Cyan Updates

The Cyan Pictures First Annual Oscar Pool closes tonight at midnight; if you’ve been meaning to throw your vote into the fast-growing pile, here’s your last chance. Go! Go now! And don’t forget to give your full name, or I won’t be able to track you back down when you win, as we’re not collecting emails.

In other news, as our having two company names – Cyan Pictures and Long Tail Releasing – was apparently too confusing for most agents and producers, we’re sadly dropping the Long Tail name, and calling everything (both production and distribution) Cyan.

So, with that in mind, the latest distribution-side news from Cyan: two new films we acquired just earlier this week, which we’ve slated for mid-summer and early fall theatrical release, respectively.

1. The Oh in Ohio, starring Parker Posey, Paul Rudd, Danny Devito, Mischa Barton, Heather Graham and Liza Minnelli. A smart and very quirky comedy, “The Oh in Ohio tells the story of Priscilla Chase (Posey), a young Cleveland woman who seems to have it all – the perfect job, the perfect house, the perfect husband – except for in bed, where sex has always left her a bit short of the finish line. When the problem drives her husband (Rudd) to unexpectedly leave her for one of his high school students (Barton), PriscillaĆ­s idyllic world is shattered. She sets out on a quest to become just as good at sex as she is at everything else in life – a wild journey that leads her into the arms of the man she least expected (DeVito), and to the discovery that satisfaction often comes from the most unlikely places.”

2. We Go Way Back, an indie drama that won both the Grand Jury prize and Kodak Vision Award for best cinematography at Sundance’s sister festival Slamdance, a month back. Loglined as “a funny, tender character study about a young actress named Kate whose refusal to admit to her romantic and professional dissatisfaction leads her to a surreal confrontation with her own past,” it’s also the best, most subtle look at quarter-life crisis I’ve ever seen on film. Plus, it’s beautifully written, shot and acted, and scored by indie-rocker Laura Veirs with a slew of The Decemberists’ music in as well.

I’m unequivocally excited about both films, and think you all should be, too. More details on these, and the handful of other similarly cool post-Sundance acquisitions we’re still chasing down, over the next few weeks.

Oh, and final note: both of these films will be part of the Oscar Pool prize pack. Further incentive to put on your best Academy thinking caps.