To borrow a phrase from Paddy Chayefsky, Eric Idle is mad as hell, and he’s not going to take it anymore. The founding member of Monty Python, 80, has taken to X in recent days to clear the air on a number of matters regarding the legendary British troupe — whose catalog (four seasons of Monty Python’s Flying Circus plus five feature films, including Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python’s Life of Brian) have elevated them to “Beatles of comedy” status. (Idle, it’s worth noting, is also the mind behind the 1978 Beatles parody The Rutles.) The claims — which many fans say are ruining their cherished Python memories — are as follows:
Idle is Out of Money — and Blames the Gilliams
We own everything we ever made in Python and I never dreamed that at this age the income streams would tail off so disastrously. But I...
Idle is Out of Money — and Blames the Gilliams
We own everything we ever made in Python and I never dreamed that at this age the income streams would tail off so disastrously. But I...
- 2/14/2024
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Witscript and Hyperrate.io took home the prizes at San Sebastian’s 5th Zinemaldia Startup Challenge on Thursday afternoon. Each received €10,000 and access to incubation to nurture their fledgling companies, with the potential to vie for €500,000 in funding.
Speaking with Variety following her win, Hendrikje Wagner CEO of Hyperate.io was delighted with the validation: “Other people think it’s a really good idea and it enables us to move discussions forward.” The startup integrates heart rate data into live streams, events, and games. Its goal is fewfold: One is to help streamers automate the creation of short highlight videos from their streams using heart rate as a guide. It meets a need from streamers who attract users across social channels via manually edited short form video.
A second was to enhance visibility of emotional impact further to facilitate hyper personalisation across a wide breadth of media.
The taking of...
Speaking with Variety following her win, Hendrikje Wagner CEO of Hyperate.io was delighted with the validation: “Other people think it’s a really good idea and it enables us to move discussions forward.” The startup integrates heart rate data into live streams, events, and games. Its goal is fewfold: One is to help streamers automate the creation of short highlight videos from their streams using heart rate as a guide. It meets a need from streamers who attract users across social channels via manually edited short form video.
A second was to enhance visibility of emotional impact further to facilitate hyper personalisation across a wide breadth of media.
The taking of...
- 9/29/2023
- by Callum McLennan
- Variety Film + TV
Nope, this isn’t Et, The Extraterrestrial, not by a long shot. Guest reviewer Lee Broughton offers an assessment of Harry Bromley Davenport’s British cult sci-fi shocker of modest means, a show that would be pure exploitation if not for some creditable performances. It’s nasty but has a basic competence and is not just more cynical grist for the mill. ‘Phone Home,’ my Aunt Fannie: sometimes the difference between a thriller like this and a higher-profile classic is just pretension.
Xtro
Region Free Blu-ray + CD
Second Sight (UK)
1982 / Color / 1.85 widescreen / 86 min. / Street Date, 18 June 2018 / £29.99
Starring: Philip Sayer, Bernice Stegers, Danny Brainin, Maryam d’Abo, Simon Nash, Susie Silvey, Peter Mandell, Anna Wing, Tim Dry, Sean Crawford, Robert Pereno, David Cardy.
Cinematography: John Metcalfe
Film Editor: Nicolas Gaster
Production Designer: Andrew Mollo
Original Music: Harry Bromley Davenport
Written by Iain Cassie, Robert Smith, Michel Parry, Harry Bromley Davenport, Jo Ann Kaplan...
Xtro
Region Free Blu-ray + CD
Second Sight (UK)
1982 / Color / 1.85 widescreen / 86 min. / Street Date, 18 June 2018 / £29.99
Starring: Philip Sayer, Bernice Stegers, Danny Brainin, Maryam d’Abo, Simon Nash, Susie Silvey, Peter Mandell, Anna Wing, Tim Dry, Sean Crawford, Robert Pereno, David Cardy.
Cinematography: John Metcalfe
Film Editor: Nicolas Gaster
Production Designer: Andrew Mollo
Original Music: Harry Bromley Davenport
Written by Iain Cassie, Robert Smith, Michel Parry, Harry Bromley Davenport, Jo Ann Kaplan...
- 7/7/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
In his latest podcast, host Stuart Wright talks with Xtro producer Mark Forstater about the 35th anniversary of this cult classic sci-fi horror.
Second Sight Films have this week released Xtro: Limited Edition Blu-ray (region free). Packaging will feature a rigid slipcase with both original UK theatrical and video artwork, each flipped vertically on either side so you choose which is front. Inside will be digipak containing Blu-ray and CD soundtrack plus soft cover book. For more on the release see www.facebook.com/SecondSightFilms/
Xtro: Limited Edition full contents:
New restorations of extended version with option of alternate endings plus original UK video version New director restoration Xploring Xtro – a new 57 minute documentary featuring interviews with Harry Bromley-Davenport, Mark Forstater, Bernice Stegers, Susie Silvey, Tim Dry (Tik), Sean Crawford (Tok), Robert Pereno, Alan Jones and Craig Lapper The World of Xtro – a new featurette with Dennis Atherton, Harry Bromley-Davenport...
Second Sight Films have this week released Xtro: Limited Edition Blu-ray (region free). Packaging will feature a rigid slipcase with both original UK theatrical and video artwork, each flipped vertically on either side so you choose which is front. Inside will be digipak containing Blu-ray and CD soundtrack plus soft cover book. For more on the release see www.facebook.com/SecondSightFilms/
Xtro: Limited Edition full contents:
New restorations of extended version with option of alternate endings plus original UK video version New director restoration Xploring Xtro – a new 57 minute documentary featuring interviews with Harry Bromley-Davenport, Mark Forstater, Bernice Stegers, Susie Silvey, Tim Dry (Tik), Sean Crawford (Tok), Robert Pereno, Alan Jones and Craig Lapper The World of Xtro – a new featurette with Dennis Atherton, Harry Bromley-Davenport...
- 6/20/2018
- by Stuart Wright
- Nerdly
New films by Krzysztof Zanussi, Merab Kokochashvili and Jan Cvitkovic are among the projects from Eastern Europe being presented at platforms in Warsaw, Brindisi and Cottbus in the coming weeks.
The CentEast Warsaw-Moscow initiative will be presenting nine ‘works in progress’ from Eastern Europe on October 18 as part of Warsaw Film Festival’s CentEast Market.
The showcase will then be repeated two days later on October 20 in Moscow as part of Project For Tomorrow and, in a new development, during the Beijing Film Market next April.
The nine ‘works in progress’ include:
veteran Polish film-maker Krzysztof Zanussi’s new feature the Polish-Italian-Russian co-production Foreign Body;
Ukrainian Oles Sanin’s $2m historical drama The Guide, previously presented at Odessa’s industry platform in July;
Alexander Mitta’s art film Chagall-Malevich, which is being handled internationally by Intercinema and was given a special promo-reel screening in Venice;
Romanian Dan Chisu’s sixth feature Bucharest Nonstop about four interconnected stories...
The CentEast Warsaw-Moscow initiative will be presenting nine ‘works in progress’ from Eastern Europe on October 18 as part of Warsaw Film Festival’s CentEast Market.
The showcase will then be repeated two days later on October 20 in Moscow as part of Project For Tomorrow and, in a new development, during the Beijing Film Market next April.
The nine ‘works in progress’ include:
veteran Polish film-maker Krzysztof Zanussi’s new feature the Polish-Italian-Russian co-production Foreign Body;
Ukrainian Oles Sanin’s $2m historical drama The Guide, previously presented at Odessa’s industry platform in July;
Alexander Mitta’s art film Chagall-Malevich, which is being handled internationally by Intercinema and was given a special promo-reel screening in Venice;
Romanian Dan Chisu’s sixth feature Bucharest Nonstop about four interconnected stories...
- 9/26/2013
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
John Cleese has revealed that plans to reunite the Monty Python members have stalled.
Terry Jones had asked his former colleagues to lend their voices to aliens in a new movie titled Absolutely Anything, but the project appears to be on hiatus.
Cleese told the Los Angeles Times: "The truth is, I don't think any one of us knows what's going on. Terry rang us about 18 months ago and said, 'If we make this movie and I direct it, will you do a voice for it?'
"As far as I know, everyone said yes, and that's the last we heard about it."
The Fawlty Towers star added that the film may be the only way for the group to join up for a project.
"It is too difficult geographically," he explained. "Dear old Mickey Palin, as I call Michael Palin, is forever travelling. He is always away doing his travel programmes.
Terry Jones had asked his former colleagues to lend their voices to aliens in a new movie titled Absolutely Anything, but the project appears to be on hiatus.
Cleese told the Los Angeles Times: "The truth is, I don't think any one of us knows what's going on. Terry rang us about 18 months ago and said, 'If we make this movie and I direct it, will you do a voice for it?'
"As far as I know, everyone said yes, and that's the last we heard about it."
The Fawlty Towers star added that the film may be the only way for the group to join up for a project.
"It is too difficult geographically," he explained. "Dear old Mickey Palin, as I call Michael Palin, is forever travelling. He is always away doing his travel programmes.
- 8/9/2013
- Digital Spy
Comedian's response to Us anti-abortion law no laughing matter for Republicans. Elsewhere, Stewart Lee blasts elitism in comedy and Lenny Henry's thespian thunder rages on
This week's comedy news
Not for the first time, the Us comedian Sarah Silverman has become embroiled in a political row, after a Democratic representative retweeted her stated desire to "anally probe" the governor of Wisconsin – in response to his having signed off new anti-abortion legislation. Governor Scott Walker's law would require women considering abortions to have ultrasound scans. Silverman tweeted that "I'd very much like to anally probe @govwalker each time he needs to make an 'informed decision'" – a comment retweeted by Colorado politician Joe Salazar. At that, Republicans cried foul: "It's fine to disagree with Gov Walker," fulminated a Colorado Republican Committee spokesman in a party press release, "but it's not Ok for Joe Salazar to call for the governor to be raped.
This week's comedy news
Not for the first time, the Us comedian Sarah Silverman has become embroiled in a political row, after a Democratic representative retweeted her stated desire to "anally probe" the governor of Wisconsin – in response to his having signed off new anti-abortion legislation. Governor Scott Walker's law would require women considering abortions to have ultrasound scans. Silverman tweeted that "I'd very much like to anally probe @govwalker each time he needs to make an 'informed decision'" – a comment retweeted by Colorado politician Joe Salazar. At that, Republicans cried foul: "It's fine to disagree with Gov Walker," fulminated a Colorado Republican Committee spokesman in a party press release, "but it's not Ok for Joe Salazar to call for the governor to be raped.
- 7/11/2013
- by Brian Logan
- The Guardian - Film News
Holy Grail producer Mark Forstater claimed he deserved a larger share of earnings from the hit musical Spamalot
A film producer who said he deserved to be treated as the seventh member of Monty Python has won a high court case against the comedy team over a share of royalties from the hit musical Spamalot.
Mark Forstater, who produced the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, on which Spamalot was based, claimed the comedians had paid him half the share to which he was properly entitled since the show launched to great success on Broadway in 2005.
The dispute centred around a 1974 agreement under which Forstater was entitled to a share in 50% of all merchandising and spin-off income in relation to the Holy Grail.
At the high court, Mr Justice Norris accepted Forstater's claim that he was entitled to one-seventh – the same proportion as the members of the comedy team...
A film producer who said he deserved to be treated as the seventh member of Monty Python has won a high court case against the comedy team over a share of royalties from the hit musical Spamalot.
Mark Forstater, who produced the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, on which Spamalot was based, claimed the comedians had paid him half the share to which he was properly entitled since the show launched to great success on Broadway in 2005.
The dispute centred around a 1974 agreement under which Forstater was entitled to a share in 50% of all merchandising and spin-off income in relation to the Holy Grail.
At the high court, Mr Justice Norris accepted Forstater's claim that he was entitled to one-seventh – the same proportion as the members of the comedy team...
- 7/5/2013
- by Haroon Siddique
- The Guardian - Film News
London — A producer on Friday won a British court victory over Monty Python for a bigger share of royalties from the stage musical "Spamalot" and said that despite the dispute he still found the comedy troupe funny.
Mark Forstater brought a High Court lawsuit against the anarchic comedians over the show, which is based on the 1975 movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
Forstater produced the film, and his lawyers claimed it was agreed that he would be "treated as the seventh Python" financially, entitled to the same share of "Holy Grail" merchandising and spin-off income as the other members.
That amounts to one-seventh of the first 50 percent of income from "Spamalot," but lawyers for the Python troupe said he was entitled only to one fourteenth.
A global hit, "Spamalot" ran on Broadway for almost four years to 2009 and is still playing in London's West End.
At a hearing late last year,...
Mark Forstater brought a High Court lawsuit against the anarchic comedians over the show, which is based on the 1975 movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
Forstater produced the film, and his lawyers claimed it was agreed that he would be "treated as the seventh Python" financially, entitled to the same share of "Holy Grail" merchandising and spin-off income as the other members.
That amounts to one-seventh of the first 50 percent of income from "Spamalot," but lawyers for the Python troupe said he was entitled only to one fourteenth.
A global hit, "Spamalot" ran on Broadway for almost four years to 2009 and is still playing in London's West End.
At a hearing late last year,...
- 7/5/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Mark Forstater, a producer on the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, has gotten a U.K. high court to acknowledge that he's owed a larger share of profits from Spamalot. The Tony Award-winning musical came out in 2005 and was penned by original Monty Python member Eric Idle. It's described in marketing as "lovingly ripped off from" the 1975 film about the Arthurian legend, and in his lawsuit, Forstater said that he was due money on "spin-offs" under a 1974 agreement between him and the Pythons, which along with Idle comprise Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, John Cleese,
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- 7/5/2013
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Michael Palin has appeared in court in the case regarding Spamalot royalties. Monty Python's remaining members are being sued for royalties relating to the stage play, with the court proceedings having begun last week. Monty Python and the Holy Grail producer Mark Forstater claims that he has not received his share of proceeds from the musical, which is based on the original 1975 film. Palin dismissed Forstater's claims that he should be considered the "seventh member" of the Monty Python team. He testified: "It may have been what he wanted, but it was never going to be accepted by the Pythons. The idea of a 'seventh Python' just doesn't happen. It was never going to be accepted. "I don't think there was (more)...
- 12/6/2012
- by By Tom Eames
- Digital Spy
Monty Python member dismisses idea during trial in which Mark Forstater claims he is entitled to royalties from spin-off Spamalot
Michael Palin has dismissed a suggestion that a film producer was a seventh member of the Monty Python comedy team.
Palin – one of six stars of the Monty Python television series – told a high court trial on Thursday that the idea Mark Forstater was a "seventh Python" would not have been accepted.
Forstater, who produced the 1975 film Monty Python And The Holy Grail, has taken legal action and claims he is entitled to royalties from the stage musical Spamalot, a spin-off from the Grail film.
He has argued that, for "financial purposes", he should be treated as "the seventh Python".
But Palin disputed the claim.
"It may have been what he wanted, but it was never going to be accepted by the Pythons," Palin told the hearing in London.
"The...
Michael Palin has dismissed a suggestion that a film producer was a seventh member of the Monty Python comedy team.
Palin – one of six stars of the Monty Python television series – told a high court trial on Thursday that the idea Mark Forstater was a "seventh Python" would not have been accepted.
Forstater, who produced the 1975 film Monty Python And The Holy Grail, has taken legal action and claims he is entitled to royalties from the stage musical Spamalot, a spin-off from the Grail film.
He has argued that, for "financial purposes", he should be treated as "the seventh Python".
But Palin disputed the claim.
"It may have been what he wanted, but it was never going to be accepted by the Pythons," Palin told the hearing in London.
"The...
- 12/6/2012
- The Guardian - Film News
London — Michael Palin has rejected a movie producer's claim that the producer was the unofficial seventh member of the Monty Python comedy troupe and is entitled to more royalties from the musical "Spamalot."
Mark Forstater has sued over the show, which is based on the 1975 movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
Forstater produced the film and his lawyer claims it was agreed that he would be "treated as the seventh Python" financially.
Palin told a hearing at London's High Court on Wednesday that the idea of a seventh member "was never going to be accepted by the Pythons."
And he disputed Forstater's claim to have helped written the film, saying: "There were six of us. We were a tight group. We wrote our own material."...
Mark Forstater has sued over the show, which is based on the 1975 movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
Forstater produced the film and his lawyer claims it was agreed that he would be "treated as the seventh Python" financially.
Palin told a hearing at London's High Court on Wednesday that the idea of a seventh member "was never going to be accepted by the Pythons."
And he disputed Forstater's claim to have helped written the film, saying: "There were six of us. We were a tight group. We wrote our own material."...
- 12/5/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Monty Python's remaining members today (November 30) began court proceedings after being sued for royalties relating to Spamalot. Monty Python and the Holy Grail producer Mark Forstater claims that he has not received his due share of proceeds from the hit musical, which is described on its posters as being "lovingly ripped off from" the Holy Grail film. Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Terry Jones will all give evidence at London's High Court next week,
BBC News reports. Terry Gilliam and John Cleese are both currently out of the country, and are not expected to be present. Sixth Python Graham Chapman died in 1989. Forstater and his company Mark Forstater Productions Ltd have (more)...
BBC News reports. Terry Gilliam and John Cleese are both currently out of the country, and are not expected to be present. Sixth Python Graham Chapman died in 1989. Forstater and his company Mark Forstater Productions Ltd have (more)...
- 11/30/2012
- by By Greg Laing
- Digital Spy
Was the "the seventh Python" screwed out of profits on the hit musical Spamalot? A trial is underway in London where Mark Forstater, a producer on the 1975 film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, contends he's due money on "spin-offs" under a 1974 agreement between him and the Pythons, including surviving members Michael Palin, Eric Idle and Terry Jones. Story: TV Broadcasters Tell Appeals Court to Shut Down Aereo Forstater's lawyer said during opening arguments that he was getting a one-seventh share until 2005 until his share was allegedly reduced unilaterally to one-fourteenth. According to Reuters, "Forstater
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- 11/30/2012
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Along with the news that Moviehouse Entertainment successfully nailed down Us distribution for its UK vampire flick Dead Cert, Screen Daily is reporting that the sales outfit is also promoting another upcoming horror film at the 2011 Cannes film market - The Power, which is in pre-production and will be in the same vein as the classic Rosemary's Baby.
Synopsis:
Abducted and imprisoned by a cult, Magda awakens in a filthy cell. Despite hearing distant voices, her screams for help go unanswered. She's a prisoner, seemingly without hope... In time, she befriends another hostage, a girl who provides some comfort. However, as the weeks pass, the cult prepares Magda for participation in a dark ritual with demonic, religious and sexual overtones; and her despair grows. Her only hope is she'll be rescued or find some way to escape, but in the meantime must face an horrific and terrifying ordeal.
Dig on...
Synopsis:
Abducted and imprisoned by a cult, Magda awakens in a filthy cell. Despite hearing distant voices, her screams for help go unanswered. She's a prisoner, seemingly without hope... In time, she befriends another hostage, a girl who provides some comfort. However, as the weeks pass, the cult prepares Magda for participation in a dark ritual with demonic, religious and sexual overtones; and her despair grows. Her only hope is she'll be rescued or find some way to escape, but in the meantime must face an horrific and terrifying ordeal.
Dig on...
- 5/12/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Moviehouse Entertainment is drumming up interest in The Power at the Cannes film market. Produced by Mark Forstater - who may or may not be the same Forstater behind Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Xtro (the IMDb listing says he hasn't done anything since '95) - the film will be directed by Paul Hills. Here's a plot synopsis: Abducted and imprisoned by a Cult, Magda awakens in a filthy cell. Despite hearing distant voices, her screams for help go unanswered. She's a prisoner, seemingly without hope... In time, she befriends another hostage, a girl who provides some comfort. However, as the weeks pass, the Cult prepare Magda for participation in a dark ritual with demonic, religious and sexual overtones and her despair grows. Her only hope is she'll be rescued or find...
- 5/12/2011
- shocktillyoudrop.com
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