Independent film’s most recent cautionary tale, Apparition, may still have a life to live – they’ll just half to kill off about half their ship to keep on keeping on. Ever since the surprise exit of Bob Berney, co-founder of the independent distribution company, the other half of that equation, Bill Pohlad, has been reeling to get Apparition back on its feet. In order to do this, Pohlad has let go 15 Apparition employees, or 60 percent of his workforce. [Deadline]
Meanwhile, Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life, starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, hangs in the balance of Apparition’s survival. Still set set for a late 2010 release date, Pohlad has brought in ex-Lionsgate president Tom Ortenberg to make sure the company’s most high-profile acquisition gets into the right place to win awards come Oscar time next year.
Apparition will move offices from New York to L.A. The company really never took off as planned, with high-profile contenders like Bright Star and this year’s The Runaways losing money and gathering little-to-no critical traction of any kind. Even sure-things (like Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day) were not sure at all. Troy Duffy’s much-anticipated(?) sequel to his cult classic didn’t do much in the way of box office.
Berney, in the meantime, has been setting up a new distribution company with the producing-duo Graham King and Tim Headington (The Tourist).
Apparition needs Tree of Life, and a couple of smart pick-ups in upcoming summer fests (like Venice), in order to stay above water.
What do you think of Apparition? How the business has been run?