Black Label Media on Teaming with Jennifer Lawrence and Launching ‘Die, My Love’ at Cannes: ‘She’s in a League of Her Own’

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2015 saw Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill, and Thad Luckinbill, founders of Black Label Media, the film finance and production company, hear a thunderous applause for the first time at Cannes as producers for “Sicario”. As Smith put it to EbMaster on a Friday afternoon, “There’s no premiere more glamorous than a Cannes premiere.” Over the past ten years, Black Label Media has grown from a small start-up to a significant player in the industry. They returned to the Croisette this year with Lynne Ramsay’s highly anticipated film, “Die, My Love”, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson.

Smith remarked, ‘The business has transformed dramatically since then, but it somehow seems as if we’ve come full circle. It’s as if independent films and our initial approach to filmmaking are making a strong comeback.’

Trent Luckinbill noted, “Initially, we were a company focused on filmmakers. Fortune favored us by collaborating with talented individuals such as Denis Villeneuve and Jean-Marc Vallée in the early days. We’ve remained committed to this objective, staying true to our passion for producing films.

The company boasts a diverse lineup of produced films such as “Devotion” (by JD Dillard), “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” (Kasi Lemmons’ direction), “Only the Brave” (Joseph Kosinski at the helm) and “Demolition” (Jean Marc Vallée’s work). Additionally, Black Label collaborated as a co-financier and executive producer on the Academy Award-winning film “La La Land,” alongside Lionsgate.

In a screenplay development, Black Label took up “Die, My Love,” initially penned by Ariana Harwicz in 2017. Martin Scorsese found this novel, which explores the emotional turmoil of a woman experiencing love and madness after giving birth, while her husband remains indifferent. Impressed, Scorsese shared it with Rick Yorn, who manages both Scorsese and Jennifer Lawrence. Together, Lawrence and her partner Justine Ciarrocchi initiated the project discussions with Ramsay, and eventually Robert Pattinson agreed to portray Lawrence’s husband in the adaptation.

Trent Luckinbill stated, “The original manuscript was quite large, but it was condensed into a captivating tale that could showcase an outstanding performance, similar to Jen’s. Performing in this part requires great bravery; it necessitates someone who is not afraid.

Lawrence truly excelled in her role, with many viewers expressing their admiration, saying things like, “Wow, she’s fantastic!” Thad Luckinbill agreed, adding that “she’s always had the star quality of a movie actress, but she’s now on a level all her own.”

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Lawrence didn’t disappoint. People who have watched the film so far can’t stop raving about her performance, commenting things like, “She’s amazing!” Thad Luckinbill concurred, stating that “she’s always had the makings of a movie star, but now she’s in a class by herself.”

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Lawrence did not fail to impress. The response from viewers who have seen the film has been overwhelmingly positive, with comments like, “She’s outstanding!” Thad Luckinbill echoed this sentiment, saying that “she’s always had what it takes to be a movie star, but she’s now in a league of her own.

Black Label Media’s independence allows them to act swiftly on projects they are passionate about, regardless of whether a distribution partner is involved, as pointed out by Luckinbill. He added that it’s often the packaging process that can delay things, but the pairing of Lawrence and Pattinson was an exceptional match.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I found it intriguing – this tale bore striking similarities to the worlds of ‘Twilight’ and ‘The Hunger Games’, yet the characters had never shared screen time before. The concept was captivating on its own merit, and we were eager to explore it further.

Next, we aimed for our dream cast, reaching out to Sissy Spacek, Nick Nolte, and LaKeith Stanfield. Remarkably, everything fell into place – a clear indication of the strength of the script and Lynne’s talent, as everyone in the industry knows her capabilities.

Last year’s project, filmed in Calgary from August through October, hastened its post-production process in an attempt to debut at Cannes. The film titled “Die, My Love” was added as a last-minute entry to the competition. It was screened for the festival committee following the main press conference on April 10th.

As a cinephile, I couldn’t help but feel enamored by Lynne, who’s a star at Cannes. The thought crossed our minds: “If only we could manage to finish this project in time, wouldn’t it be wonderful?” Needless to say, we had to exert extra effort to get it ready for the big day. Fingers crossed, we hoped to make it happen and thankfully, we succeeded!

On Saturday evening, the version audiences will see at the Palais is “as fresh as can be,” Smith jokingly mentioned. He pointed out that Ramsay was included in the final edits only 48 hours before our interview. Now, after much preparation, the film is ready for its debut to a gathering of film enthusiasts and prospective buyers.

I realized from the moment I laid eyes on this script that we weren’t planning to peddle it immediately for distribution. The decision was instinctual. We sensed that we had to produce this project independently, without forcing in Actor B or C just to boost numbers. Since it’s Jen and Lynne Ramsay – both of whom are powerhouses in their own right – we chose to create this film purely on our own, trusting our instincts to keep costs minimal.

So, generally speaking, who are their hopes for “Die, My Love” post-Cannes?

Smith believes that the movie, given its talented cast and Lynne Ramsay’s visually striking direction, should definitely be shown in cinemas. He hopes it will attract a crowd eager to watch it on the big screen. However, he also acknowledges that all possibilities are open because adaptability is crucial in today’s film industry.

Trent Luckinbill believes strong performances will make “Die, My Love” noticeable. He often ponders whether a project is meant for theaters, streaming services, or both. For “Die, My Love,” he’s searching for the ideal collaborator because it’s truly unique and exceptional.

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2025-05-17 20:17