You are viewing the archive: “Billy Crudup”

Uday Chopra’s YRF Launches By Funding Jason Bateman Comedy ‘The Longest Week’

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday November 22, 2011 @ 7:07am PSTTags: Billy Crudup, Jason Bateman, Nicolas Chartier, Olivia Wilde
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: YRF Entertainment has launched with this week’s production start of The Longest Week, the Peter Glanz-directed comedy that stars Jason Bateman, Olivia Wilde and Billy Crudup. The film just got underway in New York, and Bateman plays an immature man-child who still lives with his parents in a chic Manhattan hotel but suddenly finds himself evicted, disinherited and hopelessly in love with his best friend’s girlfriend (Wilde).

YRF, which will produce and finance films for U.S. and the international marketplace, was started by Uday Chopra, who came on to fully finance The Longest Week when the film’s original backer dropped out. Chopra is producing with Neda Armian. Jonathan Reiman, Chris Marsh, Stone Douglass and Taylor Materne are executive producers. Reiman is Chopra’s new head of development and production.

Chopra grew up learning the film business Bollywood-style. His father is Yash Chopra, whose Yash Raj Films is a prolific producer and distributor. The 41-year old company will make five to seven Indian films next year. Chopra has done everything from starring in those films to writing them (Love Impossible). His father’s company is backing YRF and Chopra’s ambition to break into Hollywood fare as a producer/financier.

“The decision for me was not based on money but rather my passion to make American movies,” Chopra told me. “I grew up watching American films and television, and I wanted to explore it, even though I understand that it is a very competitive business.”

Chopra said he’s moving methodically, with a 5-year plan to develop films in several genres. He’ll be opportunistic when a good project comes along that needs backing. International territories on The Longest Week are being sold by Nicolas Chartier’s Voltage, and while Chopra said he has offers from domestic distributors, he has decided to wait until the film is completed before making a deal. YRF has begun acquiring material including an untitled action/comedy by Dan Ewen (Opposites Attract), about two twentysomethings who leave their respective hometowns to pursue big dreams and become a seemingly unstoppable duo when they find each other.

After sparking to Glanz’s The Longest Week script, Chopra brought the filmmaker and Armian to Bombay and committed to make the film. Chopra said he will open offices in Los Angeles in January, once The Longest Week completes production.

Comments (13)

Stars Turn Out For 9/11 Reading

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Friday July 22, 2011 @ 7:20am PDTTags: 9/11, Andre Braugher, Billy Crudup, Edie Falco, Lauren Ambrose, Melissa Leo
Mike Fleming

To commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11, a highly distinguished cast of film, TV & stage actors will gather for a benefit reading of Sarah Tuft’s “110 Stories” on September 8th & 9th at The Skirball Center for the Performing Arts i n Manhattan. The illustrious cast – including,

… Read More »

Comments (0)

TOLDJA! ATO Pictures Acquires ‘Thin Ice’

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday July 19, 2011 @ 10:10am PDTTags: Alan Arkin, ATO Pictures, Billy Crudup, Greg Kinnear, The Convincer
Mike Fleming

Back in March, Deadline broke the story that ATO Pictures was near a deal to acquire US rights to The Convincer, the Karen Sprecher-directed dark comedy that made its debut at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The distributor has changed the title to Thin Ice, but has just confirmed the deal. Here’s the official announcement:

New York, NY (July 19, 2011) – ATO (Art Takes Over) Pictures announced today that it has acquired U.S. theatrical rights to THIN ICE (formerly titled THE CONVINCER) starring Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin, Billy Crudup, Lea Thompson, David Harbour and Bob Balaban.

Read More »

Comments (2)

Sundance Film ‘The Convincer’ Nears ATO Distribution Deal

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Thursday March 31, 2011 @ 8:50am PDTTags: Alan Arkin, ATO Pictures, Billy Crudup, George Hickenlooper, Greg Kinnear, The Convincer
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: The impressive volume of distribution deals for 2011 Sundance Film Festival fare is about to expand again. I’m told that ATO Pictures is wrapping up a deal for US rights to The Convincer, the Karen Sprecher-directed dark comedy that … Read More »

Comments (2)