Film News

Mr. Blonde and the Six Million Dollar Man in 'Conflict'

Michael Madsen and Lee Majors together on the big screen? Yup. Filming has begun at Kyle's Ranch Studios (and also in Lockhart) on Conflict of Interest, a political thriller written by Austin's Bonnie Orr, who is vice president of film and television development for the studios and has written most of the films shot at the Kyle-based studios so far. Another common thread of late is the involvement of Joe Estevez, brother of Martin Sheen and uncle to Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen. He's in the Conflict cast and also starred in The Lights, a horror film with hints of comedy that was the first flick shot at Ranch Studios. The prolific Joe Estevez isn't listed in the cast of the next Ranch Studios project, tentatively titled Mia's Father (and, of course, written by Orr), about a woman who discovers she is the product of a rape and is presented with the potential chance to exact revenge against her father. It's set to shoot in September with a cast that includes C. Thomas Howell and another sibling actor, Dedee Pfeiffer, sister of Michelle.

Horror Queen Comes to Texas

Horror fanatics, sit down for this: It's probably no coincidence that the horror film Walking Distance chose Friday the 13th as the day to start production in Houston. But next came word from Austin-based producer James LaMarr that Adrienne King – Alice Hardy of the original Friday the 13th and its first sequel – is coming out of acting retirement to take a main role in the film, written and directed by Mel House. These days, King has focused her career on voiceover work. LaMarr assures us King's role will be very far from the girl-next-door role she is famed for. Also in the Walking Distance cast are Glenn Morshower of 24, Kathy Lamkin of the recent Texas Chainsaw Massacre remakes, and Fangoria Radio host Debbie Rochon.

And the Rest ...

Trouble the Water, the Hurricane Katrina documentary for which Austin's PJ Raval handled cinematography, has been picked up for U.S. distribution by Zeitgeist Films. The Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize: Documentary winner is aiming for an Oscar-qualifying opening in Los Angeles and New York City on Aug. 22, with a larger rollout later... Turk Pipkin wants you to go to Nobelity.org and watch his short "One Child at a Time," which highlights the Miracle Foundation's admirable work with orphaned kids in India. Perhaps you'll sponsor a child?... Reel Women is sponsoring the 48-Hour Film Project this weekend, with teams writing, shooting, and editing a short film, complete with music and credits, by 7:30pm on Sunday. You can see the results at 6 and 8pm on Tuesday and Wednesday at Regal's Arbor Cinema.

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