'Happiness' for duo
Vets Berney, Kalish handle distrib'n for pic
In addition, former Warner Bros. marketing chief Chris Pula will act as a consultant on the release.
Berney will maintain his existing post as senior VP of marketing and distribution at Banner Entertainment while Kalish will remain as CEO of the consulting firm KDM.
In what Berney described as a "loan-out," he and Kalish will open a Los Angeles-based distribution office for the newly formed Good Machine Releasing in August. They will report to Good Machine partners Ted Hope, David Linde and James Schamus, who are based in New York.
"Happiness" will get an aggressive specialized rollout starting in mid-October, according to Berney.
The picture is expected to screen at several high-profile Fall film festivals before opening in exclusive runs in New York. A week later it will expand into the top 10 to 15 markets.
Lightning rod
"The lightning will strike fast on this picture," said Berney. "We want to take advantage of the festivals, the reviews and the controversy the film will probably generate."
"Happiness" is a black comedy that deals with such hot-button issues as prepubescent sexual curiosity, masturbation and pedophilia. It features a large ensemble cast including Jane Adams, Jon Lovitz, Lara Flynn Boyle, Louise Lasser and Ben Gazzara.
Linde told Daily Variety that Good Machine Releasing is being formed exclusively to distribute "Happiness." "We have no plans to domestically distribute any other films at this time. We're going to put our heart into this film," he said.
New York-based specialized distrib October backed away from "Happiness" after its majority owner, Universal Pictures, expressed concerns about the lurid film, which preemed in the Directors Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival (Daily Variety, July 2).
Good Machine, which was already handling foreign sales for "Happiness" through its partnership with October Films Intl., agreed to take over domestic distribution.
October still has at least two more films that don't fit the typical Universal mold. Trey Parker's "Orgazmo" has already received an NC-17 rating, which October plans to appeal. Lars Von Trier's "The Idiots," which contains explicit sex scenes, has not yet been rated.
Exhibition execs are supportive of Berney's involvement in "Happiness' "
distribution, said Hope, adding, "We are thrilled that he's joining our crusade."
A former Orion Pictures marketing vice president, Berney joined Banner a year ago and supervised the release of "Telling Lies in America," starring Kevin Bacon and Brad Renfro.
While at Orion, Berney was responsible for marketing such films as "I Shot Andy Warhol" (which Christine Vachon produced) and "Jeffrey." He first met Solondz when Orion made a bid for the director's debut, "Welcome to the Dollhouse."
Before Orion, Berney was senior vice president of marketing and distribution at Triton Pictures, where he oversaw the release of several pictures, including "A Brief of History of Time." Berney began his film career in the mid-'80s as the founder of the influential Inwood Theater arthouse in Dallas.
Kalish's credits
Prior to co-founding KDM, whose clients have included Miramax Intl., Spelling Films Intl. and Village Roadshow Pictures, Kalish was head of worldwide marketing at the Producers Sales Organization.
He was previously head of marketing at United Artists and subsequently at MGM/UA.
"I've worked with Eddie for several years and have always admired his expertise, ambition and passion for the pictures he represents," said Linde. "Bob and Eddie are a perfect team for the movie."
Coming up
"Happiness" was produced by Good Machine, which has a first-look deal with 20th Century Fox, and Vachon and Pam Koffler's Gotham-based production company Killer Films.
Killer Films, which has a first-look deal with MGM/UA's Goldwyn Films, is in post-production on Bruce Wagner's "I'm Losing You."
"My respect for Bob and Eddie couldn't be higher," said Vachon, who also produced Todd Haynes' upcoming glam rock period piece "Velvet Goldmine" for Miramax. "I look forward to working with them."
Domestic publicity for "Happiness" will be overseen by Kalish through the praiseries Clein and White in New York and MPRM in Los Angeles.
Good Machine is in post-production on Ang Lee's "Ride With the Devil" for Universal and on Bette Gordon's "Luminous Motion" starring Deborah Kara Unger.
Pula served as marketing prexy at New Line Cinemas for three years before moving to Warner Bros. in early 1997. He ankled WB in December.
