The Marc Pease Experience
| The Marc Pease Experience | |
|---|---|
 Promotional film poster | |
| Directed by | Todd Louiso |
| Written by | Todd Louiso Jacob Koskoff |
| Produced by | Michael London Bruna Papandrea David Rubin |
| Starring | Ben Stiller Jason Schwartzman Anna Kendrick |
| Cinematography | Tim Suhrstedt |
| Edited by | Julie Monroe |
| Distributed by | Paramount Vantage |
Release date | August 21, 2009 (limited) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Marc Pease Experience is a 2009 american comedy film directed by Todd Louiso and written by Louiso and Jacob Koskoff. Shot primarily in and around Wilmington and New Hanover County, North Carolina in March–April 2007, the film is centered around Marc Pease (played by Jason Schwartzman), a man living in the past, when he was the star of his high school's musicals. The film also stars Ben Stiller as Pease's former mentor and Anna Kendrick as his love interest.
Premise
Marc Pease (Jason Schwartzman) is a a man stuck emotionally 10 years in the past, when he was the star of his high school's musical stage productions. The story takes place over the course of one day as his former teacher, Mr. Gribble (Ben Stiller) helms a new production that allows Pease to exorcise his Broadway demons once and for all.[1]
Cast
- Jason Schwartzman as Marc Pease.[2]
- Ben Stiller as Jon Gribble, Pease's overzealous former mentor.[3][4]
- Anna Kendrick as a high school senior, romantically involved with both Pease and Gribble.[3]
- Dylan Hubbard as the Tin Man in the production of The Wiz.[3]
Production
The Marc Pease Experience is Todd Louiso's second directorial project, having previously directed Love Liza (2002) and acted in minor roles in High Fidelity (2000), Thank You for Smoking (2006) and Snakes on a Plane (2006).[1] Jason Schwartzman was signed to star in the film by February 2007, with Ben Stiller in talks.[2] Final funding from Paramount Vantage and producer Michael London was received in early February, with production slated to start in March.[1] Anna Kendrick's role in the film was announced in mid-April, after filming had begun.[3] Principal photography began on March 12, 2007[5] in the state of North Carolina, where the entirety of the film was shot.[6] Various locations around Wilmington and New Hanover County were used for filming,[6] including Wilmington's Eugene Ashley High School and the school's auditorium.[7] Filming continued through March and into April.[8] On the last day of shooting at Eugene Ashley High, Stiller presented the school's morning announcements.[4] A number of student interns from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington's Film Studies Department were actively involved in The Marc Pease Experience's production as part of their internship program.[9] After principal photography was completed, during post-production Louiso "realized we needed to go back and add some stuff".[10] The 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike began at this time, however, and so there was a delay of six months before the extra scenes could be scripted and filmed.[10]
Release
Due to[citation needed] the consolidation of Paramount Vantage into Paramount Pictures, its parent studio, in June 2008, The Marc Pease Experience had a limited release into ten U.S. markets on August 21, 2009. The film opened in San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, Dallas, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Seattle, Sacramento and Boston in what was described by Drew Taylor of The Playlist as only "an obligation by the studio to release the film theatrically".[10]
Reception
Box office
The film grossed US$3,000 from ten screens on its opening weekend with a per-screen average of only $300.[11]
Critical
Alex Billington of FirstShowing.net dubbed the film "the next Rushmore"—which also starred Jason Schwartzman in the lead—based on the similar character elements.[12]
References
- ^ a b c Anderson, Jeffrey M. (February 2, 2007). "Todd Louiso's 'Mark Pease Experience' Good to Go". Cinematical.com. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ a b Bruno, Mike (February 2, 2007). "Schwartzman, Stiller set for Vantage comedy". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b c d Bruno, Mike (April 13, 2007). "Ricci Has Need for 'Speed'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "The Marc Pease Experience". The Star-News. October 13, 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Thompson, Anne (March 29, 2007). "Groundswell breaks new ground". Variety. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "Location, Vacation, Location…". The Ashford Advertiser. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Fry, Michelle (April 23, 2007). "Student featured in Ben Stiller film" (PDF). Volunteer State Community College Student Newspaper. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Brough, Briana (March 29, 2007). "The Marc Pease Experience". The Star-News. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Axmaker, Sean (2006–07). "Film Studies Internship Program" (PDF). UNC Wilmington Film Studies Department FILM Features. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b c Taylor, Drew (2009-08-10). "Exclusive: Another Casualty Of The Paramount Vantage Implosion: Todd Louiso's 'Marc Pease Experience' With Jason Schwartzman & Ben Stiller". The Playlist. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Knegt, Peter (August 24, 2009). "Box Office: Glo(u)rious "Basterds" For Weinsteins; Potent "Passing"". IndieWire. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Billington, Alex (April 14, 2007). "The Marc Pease Experience, The Next Rushmore, Signs Anna Kendrick". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved 2008-10-02.