Movie Market Madness : Independents Pitch the Good, the Bad and the Obscure at Show

Maybe you know the secret of “The Crying Game,” but do you know the “Macaroni Madness” mystery? The latter film, which comes from the Ukraine, follows the story of a scientist who discovers that his macaroni-mincing machine is really a weapon.

Then there’s “Kickboxer Kids,” in which tykes use their feet and fists to “help clean up the mob.”

In “The Hour of the Pig,” which could just as well be named “A Few Good Pigs,” a young lawyer defends a porcine client.

Those are among the hundreds of obscure movies on display in Santa Monica during this week’s American Film Market, one of the independent film industry’s biggest trade shows.

AFM attracts scores of buyers searching for films to supply the worldwide theatrical, video and television markets. This week, about 1,500 participants from 58 countries are on hand.

Independent films make up a sizable portion of the movie market, even though major studio releases usually generate the most publicity. Four of the five best-picture nominees for this year’s Academy Award are from independent producers, and markets such as AFM often serve as important showcases for such films.

But for every critically acclaimed production, such as “Crying Game” or “Howards End,” there are many more “Kung Fu Rascals,” or so it seems on a walk through the six floors of rooms at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel serving as temporary shops for the film sellers.

Action films clearly dominate the lesser-known titles being offered, followed closely by soft-core films euphemistically described as “erotic thrillers.”

“There is lots of junk here. You won’t see a lot of this in the domestic market,” said Nick Kimaz, president of Culver City-based Elixir Entertainment, which is peddling “Macaroni Madness.”

In the Trident Releasing room, a celebrity interview show called “Showbuzz with Gloria Pryor” is being promoted. So is “Beach Beverly Hills,” which Pryor wrote, produced and starred in as well. It’s about three models who “bare it all and share it all in their search for wealthy husbands.”

Market participants say sales of star-driven movies have been brisk. Not so for their low-budget counterparts. Foreign buyers seem especially selective this year because of tough economic times back home and often want only pictures with well-known stars.

“It’s a tough market,” complained Ray Donahue, vice president of sales and acquisitions for Los Angeles-based New World International. “They all seem to be looking for $40-million to $50-million feature films.”

Among New World’s offerings are “Murder in the Heartland,” about a killing spree, and “Biker Mice from Mars,” an animated program Donahue hopes will become the next “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

Kick-boxing is in vogue, especially with the word fist in the title. Look for Dale (Apollo) Cook in “Fist of Glory” and “Eternal Fist.” Then there is “Live by the Fist,” featuring George Takei of television’s Star Trek.

Every so often, a familiar name surfaces on an obscure title. “Double Blast” includes in its cast Linda Blair, an Oscar nominee for her performance in “The Exorcist” (1973). Erik Estrada of television’s “CHiPs” is in “Tuesday Never Comes.” So is Karen Black, an Oscar nominee for her role in “Five Easy Pieces” (1970). Black is also featured in “The Return of the Roller Blade Seven.”

In one third-floor room sit Ricky Wong and Jeremy Cheung, vice presidents with Hong Kong-based Filmswell. They are trying to sell “Undefeatable,” which Wong describes as a martial arts film with an American flavor.

The 90-minute movie, which Wong boasts is 70% action, stars unknown actress Cynthia Rothrock as a waitress who kicks and punches street gang members while trying to solve her sister’s murder. Posters adorn the room, with two taped to the sliding-glass door, blocking the view of Santa Monica and the beach.

Wong said he felt lucky to be at the market at all. He picked up a print of “Undefeatable” just an hour before his flight left Hong Kong.

“We hand-carried it on the plane because we feared the luggage would get lost,” he said.