Here’s the official press release announcing the sale of Film Threat:
FILM THREAT SOLD AT SUNDANCE Mark Bell acquires Film Threat during 2010 Sundance Film Festival
Film Threat founder Chris Gore steps away after 25 years; announces sale to former Film Threat Editor-in-Chief Mark Bell during book signing.
FilmThreat.com to Re-Launch in February 2010
Park City, UT (January 28, 2010) – Chris Gore, self-proclaimed “Nerdlebrity,” author, TV personality and founder of Film Threat (FilmThreat.com), announced during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival that he has sold Film Threat to Mark Bell for an undisclosed, six-figure sum. Gore, who founded Film Threat 25 years ago, made the announcement on Monday, January 25, 2010 while promoting his latest book, Chris Gore’s Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide, 4th Edition (UltimateFilmFest.com), during a book signing at Dolly’s Book Store in Park City, Utah.
“It’s been 25 years and now I’m done with Film Threat,” stated Gore during the signing. “I can announce here at Sundance that Film Threat has been sold to Mark Bell.”
Mark Bell is no stranger to Film Threat, having worked as Editor-in-Chief and webmaster of FilmThreat.com from 2005-2009 before re-locating to New Zealand. Recently returned to the States and headquartered in NJ, Bell was covering the 2010 Sundance Film Festival for his personal film site, Cinema Whatever (CinemaWhatever.com) when he met with Gore to purchase Film Threat.
“I’ve always believed that everyday is an opportunity to make a bold move,” stated Bell after the sale. “In talking with Chris about the future of Film Threat, it became very clear that acquiring the company was the right move for all involved.”
FilmThreat.com will re-launch in February 2010. “I’ve got many ideas on where to take Film Threat, plans I’ve been thinking about since my days as Editor,” says Bell, “I caught a glimpse of a film industry without Film Threat’s voice, and I didn’t like what I saw. I’m looking forward to making Film Threat a consistent and relevant part of the cinema conversation for the next 25 years.”
About Film Threat
Founded in 1985 by Chris Gore in Detroit, Michigan, Film Threat cemented its place in cinema history by being the first publication to focus on truly independent cinema. Gore relocated to Los Angeles in 1989 where the magazine received international acclaim for its coverage of cult films, midnight movies and underground shorts.Over its first 10 years, Film Threat rose from a photo-copied fanzine to a glossy monthly magazine (published by Larry Flynt from 1991-1996). During its print run in the 90s, Film Threat covered the first films and blossoming careers of filmmaking superstars such as Tarantino, Linklater, Soderbergh and Kevin Smith. Other magazines rose up to focus on film, but none championed indie and underground film quite like Film Threat.
In 1996, Gore regained the rights to Film Threat from Larry Flynt Publications and went solo, launching FilmThreat.com as one of the very first movie web sites. Over the next decade, FilmThreat.com was named one of the top 5 movie sites by The Wall Street Journal and become a fixture in the online film conversation with its continued dedication to independent cinema and perennial lightning rod stories such as the anti-power list “The Frigid 50: The Coldest People in Hollywood.”
Continuing in the tradition set forth by the original print magazine, FilmThreat.com delivers the best in reviews, film festival coverage, exclusive filmmaker interviews and original video content. You can follow Film Threat on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FilmThreat.
About Chris Gore
Chris Gore is a writer, filmmaker and television personality who has built a solid reputation as a hilariously outspoken voice in the film world.As a teenager, Chris founded the legendary Film Threat, which began as a fanzine. He is the author of The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide, The Complete DVD Book and The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made. In addition to being a noted speaker and author, he is the film expert on the G4TV’s Attack of the Show where his weekly movie review segment DVDuesday is among the most popular. Chris began his own independent filmmaking career with the cult short Red and co-wrote and produced the feature comedy My Big Fat Independent Movie. He was named one of the 25 Most Influential People in Independent Film by Film Festival Today magazine.
Chris considers himself a movie geek who is lucky to have forged a career working as a full-fledged “Nerdlebrity.” He lives in Los Angeles. You can follow Chris Gore on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ThatChrisGore.
About Mark Bell
A veteran of the film festival circuit, Mark was an associate producer of the Slamdance Film Festival and has also acted as a videographer/reporter for both Slamdance and the Seattle International Film Festival. In 2003, Mark became Senior Account Executive of Film Threat DVD before becoming Editor-in-Chief of FilmThreat.com from 2005-2009. Mark has appeared as a film pundit of G4TV’s Attack of the Show, and has also been a featured panel speaker at numerous film festivals. Most recently, Mark reported on the 2010 Sundance Film Festival for his film site, CinemaWhatever.com. You can follow Mark Bell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Hamster69 or www.twitter.com/CinemaWhatever.
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