Variety reports:
Dennis Bartok is ankling as programming director of the American Cinematheque to produce “Trapped Ashes,” a horror-supernatural anthology he penned that will be directed by cult filmmaker Monte Hellman (The Terror, Two-Lane Blacktop) and a triumvirate of other helmers.
Bartok, whose last day at the Cinematheque is Wednesday , joined the org in April 1992. He told Daily Variety he needs to devote his full attention to “Trapped,” as well as to other film projects he’s developing.
“Trapped,” which is looking for a November start date, marks Hellman’s return to directing for the first time since the late 1980s. He was most prolific in the 1960s and ’70s, directing “Two-Lane Blacktop,” “Cockfight” and “The Greatest.”
“Trapped” is about a group of people stuck in a room, four of whom each tell a spooky story.
Hellman, Tobe Hooper (“Poltergeist,” “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”), Sean Cunningham (“House,” “Friday the 13th”) and John Gaeta will each direct one of the four segments. Hellman also will direct the wraparound.
Making his directorial debut, Gaeta shared an Academy Award for his visual effects work on “The Matrix.”
“Trapped” is being produced by Bartok and Japanese husband-wife team Yuko Yoshikawa and Yoshifumi Hosoya of Elephant Studio.
Film is being financed by the Cinema Investment Fund, Tokyo Broadcasting System, Tokyo Broadcasting System Intl. and Asmik Ace Entertainment.
Asmik will handle theatrical distribution in Japan, while TV rights there are held by Tokyo Broadcasting.
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