) is creating the film’s jaw-dropping special make-up and creature effects. Producers on the film include Greg Newman, Giles Edwards, Nicola Goelzhaeuser and Travis Stevens.

Film Synopsis:

At the heart of the film is Don Koch (CM Punk), a man who is failing as a husband. For years he has skated by on charm and charisma, until it nearly landed him in jail. He now views fixing up an old house as a chance to make up for past mistakes. Meanwhile, his wife, Liz Koch, is concerned about the renovation timeline as they have a baby on the way. With all this pressure it’s no wonder Don responds to the flirtations of an attractive stranger. As Don tears the house apart, it begins to tear him apart as well, revealing the rot behind the drywall.

Queensbury Pictures was launched this past spring by film industry vets Greg Newman, Travis Stevens and Giles Edwards to produce films in-house as well as nurture the next wave of great filmmaking talent. The company will shepherd a wide range of projects from conception to production, distribution and exhibition. GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR marks its initial step in this direction.

By Creative Media Times

Focus Features

The upcoming science fiction crime thriller film is directed by Rupert Wyatt, who gave us 2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” the highly successful reboot of the “Planet of the Apes” original series.

Not a lot is spoiled in the teaser trailer. It didn’t reveal any aliens or much of the film’s sci-fi elements, though it did feature a look at the film’s dystopian future and featured a silhouette of what looks like a huge extra-terrestrial spacecraft.

The alien invasion film was penned by Erica Beeney and Rupert Wyatt.

Here’s the film’s official logline:
Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, CAPTIVE STATE explores the lives on both sides of the conflicts – the collaborators and the dissidents.

“Captive State” stars John Goodman, Vera Farmiga, Ashton Sanders, and Jonathan Majors and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on March 29, 2019.

by Brad Brevet

Summer 2018 has come to an end, along with the month of August. To Hollywood’s delight, August finished up +29% compared to 2017’s disastrous performance and the summer movie season was up nearly +15% compared to last year’s similarly dismal showing. Disney led the way over the summer months serving as the only studio to top $1 billion in calendar grosses for the time frame, led by the June release of Incredibles 2, which brought in over $600 million to become the highest grossing animated domestic release ever.

Summer was also bolstered by such releases as Universal’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Fox’s Deadpool 2, the late-spring carryover Avengers: Infinity War and late-summer releases including Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Warner Bros.’s August surge in the form of The Meg and Crazy Rich Asians. In fact, The Meg and Crazy Rich Asians helped push WB over the $1 billion mark domestically for the year, taking the studio crown for the month of August.

More at Box Office Mojo >>

By Creative Media Times

Netflix

This is Netflix’s first win at a major film festival, establishing the streaming giant as a strong force in arthouse film distribution.

The award was given to Guillermo del Toro, who last year won the Golden Lion for The Shape of Water, which went on to sweep the oscars including best picture and best director for del Toro.

Similarly, Roma’s win gives a strong start for the film’s oscar campaign. The film has been getting plenty of acclaim, with Hollywood Reporter describing it “an immersive bath in some of the most luxuriantly beautiful black-and-white images you’ve ever seen.”

The much buzzed-about family drama was written, co-edited, co-photographed, co-produced Alfonso Cuarón and stars Yalitza Aparicio, Marco Graf, Marina de Tavira, Enoc Leaño, Daniela Demesa and Daniel Valtierra.

Said to be Cuaron’s most personal film yet, “Roma” is filmed in black-and-white which perfectly complement’s the film’s ’70s setting. It is his first film since the sci-fi epic “Gravity.”

Roma’s festival play at Venice Film Fest is also its world premiere. This will be followed by screenings at Toronto International Film Festival before it debuts on Netflix on December 14, though no theatrical release date has been confirmed.