OSCILLOSCOPE IS GETTING LOW DOWN; ACQUIRES ACCLAIMED SUNDANCE DRAMA / May 7th, 2014

Oscilloscope Laboratories announced today that it has acquired North American rights to Jeff Preiss’ LOW DOWN, starring John Hawkes, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey and Flea (with featured turns by Caleb Landry Jones, Tim Daly and Taryn Manning). The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January as an early cut (where it won the Best Cinematography award) and has just been announced or New York’s BAM CinemaFest, looks at the life of Amy-Jo Albany and her relationship with her father, legendary jazz pianist Joe Albany. Oscilloscope will continue to play the film at festivals in the lead-up to its theatrical release.

Based on the memoir by Albany, the film is a compassionate, tender look at the complex relationship between Amy-Jo (Fanning) and her father Joe (Hawkes), a man torn between his musical ambition, his love for his daughter, and his suffocating heroin addiction. Set against a sensuously textured 1970s Hollywood, the film beautifully evokes a colorful, seedy world of struggling musicians, artists, and vagabonds, in which Joe and Amy-Jo strive to live the lives they want against seemingly insurmountable odds.

About the Acquisition, O-scope’s David Laub and Dan Berger said, “Low Down is a truly wonderful film. Jeff immerses us fully into this unique world—every detail is perfect – and paints complex, sympathetic characters simultaneously real and larger-than-life. We’re very excited to share his incredible vision, and the cast’s tremendous performances, with the world.”

Filmmaker Jeff Preiss says, “I’ve been so privileged over the last ten years working with Amy-Jo, distilling her amazing story into a film. Taking the next step with O-Scope feels like having found the perfect fit to bring everyone’s hard work to a larger audience.”

Low Down was produced by Albert Berger & Ron Yerxa of Bona Fide Productions and Mindy Goldberg of Epoch Films. The film was executive produced by Amy-Jo Albany, Burton Ritchie, Win McCormack, Flea, Anthony Kiedis, and Daniel-Konrad Cooper. The screenplay was written by Amy-Jo Albany and Topper Lilien.

The deal was negotiated by the UTA Independent Film Group’s Bec Smith and attorney Linda Lichter.