Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A Message From James Hoke, What Goes Up

When I first started working on What Goes Up, I had no idea the amount of time and dedication it would take. Like so many people with hundreds of movies making up my home collection, I assumed making a 2-hour film wouldn't take too much time.

Well, it did. And it has been the most incredible experience of my life, and I've gained a new appreciation for this business.


Something else happened that I didn't expect. As a hands-on executive producer, I quietly sat on the set during the first few weeks of shooting. But after awhile, given the long hours together, I become someone else. I wasn't just the executive producer, but a member of the team. I started having a lot of fun with the cast and crew. We had to have fun because things change all the time on the set.

They change all the time after the wrap too. So I hope all the fans of Steve Coogan, Hilary Duff, Josh Peck, Oliva Thirlby, and Molly Shannon appreciate that. As we invite you to join us and hopefully work with some of you to make this film the success it deserves to be, some things we share might change at the last minute from time to time. So just know that we're going to be working hard to do our best, and we'll be listening to you every step of the way.

We have high hopes for this film, especially given the performance by Hilary Duff, who I enjoyed getting to know because she is such an amazing person. (She's also generous with her time off camera for people like me, who are big fans too.) I also had a great time with Josh Peck and really enjoyed working with Max Hoffman. (They are really crazy guys!) Well, let's be real. I enjoyed everybody and could fill a whole page with appreciation, but that's not why many of you came by.

What Goes Up's first public appearance will be at the 3rd Annual Buffalo Niagara Film Festival. If visit the site, you'll see that they already have us up as a Special Festival Premiere at 7:15 p.m. on Fri., May 8.

To give you an idea of how fast things change, I had a different date last night. And you never know. It might change again!

We're not going to stop there. Shortly after the festival, we'll start rolling out the film in several major markets in the United States. Right now, we're planning a theatrical premiere in Los Angeles and then have plans to be up in theaters in cities like New York, Chicago, and Las Vegas. There's several more cities in the works; and we'll be releasing the schedules just as soon as we can. We'll also be releasing promotions that will be very exciting for everyone.

With enough support behind this film, it is possible that we could be in every major market in North America by the end of June. Sure, I know what fans are saying. What about the June 16 DVD release?

The way I see it, we have two options. SPE Worldwide and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment are fantastic people! I know in my heart that if What Goes Up takes off, then they will work with us to either hold off the DVD release or allow us to play the film in theaters past the DVD release date. But those are details that we just can't guess about right now, and anything is possible.

Our Insider Team also tells me that there are dozens of people sending in e-mails asking about releases in specific countries. With so many distributors, it's impossible to know their exact plans.

Most often, distributors in other countries follow right after a U.S. release. We've been told that's what some intend to do. If there is any way we can help you encourage those distributors to put it in theaters, we'll let you know. (For fans in Brazil, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom specifically ... hang in there! As we learn details, you'll learn details too!)

For all Hilary Duff fans, I know there is something else on your mind. As I confirmed yesterday with our lead "Insider," there is a new original song by Hilary Duff. It was written on the set and recorded in November.

You'll have more details from our friends at Amherst Records about the song and the soundtrack release as soon as we do. Right now, they are working on those details as I write this post. The song is called, and I hope I'm not sharing this too soon, "Any Other Day." You'll love it.

There are some other things ahead you might like to know about. Every week, we'll be featuring interviews and guest posts from the cast and crew. This includes Steve Coogan, Hilary Duff, Josh Peck. among others. We'll also be adding more pictures to the Flickr account, which you can feel free to share. You're welcome to repost any of the stories, articles, and posts from this blog. All we ask is that you link back to the source to help us along and help people find it.

Two days ago, we also made a decision to share a few scenes from the movie on YouTube. And, we'll be announcing a new What Goes Up fan group on Facebook in the days ahead. Anyone who has already written to the What Goes Up Insider will be receiving an invitation this weekend. Members will also be allowed to post links related to What Goes Up to their fan sites and blogs.

I hope you do. Because from time to time right here, we'll be giving shot outs to fan sites and blogs covering our film right here. We may be able to arrange interviews (probably via e-mail, but you never know) for some supporters.

As for shout outs, I have a couple for early supporters: Arieanna Schweber at Hilary News, Hilary Duff Digital, and everybody at the Hilary Fan Forum. I also understand there is a fan group for OMG ... Josh Peck on LiveJournal. Thank you!

Also, always feel free to ask questions or share ideas in the comment section of this or upcoming posts. You have my promise, along with Joe Nahas and Anthony Miranda [Three Kings Productions], that we'll do our best to keep answering them. Everyone — from the crew to the cast — is on board! I hope you are too.

15 comments:

  1. OOOOH, I love this post, it great to be soo included as a fan, i greatly appreciate it. I can't wait the hear and see more. and the scenes can't to see those

    ReplyDelete
  2. AAAAAAAAH I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER!!! I'm going crazy! We will support this movie as good as we can!

    hilaryduffdigital

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you so much!! We'll try to support the movie as we can!

    ReplyDelete
  4. WOW so much news all at once! I would also like to thank the What Goes Up team for making us feel so involved with the release of this film. It looks like such an interesting film, I also can't wait to hear Hilary's song. Hope we get more info on that soon like if it will have a video with it or something.

    I am also looking forward to the scenes, I also want to say that I linked this post on ONTD http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/34149394.html

    thanks again for all your updates it's greatly appreciated!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Please make it happen in Portugal! It has to open theaters in Portugal please!!! I swear to you I would buy every ticket and bring all my family to the movies! Im begging : I'm huge Hilary fan and its really rare to have her movies here! It's sad really! Pleaseeeee! :) can't wait fot the song

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the mention!

    Is the premiere date accurate? The film festival site is listing May 8th: http://www.buffaloniagarafilmfestival.com/safety%20glass.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for all your comments!

    I just checked the date and the festival has given What Goes Up a better time slot. We've adjusted the time and date accordingly.

    All my best,
    Rich

    ReplyDelete
  8. does Tony Miranda do the percussion in this movie, OMG i grew up with him he's a master!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I see there is one screening in New York-- is there any update for Los Angeles, California?

    ReplyDelete
  10. @joshluvsduff We've been reading your group for some time. Your MPAA would be higher than our movie. :)

    @Micaela We're doing everything possible to make sure distributors outside the U.S. and Canada have every reason to follow the U.S. release, which will be shortly after the festival.

    @Anon As it stands right now, Los Angeles may become the theatrical premiere city.

    We hope this answers some of the questions. We're working on the first cast member interview for next week.

    The Insider Team

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's great to see the What Goes Up production team putting out great effort to bring the movie and fans together. It's a rare sight, I must say..

    Well, all the best to the facebook fan group but most importantly, all the best on the upcoming release. I can't wait! I'm so excited! :)

    Regards,
    Shemah

    Just Press Play
    My Sweet Escape

    ReplyDelete
  12. WOW, I'm seriously so excited for both the movie and the new Hilary Duff song!
    Thanks for the news!

    ReplyDelete
  13. @Shemah Thanks so much! We'll do our best to keep up.

    @Anon You're very welcome.

    The Insider Team

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am very anxious to see this movie!! So many of us fans are glad to see her projects coming at us...movies, guest starring on tv shows, perfumes, music, etc....your movie combines 2 of her fantastic talents...acting and music..great!!!
    This lovely young woman continues to show her class and intelligence...having character sets her apart from so much of this industry's "bunch"!! Thanks for this opportunity to see our shining star SOON!! AND..we will certainly enjoy the rest of the cast along with Hil!!!!
    Lots of luck to you!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great to hear! There is a rapidly growing interest in the film, much more than anyone could have anticipated. So the producers have high hopes!

    All my best,
    Rich

    ReplyDelete