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EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Film Review: Criterion’s “Floating Weeds” Double Feature Showcases the Beautiful Evolution of a Legendary Filmmaker

by Joshua A. Guttman June 16, 2024
written by Joshua A. Guttman

If there’s any director who I can trust to take another stab at their work, it’s Yasujirō Ozu.

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June 16, 2024 0 comments
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Film

Dimitri Logothetis on his film career

by Richard Schertzer July 4, 2023
written by Richard Schertzer

He may not be a household name but this director has movies like Slaughterhouse Rock, The Kickboxer franchise and the upcoming film Gunner, which is set to star Morgan Freeman, to his name.

Richard: How did you get your start in the filmmaking industry?

Dimitri: Well, I went to film school at Loyola and I got a master’s in film and television and I did a short that won 10 or 11. I don’t remember national and international film awards and then I went on and I did some cable television and, and at the time that cable TV had just started, they had these opportunities where they wanted studios built for public access. So I did a lot of that and then ended up having a pretty good position, one of the biggest cable operators in the country and decided to leave and set up my own phone company.

Richard: So who are your greatest inspirations in this industry?

Dimitri: Oh God, there’s so many, I mean, way before I was born Howard Hawks, producer. He of course, Marin Scorsese, who I worked for as an actor. and who actually wrote a letter for me to go to film school. I was about 19. At the time I worked on a movie called New York, New York as an actor and you know, Francis Ford Coppola James Cameron. and the list goes on and on. And so, wow.

Richard: Where did the inspiration for filmmaking come from? What made you say that this is what I wanna do with the rest of my life?

Dimitri: Well, I don’t think you ever do that. Do you? I think you just kind of start doing things and I think if anybody’s lucky enough to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their lives, I think that they’re pretty fortunate, but most of us do the best we can, or at least it’s been my methodology to try to see if we can just, you know, I try to see if I can do the best I can this year and if I can get through this year, you know, it leads me to opportunities later and so on and so forth. So I never really planned on being a filmmaker. And there wasn’t a single point in my life where I said this is gonna be exactly what I’m gonna do and then all of a sudden I had an opportunity, after film school, and it just one thing led to another and I knew that I was always a very good writer and, writing is what always got me through school, better than anything. And so that was, you have to be a good storyteller. You gotta be a pretty good writer.

You have to be able to work story all the time. especially when you’re, when you’re making movies and TV, because you have to be able to adjust in the day. Sometimes what was written down, whether it’s by you or anybody else may not be working and it may not be working for the actors, you know, so you have to figure out how to continue and move the story forward maybe better than what was originally on the page. I think. I think it starts there.

Richard: So basically the script is never set in stone. It’s always evolving even when you’re, even when the cameras are rolling.

Dimitri: Yeah, I mean, the script has to be good. It’s got to be very good. Otherwise nobody is going to want to jump on board. But when you’re making the film, you’re gonna run into all kinds of situations that, you know, when you’re dealing with actors and actresses and, and locations and it’s just you can see things that work better for the story and hopefully you’re not you’re, you’re, you’re right about your choices, at least 85% of the time.

Richard: Do you have any upcoming projects in the works?

Dimitri:Well, I’m finishing Gunner with Luke Hemsworth and Morgan Freeman. So I’m editing that right now and I’ll probably be delivering that in the next two months and I’m preparing a sequel, the third installment of Kickboxer, which will be Kickboxer III: Armageddon. And I’m planning to shoot that in September. And I’m also doing a film called Flying Shadow, which I’m planning to do just, I’m trying to plan to do both these movies before the end of the year.

You know, Kickboxer did so well. I think it’s still, I think it’s 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and the critics and I think it’s in the eighties with audiences around the world. So I think it’s still holding up pretty well.

Richard: That’s great to hear. so when you, when you made your, first feature film, where did you, where did you get your, where did you get your money from? Because I know making a film is not free. Like,

Dimitri: Well, I don’t know, you know, everybody always asks me that and, and I’m, I’m never, I’m not trying to be coy at all. Everything is different. Yeah. So, early on when I was doing this, video just came into play and there were studios that had divisions that were video divisions. And the majority of the things that I’ve done are independent, they’re independent films.

So I’d say maybe 75% of them are independent. I did, I worked as a director on studio television and I also work as a showrunner on studio television for Warner Brothers. But as a filmmaker and as a, as a, as a, as a writer, producer, director, the majority of what I’ve done is independent. And so sometimes you have an opportunity where you’ll have a property that you’re very passionate about.

And I always suggest to people that if you’re doing this because you need a job, you should just do something else because you really need to be excited about what you’re doing and you really need to be passionate about what you’re doing because as a filmmaker, you may be working on something for a year, two years, three years of your life and that time will never come back.

So you really need to be passionate about it. You really need to want to get that story out there. So sometimes you’ll have sales as today. And now at this point in my life, when I want to do something that’s an action oriented project, which is the majority of the stuff that I do. I, I have a certain value that’s attached to myself and the projects that I pick and then you have to put actors together.

Sometimes I’ve had investors that have liked the genre. For instance, Kickboxer is a very, very valuable commodity. I think before I got involved with this company, they had made when I was still in film school, something like five Kickboxers. And then when I took over the franchise, I relaunched two of them.

So I did Kickboxer: Vengeance and Kickboxer: Retaliation brought Jean Claude Van Dam back. And there were investors that were very interested in that franchise and along with sales and along with the cast, I was able to put together a certain amount of financing.

 

July 4, 2023 0 comments
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EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Talking with Filmmaker Dui Jarrod

by Richard Schertzer June 30, 2023
written by Richard Schertzer

I, recently, spoke with screenwriter, director and Daytime Emmy Award-nominee Dui Jarrod about his time in the film industry and what he has planned for the future. 

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June 30, 2023 0 comments
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EntertainmentEventsFilmThe Latest

Filmmaker JR Aristide Takes Center Stage and Introduces The World To Haitian Cinema

by Jan D. June 23, 2023
written by Jan D.

The American Black Film Festival kicked off its second day by showcasing films in their Voices of the
Culture category. This is a non-competitive section of narrative short films directed by persons of African
descent. One film in particular that captivated the audience’s attention was a short film titled Port of a
Prince, written and directed by JR Aristide. This film follows a young Haitian boy who must decide if
joining a gang is the right path for him.

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June 23, 2023 0 comments
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EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Filmmaker Ashley Avis’s ‘Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West’ Protected Wild Horses

by Britt Trachtenberg May 1, 2023
written by Britt Trachtenberg

Ashley Avis wrote, narrated, directed, and produced ‘Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West.’ The documentary depicted why wild horse reform must occur. On Friday, May 12, the film premiered in select theatres. Avis uncovered the truth about wild horses’ disappearances.

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May 1, 2023 0 comments
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EntertainmentThe Latest

IN MEMORIAM: Celebrated Cinematographer Louis Obioha

by Staff March 14, 2023
written by Staff

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Louis Obioha, a talented and accomplished cinematographer, film director, and screenwriter who died unexpectedly at the young age of 33 on February 12, 2023.

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March 14, 2023 0 comments
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EntertainmentFilmThe LatestUncategorized

Après-Ski Event Hosted by White Claw, Plus Premiere of Michael Madsen Documentary ‘American Badass’

by Naomi Pandolfi March 13, 2023
written by Naomi Pandolfi

Day three of the Mammoth Film Festival kicked off with a daytime pop-up hosted by White Claw. The Après-Ski event featured lively DJ sets at the main lift, and everyone from talent to filmmakers dropped in.

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March 13, 2023 0 comments
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EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Exclusive: Producer Heidi Arnesen talks her career and her Oscar-nominated short film ‘Night Ride’

by Richard Schertzer February 7, 2023
written by Richard Schertzer

The Knockturnal sat down and to have a chat with Heidi Arnesen, who happens to be the producer of the Oscar-nominated short LGBTQ+ film ‘Night Ride’.

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February 7, 2023 0 comments
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EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Exclusive: Filmmaker Foustene Fortenbach Talks New Movie ‘Dried Flowers’ [Interview]

by Staff January 13, 2023
written by Staff

Filmmaker Foustene Fortenbach on the Most Personal Work She’s Ever Made

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January 13, 2023 0 comments
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EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Exclusive: Seth McClellan Created a Documentary Titled ‘Others Before Self’ About the Tibetan Children Village in the Indian Himalayas [interview]

by Rebecca Eugene March 25, 2022
written by Rebecca Eugene

Filmmaker Seth McClellan created a documentary titled “Others Before Self,” which focuses on the Tibetan Children Village in the Indian Himalayas. 

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March 25, 2022 0 comments
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Artist and stylist Jennifer Elster modernizes her Artist and stylist Jennifer Elster modernizes her archive in “The Classics.” 🖼️✨

From accessories worn by Trent and David Bowie to introspective graphic art, her latest exhibition at Tribeca’s @thedevelopmentgallery revives decades of creative expression. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/artist-and-stylist-jennifer-elster-breaks-open-her-archive-in-the-classics/

✍️: Eleanor Jacobs 

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#Art #JenniferElster #TheClassics #ArtGallery #TheDevelopmentGallery
Tacos, tequila, and good vibes only! 😎🌮 We Tacos, tequila, and good vibes only! 😎🌮

We kicked off Cinco de Mayo early with a festive happy hour hosted by Matthew and Camila McConaughey’s @pantalonestequila at Rosa Mexicano. 

Cheers to good times and great sips! 🍸

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#PantalonesTequila #Tacos #TacosandTequila #McConaughey
Smino brought the vibes, the vocals, and the homet Smino brought the vibes, the vocals, and the hometown love to LA 💫💜 

Check out the article for the full rundown on his unforgettable Shrine show! 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/concert-review-sminos-kountry-kousins-tour-brings-soul-style-and-st-louis-flavor-to-the-shrine/

✍️: Sharafa Odusanya

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#KountryKousinsTour #SminoLive #ShrineAuditorium #ConcertReview #Smino
From Olympic champion to snack time champ, Allyson From Olympic champion to snack time champ, Allyson Felix is teaming up with Danimals to help parents everywhere become #SnackHeroes! 🏃‍♀️💨

Whether it’s halftime or school pickup, get $15 worth of snacks delivered in 30 minutes with code SNACKHERO-15 on Instacart. 

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#Danimals #SnackTime #AllysonFelix #Olympian
Ippudo has launched Ippudo V, a fully vegan restau Ippudo has launched Ippudo V, a fully vegan restaurant in DUMBO. 🍜

From rich plant-based tonkotsu to creative sushi rolls, it’s a must-try for vegans and likely to surprise non-vegans too. 

We stopped by their spring event to sample highlights from the new menu. 😋

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#Ippudo #Ramen #Vegan #VeganRestaurant
We’ve got the scoop! Check out our exclusive int We’ve got the scoop! Check out our exclusive interview with pop sensation LU KALA. ✨ NO TEARS ON THIS RIDE EP is available now!
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