As it continues to produce highend films and TV programs that examine the wonders of the natural world, science and history, Terra Mater Factual Studios is also seeking to broaden its audience and educate viewers about the precarious state of life on Earth.
Whether it’s the poaching of endangered African elephants for China’s illicit ivory trade or the planned plunder of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by America’s oil industry oligarchs, the planet’s precious wildlife is facing dangers that threaten its continued existence. Terra Mater has achieved great success with its theatrical and television output over the past decade in showcasing such issues, but the Austrian company is aiming to attract and inspire new viewers with less traditional productions, including an unlikely comedy.
To that end, Terra Mater is turning its focus to impact-driven environmental topics while also creating mainstream appeal for its productions, says Michael Frenschkowski,...
Whether it’s the poaching of endangered African elephants for China’s illicit ivory trade or the planned plunder of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by America’s oil industry oligarchs, the planet’s precious wildlife is facing dangers that threaten its continued existence. Terra Mater has achieved great success with its theatrical and television output over the past decade in showcasing such issues, but the Austrian company is aiming to attract and inspire new viewers with less traditional productions, including an unlikely comedy.
To that end, Terra Mater is turning its focus to impact-driven environmental topics while also creating mainstream appeal for its productions, says Michael Frenschkowski,...
- 4/23/2021
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
We want to make a film about inequality with the impact of An Inconvenient Truth. You can help make it happen
I've long been passionate about the role that film can play in creating social change, and in the last few years it is starting to look as though this potential is being realised.
In 2006, Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth was credited with raising global public awareness of climate change. Gore had been making presentations on the issue around the world for some time, but it was the film which took the message to millions. Why was it so effective? Film has the power to engage people on a number of levels: it can bring data to life, showing stories, themes and arguments in ways that words on a page cannot. And Gore's film also showed what could be done about the problem.
Films can also show the human side of statistics,...
I've long been passionate about the role that film can play in creating social change, and in the last few years it is starting to look as though this potential is being realised.
In 2006, Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth was credited with raising global public awareness of climate change. Gore had been making presentations on the issue around the world for some time, but it was the film which took the message to millions. Why was it so effective? Film has the power to engage people on a number of levels: it can bring data to life, showing stories, themes and arguments in ways that words on a page cannot. And Gore's film also showed what could be done about the problem.
Films can also show the human side of statistics,...
- 6/30/2012
- by Katharine Round
- The Guardian - Film News
In 2005 director Rupert Murray released Unknown White Male, a documentary about the true story of a man named Doug Bruce. He woke up on Coney Island with total amnesia and we follow him around as rediscovers himself and the world around him. I found the intriguing premise to be told in a boring, over-stylized manner. Then I heard about the next film from House of Wax and Orphan director Jaume Collet-Serra, with the same title and a similar premise. Although one features Liam Neeson kicking a lot of ass, it came to my surprise that the two films have nothing to do with each other.
Based on a novel by Didier Van Cauwelaert, they shortened the title to Unknown. Neeson stars alongside January Jones, Diane Kruger and Frank Langella. It looks like a solid little thriller prime gearing to mimic Taken’s box office. Check out the first trailer below via Yahoo.
Based on a novel by Didier Van Cauwelaert, they shortened the title to Unknown. Neeson stars alongside January Jones, Diane Kruger and Frank Langella. It looks like a solid little thriller prime gearing to mimic Taken’s box office. Check out the first trailer below via Yahoo.
- 10/22/2010
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
I know Rupert Murray’s The End of the Line means well – I could hardly accuse the film of pandering on a renowned topic – it doesn’t. The End of the Line focuses on the growing problem of over-fishing, the ecological damage wrought by the practice, and the far reaching effects of a natural resource once deemed permanently inexhaustible – the ocean. The End of the Line is based on the book of the same name by Charles Clover, and his investigation forms the crux of a series of interviews that stretches to global proportions. Director Murray and narrator Ted Danson (most recently a regular on FX’s Damages) probe into the harrowing consequences of this practice – one that shows no signs on stopping.
Like I said, The End of the Line earns its stripes – it’s a well-meaning documentary, crafted with a steady and skillful hand. Rupert Murray, who also lensed the film,...
Like I said, The End of the Line earns its stripes – it’s a well-meaning documentary, crafted with a steady and skillful hand. Rupert Murray, who also lensed the film,...
- 2/25/2010
- by Mark Zhuravsky
- JustPressPlay.net
I know Rupert Murray’s The End of the Line means well – I could hardly accuse the film of pandering on a renowned topic – it doesn’t. The End of the Line focuses on the growing problem of over-fishing, the ecological damage wrought by the practice, and the far reaching effects of a natural resource once deemed permanently inexhaustible – the ocean. The End of the Line is based on the book of the same name by Charles Clover, and his investigation forms the crux of a series of interviews that stretches to global proportions. Director Murray and narrator Ted Danson (most recently a regular on FX’s Damages) probe into the harrowing consequences of this practice – one that shows no signs on stopping.
Like I said, The End of the Line earns its stripes – it’s a well-meaning documentary, crafted with a steady and skillful hand. Rupert Murray, who also lensed the film,...
Like I said, The End of the Line earns its stripes – it’s a well-meaning documentary, crafted with a steady and skillful hand. Rupert Murray, who also lensed the film,...
- 2/25/2010
- by Mark Zhuravsky
- JustPressPlay.net
"The End of the Line" is a frightening call to action documentary on the ocean's plight, specifically regarding the fish populations of all the seas. Starring Ted Danson as the narrator, the DVD will be available to rent and own next Tuesday, February 23rd. Trailer from theatrical: Imagine a world without fish, filmmaker Rupert Murray did, and he has produced "The End of the Line." .The inconvenient truth about the impact of overfishing on the world.s oceans...The Economist This is the future.in less than 40 years.if we do not stop, there will be no fish claims Murray. Narrated by Ted Danson and based on the book by Charles Clover, The End of the Line...
- 2/16/2010
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
- [Editor's note: To coincide with The End of the Line's release today at the Cinema Village in New York and Laemmle Sunset 5 in Los Angeles, we've re-published the following interview which took place during the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.] Rupert Murray Eric Lavallee: How did this documentary subject “land on your plate”? And more importantly, how did this become a story you wanted to explore? Rupert Murray: I’d been reading horror articles in the newspapers about the oceans sporadically for about 5 years, but I always thought – how do I put these together into a film? I always had had a passion for marine life and then I read Charles Clover’s book The End of The Line and I realized my search was over. He had spent 15 years researching and amassing stories and data that laid the whole thing out and to me, he revealed two things, one; it’s ten times worse than I ever imagined, and two; it’s so easy (relatively to other global problems) to solve. So I decided to contact him and make the film and so two years and a
- 6/19/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
The documentary "The End of the Line" delivers sobering news: If something isn't done about overfishing, the world's supply of marine food will be exhausted by the middle of the century.
Directed by Rupert Murray and based on the book by Brit journalist Charles Clover, the movie places the blame squarely on greedy multinational corporations (aren't they all?) and ineffective bureaucrats.
It also takes a dig at the celebrity-packed Nobu restaurant chain, part-owned by Robert De Niro, for serving endangered bluefin tuna. For its part, the restaurant agreed to add print to the...
Directed by Rupert Murray and based on the book by Brit journalist Charles Clover, the movie places the blame squarely on greedy multinational corporations (aren't they all?) and ineffective bureaucrats.
It also takes a dig at the celebrity-packed Nobu restaurant chain, part-owned by Robert De Niro, for serving endangered bluefin tuna. For its part, the restaurant agreed to add print to the...
- 6/19/2009
- by By V.A. MUSETTO
- NYPost.com
This week in theaters sees more history coming to life while the oceans around us die. Woody Allen fans can start counting backwards from 364 again, while Sandra Bullock makes Ryan Reynolds suffer, which, after "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," has got to be a cause worth supporting.
Download this in audio form (MP3: 8:51 minutes, 12.2 Mb) Subscribe to the In Theaters podcast: [Xml] [iTunes]
"$9.99"
Thanks to the mainstream explosion of snarky adult-oriented animation, grown-ups no longer need to dream up creative excuses to spend all day in front of cartoons, which is nice. This latest dose of claymation cleverness comes courtesy of Israeli director Tatia Rosenthal, working from "Jellyfish" writer/director Etgar Keret's book of short stories. Anthony Lapaglia voices Jim, a single dad in urban Australia who, along with his family and neighbors, embarks on a series of surreal adventures after his son Dave (Samuel Johnson) blows the titular sum on...
Download this in audio form (MP3: 8:51 minutes, 12.2 Mb) Subscribe to the In Theaters podcast: [Xml] [iTunes]
"$9.99"
Thanks to the mainstream explosion of snarky adult-oriented animation, grown-ups no longer need to dream up creative excuses to spend all day in front of cartoons, which is nice. This latest dose of claymation cleverness comes courtesy of Israeli director Tatia Rosenthal, working from "Jellyfish" writer/director Etgar Keret's book of short stories. Anthony Lapaglia voices Jim, a single dad in urban Australia who, along with his family and neighbors, embarks on a series of surreal adventures after his son Dave (Samuel Johnson) blows the titular sum on...
- 6/15/2009
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
I am heading out the door and have no time to really dig into this, but here is the line-up for next year's 2009 Sundance Film Festival as reported by Variety. Dramatic Competition Adam, directed and written by Max Mayer ("Better Living"), about a slightly dysfunctional man's attempt at a relationship with an alluring new neighbor. Stars Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Peter Gallagher, Amy Irving, Frankie Faison. Amreeka, directed and written by Cherien Dabis, a drama examining the challenges faced by a divorced Palestinian woman and her teenage son upon moving to rural Illinois. With Nisreen Faour, Melkar Muallem. Arlen Faber, directed and written by John Hindman, about the intrusion of two strangers into the life of a famous reclusive author. With Jeff Daniels, Lauren Graham, Lou Pucci, Olivia Thirlby, Kat Dennings. Big Fan, directed and written by Robert Siegel (writer of "The Wrestler"), which hinges on the reaction of a...
- 12/3/2008
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Oh I'm so excited! One of the best fests of the year! The 2009 Sundance Film Festival has unveiled the lineup for its U.S. and World competitions for dramatic and documentary features. The non-competitive sections including Premieres, Spectrum, Midnight, and New Frontiers will be announced December 4. Sundance unspools January 15-25, 2009 in Park City, Utah.
Check out the film list after the break. via Variety.
Dramatic Competition
* Adam (Max Mayer)
* Amreeka (Cherien Dabis)
* Big Fan (Robert Siegel)
* Brief Interviews With Hideous Men (John Krasinski)
* Cold Souls (Sophie Barthes)
* Dare (Adam Salky)
* Don’t Let Me Drown (Cruz Angeles)
* The Dream of the Romans (John Hindman)
* The Greatest (Shana Feste)
* Humpday (Lynn Shelton)
* Paper Heart (Nicolas Jasenovec)
* Peter and Vandy (Jay Dipietro)
* Push (Lee Daniels)
* Sin nombre (Cary Fukunaga)
* Taking Chance (Ross Katz)
* Toe to Toe (Emily Abt)
Documentary Competition
* Art and Copy (Doug Pray)
* Boy Interrupted (Dana Perry)
* Sergio (Greg Barker...
Check out the film list after the break. via Variety.
Dramatic Competition
* Adam (Max Mayer)
* Amreeka (Cherien Dabis)
* Big Fan (Robert Siegel)
* Brief Interviews With Hideous Men (John Krasinski)
* Cold Souls (Sophie Barthes)
* Dare (Adam Salky)
* Don’t Let Me Drown (Cruz Angeles)
* The Dream of the Romans (John Hindman)
* The Greatest (Shana Feste)
* Humpday (Lynn Shelton)
* Paper Heart (Nicolas Jasenovec)
* Peter and Vandy (Jay Dipietro)
* Push (Lee Daniels)
* Sin nombre (Cary Fukunaga)
* Taking Chance (Ross Katz)
* Toe to Toe (Emily Abt)
Documentary Competition
* Art and Copy (Doug Pray)
* Boy Interrupted (Dana Perry)
* Sergio (Greg Barker...
- 12/3/2008
- QuietEarth.us
It looks like the 25th annual Sundance Film Festival is borrowing the late Harvey Milk's famous line: You gotta give 'em hope.
Despite the war-weary, economically ravaged state of the nation and the industry, the Sundance Institute eagerly announced the 2009 competition lineup Wednesday. And while it certainly maintains a somber quotient, the festival roster includes enough fresh takes on old genres (think romance, sci-fi and politics) to satisfy moviegoers and industry players looking for some warmth during the snowy 11-day event.
At least that's how fest organizers Geoffrey Gilmore, Sundance's longtime director, and John Cooper, its programming director, choose to see it.
"What you might have expected is that the festival would be really reflective right now of a very dark time, and it's not really true," said Gilmore, in his 19th year overseeing the fest. "We haven't seen the numbers drop, we haven't seen productions severely impacted yet by these factors,...
Despite the war-weary, economically ravaged state of the nation and the industry, the Sundance Institute eagerly announced the 2009 competition lineup Wednesday. And while it certainly maintains a somber quotient, the festival roster includes enough fresh takes on old genres (think romance, sci-fi and politics) to satisfy moviegoers and industry players looking for some warmth during the snowy 11-day event.
At least that's how fest organizers Geoffrey Gilmore, Sundance's longtime director, and John Cooper, its programming director, choose to see it.
"What you might have expected is that the festival would be really reflective right now of a very dark time, and it's not really true," said Gilmore, in his 19th year overseeing the fest. "We haven't seen the numbers drop, we haven't seen productions severely impacted yet by these factors,...
- 12/3/2008
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Directors Guild of America announced the nominees Wednesday for its documentary award, including two that examine aspects of the war in Iraq. The nominees are Kief Davidson and Richard Ladkani for The Devil's Miner, Werner Herzog for Grizzly Man, Sean McAllister for The Liberace of Baghdad, Rupert Murray for Unknown White Male, and Brent Renaud and Craig Renaud for Off To War: Welcome to Baghdad. "The best documentary filmmaking provides a look inside a particular place or time and leaves us feeling like we've been transported to it, as a real eyewitness," DGA president Michael Apted said. "These talented filmmakers have made provocative and challenging movies that demonstrate why audiences are increasingly attending and why distributors are releasing more documentary films theatrically." The winner will be announced at the 58th annual DGA Awards show on Jan. 28 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
- 1/18/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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