'shortbus' Has A Driver

John Cameron Mitchell's comedy-drama "Shortbus," which features scenes in which actors engage in actual sex, has parked itself at ThinkFilm. The indie company has picked up North American rights to the feature, which premiered Out of Competition at last month's Festival de Cannes.

The largely improvised film explores the lives of seven straight and gay New Yorkers seeking an emotional connection with one another. The sex is presented as one part of the characters' complex lives, which intersect at the Bohemian salon Shortbus.

ThinkFilm plans to give the $2 million "Shortbus" a platform release in the fall, eventually bringing it to specialty theaters across the country. But the unrated film's several sexually explicit moments present a marketing challenge.

"TV sales are out, and it probably can't be sold at Blockbuster or several other chains," said one competing distributor, whose company was a final contender in the negotiations to acquire the film. That distributor, who declined to be named, bowed out when, he said, the filmmakers sought a $500,000 price tag for North American rights.

Nevertheless, a number of indies expressed interest in the finished film, for which the filmmakers spent more than a year raising financing. "We had 11 other offers on the table, including video companies who would allow us to use the advance for a service deal and a pay cable network we're continuing to talk with, who may talk to ThinkFilm about licensing TV rights," said Mitchell, directing his sophomore feature after the 2001 musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." "Then we were getting calls from studio specialty divisions wondering why they were out of the running."

While Mitchell said the divisions eventually got cold feet over the content, execs from two of those companies said they had the go-ahead from their corporate parents to pursue the movie but that the economics of the deal didn't make sense given the high price tag and limited revenue streams.

According to sources close to the production, ThinkFilm, Magnolia, IFC Films and Roadside Attractions in conjunction with Netflix were the final contenders.

"ThinkFilm just kept coming at us and had the best offer," said Mitchell, though the filmmakers declined to specify how much the company offered. According to Mark Urman, head of ThinkFilm's theatrical division: "We all saw it together, and were unanimous about it. It's quite groundbreaking, and we were all impressed with how natural and normal and comedic the extreme sex became without being offensive."

Urman doesn't appear daunted by the marketing challenges. "Maybe we won't take TV ads," he said cheekily. "I'll save money." He plans to release the film as soon as possible. "There'll be enormous pre-awareness, and once you let the cat out of the bag, that cat should be allowed to prowl," he said.

Mitchell pointed to several alternative marketing strategies, including a "virtual salon" Web site where people can upload their films, music, art and literature; a competition for "best performers"; and "Shortbus"-themed salons and concerts at colleges around the country.

The film has been sold to more than 20 international territories, which producer Howard Gertler said will cover the film's budget.

The deal was announced by ThinkFilm president and CEO Jeff Sackman with producers Gertler, Mitchell, and Tim Perell of Process. It was negotiated by CAA on behalf of the filmmakers, and by executive vp acquisitions and business affairs Randy Manis on behalf of ThinkFilm.