SCA Summer Screening Series: MIDDLE MEN
August 3, 2010, 8:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
The School of Cinematic Arts and Paramount Pictures
Invite you and a guest to a special preview screening of
Middle Men
Directed by George Gallo
Written by George Gallo and Andy Weiss
Produced by Christopher Mallick, William Sherak, Jason Shuman and Michael Weiss
Followed by a Q&A with the director
and producers
8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 3rd
The Ray Stark Family Theatre
George Lucas Building, SCA 108
900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO ALL.
MAKE A RESERVATION
In Theaters on Friday, August 6th, 2010
About Middle Men
In 1995, everyone had a VCR, music was sold in record stores, and the world-wide-web was a new found discovery. Businessman Jack Harris (Luke Wilson) had the perfect life – a beautiful family and a successful career fixing problem companies. And then he met Wayne Beering (Giovanni Ribisi) and Buck Dolby (Gabriel Macht), two genius but troubled men, who had invented the way adult entertainment is sold over the internet. When Jack agrees to help steer their business, he soon finds himself caught between a 23 year-old porn star and the FBI all the while becoming one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs of his time. Inspired by a true story that proves business is a lot like sex… getting in is easy, pulling out is hard.
35mm print provided courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Rated R. Running time: 105 minutes.
To learn more about the film and to view the trailer, click here.
About the Guests
GEORGE GALLO (Screenwriter/Director)
When George Gallo moved from Mamaroneck, New York, to Los Angeles in 1982, he arrived with $800 in his pocket. After four years of struggle in a town that eats you up and spits you out, his screenplay, Wise Guys, was produced, starring Danny Devito and Joe Piscopo. He next went on to write Midnight Run, starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, considered an all-time classic comedy. His other screenplay credits include Bad Boys, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, See Spot Run, The Whole Ten Yards, as well as numerous other screenplays.
When Gallo first stepped behind the camera, he helmed his screenplay, 29th Street, starring Danny Aiello and Anthony LaPaglia, which earned critical acclaim. He returned again to direct Trapped In Paradise, starring Nicolas Cage, Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey. His other directing credits include Double Take, featuring comedian Eddie Griffin from a screenplay he wrote, and DysFUNKtional Family, that was written by Eddie Griffin and starred him as well. More recently, Gallo wrote and directed the critically acclaimed Local Color starring Academy Award nominee Armin Mueller-Stahl, Trevor Morgan and Ray Liotta that he shot in New Orleans pre-Katrina and My Mom's New Boyfriend, starring Antonio Banderas and Meg Ryan. He also has a film Columbus Circle starring Selma Blair, Amy Smart, Jason Lee and Kevin Pollak, which will be releasing soon.
Originally attending college as a Fine Arts major, Gallo was inspired after seeing Martin Scorsese's 1973 film Mean Streets, and became a film major instead. When the school informed him that he couldn't switch majors without repeating his first year's studies, he decided to drop out and ended up writing his first film, Wise Guys.
Multi-talented, Gallo also paints landscapes in the style of the Pennsylvania Impressionists, and has won the coveted Arts For The Parks Award in 1990. In addition, he has had three one-man exhibitions in New York City for his paintings. His other talents include being an accomplished saxophone player who played in both the marching band as well as a jazz ensemble in his hometown of Port Chester, New York.
CHRISTOPHER MALLICK (Producer)
Texas-born film producer Christopher Mallick began his professional career in business, where he launched multiple billing service companies including one of the Internet's first third party billing services. Upon transitioning into the Hollywood film industry with the completion of his first feature film Middle Men, Mallick has established himself as a creative force among the top producers in the entertainment industry. Mallick is the founder and owner of one of Hollywood's most modern and inventive production companies, Oxymoron Entertainment, which launched in 2006. After living and working in both New York City and Los Angeles, Mallick's thirty years as an innovator and creative leader brings real life experience to the creation of Middle Men, as well as his newest project, Columbus Circle, which recently wrapped filming in Los Angeles.
Mallick teamed up with noted writer/director George Gallo and Andy Weiss for Middle Men, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival and was selected as the official closing night film of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Phoenix Film Festival.
With a passion for puzzling storylines, Mallick's most current film is the mystery thriller Columbus Circle, starring Pollak and Ribisi again as well as Selma Blair, Amy Smart and Jason Lee. He is also finishing the documentary Exxxit and developing a number of feature length films including the comedies Issues, In the Tradition of Christmas and The Great Intervention.
WILLIAM SHERAK (Producer) and JASON SHUMAN (Producer) are establishing themselves as forces within the entertainment industry. They founded their company, Blue Star Entertainment, in 1998 with their first feature, an independent film entitled Four Dogs Playing Poker. Since then the two have produced over 15 films totaling a worldwide gross of nearly $350 million.
In 2000, Blue Star Entertainment signed an overall producing deal with Revolution Studios. With Sherak and Shuman being 25 and 26 years of age respectively, they became the youngest producers in history to obtain a studio overhead deal. While at the studio they produced the romantic comedy Little Black Book as well as the two horror hits Darkness Falls (2003) and The Messengers (2007), which both debuted at number one at the box office. As a result of these successes, they moved their deal over to Sony for a multi-year producing pact. During this time the duo produced such films as Daddy Day Camp, I Hate Valentines Day, the breakout hit Role Models, as well as their third number one film, Bangkok Dangerous starring Nicolas Cage.
Moving their company to Paramount Studios in 2009, where the producers currently hold offices, they await the release of the highly anticipated motion picture Middle Men, starring Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, and James Caan. Paramount is releasing the film worldwide beginning August 6th, 2010. They also await the release of their identity theft thriller Columbus Circle, starring Selma Blair, Amy Smart, and Jason Lee, due out this fall.
Along with running a successful film and television company, Sherak and Shuman have also transitioned into the world of new technology. Together, with partners Christopher Mallick and Giovanni Ribisi, they have formed STEREO D, a full service 2D to 3D conversion company. In its first year of existence, STEREO D was the only company to contribute conversion services to James Cameron's Avatar and have since completed the full theatrical 3D conversion for M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender. The company is currently working on the conversion for Paramount's Jackass 3.
William Sherak was born in Baltimore, Maryland but raised in Calabasas, CA. He studied marketing and management at the University Of Denver before starting his career at Davis Entertainment.
Jason Shuman was born in Detroit, Michigan but his family moved to Los Angeles just before starting high school. Jason attended USC Film School's Production program before starting his career with producer Arnold Kopelson.
It was in college where Shuman and Sherak were introduced through a mutual friend. The two shared a similar love of film, specifically Oliver Stone's Wall Street, which was the topic of their first conversation. In later years, when Blue Star Entertainment was formed, they picked the name from the airline in the 1987 film as a tribute to their initial meeting and a symbol of something great taking flight. From the outset, Sherak and Shuman's goals were to embrace the work ethic of veteran producers they admired like Zanuck, Brown, Zaentz, and Spiegel - producers who watched a film from the inception of an idea through its release into theaters.
About the SCA Summer Screening Series
When George Gallo moved from Mamaroneck, New York, to Los Angeles in 1982, he arrived with $800 in his pocket. After four years of struggle in a town that eats you up and spits you out, his screenplay, Wise Guys, was produced, starring Danny Devito and Joe Piscopo. He next went on to write Midnight Run, starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, considered an all-time classic comedy. His other screenplay credits include Bad Boys, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, See Spot Run, The Whole Ten Yards, as well as numerous other screenplays.
When Gallo first stepped behind the camera, he helmed his screenplay, 29th Street, starring Danny Aiello and Anthony LaPaglia, which earned critical acclaim. He returned again to direct Trapped In Paradise, starring Nicolas Cage, Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey. His other directing credits include Double Take, featuring comedian Eddie Griffin from a screenplay he wrote, and DysFUNKtional Family, that was written by Eddie Griffin and starred him as well. More recently, Gallo wrote and directed the critically acclaimed Local Color starring Academy Award nominee Armin Mueller-Stahl, Trevor Morgan and Ray Liotta that he shot in New Orleans pre-Katrina and My Mom's New Boyfriend, starring Antonio Banderas and Meg Ryan. He also has a film Columbus Circle starring Selma Blair, Amy Smart, Jason Lee and Kevin Pollak, which will be releasing soon.
Originally attending college as a Fine Arts major, Gallo was inspired after seeing Martin Scorsese's 1973 film Mean Streets, and became a film major instead. When the school informed him that he couldn't switch majors without repeating his first year's studies, he decided to drop out and ended up writing his first film, Wise Guys.
Multi-talented, Gallo also paints landscapes in the style of the Pennsylvania Impressionists, and has won the coveted Arts For The Parks Award in 1990. In addition, he has had three one-man exhibitions in New York City for his paintings. His other talents include being an accomplished saxophone player who played in both the marching band as well as a jazz ensemble in his hometown of Port Chester, New York.
CHRISTOPHER MALLICK (Producer)
Texas-born film producer Christopher Mallick began his professional career in business, where he launched multiple billing service companies including one of the Internet's first third party billing services. Upon transitioning into the Hollywood film industry with the completion of his first feature film Middle Men, Mallick has established himself as a creative force among the top producers in the entertainment industry. Mallick is the founder and owner of one of Hollywood's most modern and inventive production companies, Oxymoron Entertainment, which launched in 2006. After living and working in both New York City and Los Angeles, Mallick's thirty years as an innovator and creative leader brings real life experience to the creation of Middle Men, as well as his newest project, Columbus Circle, which recently wrapped filming in Los Angeles.
Mallick teamed up with noted writer/director George Gallo and Andy Weiss for Middle Men, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival and was selected as the official closing night film of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Phoenix Film Festival.
With a passion for puzzling storylines, Mallick's most current film is the mystery thriller Columbus Circle, starring Pollak and Ribisi again as well as Selma Blair, Amy Smart and Jason Lee. He is also finishing the documentary Exxxit and developing a number of feature length films including the comedies Issues, In the Tradition of Christmas and The Great Intervention.
WILLIAM SHERAK (Producer) and JASON SHUMAN (Producer) are establishing themselves as forces within the entertainment industry. They founded their company, Blue Star Entertainment, in 1998 with their first feature, an independent film entitled Four Dogs Playing Poker. Since then the two have produced over 15 films totaling a worldwide gross of nearly $350 million.
In 2000, Blue Star Entertainment signed an overall producing deal with Revolution Studios. With Sherak and Shuman being 25 and 26 years of age respectively, they became the youngest producers in history to obtain a studio overhead deal. While at the studio they produced the romantic comedy Little Black Book as well as the two horror hits Darkness Falls (2003) and The Messengers (2007), which both debuted at number one at the box office. As a result of these successes, they moved their deal over to Sony for a multi-year producing pact. During this time the duo produced such films as Daddy Day Camp, I Hate Valentines Day, the breakout hit Role Models, as well as their third number one film, Bangkok Dangerous starring Nicolas Cage.
Moving their company to Paramount Studios in 2009, where the producers currently hold offices, they await the release of the highly anticipated motion picture Middle Men, starring Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, and James Caan. Paramount is releasing the film worldwide beginning August 6th, 2010. They also await the release of their identity theft thriller Columbus Circle, starring Selma Blair, Amy Smart, and Jason Lee, due out this fall.
Along with running a successful film and television company, Sherak and Shuman have also transitioned into the world of new technology. Together, with partners Christopher Mallick and Giovanni Ribisi, they have formed STEREO D, a full service 2D to 3D conversion company. In its first year of existence, STEREO D was the only company to contribute conversion services to James Cameron's Avatar and have since completed the full theatrical 3D conversion for M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender. The company is currently working on the conversion for Paramount's Jackass 3.
William Sherak was born in Baltimore, Maryland but raised in Calabasas, CA. He studied marketing and management at the University Of Denver before starting his career at Davis Entertainment.
Jason Shuman was born in Detroit, Michigan but his family moved to Los Angeles just before starting high school. Jason attended USC Film School's Production program before starting his career with producer Arnold Kopelson.
It was in college where Shuman and Sherak were introduced through a mutual friend. The two shared a similar love of film, specifically Oliver Stone's Wall Street, which was the topic of their first conversation. In later years, when Blue Star Entertainment was formed, they picked the name from the airline in the 1987 film as a tribute to their initial meeting and a symbol of something great taking flight. From the outset, Sherak and Shuman's goals were to embrace the work ethic of veteran producers they admired like Zanuck, Brown, Zaentz, and Spiegel - producers who watched a film from the inception of an idea through its release into theaters.
The SCA Summer Screening Series is a showcase for upcoming releases highlighting world cinema, documentary and independent film titles, as well as current Hollywood blockbusters, reflecting the full spectrum of diverse, challenging and entertaining filmmaking being produced in the world today. The screenings will take place in the School of Cinematic Arts Complex theaters, as well as in Norris Cinema Theatre, whenever specified.
Check-In & Reservations
This screening is free of charge and open to the public. Please bring a photo ID or print out of your reservation confirmation, which will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Due to a prior event in the theater, doors will open at 7:45 P.M.
Parking
The USC School of Cinematic Arts is located at 900 W. 34th St., Los Angeles, CA 90007. Parking passes may be purchased for $8.00 at USC Entrance Gate #5, located at the intersection of W. Jefferson Blvd. & McClintock Avenue. We recommend parking in outdoor Lot M or V, or Parking Structure D, at the far end of 34th Street. Please note that Parking Structure D cannot accommodate tall vehicles such as SUVs. Metered street parking is also available along Jefferson Blvd.
Contact Information
Name: Alessandro Ago
Email: aago@cinema.usc.edu
Phone: 213.740.2330