Palm Pictures press release April 29, 1999

Stop Making Sense 1999 First Screening

Jonathan Demme, David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison Encounter Sell Out Audiences at the 1st Public Screening of the 15th Anniversary Re-release of Talking Heads Concert Film STOP MAKING SENSE

(San Francisco) - 1,500 screaming fans crowded the Castro Theatre Tuesday night to experience the first public screening of Palm Pictures' re-release of STOP MAKING SENSE as part of the San Francisco International Film Festival showing sponsored by Dolby Laboratories. Hundreds were turned away at the door as limos pulled up delivering Talking Heads band members Byrne, Frantz, Weymouth, Harrison and Director Jonathan Demme. Talking Heads memorabilia in hand, dozens of autograph seekers, surrounded the entourage. Demme and the four band members entered the theatre to a standing ovation from screaming, whistling, clapping and foot-stomping fans.

San Francisco International Film Festival Artistic Director, Peter Scarlet introduced STOP MAKING SENSE, happily reminiscing that the film had its world premiere at the Festival in '84 and dedicating the screening to the late Cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth whose son, Jeff, restored the print to its original luster. The now-mythic opening shot in the film was met with wild approval - this clearly was going to be a film event everyone would remember. As the night progressed, hundreds of fans crowded the aisles in a feverish dancing whirl and thunderous applause followed every song.

In 1984, Stop Making Sense captured the vibrancy and the essence of a band's live performance and the audiences literally danced-in-the-aisles. Now, 15 years later, with a new digitally remixed and remastered print, the film has reached mythic proportions and its brilliance remains just as powerful as ever. When house lights went up and the curtain closed, the four Talking Heads accompanied by Director Jonathan Demme hit the stage for a Q&A, the audience went wild. The presence of all five was a perfect culmination to this rock concert-like event.

Stop Making Sense, originally released in 1984 by Blackwell's Island Alive and Cinecom International, will be distributed nationwide this Fall by Palm Pictures, who will also distribute the subsequent DVD and video.

Palm Pictures, Chris Blackwell's audio/visual entertainment company, is actively involved in the acquisition, production and distribution of music and independent film projects, with a particular focus on the DVD format. Rama Dunayevich Palm Pictures/Manga Entertainment, Inc.