I was the one left at the altar: Castaldi
PackScreen director Peter Castaldi says the company is “regrouping” and although he did pull the October 7 release of The Dinner Party, he did not “leave it at the altar” as stated by the film’s producer on Twitter.
“I certainly offered to carry the film over to 2011 and his director Scott Murden was fully supportive of that offer. However Brendan Sloane wanted to handle the release himself and get it out this year….so no, he wasn’t left at the altar…..I was!” Castaldi told Encore.
“This product is very time consuming and expensive – no poster or key art , usually trailers that don’t work, no EPK or DVD extras, etc, so it requires a lot of lead work. Without releasing The Dinner Party (which frankly, no one else will touch) I have lost money, real dollars, and a lot of time. The same can be said of every other title on my books which is defined as “low budget independent digital feature”. Basically, no one else will give them the time of day,” said Castaldi.
“My aim was to service the film, each title on my slate as best I could, but Brendan Sloane wants to move to the UK next year and wanted the film released this year,” he added.
Peter’s a good, honest guy and if he pulled “The Dinner Party” then it was the right decision. His heart’s in the right place – support Aussie films! The same can’t be said for a lot of other Aussie distributors…
Good on Peter for setting up Pack screen in the first place – Screen Australia should be giving him serious financial support.
‘Right decision’, – ‘heart’s in the right place’ – you’ve got to be kidding! The guy sounds like a nutbag who has effortlessly managed to smear two Australian movies we haven’t had the chance to see yet.
What an assett he is to our film industry.
Antonio.
That’s not nice. Calling me a “nutbag”!
What in your, shall you try for a more considered, opinion actually makes me a “nutbag”. ( is that something swinging between the legs of an impotent old goat? Or something you find under the Christmas tree?..though I suppose in some situations they could be one and the same!
…Ay?
And can you tell me exactly how I have smeared two Australian films by aiming to give them a better chance at a wider audience?
cheers
PC
Peter’s one of the rare champions of new filmakers out there who’s trying to set up a new innovative platform/release strategy that gets their films seen AND maximises money for filmakers – not an easy task. In a country where it’s hard for new filmakers to get a break (and there’s a lot of them) he’s a god send.
I have dealt with Peter over the past few years and I can say that he has more integrity than anyone else I know in this industry. He is probably the last bastion of support for the low budget Aussie indie film. Antonio, I have no idea where on earth you got your idea from, but you’re way wrong. Go Pete!
I don’t know Peter personally but I certainly know of his impeccable reputation as someone that helps filmmakers see their films on screen. As per normal Australian practice, as soon as someone good comes along who takes it upon themselves to do something good for the industry, he is used as a punching bag. Well done Peter for giving more of a crap than most would. Inspiration!
If more people had .000001% of the passion, common sense and humility that is possessed by Pete Castaldi perhaps we’d actually have an Australian Film Industry, rather than a cottage institution that seems to go in the same circle of usual suspects churning out product to finance their own wallets rather than further burgeoning talent (Animal Kingdom excepted). We salute his efforts and savvy models of getting the films to the actual people – rather than simply to be showcased at awards shows.
Thanks all.
Great to know that I’m not the only true believer (despite my nutbags!)
Onward and upward, not down and out.
x xpete C
As the Director Producer of The Tumbler; (apart from feeling personally responsible for Peter difficulties), I must say that Peter has been incredibly diligent and “Straight Up’ through the whole process of releasing The Tumbler.
I have recently been telling all I know, that Peter’s an incredible distributor because he see’s his business with his heart and his head.
Thanks Peter, for your support of my film and all the independent digital films that you have taken under your wing. We all know the future is out there and Peter will be one of the great people of vision in this new world”of “Art meeting Commerce” as it starts to become a reality.
Oh and Pete you are a “Nutbag” though; but only just like I was making The Tumbler! But hey, what else would we be doing!