Archive for the 'Movie: Black Bear' Category

“Black Bear” Official Trailer

The first trailer for Aubrey’s latest film, “Black Bear“, has finally dropped!

It tells the story of a filmmaker named Allison (Aubrey Plaza) arriving to play house guest to a troubled couple (Christopher Abbott and Sarah Gadon), who have eschewed their life in the city after inheriting a family retreat. Battling writer’s block, Allison sparks a calculated game of desire and jealousy in pursuit of a new work that blurs the boundaries of autobiography and invention. BLACK BEAR explores the complex nature of relationships, gender dynamics, and the erratic nature of love as it traces the conflict between our lust and our longing for internal harmony. “Black Bear” will get released on Friday, December 4, 2020.

Momentum Pictures Acquires Aubrey Plaza Starrer ‘Black Bear’

THR – Momentum Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to the suspense thriller Black Bear, starring Aubrey Plaza.

The feature, which premiered at Sundance, follows an expectant couple confronted with an out-of-town guest. Suffering from writer’s block, the guest seeks solace in the woods but instead finds herself at the center of a twisted love triangle.

Christopher Abbott and Sarah Gadon also star in the movie from writer-director Lawrence Michael Levine.

Tandem Pictures’ Julie Christeas and Jonathan Blitstein produced Black Bear, along with Richard J. Bosner of Blue Creek Pictures. Levine and Plaza also produced, along with Sophia Takal and Oakhurst’s Marina Grasic and Jai Khanna.

“Black Bear is such a singular piece of filmmaking. From the first frame we were enthralled by Lawrence’s inventive storytelling,” said Dylan Wilcox, senior vp acquisitions for Momentum Pictures, which will announce a release plan at a later date. “The trio of lead actors all give incredible performances, and we’re excited to share it with audiences across the country.”

CAA Media Finance brokered the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.

(Variety) Aubrey Plaza talks about Sundance Drama ‘Black Bear’

Variety: Aubrey Plaza gives a go-for-broke performance in “Black Bear,” a galvanizing and serpentine drama about a weekend getaway that goes dangerously off the rails.

The film premieres at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday and Plaza’s work is a million miles removed from April Ludgate, the deadpan and apathetic intern from “Parks and Recreation” that served as the actress’ breakout role. Here, Plaza plays both sides of the coin, in the story of a couple who get obsessed with their overnight guest. Without revealing “Black Bear’s” killer twist, in one part of the film, Plaza is both seductive and poised, while in another section she is unbalanced and wracked with anxiety. It was, she admits, the greatest acting challenge of her career, one that was tailor-made for her by writer and director Lawrence Michael Levine.

On the eve of “Black Bear’s” Sundance debut, Plaza spoke with Variety about the difficulties of filming this emotionally demanding part on a shoe-string budget, as well as her upcoming stint hosting the Independent Spirit Awards.

This film is intense. What interested you in the project?
It was probably one of the most intense experiences I’ve ever had. We were in Long Lake in the Adirondacks and the lines between reality and fiction were very blurred. We were shooting off the grid on this property that was a 25-minute drive from the main road. So there was no cell service, no backup generators. We had a complete blackout when we first got to the location. And waiting for me in my dressing room was a miner’s light for my head in case of emergencies and a bear bell. That was comforting.

That sounds like roughing it. Are you outdoorsy?
I’m not. I would not consider myself outdoorsy. I mean, I love nature, but that wasn’t what this was. We weren’t staying in some charming cabin. We were working three weeks in those conditions. But I felt like I needed to do it, because the movie was written for me. It was very personal. Both Larry [Michael Levine] and myself are in these relationships with filmmakers, so we know how that can alter things on set. [Editor’s note: Plaza is dating writer and director Jeff Baena, with whom she made ‘The Little Hours.’]

Is that scary to be presented with something that someone wrote for you? It sounds like a lot of pressure. What if it sucks?
There is pressure, but with this project more than any other project, I decided to do it right after I first read it. When Larry gave it to me, I couldn’t believe that he believed I could pull it off. It was this challenging exercise in terms of performance — mentally, emotionally, I knew I was diving off the deep end. But that appealed to me. There were notes in the script that literally said, “[my character] Allison gives the most amazing performance that anyone has ever seen.” It was like, “Thanks Larry!” But it was flattering. I said, “If I’m going to do this, I need Christopher Abbott.”

Did you know Christopher Abbott before co-starring with him in “Black Bear”?
No. I’d seen him in “James White,” and I just felt like he’d be a good scene partner. I knew I couldn’t put myself in a position of being in a movie that had a low budget and was shot in challenging conditions, without that. It’s funny, because I’m a producer on the film, and I decided to help get Chris. So I wrote him this letter asking him to do the project, and then I sort of opted to let the universe decide if I should send it to him. So I slept on it. And the next day, I got a call from Larry who said, “Thank you. I don’t know what you said, but it worked. Christopher signed on.” I didn’t do a goddamn thing. The universe did it. So there you go.

Sundance Film Festival Unveils 2020 Lineup

The full line-up for Sundance Film Festival 2020 was announced yesterday, and Lawrence Michael Levine’s “Black Bear” is set to have its world premiere as part of their NEXT Competition. The film tells the story of a filmmaker who, at a remote lake house, plays a calculated game of desire and jealousy in the pursuit of a work of art that blurs the boundaries between autobiography and invention. Cast includes Aubrey, who also produced the film, as well as Christopher Abbott and Sarah Gadon.