CHICAGO (April 16, 2010) –– Media Derivatives (“MDEX”) is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as a designated contract market. Media Derivatives will operate under the name The Trend Exchange® (“TrendEx”). TrendEx is the first new exchange to offer innovative products that has been approved since 2004 and one of only 7 US based commodities exchanges. TrendEx is primarily focused on the development of a variety of products to benefit the entertainment industry with one if its initially proposed products being designed to help mitigate risk and enhance the successful financing of motion pictures through trading of opening weekend domestic box office receipts. TrendEx, like other CFTC approved exchanges, will consider other products to offer beyond those of just the media industry.
Founder and CEO Robert S. Swagger said The Trend Exchange welcomes collaboration from all segments of the entertainment industry in the development of market-based products that provide maximum risk management potential for the participants. Launch of the exchange’s first products is anticipated in the third quarter.
“Like all Americans, we cherish the entertainment industry,” Mr. Swagger said. “We believe that our products, designed in partnership with the broad industry constituency, will help better manage economic uncertainty and financial volatility, thus enhancing opportunities for success.”
Mr. Swagger added: “The recent attention to our initially proposed product is normal and healthy. Historically, initial product skeptics have eventually become the greatest adopters through a process of time, education and communication that demonstrates the many benefits of futures market for the US Economy. Now that our exchange is approved, we will resume the work we’ve been doing throughout the entertainment industry.”
By designing its products for institutional traders and commercial users, TrendEx intends to fulfill critical financing needs. Historically production companies have had no effective way to minimize the risk of producing major motion pictures, which cost on average $107 million per title.
“The Trend Exchange will fulfill this crucial risk-management need by utilizing the time-tested exchange-traded futures market model that has served agriculture, industry and commerce in America for nearly two centuries,” Swagger said. “The regulatory review and oversight of the CFTC is rigorous – and necessary to inform and protect all participants in these markets. We look forward to working collaboratively with all parties to set the highest standards for these new risk-mitigation markets. Furthermore, we wish to thank the CFTC Chairman, Commissioners and staff for the countless hours of hard work and dedication throughout this process.”
The Trend Exchange is privately funded by Veriana (www.veriana.com ) and is in discussions with several key industry participants regarding what it deems as possible strategic partnerships. The company’s directors and advisors include prominent members of the entertainment and financial services industries. In addition, the exchange’s senior management is comprised of many well known professionals from the Chicago futures and options exchange community. The Trend Exchange’s corporate offices are located in Scottsdale, AZ with exchange operations office in Chicago.
This is the sequel to the 2004 French film District B13. I don’t know how big the following for that movie is, but for what it is, an action packed thriller addressing class issues and showcasing Parkour, it is highly entertaining. Ultimatum should be released on DVD here in the U.S. pretty soon, but in the meantime, go rent District B13 if you haven’t already seen it.
I am so geeked for this movie. And now comes word that the film adaptation of Nick McDonell’s novel “Twelve” is set to have its big premiere at Sundance.
The book, which was written in 2002 (when McDonell was eighteen), follows a seventeen year old drug dealer named White Mike as he deals to his peers on the upper east side of Manhattan in the week leading up to New Year’s. Imagine “Alpha Dog” meets “Gossip Girl” and you’ve got a rough idea of what this movie might be like.
Here are the first images of the film to be released:
“Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” just might be the craziest fucking movie I’ve seen in years. It will certainly not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I dug it heavy. This just might be the most non-mainstream movie ever to be mainstream. The main character will have you debating for hours. Is he good? Is he bad? All I have to say is that answer is complex as shit and will leave you with a mindfuck to ponder for a long time.
I really hope Nicholas Cage gets nominated for best actor because this just might be the best role of his career. Nobody else could have played this part. If this isn’t the best movie of the year, it easily contains my favorite performance of the year. Cage just fucking owns this movie.
The trailer is below, but I honestly think the less you read about the movie or know about the movie going in, the better the experience will be. Watch at your own risk (of getting certain parts of the movie shown to you).
One of my personal all time favorite books by my favorite childhood author Roald Dahl, is going to be released as a film interpreted by Wes Anderson. Enjoy.
As our friends know, Martin and I love us some british crime movies. As such, I have compiled a list of must-see British crime flicks, ranging from gangster movies to movies about football firms. Some of them are obvious picks, and some of them you may have never heard of. Either which way, see em’ mate or piss off!
1) The Long Good Friday
"What's that mate? Peees off!"
In this one, Bob Hoskins plays a ruthless top London mob boss who finds his perfect crime empire crumbling right before his eyes. The film revolves around his attempt to figure out who’s betraying him while at the same time trying to do business with the Mafia. As seen in the picture below, you don’t want to get on his bad side.
2) Gangster #1
This might actually be my favorite british gangster flick if only because Paul Bettany plays the scariest motherfucker ever. I can’t even watch other Paul Bettany movies without thinking about this one, because if there’s one dude who knows how to play a psychotic british gangster, it’s this guy. The twist to this film is that the main character (we are never given his name, like in “Layer Cake”) is essentially the antagonist, whereas gangster Freddie Mays (played by David Thewlis, awesome in this movie), the main character’s boss and rival, is a supporting character who plays like a protagonist. This movie also looks awesome, and it really captures the mod london of the 1960’s.
3) Green Street Hooligans
"You bloody fucking wankers!!!!!"
This one isn’t about gangsters, but it’s about psychotic football firms in England, and they might as well be gangsters. Football culture in Britain is a fascinating if only because there’s nothing like it in America. The movie revolves around a Birmingham city badass named Pete (Played by Charlie Hunnam, Jax on “Sons of Anarchy”), a member of a West Ham United firm, introducing his brother’s brother-in-law - bitchass, whiny Elijah Wood - to the “culture”. Before you know it, Elijah Wood is getting into fights and drinking pints at the pub all day and night. This is one of my favorite movies from the past couple years.
4) Get Carter
"Call me a poof again and see what happens mate"
A classic. Michael Caine is THE original gangster.
5. Love, Honour, and Obey
Before Jude Law and Ray Winstone really blew up stateside, they starred in this verrry original film. At times it’s a comedy and at times, it’s a fucking badass gangster flick. Either way, it’s awesome. Ray Winstone plays a great mob boss and Jude Law is actually pretty sick as a gangster who gets his best friend Johnny (Johnny Lee Miller) involved in his criminal organization.
6) Layer Cake
You’ve probably seen it, but if you haven’t, I don’t know what’s wrong with you. Such an awesome movie about an unnamed drug dealer (Daniel Craig) who gets in over his head once he agrees to do an aging mob boss a favor. The soundtrack is ridiculous. Sienna Miller has never looked better.
Side Note: The producers of the “Bond” films were so impressed by Craig in this movie that they cited this movie as the main reason why they decided to cast Craig as the new Bond.
7) Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels + Snatch
Classics. Nuff said.
The Business
This one is tied with “Football Factory” as my favorite Nick Love movie. This movie is easily one of my favorite movies of the past couple years. Awesome 80’s atmosphere with a sick soundtrack. Danny Dyer plays a london export who is forced to flee to sunny Spain (after murdering his mother’s abusive boyfriend) and push drugs for “Playboy Charlie”, a slick gangster (played by Tamer Hassan). Trouble ensues when Charlie’s crazy fucking business partner Sammy (Geoff Bell) enters the picture along with his temptress trophy wife.
9) The Football Factory
Danny Dyer is the man. Another awesome movie about football firms (and their fucking psychotic members).
10) Sexy Beast
Awesome british gangster movie about a retired gangster (played by Ray Winstone) who is asked to do “one last job” by a psychotic former crime partner (played by Ben Kingsley). Ian Mcshane (Al Swearengen on “Deadwood”) is awesome as their former boss, a london mob kingpin who only does one job every 5 to 10 years.
11. RocknRolla
Johnny Quid is a real rocknrolla and Guy Ritchie can still make a great fucking gangster movie. Totally made me forget about “Revolver”, the awful movie he made before this.
12) Essex Boys
Let’s just say that after seeing this one, you might never want to fuck with Sean Bean. Like Paul Bettany, he plays a great psycho.
So Deejer, that youngblood Travs and myself went to go see Jennifer’s Body this evening (highly recommend everyone to see it…if you got kids bring the whole family, grandma, baby, everyone) and we saw this trailer that made me jizz in my pants…ancient warrior shit meets modern days, guns, and it’s got my two favorite words in the title. ENJOY.
Awesome mashup of Daft Punks songs with scenes from Tron (1982)
I am soooo GEEKED for the Tron Movie…just thinking about it is making me nostalgic for that friday night of Lolla 2007 (The Greatest Night Of All Time)
Now if we could just get Daft Punk and The Strokes to headline Lolla 2010
Tron Legacy, the sequal to Tron, looks pretty dope, but more exciting is DAFT PUNK composing 24 tracks for the score to the film. It is set to release December 2010…that’s TWO Christmas/Chanukahs away…FML. OK not FML but you can sense my anxiety and love for Daft Punk, check out this teaser trailer revealed @ComicCon
"Will Smith, I need this job mayne!!!! Don't make me do another stupid kids movie!"
Columbia Pictures is developing a third installment of the high-octane “Bad Boys” franchise, tapping Peter Craig to pen the screenplay.
The hope is to have a script that would reunite director Michael Bay, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. At this point, with the project in the early stages, none has a deal to return.
The “Boys” movies feature Smith and Lawrence as Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, caught up in cases involving car chases and explosions.
The first “Boys,” released in 1995, helped launch Bay as a director and Smith as an action star even though it was not a fire-stamped blockbuster — it grossed $66 million domestically and $141 million worldwide.
The sequel, released in 2003 when Bay and Smith’s stars had risen, grossed $138 million domestically and $273 million worldwide.
The Business
10) Sexy Beast
11. RocknRolla
12) Essex Boys
