TOKYO! Achieves Highest Per Screen Average Gross in Opening Weekend with EXPLICIT ILLS coming in Third in the Country

TOKYO! Held Over at the Sunshine and Expands to Five Additional Theatres in New York and Chicago

Vitagraph Films is working on two films that opened against each other this weekend in New York, TOKYO! (distributed with Liberation Entertainment) and EXPLICIT ILLS (distributed with Peace Arch Entertainment). Both films performed well against studio mega-release WATCHMEN, coming in at 1st highest per screen average in the country for TOKYO! and 3rd for EXPLICIT ILLS. Both films opened on March 6, 2009.

TOKYO! came in ahead of WATCHMEN in the box office competition for highest per screen average this weekend, concentrated on one one screen while WATCHMEN went out on thousands. Opening March 6th, the films' three day gross came in at $23,460 on one screen (Landmark's Sunshine Cinema). WATCHMEN diluted its gross by being on too many screens and TOKYO! just snuck in and rose to the top.

The film continues its release with a planned opening at Chicago's Music Box on March 13 and expands in New York on four additional screens: BAM, Brooklyn Heights Cinema, AMC Empire on 42nd Street, Angelika's City Cinemas 1, 2, 3 in addition to a hold over at the Sunshine.

EXPLICIT ILLS came in 3rd in per screen average on one screen at the Angelika Theatre in New York with a gross of $9,125. The Angelika Film Center will hold it over for a second week. The film expands to Landmark's The Ritz at the Bourse in Philadelphia on March 13 and Los Angeles on March 20.

We are trying to find out what drew you to see the film so if you are reading, please comment.

Tokyo! Sneak Preview at the Egyptian with Michel Gondry & Akyako Fujitani In Person

The Sneak Preview of TOKYO! at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood last night turned out to be a real treat with a surprise appearance by Michel Gondry who directed the triptych films' segment "Interior Design" starring Ayako Fujitani (pictured here with Gondry). Gondry is in town meeting with the studio about his next film, so he was able to attend the screening which was as much a multi-national collaboration as the film itself. Members of the American Cinematheque joined with Giant Robot Magazine, The French Film & TV Office, the Japanese American Cultural Community Center and the Korean Cultural Center to present TOKYO!

Henry Rollins made the screening as well. Akyao brought her digital camera (a German/Japanese collaboration she explained) that looks like an old view camera which was a big hit with the photographers shooting her. Pre-screening activities included a Giant Robot t-shirt giveaway and an intro by Gondry in which he quoted Carax (one of his co-directors) as starting screenings by saying, "I doubt you will like it." He also let everyone know that TOKYO! brought in the highest per screen average in the country when it opened in New York this past weekend - outgrossing studio blockbuster WATCHMEN since the latter was open on thousands of screens nationwide and TOKYO! on just one in New York. Actress and Director stuck around for a lengthy discussion after the film. They spoke about the casting: Ayako recalled Gondry saying he "was tired of looking at pretty girls" when he found her. Looking pretty radiant herself, Ayako spoke about cutting her teeth as a child and teen on Gamera and other monster movies and doing physical acting for the benefit of special effects, including wearing a fair amount of blue screen on her person! Gondry recalled casting Ayako's boyfriend in the movie, a cocky ex-boy band member who he had to bring down to size when he met Ryo and his entourage for the first time. He says the filmmaker character Ryo Kase portrays is not at all based on him, but Ayako said that the joke on the set was that the young actor was trying to imitate some of Gondry's traits as a director to bring into his role as an ambitious young filmmaker. Differences in shooting in Japan? Gondry recalled a blessing ritual that began production. Following the discussion the audience was treated to Sapporo beer and a chance to talk about which segment of the three they liked best - Gondry's tale of the metamorphosis of a young woman who can't seem to find her place in Tokyo!, Leos Carax' story of a madman terrorizing Tokyo - or Bong Joon-ho's fable about a young man who lives as a shut in, but is forced out of his house after ten years to find the woman he thinks he can love. TOKYO! opens on March 20th in Los Angeles and many other cities as well. www.tokyothemovie.com

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Tokyo! Premiere at the Japan Society last night

TOKYO! Premiered last night at the Japan Society and Vitagraph's team including Taeko from newyork-tokyo and Natascha Bodemann, publicist-at-large caught a few iphone photos of the festivities and contributed to this premiere coverage.

Despite the weather people braved going out to attend the premiere. We are still gathering details and photos, but from this early report we gather that Liberation President Jay Boberg (pictured with Michel Gondry) and Leos Carax were in attendance along with David Cross of "Mr. Show," Vincent Musetto, reviewing for the NY Post, Alison Chernick (the director of "Matthew Barney: No Restraint"), reps from the Consulate General of Japan and others. Gabrielle Bell who wrote the original graphic novel that Gondry based his segment on, joined the directors onstage for the introduction. Reportedly Carax and Gondry stayed until the lights went on at the after party.

Ah the party. Food: lots of great sushi, some sort of cool chicken on a skewer with a very fresh green vegetable, great little mini muffin-cupcake things with some sort of tofu icing in chocolate and vanilla flavor. The vanilla muffin-cupcakes had a green tea flavored tofu icing. And beer from Sapporo! Music was great, with favorites from 70's, 80's and 90's. The DJ was selected by Gondry and his name is forthcoming.

We hear that Indiewire covered the premiere so check out their site for posts (and to see our Tokyo banner ads).

Michel Gondry & Leos Carax In Person at the Sunshine Theatre with TOKYO!

Vitagraph Films is getting ready to release TOKYO! on March 6th in New York City. TOKYO! is a triptych film directed by Michel Gondry (BE KIND REWIND), Leos Carax (POLA X) and Bong Joon-ho (THE HOST).

Directors Leos Carax and Michel Gondry will appear in person at the theatre for opening weekend in New York! Here is when you can hear them talk with TOKYO!

Landmark's Sunshine Cinema
143 E. Houston St.
New York, NY
212 777-FILM #687

Friday March 6th 7:30pm Q&A with LEOS CARAX 10:25pm Film Introduction by LEOS CARAX Saturday March 7th 7:30pm Q&A with MICHEL GONDRY 10:25pm Film introduction by MICHEL GONDRY Sunday March 8th* 2:35pm Q&A with MICHEL GONDRY 5:00pm Film introduction by MICHEL GONDRY
*subject to change

Tokyo! opens across the country in March and April in a theatre near you as they say. Details on the Tokyo! website.