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Monday, April 14, 2008
Janet Pierson named SXSW Film Producer
This BIG NEWS just in: Janet Pierson is taking the place of Matt Dentler as the producer of the SXSW Film Festival and Conference.
From the press release that we just got:
Pierson brings a long history of accomplishments and relationships in the world of independent film to her new position. In 1986, she and her partner/husband John Pierson began acting as producer reps and were instrumental in the launch of a number of indie films including “Roger and Me,” “She’s Gotta Have It,” “Slacker” and “Clerks.” Their careers have included associations with Chris Blackwell as well as Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein.
Janet was the co-creator of the TV series “Split Screen” which beginning in1997 ran for 66 episodes on the Independent Film Channel.
Janet says, “I’ve been a huge fan and supporter of SXSW Film since its inception. I’m thrilled now to take on the challenge of continuing its exciting growth.”
Janet Pierson
Co-founder and Senior Director of SXSW Film Louis Black says, “Saying that Janet will hit the ground running as head of SXSW Film is truly an understatement considering her knowledge, accomplishments and the high regard in which she is held in the independent film world.”
Matt Dentler, who has acted as SXSW Film Festival Producer since 2004 will be moving to New York City to pursue a new career to head the marketing and programming operations of Cinetic Digital Rights Management.
Black notes that “SXSW Film has been privileged to have Matt Dentler working for it; the event has benefited extraordinarily from his leadership. We are very excited about his new job at Cinetic working with John Sloss and are all looking forward to his continuing the work he has accomplished at SXSW Film as a creative force in film.”
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More news branching off ‘Tree of Life’
The word from Smithville is that Brad Pitt will be done filming his role in Terrence Malick’s “Tree of Life” in about three weeks.
The shoot, currently on a Tuesday to Saturday schedule, is expected to go until June. This means all the tabloid reports about Angelina Jolie having her twins in Texas are as wrong as just about everything else that’s been reported. One article, for instance, wrote about how the Pitt-Jolie clan wanted to live near the Smithville Regional Hospital in case she went into labor. Well, the Smithville Hospital doesn’t have a maternity ward.
Can’t say we’ll miss the paparazzi, who have gone to incredible lengths to get anything on Pitt, Jolie and their four kids. One pair of snoops even posed as wedding planners to take photos of the Hyatt Lost Pines exclusive Litton House, purported to be where the P-J brood were going to stay. The Star ran the spread, even though the superstar family is renting a ranch in Cedar Creek owned by pro wrestler Mark “the Undertaker” Calaway. Helicopters have been whirring overhead at the compound, with shots showing up here.
Life & Style Weekly broke the Undertaker/Pitt plot, but there was so much else wrong in the item (there’s no Smithville-Crawford Municipal Airport) that I didn’t believe it at first, but an insider confirmed to me that it was true.
Perhaps the craziest lie picked up around the world is that Pitt offered the Hyatt Lost Pines only $3,000 a month to stay in the $2,000 a night Litton House. Do you think Brad, Angie and the kids would check into a hotel, where the paps could also get rooms? The plan was always to rent a secluded house near Smithville.
