Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

This past Thanksgiving weekend, audiences were treated to a cinematic gem not seen on the silver screen for nearly eight decades: a silent film. Produced by the Weinstein Company and directed by Frenchman Michael Hazanavicius, the film centers around George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), a star whose light is fading in the glare of the "talkies" era that began in the banner year 1927. Into his life steps Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), a young aspiring actress who is looking for a break and finds it in Valentin.

Speaking on "The Early Show", Harvey Weinstein described his motivation to produce "The Artist" and his choice for selecting Hazanavicius as the director. "I love silent movies... I followed this director [Hazanavicius] because he made a James Bond spoof called 'OS 117'... I was a fan of him and knowing he was making a movie in Los Angeles and it's an American movie directed by a French director... It's about the early days..., an homage and a love affair with movies..."

Though the film is on limited release, it has already garnered awards for Best Picture and Best Director from the New York Film Critics Circle and is generating lots of Oscar buzz.





Resources:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/01/DDDD1M5PHT.DTL

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500185_162-57335380/harvey-weinstein-on-why-he-risked-the-artist/