PRESS RELEASE: "Tickets now on sale for the world premiere of 'The Seventh Python' starring Neil Innes"

Tickets now on sale
for the world premiere
of 'The Seventh Python'
starring Neil Innes

Tickets are now on sale for the June 26th world premiere of The Seventh Python, the nonfiction musical film about the life, work and philosophy of musical satirist and Monty Python utility player Neil Innes.

The film from the indie Frozen Pictures will open the American Cinematheque's ninth annual Mods & Rockers Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Neil Innes will be on hand for the premiere, and will perform a special concert at the theatre the following evening.

The historic theatre on Hollywood's Walk of Fame is seen as a fitting venue for the premiere. The Seventh Python explores Innes' four-decade aversion to the star-making machinery, and the inevitable triumph of artistry over celebrity.

The film, which makes use of innovative animation techniques that brings the rock biopic into a new Bonzo-Pythonesque level, has also been billed as the first 'interactive documentary,' because it actively leads viewers from the theatre to the Internet for more.

Along with Innes, The Seventh Python features surviving Monty Python veterans John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin; Simpsons creator Matt Groening; acclaimed songwriter and Academy Award® nominee Aimee Mann; comedian Phill Jupitus; film composer John Altman; and comic Emo Philips, among others.

The film's narrative is built around a series of concerts Innes performs in Hollywood as he faces an unexpectedly wide and diverse new fanbase, thanks to the Internet. As it his winding career from art school through The Bonzo Dog Dooh Dah Band, work with the Beatles, Monty Python and The Rutles, it features performances from Hollywood, the UK, Melbourne, Australia, and a Malibu fire zone-- including some rollicking numbers with Eric Idle.

The film was directed by Burt Kearns, who wrote and produced with Brett Hudson.

Frozen Pictures' credits include the 20th Century Fox motion picture comedy 'Cloud 9' starring Burt Reynolds and DL Hughley; the 2007 doco film 'Basketball Man'; the Bravo series, 'All The Presidents' Movies with Martin Sheen'; 'The Secret History of Rock ‘n' Roll with Gene Simmons'; and the current webisode series, 'The Venice Walk.'

Executive producer is Sean Connors; Keith Walker is co-executive producer.

The film is set to run at 7:30 pm. Tickets, available now at Fandango.com, are $10 general admission; $7 for American Cinematheque members; $8 for students and seniors at $7 kids 3-17.

The same prices apply for a special Neil Innes concert at the Egyptian the following night.

www.fandango.com
www.modsandrockers.com
www.americancinematheque.com

Fan websites drive Seventh Python awareness

With tickets now on sale for the world premiere of The Seventh Python at Martin Lewis’ Mods & Rockers Film Festival next month, much of the buzz in and beyond the Innes fanbase has been generated by Innes fan sites on the Internet. And all that’s very fitting, since the worldwide Web is the very platform that’s spread Innes’ publicity around the globe for the past decade— and the movie itself is an “interactive” feature that sends viewers to their home computers for more after they leave the theatre (see the end of this post).


The Words of Innespiration website at Neil Innes.org is the original, a comprehensive guide to all things Neil, a starter course for newcomers and the meeting place for Innes fans around the world and universe. The site was created Bonnie Rose and Laurie Stevens, two fans in Los Angeles who ran the site and attracted fans from around the world for two years until Innes found out about. He approved.


This past week, Bonnie— who produced and directed animations for the film-- created a special The Seventh Python page on the Innespiration site-- and a new command center and clearinghouse for all things Seventh Python.


Neil in Us: The Neil Innes Unofficial Fan Page is a newer site begun by a diehard fan from Texas. Barb is her name and she’s got to be the #1 Neil Innes cheerleader in America right now. New friends welcome.


The Seventh Python Official MySpace page is just that—the movie’s MySpace page. In the first month of operation, it’s attracted thousands of MySpace “friends” and features new photos and exclusive Innes performance videos each week leading up to the big premiere.


A Tribute to Neil Innes is a new site run by a fan and writer based in the UK. It features great photos and videos of Innes from throughout his career.


Rokuvajes (a reference to Rock of Ages, Barb's favorite Innes song) is a companion page to the Neil in US site.


As is the recent The Innes Book of Memories.

Yvonne Innes creates a garden for George

Yvonne Innes, wife of The Seventh Python subject Neil and a star garden designer in her own right, made lots of news this past week with a tribute to their good friend George Harrison at the world's premier gardening event, The Chelsea Flower Show.

"From Life to Life: A Garden for George" was co-designed by George's widow Olivia and depicts George’s life in four stages – childhood, shown by a vegetable plot and a bike in rough grass; a Beatles and 1960s area; and representations of his older self and spiritual life. The 1960s section of the garden contains the names of his songs and a six foot-wide glass sun, reminding visitors of Here Comes the Sun, which Harrison wrote for the Beatles album Abbey Road in 1969.


The flowers – palmatum, anchusa and achillea – represent the psychedelic colours of the era.

Yvonne worked closely with George before his death in 2001. She said: "I knew what an amazing landscape gardener George was. I also realised few people knew this side of him and decided to design a narrative garden of his life and passing over to the next life."

Many high-profile figures visited the garden, including, as you see, Ringo Starr (at right, with Olivia) and Queen Elizabeth herself.

Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle DVD out June 3rd

Just like one of those Sixties radicals who slipped into suburban anonymity only to have their past crimes catch up with them, our own partner Brett Hudson (above, right) is being outed as a Seventies television star and pop idol as one of the old TV shows he starred in is released in all its glory on DVD.

A revival of interest in the The Hudson Brothers-- Brett and brother Mark and Bill-- has been building steadily with a new MySpace fan page and even a grassroots campaign to get them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But it's about to go into overdrive the Tuesday after next, with the DVD release of their freaky Saturday morning kiddie extravaganza, The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show.

Now the details are in:

VSC (Video Service Corp.) is releasing a 3-disc DVD set on June 3rd.


The set includes every episode from the second series, along with a bonus episode from the original prime time version of the show.

Also, Brett Hudson's basement-dwelling-kid character "Chucky" gets spotlighted in a bonus featurette "The Best of Chucky Margolis."

Cost for The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show - The Complete Series is $29.98 SRP for 355 minutes' running time.

Bill, Mark and Brett Hudson moved from rock ‘n’ roll to prime time TV comedy in the summer of 1974 with their two CBS television shows as well. The first was the brief (5-episode) prime time series The Hudson Brothers Show. Then CBS moved it from Wednesday nights to Saturday mornings, expanded the program's already family-friendly variety format to appeal even more to kids, and renamed it The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show (their pal John Lennon renamed them The Kings of Saturday Morning”).

Look for Mark and Brett at the Fest for Beatles Fans June 29-July 1 in Las Vegas and in Chicago, August 8-10, signing the DVD and other memorabilia-- and performing. Brett and Burt will be will be screening our new film, The Seventh Python, in Chicago—along with the film’s star, Neil Innes.

The Razzle Dazzle DVD has a placeholder page on Amazon.com.

COLLECTORS' ITEM ALERT: Check out the photo of the original Razzle Dazzle box art we posted back in February-- when it was advertised as a two-DVD set!

American Cinematheque announces the world premiere of The Seventh Python in Hollywood; Neil Innes will appear & perform at two-day event

The American Cinamatheque organization has officially announced that its Mods & Rockers Film Festival will open with the world premiere of The Seventh Python, our feature film about musical satirist and unheralded superstar Neil Innes.

And not only will Neil Innes be appearing at the legendary Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre for the premiere on June 26th— he’ll also be performing in a special concert at the theatre the following night:

Here’s the announcement from the American Cinematheque:

June 26 - July 9, 2008

Mods and Rockers

An Egyptian Theatre exclusive!

Join us for our ninth Mods and Rockers Festival, straddling the months of June and July in wide-stance, rock star fashion. We’re kicking off with the World Premiere of THE SEVENTH PYTHON, a superb documentary about founding Bonzo Dog Band member (and prime Python and Rutles accomplice) Neil Innes (who’ll be appearing In-Person)! It’ll be a super fun night, followed by another evening with Neil live in concert at the Egyptian.

We’ll also be featuring the U.S. Premiere of LOVE STORY, the fascinating documentary about key L.A. ‘60s band, Arthur Lee and Love as well as the Los Angeles Premiere of THIS IS GARY MCFARLAND, an incisive look at the Mod, ascot-wearing vibraphonist who died mysteriously in 1971. Plus in July you can look forward to screenings of Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett rarities as well as the welcoming of filmmaker Tony Palmer In-Person for his multi-episode extravaganza ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, a glorious celebration of American music over 4th of July weekend. For more details go to: www.modsandrockers.com.

Thursday, June 26 – 7:30 PM
Rare L.A. Show by Neil Innes -
Double Feature: World Premiere!
Python/Rutles/Bonzos Star
Neil Innes In-Person!

THE SEVENTH PYTHON, 2008, Frozen Pictures, 88 min. Dir. Burt Kearns. "The Most Famous Rock Star You’ve Never Heard Of…" 40 years after he made his debut in the Beatles’ MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR as a founder member of the legendary Bonzo Dog Band, the gloriously unplanned career of Neil Innes is spotlighted in this new documentary. Featuring appearances by all 5 surviving members of Monty Python. "You've got to remember that the Bonzos did 26 television shows with Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Terry Gilliam. I think Eric's acknowledged that there was an influence from the Bonzos in terms of the anarchy. There is a link…when the band first met Eric and Mike and Terry and whatnot, there was a certain mutual suspicion, 'cause we were crazy guys just coming off the road. And they'd come from Oxford and Cambridge, and they'd written stuff for David Frost, and they were young, up-and-coming writers…It was a kind of cross-fertilization that took place over a couple of years. We all became very good friends." – Neil Innes (from a Perfect Sound Forever online music magazine interview) http:///www.theseventhpythonmovie.com.

THE BONZO DOG DOO-DAH BAND 40^th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT, 2007, Classic Rock Legends, 89 min. Featuring original members: Neil Innes, Roger Ruskin Spear, Rodney Slater, Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell, Sam Spoons, Bob Kerr and the Irrepressible "Legs" Larry Smith. The year 2006 marked the 40th anniversary of the release of ‘My Brother Makes The Noises For the Talkies’, the first record by The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. The part of the late great and sorely missed Vivian Stanshall is performed here in the live concert variously by Messrs Stephen Fry, Adrian Edmondson, Phill Jupitus and Paul Merton. For the first time since the group broke up in the early ‘70s, a British stage once again resounded to the inspired flights of lunacy of the Bonzos favorites performed live. Some of the songs included: "My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies," "Little Sir Echo," "Falling In Love Again," "We Are Normal," "The Trouser Press," "My Pink Half Of The Drainpipe," "Mr Apollo," "Look At Me, I'm Wonderful," "Rhinocratic Oaths," "Monster Mash," "Urban Spaceman," "Canyons Of Your Mind," "The Intro and Outro" and more! http://www.bonzodog.co.uk Plus Rutles and Bonzo Dog film and TV rarities. Discussion in between films with Neil Innes.

Friday, June 27 – 7:30 PM
Rare L.A. Show by Neil Innes -
Live Performance of Monty Python,
Rutles & Bonzo Dog Songs!

LIVE CONCERT WITH NEIL INNES. In celebration of the World Premiere of the new film about him, THE SEVENTH PYTHON, Neil Innes gives a very rare solo concert to celebrate the celebrations. He will perform songs from throughout his 40-year career, including material from the Bonzo Dog Band, Monty Python and Rutles canons. Entire program approximately 120 min.

The prestigious festival was founded by producer, humorist and impresario Martin Lewis (left) and Cinematheque programming director Dennis Bartok in 1999. Martin, who recently pulled off an unprecedented, historic reunion of The Rutles at the Egyptian, continues as the curator and face of what’s become the most prestigious pop culture and rock ‘n’ roll film festival in the world.

New Seventh Python photos & videos at MySpace

Head over to our The Seventh Python MySpace page.

We’ve added a new exclusive performance video, video fan art, hundreds of new friends— and great new photos from the film.


And one more thing: June 26th!

The Seventh Python premieres on June 26th!

We’ve been so busy we neglected to mention the big news: we’ve nailed down the premiere date for The Seventh Python!

The Neil Innes musical biopic premieres

Thursday, June 26th
The American Cinematheque’s
Mods & Rockers Film Festival
The Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, California

Ticket will be on sale through Fandango. We’ll let you know when they’re on sale. Neil, other guests and other surprises will be at the premiere, so we expect tickets to sell out quickly.

It’s very fitting that the film will be screened at the legendary theatre on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, we'd say (and we just said), because The Seventh Python focuses on Neil’s stubborn (and as Python John Cleese calls it, "brave") resistance to the starmaking machinery and celebrity culture.

UnDucked! Exclusive Neil Innes performance footage on The Seventh Python MySpace Page

In anticipation of the high-profile world premiere of The Seventh Python, our very cool nonfiction feature film about the life and work of satirist, songwriter and performer Neil Innes, we're starting to roll out exclusive, never-seen private performance video on the The Seventh Python MySpace page.

We're spreading the word about Neil, who's been a prime mover for more than forty years, since his days in the Bonzo Dog Band (immortalized in Magical Mystery Tour, through his work with Monty Python, George Harrison and The Rutles, his recent Bonzos reunion album (without question one of the best of 2007) and is now, finally getting his due with The Seventh Python.


The Seventh Python will premiere at the American Cinematheque's Mods & Rockers Film Festival in Hollywood at the end of June, and it's already generating tremendous buzz in the industry and in fan circles after a sneak screening on the Sunset Strip and a trailer that ran at Martin Lewis' unprecedented Rutles reunion at the Egyptian Theatre.


The first MySpace clip went up over the weekend. We'll be adding new, exclusive, unseen Innes clips up to the movie's premiere, and we'll keep you posted.

A star of our Venice Walk gets a big TV break

It looks like one of the stars of The Venice Walk-- Robert Hegyes' groundbreaking Internet webisode series that we executive-produced-- is about to break out big and become the next big prime time television star.

TVGuide.com reports that "the enchanting Brea Grant — who made quite the impression as Landry's short-lived rebound girl on Friday Night Lights — is joining the cast of Heroes next season as The Speedster."

The accomplished young Brea plays Alli, a flirtatious, emanicipated minor with a thing for drummers and cocaine, in the acclaimed Venice Walk, which centers on a group of Venice Beach delinquents-- played by a right, electric ensemble-- who must report to a parole officer and former NYC cop played winningly by Seventies TV icon-- and Welcome Back Kotter sweathog-- Hegyes.

The series is Bobby's brainchild and baby. He wrote it with Craig Titley, while Brett Hudson and Burt Kearns were executive producers-- and helped shoot it. The Venice Walk is truly visionary project, and it's generating hundreds of thousands of hits on a number of Internet sites, most recently Unicorn Media.

"Why's All The Presidents' Movies not on DVD?"

In this middle of this exciting and historic campaign season, you'd be surprised how many people are asking us about our acclaimed (yup, "acclaimed"!) three-hour documentary series narrated by Martin Sheen.

Well, we're working on it!

Meanwhile, check out the trailer for All The Presidents' Movies.