cannabisnews.com: High Times Rolls Out Film Brand





High Times Rolls Out Film Brand
Posted by FoM on May 22, 2000 at 07:19:33 PT
By David Finnigan
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Hoping to emulate the branding success National Lampoon had with feature films, marijuana lifestyle publication High Times will co-produce and co-sponsor the pro-pot indie comedy "High Times Magazine's Potluck."Shooting begins June 27 in New York with newcomer Alison Thompson at the helm. 
Thompson is also executive producing with "Summer of Sam" exec producer Jeri Carroll-Colicchio, wife of "Potluck" screenwriter Victor Colicchio. Paul F. Bernard (brother of Sony Pictures Classics' Tom Bernard) and James Scura are producing.Bernard said High Times management had been looking for a tie-in movie and was attracted to a mob comedy script by Colicchio, one of the writers of Spike Lee's 1999 "Summer of Sam." "It's kind of like Cheech & Chong meets 'The Sopranos,' " said Victor Colicchio, who added that a 2001 release is planned "so we can put in the advertising '2001 -- a pot odyssey.' " The comedy focuses on a mob soldier who questions his whole existence after smoking his first joint at the age of 60. " 'Potluck' could mean anything if High Times' name wasn't attached to it," said Steve Bloom, a senior editor at the 26-year-old monthly, which has a circulation of 250,000. "This movie is a stoner movie, a pot-friendly movie."The low-budget indie, which has yet to line up a distributor, is using all unknown New York actors.Bernard was an assistant director on "Any Given Sunday" and "Three Kings." Scura had producing credits on "Mixing Nia" and "Loose Women." Colicchio said he has finished a script called "Life After Death" about the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. National Lampoon boosted awareness of its magazine with eight branded comedies, starting with the 1978 fraternity sendup "National Lampoon's Animal House" and including the "Vacation" franchise starring Chevy Chase. Bloom said High Times wants to boosts its brand and push for continued liberalization of medical marijuana laws and other laws affecting psychedelic drug use. The bulk of High Times readers are 18-30. Bloom said the magazine will promote the film with a cover story plus links, clips and trailers on its Web site. Tie-in products could include hats, T-shirts and rolling paper. Bloom said his magazine clicked with the "Potluck" filmmakers because "they felt that High Times has a very strong name recognition especially to marijuana smokers. It's like our seal of approval. The main thing that I'm interested in, particularly, is that marijuana is not presented accurately in the movies." In March, High Times handed out its first "Stony Award" honors for films that realistically portray pot smoking (HR 3/6). With Bloom running the awards, the winners included Columbia Pictures' "Go" for best movie and "best tripping scene," and USA Films' "Being John Malkovich" as "best stoner movie." Dennis Hopper received the first Lifetime Stony Achievement Award. While Kevin Spacey was named best dramatic actor for DreamWorks Pictures' Oscar-winning "American Beauty," Bloom said screenwriter Alan Ball's script did a disservice to pot users with a scene in which Spacey pays $2,000 for grass."That's impossible -- you don't spend that kind of money for pot," the High Times editor said. "(Ball) is probably not a pot smoker himself. For the best pot you'd be hard-pressed to pay more than $600."By David Finnigan Los Angeles (The Hollywood Reporter)Published: Sunday May 21, 2000Copyright © 2000 Related Web Site:High Times Magazinehttp://www.hightimes.com/
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: