‘The Apprentice’ Backer Kinematics Confirms Exit From Project, Cites “Creative Differences”

Here’s the news we’ve been reporting for a while. Kinematics, one of the main backers of upcoming Donald Trump movie The Apprentice, has exited the project.

James Shani’s Rich Spirit, an exec producer on the much-discussed film, has acquired Kinematics’ interest. Check out the statement below. A large chunk of the backstory is here. The film debuted at Cannes to good reviews and had its U.S. festival launch at Telluride this past weekend.

Today the film’s distributor Briarcliff released a first clip for the movie and launched a Kickstarter campaign to boost the film’s distribution. Still no sign of a Trump lawsuit over its release, as we have also been reporting. The film is being lined up for an October 11 launch stateside.

Statement from Kinematics today:

“Kinematics has closed a deal for James Shani’s Rich Spirit to acquire the company’s interest in THE APPRENTICE. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

Led by Founder Mark Rapaport and President Emanuel Nuñez, Kinematics financed the film’s production. 

“As a writer/director, I understand the importance of supporting visionary filmmakers in the independent film space. I created Kinematics based on that core principle. After reading the script, I saw great potential in THE APPRENTICE and committed the funding needed to get it made. Unfortunately, creative differences caused Kinematics to leave the project,” said Rapaport.”