Action International Pictures
Encyclopedia
Action International Pictures (AIP) also known as West Side Studios, is a film production and distribution company founded in 1986.
AIP was founded by David Winters
, David A. Prior and Peter Yuval. It also provided video distribution for many international films. Winters bought out his partners in 1992.
, was a turning point for David Winters. After being over-ruled on a casting decision for "Thrashin'
", Winters made the professional decision to control all aspects of future projects. AIP was organized by Winters with partners; Prior and Yuval.
Although Josh Brolin
was ultimately cast in Thrashin', Winters' choice was a "pre-21 Jump Street
", Johnny Depp
. Winters had previously been a partner in the successful Winters-Rosen organization in the 1970s.
, AIP produced 17 films and distributed 41 films and videotapes between 1988 and 1994, and were involved in a total of 46 films in this period. Fifteen of these films were written and directed by Prior. Winters directed three of the films, including Space Mutiny, and produced 28 of them. Yuval wrote, directed, and produced two of the AIP films (Dead End City (1988) and Firehead (1991)) and directed two more.
Like many low-budget film productions, AIP's original films used many of the same cast and crew in many of the films, including David Prior's brother Ted as an actor and writer; the apparently versatile William Zipp as actor, writer, director, producer, and stunt man; and an occasional well-known actor like Cameron Mitchell
(featured in Space Mutiny
and three other AIP ventures). Popular Television show, Mystery Science Theater 3000 web documenter, would ultimately joke that one AIP film, Space Mutiny was "infested" with "the Mitchell family" referring to Cameron's two children also appearing in that film.
Mike Nelson, Crow T. Robot
and Tom Servo
, on the popular Mystery Science Theater 3000
TV show, as well as featured on the home video release of that show.
AIP was founded by David Winters
David Winters (choreographer)
David Winters is an English-born American dancer, choreographer, producer, director, screenwriter, and actor. Winters has participated in, directed and produced over 400 television series, specials, and motion pictures...
, David A. Prior and Peter Yuval. It also provided video distribution for many international films. Winters bought out his partners in 1992.
Founding of the Studio
The year of its creation, 19861986 in film
-Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle.*April 26 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*May - Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee....
, was a turning point for David Winters. After being over-ruled on a casting decision for "Thrashin'
Thrashin'
Conversely, Brolin had turned down the role of Thom Hansen on 21 Jump Street, which ultimately went to Depp.-Continuing reaction to the film: Sixteen years after initial release, the MTV series Jackass, in a February 2002 episode, played homage to the "jousting scene" with "maces and man-purse" in...
", Winters made the professional decision to control all aspects of future projects. AIP was organized by Winters with partners; Prior and Yuval.
Although Josh Brolin
Josh Brolin
Josh James Brolin is an American actor. He has acted in theater, film and television roles since 1985, and won acting awards for his roles in the films W., No Country for Old Men, Milk and True Grit.-Early life:...
was ultimately cast in Thrashin', Winters' choice was a "pre-21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street is an American police procedural crime drama television series that aired on the Fox Network from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 103 episodes. The series focused on a squad of youthful-looking undercover police officers investigating crimes in high schools,...
", Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
. Winters had previously been a partner in the successful Winters-Rosen organization in the 1970s.
Output
According to the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
, AIP produced 17 films and distributed 41 films and videotapes between 1988 and 1994, and were involved in a total of 46 films in this period. Fifteen of these films were written and directed by Prior. Winters directed three of the films, including Space Mutiny, and produced 28 of them. Yuval wrote, directed, and produced two of the AIP films (Dead End City (1988) and Firehead (1991)) and directed two more.
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Quite possibly the worst science fiction/space adventure film made in English... Even the horrendously bad Shape Of Things To Come (1979) H. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come H. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come is a Canadian science fiction motion picture first released in May 1979.Although credited to H. G. Wells, the film takes only its title and some character names from The Shape of Things to Come, Wells' speculative novel from 1933. The plot bears no... can't aspire to such depths of total putrescence. I speak of the notorious (Action International Pictures') Made-In-South Africa Space Mutiny --Eccentric Cinema |
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Like many low-budget film productions, AIP's original films used many of the same cast and crew in many of the films, including David Prior's brother Ted as an actor and writer; the apparently versatile William Zipp as actor, writer, director, producer, and stunt man; and an occasional well-known actor like Cameron Mitchell
Cameron Mitchell (actor)
Cameron Mitchell was an American film, television and Broadway actor with close ties to one of Canada's most successful families, and considered, by Lee Strasberg, to be one of the founding members of The Actor's Studio in New York City.-Early life and career:Born Cameron MacDowell Mitzel in...
(featured in Space Mutiny
Space Mutiny
Space Mutiny is a 1988 South African science-fiction action film about a mutiny aboard the spaceship known as the Southern Sun.- Plot :...
and three other AIP ventures). Popular Television show, Mystery Science Theater 3000 web documenter, would ultimately joke that one AIP film, Space Mutiny was "infested" with "the Mitchell family" referring to Cameron's two children also appearing in that film.
West Side Studios
Winters bought out his partners in 1992, and re-branded AIP as West Side Studios. This was acknowledged as a nod to his 30 year association with West Side Story, as well as to de-emphasize action films . Prior would continue to direct for the company he sold.Mystery Science Theater 3000
Nine years after initial release in 1988, the Action International film: Space Mutiny had the distinction of being lampooned byMike Nelson, Crow T. Robot
Crow T. Robot
Crow T. Robot is a fictional character from the American science fiction comedy television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Crow is a robot, who, along with others, quips and riffs upon poor-quality B movies.- Overview :...
and Tom Servo
Tom Servo
Tom Servo is a fictional character from the American science fiction comedy television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Tom is one of two wise-cracking, robotic main characters of the show, built by Joel Robinson to act as a companion and help stave off space madness as Joel was forced to watch...
, on the popular Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
TV show, as well as featured on the home video release of that show.