Pre-orders for David Mackenzie's Spread, starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche are now available from many retailers in the US, including powerhouse Amazon.com: Standard DVD here ($19.99); Blu-Ray ($25.99) which comes with digital download of the film, available at this link. Again:THIS WILL BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 10TH, 2009
As a reminder, here (and here) are the extras on the discs: Blu-Ray Special Features
Audio Commentary with Actor/Producer Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche and Margarita Levieva
Picture-In-Picture – “Urban Sprawl: Los Angeles in Spread”
“Living The Dream – The Making of Spread”
Behind the Scenes With Ashton Kutcher
The World According to Nikki
Theatrical trailer
DVD Special Features
Audio Commentary with Actor/Producer Ashton Kutcher and Actors Anne Heche and Margarita Levieva
As first reported here several times now, David Mackenzie's "Spread" starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche will be released on November 10th. As a follow to the international cover art post here, Anchor Bay has now released the US cover art and new details about the discs. Thanks to those at Cinemablend we now know the following (no commentary of course from David as I noted previously but not sure if he will be on the feature/making of)
Blu-Ray Special Features
Audio Commentary with Actor/Producer Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche and Margarita Levieva
Picture-In-Picture – “Urban Sprawl: Los Angeles in Spread”
“Living The Dream – The Making of Spread”
Behind the Scenes With Ashton Kutcher
The World According to Nikki
Theatrical trailer
DVD Special Features
Audio Commentary with Actor/Producer Ashton Kutcher and Actors Anne Heche and Margarita Levieva
“Living The Dream – The Making of Spread”
Behind the Scenes With Ashton Kutcher
Deleted Scenes
The World According to Nikki
Theatrical Trailer
Be sure to check out the b-roll/making of footage, similar to what we will get on the DVD.
As posted here before, David Mackenzie's "Spread" starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche is due out on DVD this November. VideoETA now has a firm date of November 10, 2009. You can now see the International cover art for the DVD and Blu-ray disc here ------->
Box Office Mojo reports this film has indeed closed here in us (ie not screening anymore) and earned $4,983,443 worldwide. While there was earlier reports the movie was to open in the UK in late Nov, that remains very much unconfirmed unless someone can tell me differently. Will post pre-order links to the DVD when I can, stay tuned! RELATED! For those who have been asking, Im truly sorry I do NOT know the name of the song played in the dance scene; here is the only track listing of songs I have used in the film SORRY!
Great news today! Thanks to the List we know that David Mackenzie's "Spread" starring Ashton Kutcher will be released in the UK on Friday, November 27th.
Quotage: Spread Erstwhile Scottish based filmmaker David Mackenzie (Young Adam, Hallam Foe) kicks off his US career with this fascinating update of Paul Schrader’s American Gigolo with Ashton Kutcher as a self-centred toyboy to the rich women of LA. Jason Dean Hall’s screenplay based on his own short story goes off the boil towards the end with Kutcher’s Nikki getting both his comeuppance and cheesy epiphany in a horrible montage sequence but there is plenty to enjoy along the way. Anne Heche as sugar mummy Samantha is fantastic. Give this lady a gong. Out Fri 27 Nov.
Not quite the morning after, but rather the Monday morning tally is in for the debut of "Spread" which opened in US and Canada theaters over the weekend. Box Office Mojo reports that David Mackenzie's "Spread" which screened in just 91 theaters took in an estimated $117,00. Combined totally US and the international total of over 2 million (reported previously do very well in France includes Denmark Norway Sweden) now stands at $2, 225, 151 Meanwhile, star Ashton Kutcher has issued a personal call to action of fans in the States and elsewhere who can see the film TO SEE IT again or tell your friend about it, SPREAD THE WORD, or as he pointed out, it simply wont generate enough money to warrant the further expansion in the US.
Finally, if you have seen the film, join in with others and vlog your review. Mail your review DIRECTLY to Ashton spreadopening@gmail.com and it will be uploaded to the official Spread Review channel, here. Im so hesitant to vlog my report but think its another very clever move on their part to engage the movie going audience. If I do anything, I might do a ustream chat on all things Sigma Scottish film, ok a touch of Jamie ;would anyone show up for that, now that is the big question!
David Mackenzie's latest film "Spread" starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche is released today in the US and Canada. In limited release, you can determine if the film will be showing in your area at this link.
CONGRATULATIONS DAVID MACKENZIE, ASHTON KUTCHER and the entire cast and crew of Spread. I should also like to send another word of personal thanks very much to those at Katalyst who have been unbelievably cool AND HELPFUL and actually responsive. They have a very astute and smart grasp on the reality of the movie marketing world, how the internet actually works, and unlike some caught in their old ways, are not haughty and dismissive of bloggers tweeters youtube and most damming of all AN ACTUAL FAN omg the horror.. More importantly Katalyst will work with everyone to help get the word out, which is why they are successful and worthy of respect even if you dont care for their films/tv shows; these people showed class and I thank you; BRAVO.
If you are interested in reading more on the filming of "Spread," click here for my extensive coverage. No word alas if there is to be an actual soundtrack, seems unlikely at this point, no idea though. The film is already in cue for Netflix , will probably show eventually on Starz/Showtime, and should be out on DVD in November.(November 17 probably)
With just a few days to go before the release of David Mackenzie's Spread, I have some of the press material for the movie, including great new comments from stars Ashton Kutcher, Anne Heche and more on their new film. While the film has just screened recently in the Hampton and in NYC, you can also see brand new clip on Hulu (boots in the bed lol) plus this interview with Ashton. Best part: I have some really cool broll and behind the scenes looks of the making of Spread, including footage of David Mackenzie at work YAY! I LOVE these things, so grateful they make this footage available to us woot! Here is just one of the clips featuring that well publicized clip of Ashton picking up Anne's character at the bar-sooo cool to see how they filmed that and god bless that camera man on the steady cam or whatever eeeep if he fell!; the other also here including loads of David, plus Ashton in the pool (what a gorgeous home they filmed at too!). In terms of the press material, included below are comments on the sexuality contained in the film, and working with Sigmas great director David Mackenzie.
PRESS MATERIAL:
For the actors in Spread, starring in the film meant a chance to explore some fascinating characters.To join the cast meant diving into their roles head-on and explore a realistic, more intense side of modern day romantic and sexual challenges.It was an actors’ dream, and the cast relished the opportunity.
Ashton Kutcher plays Nikki, the film’s charming but conflicted lead.In discussing his character and his motivations, Kutcher says, “I’m playing an ego booster, basically.Nikki is a guy searching for love in all the wrong ways.When he finally finds it, all the wrong ways in which he tried to find it come back to haunt him.”
Describing why he felt an immediate connection with Nikki, Kutcher says it was partly because he himself understood much of what Nikki was going through.“I understood the pain of the character,” he says.“I understood what he was ultimately seeking.I played ‘the game’ for long enough to know it doesn’t end well.The only way to win is through compassion and love, and trying to find the way to give to someone in the greatest way you possibly can.”
Kutcher also felt energized at the thought of playing a kind of role he hadn’t done yet.“It’s fun to dive into a character,” he says.“A lot of movies I get asked to do, I’m asked to play myself, or a character I’ve already played.Having the liberty to create a new kind of role is refreshing, liberating, and fun.”
Having British director David Mackenzie at the helm was another new experience for Kutcher.Kutcher found there were some differences working with Mackenzie when compared to some of the American directors with whom he’s collaborated.“English directors come in with an expectation that you’re going to deliver.When you do, you’re doing your job.And when you don’t, you’re failing,” he laughs.However, Mackenzie’s style energized his own performance.“I always knew when David wasn’t happy, but I never knew when he was happy, which was fantastic – it helped drive me,” he says.
In preparation for the film, Kutcher did a lot of character work, building a profile for Nikki and making sure he knew the character backwards and forwards.He says, “I found a voice for him, a posture and a truth for him so that once we were shooting, if things didn’t go the way I thought they’d go, I’d be able to handle it in character as Nikki.”
At the opening of the film, Nikki is a man who lives as he likes by finding women to fall in love with that will take care of him, financially and sexually.It’s the actual emotionality of a relationship Nikki doesn’t much concern himself with.“Nikki is a guy that really doesn’t know about compassion,” says Kutcher.“He’s a guy that doesn’t know about being there for someone, and as the film progresses he’s having to learn the lessons of that kind of life through his mistakes and through hard knocks.
“Nikki targets women that are caretakers,” he continues.“Women that are going to feed him and support him and be there for him.He does as little as he possibly can, but enough for them to buy into that fantasy for awhile.”
SENSUALITY
Sprinkled with comedy, drama, and true-to-life relationship scenarios, Spread is full of sex as well – lots of it – and the couplings are portrayed more realistically than in most mainstream movies.To ground the characters’ relationships in reality, the filmmakers wanted to portray the sex between them as realistically as possible – which meant Kutcher would have to be completely naked for many of his scenes.It was something he wasn’t initially prepared for.
“The sexual content in the film was really aggressive at times,” Kutcher says.“I have my own insecurities about my body.I’m from the Midwest, I’m from a Catholic family and a relatively conservative environment, so for me to be that artistically liberal and free was really challenging.It got more comfortable as I did it, but it gave me a lot of respect and reverence for people who’ve done it before me.The courage it takes to lay your sexuality and sensuality all the way out there scares me.”
Just as Kutcher found himself unclothed on set, Heche had to be willing to go places she hadn’t gone.“It’s been a trippy, trippy, naked ride,” she laughs.“I certainly can say I’ve gone further in this movie than I ever have before.Why didn’t I do this when I was twenty-two?”
What made such bravery possible for Heche, though, was that she didn’t find the film’s sexual situations gratuitous – the sexual situations and their necessity to the script are what made her feel fine about portraying them.“Adult lives are sexual lives,” she says.“We’re given these films all the time where people aren’t really talking truthfully about what goes on in people’s sex lives.You get these scenes where people come together and they kiss and fall down on a bed, and then we’re supposed to imagine what’s going on.But people’s sex lives are extreme.I certainly haven’t seen a truthful portrayal of an adult sex life in a film in awhile, and it’s bold to be able to do that.It may be uncomfortable, it may be sexy, it may be heartbreaking.Maybe disturbing.But true stuff.”
For her part, when commenting on the sexuality of the film, Levieva says, “The sexual part of it was always very real and important in telling the story.There is a lot of sexuality in the movie and a lot of people having sex, but it’s necessary to the script.”
As for her feelings on having to shed her clothes in the film, just like Kutcher and Heche, Levieva says, “I’d never done nudity in a movie.” And how did she get over her nerves?“Honestly, I just thought about the people I was going to be working with.I really respect David, and I was really excited to work with Ashton.It was unreal – very comfortable and everyone’s just been so supportive and making sure I was okay with it.”
“We’re just being truthful in those scenes, and these people are in love,” she laughs.“Things happen when you’re in love.”
LOS ANGELES
With a story as much about image, wealth, and artifice as it is about attraction, sex, and romance, there’s only one place the film could be set: Los Angeles.L.A. serves as a character unto its own in the film, the perfect place for an iconic look at the lure of sex, money, and access that Hollywood offers to its beautiful residents.
Los Angeles is often the customary site for mythmaking in the American cultural iconography, and with good reason.The city provides slick and luxurious home settings as well as thumping nightlife backdrops for Nikki’s high times.It also has glimpses of seedy, fleabag motels and waiting-for-dreams-to-come-true apartment crash pads for when Nikki has nowhere else to turn. In his Spread adventure, Nikki runs the gambit of Hollywood dreams and nightmares.
When asked why he feels L.A. was such an appropriate place for Spread’s story to unfold, Kutcher says, “I think Los Angeles is a place that trades on cosmetic effect.It's a place where people that look a certain way have a wealthier lifestyle with more access, just based on physical appearance.We’re capturing in the film a place where people are just trading on their looks, and a dark underbelly of reality that really exists.”
Levieva agrees.“I think it’s a very L.A. story,” she says.“All the characters in it exist, especially in L.A.And we filmed in all the real locations, which was great because we really got to explore L.A.From the wardrobe to the characters and the locations, it’s very L.A.-based and very real.”
DAVID MACKENZIE (DIRECTOR) is one of Scotland's leading film directors. David Mackenzie started his film career making shorts. He first won an award for “California Sunshine” (1997), a 20-minute film about a pair of small-time drug dealers that starred his younger brother, actor Alastair Mackenzie. In 1999, he won an Audience Award at the Brest European Short Film Festival for Marcie's Dowry. In 2000, he placed second for Best Short Film at the Dresden Film Festival for Somersault (1999). Having completed nine shorts and a documentary, Mackenzie's first feature length film was the low budget The Last Great Wilderness (2002), which he co-wrote with his brother Michael Tait. But David didn't gain international attention until he wrote and directed Young Adam (2003), based on the 1954 novel by Alexander Trocchi starring Ewan McGregor and Tilda Swinton. He won a Scottish BAFTA for Best Director, as well as awards at Edinburgh and the London Critics Circle. Mackenzie went on to direct Asylum, starring Natasha Richardson, followed by Hallam Foe (2007) starring Jamie Bell which Mackenzie co-wrote for the screen, directed, and produced. The film went on to win awards at the Berlin Film Festival.
Quick update today as the Spread rollout across the US continues. Last night, Ashton and Co hit Las Vegas for that premiere at the Palms Hotel, with loads of huge pics here via Vegas News.com. Also while in town, Ashton taped a podcast for the very cool Diggnation and Kevin Rose; you can see pics of that taping here (think the show will be up later this week) Finally, as first posted here back in June, Spread ala Toy Boy is already in theaters in France. Box Office Mojo shows the film by director David Mackenzie is doing well over seas, with the latest numbers (from end of July) showing the film has already netted $2,033,758. Not sure if the numbers here will be as impressive as the film is opening at only 100 theaters, but still am hopeful David will do well with this film. Next up: Hamptons this weekend. Reminder: Ticket info for Spread in US can be found at this link. Spread opens in the US next week on August 14th. Next week: Denmark, Sweden and Norway will see the release, followed by Russia on the 13, Finland on the 14th w/ US, Spain on the 28th. Brazil will see it on September 25th, Portugal on Oct. 15th and finally Germany on Oct 25th.
Currently splashed everywhere around the world are the following pics from the LA premiere of "Spread," with stars Ashton Kutcher (and his beautiful wife Demi), Anne Heche, Margarita Levieva, Sonia Rockwell, Sara Paxton and more in attendance. Its prob me, but I got the weirdest vibe of some unhappiness (Marg please learn that NEVER chew gum during red carpet press!) You can now watch Ashton's red carpet interview segment here via his ustream channel. Update: You can now watch a slew of videos here and esp here on Youtube.
Not sure if he actually saw my tweet-I think maybe he did but its just good pr regardless- but during the live press junket (noted below) Ashton Kutcher just gave a great few minutes interview where he spoke in high praise of Spread director David Mackenzie! Yes! Ashton spoke about after finding the script, the search that lead him to David, and noted David's fine work with Young Adam and Hallam Foe. He praised David's sensibility and wit in his current and past approach to these characters, shooting frank uncomfortable sex scenes in a classy manner, citing Hal Ashby along the way. He also praised David a great deal in relation to working on a tight budget and creatively figuring out how to shoot each scene as one (as opposed to extensive shoots of each scene) -all in all very enjoyable to watch Ashton speak with appreciation of the talent and input a director brings to the scene, in this case David Mackenzie and Spread.
Also, he spoke several times about David being from Scotland, so he perceived LA as a tourist and brought a fresh unjaded look to the film, as well as praising David for bringing a Indy filmmaker ie HONEST approach and look to the movie-very cool! :)
Twitter and technology pwns all today, as we can all watch LIVE RIGHT NOW the dread press junket lolol and the endless barrage actors/crew have to do for the release of a new film. CLICK HERE ASHTON LIVE RIGHT NOW ON BLOGTV Wonder if I can get in a question on David Mackenzie? wish me luck!
-Ashton will guest on Ryan Seacrest Radio show, then TONIGHT SHOWw/ Conan Obrien - FILLING IN FOR REGIS on Regis/Kelly lmao that should be good; dunno if he is on all week as Jeremy Piven is due on Thurs, and that would be hella cool to see them together lol
In his new movie, Spread, his character is a handsome grifter who scams women into supporting him in a lavish lifestyle. Kutcher is more physically and emotionally exposed than he has ever been onscreen. “Why did I make a movie with that kind of indulgence in cars and the fancy house, with my character manipulating people and seducing them?” Kutcher asks. “Because people can feel the pain of it. As much as you hate this guy for how selfish he is, you know that hurts. It’s the tale of what happens when you’re just a taker.” -Ask Ashton ten questions in TIME MAGAZINE -Anne Heche profiled indepth in New York Times, one sentence mention of Spread :( -He mentioned something about GQ but figure that will show up in a few months.
Bright Lights, Big City of Vegas baby, the place that never sleeps and will also see Ashton Kutcher in town on AUGUST 5TH for the premiere of his new film "Spread" directed by Sigma's own David Mackenzie. Las Vegas Weekly is offering the chance for two to win two tickets to the premiere of the film on Wednesday, August 5th, at Brenden Theatres and Imax at the Palms. (you have to provide own transport etc) CLICK HERE TO ENTER; contest runs NOW thru August 3rd! Co-star Anne Heche, plus Ashton and the fabulous Demi Moore are reported to attend, good luck to all who enter!
"Spread" starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche has now been released in France (aka the dreadful 'Toy-Boy') Screen Daily reports the film opened on 250 screens, and stated "David MacKenzie directed the film which was the second strongest opener of the week with 26,862 admissions on its first day." Also as noted via the film's official Facebook page and Twitter, they are building mobile downloads and asking fans to tweet w/link to fave still from film. While Ive had many of these on my own flickr for ages, more can be found here. Guess which one Im tweeting, doubt they will make David downloads lolol ;)...although that gives me an idea...scary.....stay tuned! With the film now out there and due to open in LIMITED areas here in the US on August 14th, we now have the track listing of some of the great music found in the film, including the fabulous Isa & the Filthy Tongues, who as noted before, contributed "Big Star" Track List as follows:
“This Ship Was Built to Last” The Duke Spirit by Toby Butler & Liela Moss
“Mainstay (Unsettled Mix)” AM
“Down in the Valley” The Broken West by Ross Flournoy and Scott Claassen
As promised, David Mackenzie'sSpread starring Ashton Kutcher screened tonight at the Edinburgh International Film Festival! While there have been no pics or news out of the event tonight as of yet, there was a press screening held earlier and the reviews are very positive. Of note is this from Dylan Matthew at Edinburgh Guide.com who writes:
Spread is Mackenzie's slickest, most easily enjoyable and most commercial film to date. While less existentialist than Young Adam (his finest work so far) and less intense than Hallam Foe's rites of passage, it's main theme and protagonist retains the repressed loneliness and internalised suffering of the unconventional anti heroes of those earlier films. Spread is an American Gigolo of sorts crossed with a hint of the recent Audrey Tatou starrer Priceless.
...Ultimately, this is a film about loneliness, about the fear of real intimacy and commitment. Its all delivered with style, a toe tapping soundtrack, a fair dose of humour, nice observations and good performances particularly from Anne Heche who's understated brilliance made me wish she'd had a more significant role.
AWESOME! Plus YOU HEAR IT FIRST HERE: NEWS!!!
The Official Trailer for David Mackenzie's Spread will be released THIS WEEK, PREVIEW TONIGHT on Access Hollywood, then in glorious quality Thursday June 25 via Apple! YAY!!! Spread, starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche will open on August 14. Be sure to follow the Twitter for the film here, as well as the Facebook page for it, here! GO DAVID, ASHTON GO!
As alerted by the aforementioned Spread the Movie Twitter, there is a facebook page now for the movie, which includes 54 new photos. Some I already have posted here on this blog previously, but of interest to me of course are the photos of Sigma's own David Mackenzie, at work directing his star Ashton Kutcher as well as some of the others. You can join the page and see the entire set, here. Check below for all the new pics of David :)
Check it out: straight from Ashton himself, the new "Spread the Movie" official Twitter. He said we would be getting new clips and other info on his new film, directed by Sigma's own David Mackenzie. Spread, starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche, is due out August 14, cant wait. Be sure to check out this link for all the many posts I made covering the production of this film.
First up from Spread the Movie twitter, a new photo of Ashton over LA. Shot most likely by the set photographer it does reflect some of David's great eye at work I think. Really like this pic!
Things are apparently due to heat up for the marketing of David Mackenzie's "Spread" starring Ashton Kutcher. Never mind the fact that I and many others had the same poster <------------------ last December, MTV has an "exclusive" on the poster, ------------->
which is essentially the same damn thing, just a wider shot of LA at the top, bolder blue and pinks, water is more 'wavy' and clear, and the logo title moved down in the water... LOLOL bless, well I guess it's a good sign they are going to start marketing the movie at least :)
There is some good news, and perhaps some troubling news today regarding David Mackenzie's "Spread" which will be making its UK debut at the Edinburgh Film Festival in a few weeks. First, courtesy of the fine festival folks, I have some brand new photos from the film here on my flickr, including what I think is vintage Mackenzie with a gorgeous shot of Ashton over LA, and this of co-star Anne Heche (also seen in the single preview clip of the movie. Tickets do remain available for the film which screens June 22 and 24th. Ashton's name was NOT included in the list of stars released due to attend EIFF, so dunno if he will be there alas Speaking of previews, for the nearly two million of us who follow Ashton Kutcher on Twitter, today we got some news on the delay in a formal trailer for the movie, which will open wide on August 15. In a series of tweets, Ashton described the stone aged wall he's hit from the MPAA resisting approving the trailer. Ashton is quite open and honest about the film noting:
"I'm having to battle over a shot of a girls ass in a bathing suit and me have half clothed sex w/ a woman for the trailer 4 Spread" Not trying to make excuses he says honestly " the movie is a hard R and it should B. But there a different restrictions on the trailer even if U preview on other R movies" and also "the movie is a hard R (border line nc17) & I accept that, ths is just 4 the trailer"
Ashton rightly points out how terribly conservative the movie ratings are in this country when it comes to sex, yet horrible, obscenely violent films and trailers get shown all the time. He laments "The reason sex is Hot button 4 the MPAA is b/c thr R a lot of parents that dont wnt 2 take the time 2 explain things 2 their kids." He continued to encourage healthy discussion with children on sex and then states "I'm not saying that "Spread" is a movie 4 the kids, I just think seeing a butt cheek & dry humping in a trailer isn't gonna hurt any1"
No word on when or now IF we are going to get a proper trailer for the film any time soon alas, but Sweetonsigmafilms applauds you Ashton for sticking up for what you believe in
Good news this morning! In what is being called its "International Premiere,"the newest film from Sigma's own David Mackenzie will be screening this year at the Edinburgh Film Festival. "Spread" starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche, is among those to show during the famed festival which runs June 17-28th. UPDATE: This film by David Mackenzie will be a Gala event, and screen JUNE 22, then again on June 24. Tickets will go on sale on May 8th.
Also, Andrea Arnold, she of the excellent Red Road, will be showing her new film "Fish Tank." This film will screen June 21, 24th. Disappointing but NO word yet and not looking good for the actual followup to Red Road, "Rounding Up Donkeys," the second in the Advance Party trilogy.
Spread of course debuted earlier this year at Sundance, and was sold to Anchor Bay which will be releasing the movie in theaters August 14. Had been uncertain about going to EFF this year, as I went to Sundance specifically to see David and his new film, but he was not there (only saw Ashton twice, once from far away where I was sitting during film, the other surrounded by fleet of photographers) One can only hope David will be in Edinburgh for this of course, as he has always had I think warm reception for his films (Hallam Foe was well received there) Hopefully Mr. Kutcher and his wife will make the festival, which should be I think a fairly solid event this year. :) More when I get it!
