Cut Poison Burn opened to a full house on the West Coast and an extremely engaged audience. A spirited Q&A afterwards with film subject Donna Navarro and writer/executive producer Lou Cimino raised the many emotional and political issues surrounding cancer treatment in the US.  Audience reaction was intense at times – some were moved to tears and gasps of shock during the movie. Many shared personal anecdotes, statements of support, and an eager interest in activism during the Q&A session.   Notable attendees included:  Dr. Soren Nielson, Cancer Smart; Robert Charles Hunter - Chairman of Exxcell Entertainment;  Shane Ellison – The People’s Chemist;  and Lorraine Rosenthal – Director of The Cancer Control Society;  which also benefited from the screening.

Following the rousing success of its NY film premier, Cut Poison Burn will be shown at a special So Cal screening event on Monday, Sept. 26th at 7:30pm. The event will include live Q & A with the filmmakers and Jim and Donna Navarro. Celebrity advocates and experts in the healthcare industry are also expected. The film is attracting international attention and increasing online discussion. Nehst’s town hall-style event screenings are a great place watch, learn, and communicate about the topic of integrative medicine, medical freedom and the need for change.

Cut Poison Burn is a feature length documentary. An indictment of the pharmaceutical-medical-government “axis” that incestuously profits from cancer, CPB stirs controversy, and whatever you think of it, raises critical questions. The heartbreaking story of the Navarros and their son Thomas, trying in vain to get the treatment they choose for their son is both touching and infuriating.

Buy tickets here. Cost is $20 and attendees get a free download of the film. A portion of the ticket sales from this screening goes to our charity partner: The Cancer Control Society.

If you can’t make the screening, download the movie here. Nehst’s Personal Value Pricing allows you to pay for the download based on what it’s worth to you and you get to contribute to several worthy organizations with every dollar.

Location:

Laemmle’s Monica 4-Plex
1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica CA 90401

We loved our release Running the Sahara – it’s an impossible run across unfamiliar country. Marshall Ulrich and Charlie Engle wanted to run across more  familiar country – America. The run was to start in late 2008 and go from San Francisco to New York.  It was to go across the heartland and on lesser-known roads – because we couldn’t run on the big interstates. At the same time a huge political upheaval was taking place. The economy was crashing and two men were running for president – McCain and Obama.

We had an idea a bit like Woodstock – something to capture the tone and spirit and problems of the time – so we interviewed people from all walks of life about how America was doing.  Director Kevin Kerwin and the Producer Kate O’Neill were discovered at one of Nehst’s Aspiring Filmmakers Bootcamps. They explored opinions and emotions across the political landscape. As Marshall and Charlie crossed America they had problems. If you have something bothering your foot, you slow down, sit on the couch, and rest. Marshall and Charlie were going 70 miles a day. They were heartbroken having to slow down and stop as muscles, tendons, skin and bone showed the results of the stress. And just as they were struggling, America was struggling.

The film culminates in the election and peoples’ feelings about that. Do politics and running mix? At the beginning it seems like an odd combination – but then everything feels natural. And you learn that Running America doesn’t just mean running across the geography of the country, but encountering the people.

We’re proud of Running America. Nehst has made the film available on DVD, download, and in limited event screenings across the country. Check the Nehst store for both.  What’s cool about Running America is that we wanted to shoot a documentary about two amazing athletes competing for world records, and in the process discovered a changing country that reflected their struggle. Who’ll be interested? People who like Running. And people who like America. That’s why we made it.

Beware. If you want to be in the film business Mary McGuckian’s charming satire The Making of Plus One will send you running to dental school. Filmmakers all too often turn their lenses on themselves. Truffaut’s Day For Night and Altman’s The Player are among the best efforts.  The Making of Plus One is an engaging mockumentary* that follows the adventures of producer Dave Dallas “a good-hearted sociopath” played by Michael Ecklund who channels Ethan Hawke, Tom Cruise and Johnny Drama all at once. Dave’s trying to get a picture funded by hook or by crook on location at the (real) Cannes Film Festival.

The one-of-a-kind Jennifer Tilly steals all her scenes.  I felt a nod to Altman in the presence of Geraldine Chaplin.  Dave’s lawyer Frances Money is former Baywatch star Donna D’Errico.  And director Skye Brown is played by Pulitzer prize-winning playwright  Suzan-Lori Parks. I wanted more of the wonderful Amanda Plummer. I found myself being protective of essentially unlikable characters, a cool dramatic feat. Dave Dallas gets himself in a jam so tight I was viscerally scared to see how he would pull out of it.

Being kind to you I’m not going to tip story points – it’s too much fun to be astounded by the ridiculousness. We bought it because everything you see in this film feels true to life.  People in film will nod “That’s exactly how it is.” People not in film will say “You’ve got to be kidding.” We thought both groups would enjoy it.

If you start Jonesing when Entourage goes on hiatus, download The Making of Plus One - a sly comedy in a similar key.  Truffaut or Altman?  I think they would both have laughed at it and said “That’s exactly how it is.”

*Actually, it’s a mockumentary within a drama about a film within a film … I think – but you’ll figure it out.

I love sports films. Maybe that’s because I played football and went to school on a baseball scholarship.  As soon as I saw Charlie, Ray and Kevin running in 140 degree heat over thousands of miles of desert – I knew Running the Sahara was more than a sports film. I just had to look at the stunning cinematography, James Moll’s Oscar-wining documentary work, and hear Matt Damon’s familiar voice-over. I loved the music from Hans Zimmer, Wyclef and Bono. It’s almost a premise for a thriller – three runners from America, Taiwan, and Canada – take off from Western Africa – run against overwhelming obstacles – including hostile governments. Ultramarathoners Charlie Engle, Ray Zahab, and Kevin Lin encounter the tragic lack of water in Africa.  Burnt out and beaten up, they triumphantly limp past the pyramids to their destination in the Red Sea. Why did we buy Running the Sahara? Did you know here are over 40 million runners who will love it?  Even non-runners – or anyone who wears sneakers -will find this inspirational – a stunning travelogue of little-seen places.    We bought it – you should see it.