Indie films are often a treasure trove of great writing, clever comedy, and realistic statements on the world that, for one reason or another, aren’t the sort of projects that can deliver a wide enough demographic to recoup the budget of bigger efforts. This is especially likely to be the case whenever you run into a smaller film with Parker Posey in it. Throw in Danny Glover and Billy Burke, and you can expect to be in for something interesting.
Highland Park doesn’t quite live up to those expectations, but it’s an interesting effort nonetheless. It’s also one that, given the right proclivity for entertainment, is probably a lot more enjoyable than most releases. If nothing else, there’s something to be said for spinning things along a path that doesn’t entirely make sense, thus giving it at least an element of unpredictability.
Our focus...
Highland Park doesn’t quite live up to those expectations, but it’s an interesting effort nonetheless. It’s also one that, given the right proclivity for entertainment, is probably a lot more enjoyable than most releases. If nothing else, there’s something to be said for spinning things along a path that doesn’t entirely make sense, thus giving it at least an element of unpredictability.
Our focus...
- 4/16/2013
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
The cash-strapped city of Highland Park, Mich. has become the unlikely muse for a new movie starring Danny Glover, Parker Posey and Billy Burke. The Detroit enclave is certainly a place with no shortage of real-life problems. Not only has the city's struggling school system been taken over by the state, but its public lighting infrastructure has been decimated and its municipal water system is grappling with issues that are both fiscal and physical.
There's no question it's a city that could use a little luck -- and that's the premise of "Highland Park," which is being distributed now by Tribeca Film through a Video On Demand (VOD) format.
The movie's plot revolves around a group of high school faculty facing an uncertain future due to the city's unstable finances. They pool their money together for a chance at winning the lottery. Remarkably, the group's lucky numbers turn up one day for a staggering jackpot,...
There's no question it's a city that could use a little luck -- and that's the premise of "Highland Park," which is being distributed now by Tribeca Film through a Video On Demand (VOD) format.
The movie's plot revolves around a group of high school faculty facing an uncertain future due to the city's unstable finances. They pool their money together for a chance at winning the lottery. Remarkably, the group's lucky numbers turn up one day for a staggering jackpot,...
- 4/15/2013
- by David Sands
- Huffington Post
Here's the first trailer for an upcoming ensemble drama titled Highland Park, which follows a high school faculty facing job eliminations due to budget cuts, who are hoping that their fate changes after the pool money together to play the lottery using the same numbers they've played for ten years. Familiar names in the starring ensemble cast include: Danny Glover, Rockmond Dunbar, Kimberly Elise and Naturi Naughton. Andrew Meieran directed, from a script penned by himself and Christopher Keyser. No official release date set yet, although the film is expected to debut this year. It was actually completed in 2011 but never released. Watch the trailer below:...
- 3/29/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. rights to 28 Hotel Rooms, written and directed by Matt Ross. The drama had its world premiere in the Next <=> section of the Sundance Film Festival in January and will receive a premium VOD release followed by a national theatrical release later this year. Photos: The Scene at Sundance Film Festival 2012 Starring Chris Messina and Marin Ireland, the film tracks an affair between the two main characters as it grows into a deeper relationship in the titular locations. Lynette Howell, Louise Runge and Samantha Housman produced the project; Messina, Andrew Meieran, Stefan Nowicki, Joey Carey and Alex Sagalchik are executive
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- 2/16/2012
- by Jay A. Fernandez , Daniel Miller
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
#30. Highland Park - Andrew Meieran I thought Andrew Meieran's dramedy might be ready for a 2011 edition showing -- but if this hasn't preemed anywhere else then perhaps the post-production process was a tad bit more lengthier than anticipated. With True Blood star Deborah Ann Woll and Park Posey toplining, perhaps Highland Park will indeed be receiving a Premieres showing. Gist: This centers on a group of high school faculty members and their desire to improve their community. Confronted with overwhelming problems and limited resources, their lives and priorities change when money seemingly falls into their lap. They see the restoration of the library as the means to inspire civic pride and a way to re-energize people. Posey will star as Shirley Paine, onetime homecoming queen and now the Mayor of Highland Park. A scheming opportunist, she is a woman drunk on power, eager to cash in on the city's notoriety.
- 11/10/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
If anyone deserves to have their story told, it's Rod Serling, the influential author and filmmaker. Now, thanks to writer/director Andrew Meieran, Serling's life is getting the big screen treatment it merits.
Meieran recently acquired the film rights to Serling's life story. Frequent Oliver Stone collaborator Stanley Weiser has agreed to co-write the flick, and Meieran will direct and co-produce alongside Serling's widow, Carol Serling.
Serling was a creative iconoclast who began in radio and became a major player in the birth of television as a serious storytelling medium. He served as a freelancer for many of the dramatic anthologies in vogue during the 1950s and won several Emmys over the course of his career for such highly respected works as Requiem for a Heavyweight and The Comedian. But the program for which he's still best remembered is, of course, The Twilight Zone.
Premiering in 1959 and running for five years,...
Meieran recently acquired the film rights to Serling's life story. Frequent Oliver Stone collaborator Stanley Weiser has agreed to co-write the flick, and Meieran will direct and co-produce alongside Serling's widow, Carol Serling.
Serling was a creative iconoclast who began in radio and became a major player in the birth of television as a serious storytelling medium. He served as a freelancer for many of the dramatic anthologies in vogue during the 1950s and won several Emmys over the course of his career for such highly respected works as Requiem for a Heavyweight and The Comedian. But the program for which he's still best remembered is, of course, The Twilight Zone.
Premiering in 1959 and running for five years,...
- 6/30/2011
- by Theron
- Planet Fury
Iconic television personality Rod Serling lead quite an interesting life. Before he became a live TV anthology narrator, producer, and screenwriter, the The Twilight Zone host was elementary school class clown who enrolled in the U.S. Army the day after high school graduation. He was a paratrooper and a member of the Army demolition squad during World War II and saw the War in the Pacific firsthand while stationed in the Philippines. His wartime combat experiences left him with nightmares and flashbacks and went on to deeply influence his writing for the rest of his life.
When he got back home, Serling used the G.I. Bill’s educational benefits to attend college, where he became involved with the campus radio station. After school he found a job in radio, eventually working his way through the entertainment business to become a TV writer and host of The Twilight Zone,...
When he got back home, Serling used the G.I. Bill’s educational benefits to attend college, where he became involved with the campus radio station. After school he found a job in radio, eventually working his way through the entertainment business to become a TV writer and host of The Twilight Zone,...
- 6/30/2011
- by James Battaglia
- The Film Stage
Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling to get a biopic via Andrew Meieran of Bureau of Moving Pictures Stanley Weiser (Wall Street) is scripting the film, reports Deadline. Carol Serling, Rod's widow, is producing alongside Meieran. Serling was born on Christmas Day, 1924 and died June 28th, 1975. Active in politics both on and off the screen, he heled form television industry standards. He often clashed with television executives and sponsors over issues concerning racism and censorship, and was called the "angry young man" of Hollywood. Serling also wrote the screenplay for 1968's Planet of the Apes with Michael Wilson...
- 6/30/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
#54. Highland Park - Andrew Meieran She's a Sundance staple and it would be logical to see Park Posey in a film that would help launch a filmmaker's career at a fest that does just that. The film works with a very "current" theme and if the tone is just right, I could see Andrew Meieran's dramedy, which has had a long time to prep for the festival (read this article on the shot in Red production). Look for Highland Park to be one of possibly a pair (the other being Detachment) of high school set pics that deal not with the students, but the staff. Posey toplines a pic that centers on a group of high school faculty members and their desire to improve their community. Confronted with overwhelming problems and limited resources, their lives and priorities change when money seemingly falls into their lap. They see the restoration...
- 11/18/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
This year I've decided to not include titles that were introduced in 2009 and are having their theatrical release this year: they include top of the list we find A Prophet and Fish Tank, a pair of cream of the crop titles showcased in Cannes, and films such as Dogtooth, Hadewijch, Tales From the Golden Age, Father of My Children, City of Life and Death, I Killed My Mother (J'ai tue ma mere), Mother, Mother and Child, Lebanon, Micmacs à tire-larigot are all worthy titles to look out for. - Welcome to the official landing page for where the 2010's top 100 most anticipated list begins. Now in year three, I started putting the list together in an attempt to keep tabs on the projects that matter the most to the site – it acts on some occasions as an F-u to the year in film previews that fail to include important...
- 2/22/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Bella's father is going from Team Jacob to Team Save the McGregor Library. Following his reprisal of the character Charlie Swan in this fall's "Twilight," sequel "New Moon," actor Billy Burke will appear in a little, charitable film titled "Highland Park," according to a report in Variety. Shooting is already underway in Michigan, with Danny Glover and Parker Posey starring.
The movie will tell a fictional story about a group of high school faculty members who help save their community library after a teacher (Glover) wins the lottery and uses his winnings for the building's preservation. Although the feature won't be based on a true story, the library in the film is a real one, and it actually does need saving. In fact, proceeds from ticket sales for "Highland Park" will be going to its real-life renovations.
Andrew Meieran, who co-wrote the script and is now producing and directing, comes...
The movie will tell a fictional story about a group of high school faculty members who help save their community library after a teacher (Glover) wins the lottery and uses his winnings for the building's preservation. Although the feature won't be based on a true story, the library in the film is a real one, and it actually does need saving. In fact, proceeds from ticket sales for "Highland Park" will be going to its real-life renovations.
Andrew Meieran, who co-wrote the script and is now producing and directing, comes...
- 10/13/2009
- by Christopher Campbell
- MTV Movies Blog
Everyone's favorite Twilight human dad, Billy Burke, has had his hands full this turn around where filming is concerned. While filming The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in Vancouver, British Columbia, Burke has also been filming Highland Park in Detroit, Michigan. Earlier this month, Burke tweeted about the vicious filming schedule. That other movie, he later explained, was Highland Park. While at the time he introduced his followers to the project, its IMDb page wasn't developed, it has si ... o-star in "Highland Park" with Danny Glover. The film follows a group of high school faculty members who seek to restore a public library to help build hope in the community.The cast also includes Michelle Forbes, Bob Gunton and Deborah Ann Woll, with Andrew Meieran helming. According to Burke himself, he will be shooting for Highland Park o...
- 10/13/2009
- by thetwilightexaminer
- Twilight Examiner
Parker Posey has joined the cast of The Bureau of Moving Pictures feature film "Highland Park," which is now shooting in Detroit. The Bureau's Andrew Meieran is directing and producing the dark comedy, which he co-wrote with Christopher Keyser.The film, which also stars Danny Glover, focuses on a high school faculty in a struggling community. In the story, a teacher wins the lottery and uses the winnings to restore the local library and revitalize the community in the process.According to The Hollywood Reporter, Posey will play Shirley Paine, a one-time beauty queen who is now the greedy mayor of Highland Park.The film is unique in that it has the real-life motive of helping to reopen the neighborhood's McGregor Library, shut...
- 10/12/2009
- by Adnan Tezer
- Monsters and Critics
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Parker Posey has joined the cast of “Highland Park,” which is currently shooting in Detroit. Written by Andrew Meieran and Christopher Keyser, Meieran is also directing the project. The film stars Danny Glover and focuses on a high school faculty in a struggling town where a teacher wins the lottery and uses his winnings to help save the town. Posey will play Shirley Paine, the opportunistic mayor of the town and one-time homecoming queen. No release date has been set yet for the project. Stay tuned to Shockya.com for more “Highland Park” news. By Costa Koutsoutis (Source: The Hollywood Reporter)...
- 10/10/2009
- by Costa Koutsoutis
- ShockYa
I know that we all have to head towards the future and not get stuck with the past. We must be prepared for the changes in music, the modernization of old-school styles, and new generations of thinkers and creators who may not mesh with our tastes. But I refuse to believe that libraries are amongst the things we need to wave g'bye to. Across the country, libraries are dwindling. Hell, September brought word that All of Philly's libraries were closing. All.
But at least one filmmaker is doing something about this crappy trend. Andrew Meieran is directing a dark comedy called Highland Park (co-written with Christopher Keyser), and The Hollywood Reporter posts that Parker Posey has just signed onto the cast. The film stars Danny Glover as teacher in a struggling community who wins the lottery and decides "to restore the local library and energize the community in the process.
But at least one filmmaker is doing something about this crappy trend. Andrew Meieran is directing a dark comedy called Highland Park (co-written with Christopher Keyser), and The Hollywood Reporter posts that Parker Posey has just signed onto the cast. The film stars Danny Glover as teacher in a struggling community who wins the lottery and decides "to restore the local library and energize the community in the process.
- 10/9/2009
- by Monika Bartyzel
- Cinematical
Parker Posey has joined the cast of the Bureau of Moving Pictures feature "Highland Park," now shooting in Detroit. The Bureau's Andrew Meieran is directing and producing the dark comedy, which he co-wrote with Christopher Keyser.The film, which stars Danny Glover, focuses on a high school faculty in a struggling community. In the story, a teacher wins the lottery and uses the largesse to restore the local library and energize the community in the process.Posey will play Shirley Paine, one-time homecoming queen and now the opportunistic mayor of Highland Park."Highland" has a real-life motive: It's designed to help reopen the neighborhood's McGregor Library, shut down in 2002 because of a lack of funds. Meieran plans to simultaneously direct a documentary tracing Highland Park's history and the library restoration efforts."We're excited to have the opportunity to be a part of bringing jobs to Michigan and the revival...
- 10/9/2009
- backstage.com
Parker Posey has joined the cast of the Bureau of Moving Pictures feature "Highland Park," now shooting in Detroit. The Bureau's Andrew Meieran is directing and producing the dark comedy, which he co-wrote with Christopher Keyser.
The film, which stars Danny Glover, focuses on a high school faculty in a struggling community. In the story, a teacher wins the lottery and uses the largesse to restore the local library and energize the community in the process.
Posey will play Shirley Paine, one-time homecoming queen and now the opportunistic mayor of Highland Park.
"Highland" has a real-life motive: It's designed to help reopen the neighborhood's McGregor Library, shut down in 2002 because of a lack of funds. Meieran plans to simultaneously direct a documentary tracing Highland Park's history and the library restoration efforts.
"We're excited to have the opportunity to be a part of bringing jobs to Michigan and the revival...
The film, which stars Danny Glover, focuses on a high school faculty in a struggling community. In the story, a teacher wins the lottery and uses the largesse to restore the local library and energize the community in the process.
Posey will play Shirley Paine, one-time homecoming queen and now the opportunistic mayor of Highland Park.
"Highland" has a real-life motive: It's designed to help reopen the neighborhood's McGregor Library, shut down in 2002 because of a lack of funds. Meieran plans to simultaneously direct a documentary tracing Highland Park's history and the library restoration efforts.
"We're excited to have the opportunity to be a part of bringing jobs to Michigan and the revival...
- 10/8/2009
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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