Indie News
Sales and production house Film Constellation is launching world sales rights on U.S. comedy drama “Eephus,” directed by Carson Lund, set to world premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight section in Cannes in May.
In the film, as an imminent construction project looms over a beloved small-town baseball field, a pair of New England Sunday league teams face off for the last time over the course of a day. Tensions flare up and ceremonial laughs are shared as an era of camaraderie and escapism fades into an uncertain future.
“Eephus” is the feature directorial debut of American filmmaker Lund, who also has a cinematography credit on another Directors’ Fortnight title, “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point.”
“Eephus” is produced by Lund, Tyler Taormina, Michael Basta, David Entin and Gabe Klinger for U.S.-based Omnes Films, in collaboration with executive producers Michael Tonelli, Ashish Shetty, Brian Clark and Jim Christman of Magmys.
In the film, as an imminent construction project looms over a beloved small-town baseball field, a pair of New England Sunday league teams face off for the last time over the course of a day. Tensions flare up and ceremonial laughs are shared as an era of camaraderie and escapism fades into an uncertain future.
“Eephus” is the feature directorial debut of American filmmaker Lund, who also has a cinematography credit on another Directors’ Fortnight title, “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point.”
“Eephus” is produced by Lund, Tyler Taormina, Michael Basta, David Entin and Gabe Klinger for U.S.-based Omnes Films, in collaboration with executive producers Michael Tonelli, Ashish Shetty, Brian Clark and Jim Christman of Magmys.
- 4/18/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety - Film News
In the spirit of springtime renewal, the Durham, North Carolina-based Full Frame Documentary Film Festival returned to in-person mode for the first time since 2019. And while Full Frame presented virtual versions from 2020 through 2022, the festival was canceled altogether last year, due in large part to fiscal struggles undermining its parent, the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. An April 2023 report in Duke’s The Chronicle indicated that the university would undertake a review of the Center. Members of the festival’s Advisory Committee circulated a petition on social media, helping to assure the festival’s return and, a […]
The post “…With the Giddy Feel of a College Reunion”: The Fun Frame Documentary Film Festival Returns first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “…With the Giddy Feel of a College Reunion”: The Fun Frame Documentary Film Festival Returns first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 4/18/2024
- by Tom White
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
In the spirit of springtime renewal, the Durham, North Carolina-based Full Frame Documentary Film Festival returned to in-person mode for the first time since 2019. And while Full Frame presented virtual versions from 2020 through 2022, the festival was canceled altogether last year, due in large part to fiscal struggles undermining its parent, the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. An April 2023 report in Duke’s The Chronicle indicated that the university would undertake a review of the Center. Members of the festival’s Advisory Committee circulated a petition on social media, helping to assure the festival’s return and, a […]
The post “…With the Giddy Feel of a College Reunion”: The Fun Frame Documentary Film Festival Returns first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “…With the Giddy Feel of a College Reunion”: The Fun Frame Documentary Film Festival Returns first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 4/18/2024
- by Tom White
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
If the most terrifying horror monsters are the ones that most reflect real-life terror, then cinematic cannibals might be the most terrifying monsters of all. Unlike vampires, werewolves, or ghosts, cannibals on film are fully flesh-and-blood humans — just with a taste for the flesh and blood of other humans. The garishness of the act makes cannibalism a perfect subject for shock horror, and the cannibal film fully came alive in the ’70s and ’80s via low-budget splatter triumphs like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Cannibal Holocaust,” which pitted their protagonists against horrific waves of flesh eaters.
In recent years, cannibalism has had a bit of a “moment” — on film, at least. As The New York Times pointed out in 2022, a wave of movies, TV shows, and books exploring cannibalism has emerged in popular culture, from “Yellowjackets” to “Bones and All” to “Fresh.” Many of these projects use the practice as...
In recent years, cannibalism has had a bit of a “moment” — on film, at least. As The New York Times pointed out in 2022, a wave of movies, TV shows, and books exploring cannibalism has emerged in popular culture, from “Yellowjackets” to “Bones and All” to “Fresh.” Many of these projects use the practice as...
- 4/18/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos says “there’s no appetite to make fewer films” at the streamer under the new film chief Dan Lin, disputing a recent New York Times article that said Netflix would move forward valuing quality over quantity and audience engagement over auteurs.
Sarandos on Thursday’s Netflix Q1 earnings call responded to a piece this week in the New York Times that said “the aim is to make Netflix’s movies better, cheaper and less frequent.”
“That was not a quote from Dan, and I would say that nor did we participate in that article. There is no appetite to make fewer films,” Sarandos responded. “But there is an unlimited appetite to make better films always, even though we have made and are making great films, we want to make them better of course.”
Lin joined Netflix at the start of April to replace Scott Stuber, who...
Sarandos on Thursday’s Netflix Q1 earnings call responded to a piece this week in the New York Times that said “the aim is to make Netflix’s movies better, cheaper and less frequent.”
“That was not a quote from Dan, and I would say that nor did we participate in that article. There is no appetite to make fewer films,” Sarandos responded. “But there is an unlimited appetite to make better films always, even though we have made and are making great films, we want to make them better of course.”
Lin joined Netflix at the start of April to replace Scott Stuber, who...
- 4/18/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Represent Justice, the organization that began as an impact campaign for Destin Daniel Cretton’s wrongful-conviction drama, Just Mercy, announced today via press release a three-year strategic plan, “a roadmap for building narrative power and infrastructure around people impacted by incarceration and creating a justice system that is focused on healing, rather than punishment.” New this year is the Speakers Bureau, which will represent “the extraordinary ecosystem of system-impacted movement leaders, exonerees, artists, campaign leaders, filmmakers, and film participants who work in partnership with Represent Justice to transform the legal system. The Represent Justice Speakers Bureau will be a full-service bureau […]
The post Represent Justice Announces New Speakers Bureau, Strategic Plan and Impact Campaign Around Clemency for Women Impacted by Mandatory Minimum Sentences first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Represent Justice Announces New Speakers Bureau, Strategic Plan and Impact Campaign Around Clemency for Women Impacted by Mandatory Minimum Sentences first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 4/18/2024
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Represent Justice, the organization that began as an impact campaign for Destin Daniel Cretton’s wrongful-conviction drama, Just Mercy, announced today via press release a three-year strategic plan, “a roadmap for building narrative power and infrastructure around people impacted by incarceration and creating a justice system that is focused on healing, rather than punishment.” New this year is the Speakers Bureau, which will represent “the extraordinary ecosystem of system-impacted movement leaders, exonerees, artists, campaign leaders, filmmakers, and film participants who work in partnership with Represent Justice to transform the legal system. The Represent Justice Speakers Bureau will be a full-service bureau […]
The post Represent Justice Announces New Speakers Bureau, Strategic Plan and Impact Campaign Around Clemency for Women Impacted by Mandatory Minimum Sentences first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Represent Justice Announces New Speakers Bureau, Strategic Plan and Impact Campaign Around Clemency for Women Impacted by Mandatory Minimum Sentences first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 4/18/2024
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The shocking news that Participant, a leading producer of specialized/independent features with a socially relevant interest as well many top documentaries, is shutting down immediately hit the industry hard Tuesday. With a profile of co-produced films over the last 20 years that rivals any other company’s slate, this was devastating news.
Founder and owner Jeff Skoll’s decision to shut down his company will impact the production of a certain kind of specialized film, particularly in the documentary field. Never a distributor, and most often collaborating with other production companies, Participant was still a significant force for most of its two decades.
But what’s the real impact of this move? Jonathan Dana, a veteran distribution executive and producer, commented, “It didn’t fail. It just ran its course.” That typifies much of the insider reaction, which relates to the specific purpose and goals of the company.
‘Spotlight’ © Open...
Founder and owner Jeff Skoll’s decision to shut down his company will impact the production of a certain kind of specialized film, particularly in the documentary field. Never a distributor, and most often collaborating with other production companies, Participant was still a significant force for most of its two decades.
But what’s the real impact of this move? Jonathan Dana, a veteran distribution executive and producer, commented, “It didn’t fail. It just ran its course.” That typifies much of the insider reaction, which relates to the specific purpose and goals of the company.
‘Spotlight’ © Open...
- 4/18/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Netflix added a whopping 9.33 million subscribers in the first quarter of the year, an impressive figure that blew away Wall Street’s expectations. We now know it has just shy of 270 million subscribers worldwide.
Well, don’t get used to it. 2024 is the last year Netflix will share publicly how many subscribers it added or lost in a given quarter during its quarterly earnings reports, the company announced on Thursday to kick off its fiscal 2024.
The streamer writes that beginning in Q1 2025, Netflix will “stop reporting quarterly membership numbers and Arm,” which stands for “average revenue per membership.” So not only will we not know each quarter how many subscribers Netflix has at a given moment, we also won’t know how much revenue it made off each of those subscribers.
The company explains it’s now focused on revenue, operating margins, and engagement (time spent on Netflix) as its main barometers for success.
Well, don’t get used to it. 2024 is the last year Netflix will share publicly how many subscribers it added or lost in a given quarter during its quarterly earnings reports, the company announced on Thursday to kick off its fiscal 2024.
The streamer writes that beginning in Q1 2025, Netflix will “stop reporting quarterly membership numbers and Arm,” which stands for “average revenue per membership.” So not only will we not know each quarter how many subscribers Netflix has at a given moment, we also won’t know how much revenue it made off each of those subscribers.
The company explains it’s now focused on revenue, operating margins, and engagement (time spent on Netflix) as its main barometers for success.
- 4/18/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Netflix added 9.33 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2024, for which Wall Street had anticipated 4.9 million net adds. That’s a legit wow, as is Netflix’s new grand total of 269.60 million global paid subscribers.
Sure, Netflix added more than 13 million subs in the prior quarter, but in the last Q1, the company added fewer than 2 million subscribers. Things have been going very well for Netflix as of late. A year ago, shares in Netflix (Nflx) traded around $331; today, they closed at $611.15. After hours, the Nflx share price declined due to the company’s Q2 earnings forecasts not burning as bright.
And perhaps this also didn’t help: Next year, Netflix is making some major changes to how it reports its membership. The company said in today’s shareholder letter it will no longer report its subscriber tally on a quarterly basis, rather it will just announce “major subscriber milestones” as it crosses them.
Sure, Netflix added more than 13 million subs in the prior quarter, but in the last Q1, the company added fewer than 2 million subscribers. Things have been going very well for Netflix as of late. A year ago, shares in Netflix (Nflx) traded around $331; today, they closed at $611.15. After hours, the Nflx share price declined due to the company’s Q2 earnings forecasts not burning as bright.
And perhaps this also didn’t help: Next year, Netflix is making some major changes to how it reports its membership. The company said in today’s shareholder letter it will no longer report its subscriber tally on a quarterly basis, rather it will just announce “major subscriber milestones” as it crosses them.
- 4/18/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Based on the marketing, you might think “Challengers” is at its core, a tennis movie and, well, it sort of is. The film is certainly set in the world of tennis, you can’t deny that, and at one point, Zendaya’s character Tashi Duncan remarks, “We’re always talking about tennis.” The sport is at the center of her life. But despite everyone involved’s best efforts, the serves and volleys in this movie are nowhere near as important as the decade-long love triangle between Tashi and one-time BFFs, Patrick Zweig and Art Donaldson, played by Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, respectively.
Continue reading ‘Challengers’ Review: Zendaya Rules This Love Triangle at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Challengers’ Review: Zendaya Rules This Love Triangle at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by Gregory Ellwood
- The Playlist
Through the lens of 2024, “Dogfight” plays like a subtle, personal film you would expect from indie director Nancy Savoca (“Household Saints”), but that’s not what Warner Bros. thought they were making.
“They were thinking ‘Porky’s.’ They thought it was a comedy,” said director Nancy Savoca while on IndieWire’s Toolkit podcast to discuss “Dogfight,” which is entering the Criterion Collection on April 30.
At the end of the 1980s headed into the early ’90s, when Warners was developing Bob Comfort’s “Dogfight” screenplay, teen comedies were big business for the studios. Alongside the wild success of the classic slate of teen comedies John Hughes wrote, directed, or produced, the “Porky’s” trilogy came to define the sex comedies of the era. It’s through this lens the studio saw the dogfight competition in Comfort’s script: A group of young soldiers pick up the “ugliest” woman they can find, bring her to a bar,...
“They were thinking ‘Porky’s.’ They thought it was a comedy,” said director Nancy Savoca while on IndieWire’s Toolkit podcast to discuss “Dogfight,” which is entering the Criterion Collection on April 30.
At the end of the 1980s headed into the early ’90s, when Warners was developing Bob Comfort’s “Dogfight” screenplay, teen comedies were big business for the studios. Alongside the wild success of the classic slate of teen comedies John Hughes wrote, directed, or produced, the “Porky’s” trilogy came to define the sex comedies of the era. It’s through this lens the studio saw the dogfight competition in Comfort’s script: A group of young soldiers pick up the “ugliest” woman they can find, bring her to a bar,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Get ready to return to the South Side of Chicago. Earlier today, Paramount+ with Showtime released the first official trailer and key art for the second half of season six of their acclaimed original drama series “The Chi,” which is set to return on May 10, 2024. The new episodes will be released on streaming and on demand for Paramount+ subscribers prior to its premiere on television on Sunday, May 12, at 9 p.m.
Continue reading ‘The Chi’ Season 6 Trailer: New Season Debuts May 10 at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘The Chi’ Season 6 Trailer: New Season Debuts May 10 at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
As if there wasn’t enough debate surrounding A24’s “Civil War,” the movie sparked a new round of backlash over some movie posters seemingly generated by AI.
On Wednesday, April 17, A24 posted a series of five movie posters for “Civil War” on its Instagram. Each depicts a different U.S. city ravaged by war. Las Vegas and the already iconic Sphere are seen as a smoking wreck. A gunned patrol boat is seen in a Los Angeles pond. Chicago’s Marina Towers are set ablaze. And iconic locations in both San Francisco and Miami are under siege.
Not only are these images not scenes depicted in the movie itself, but Instagram commenters felt there were some dead giveaways that the images were generated by AI (the posters don’t clearly say one way or another). The Los Angeles one in particular shows a massive swan, which presumably is meant...
On Wednesday, April 17, A24 posted a series of five movie posters for “Civil War” on its Instagram. Each depicts a different U.S. city ravaged by war. Las Vegas and the already iconic Sphere are seen as a smoking wreck. A gunned patrol boat is seen in a Los Angeles pond. Chicago’s Marina Towers are set ablaze. And iconic locations in both San Francisco and Miami are under siege.
Not only are these images not scenes depicted in the movie itself, but Instagram commenters felt there were some dead giveaways that the images were generated by AI (the posters don’t clearly say one way or another). The Los Angeles one in particular shows a massive swan, which presumably is meant...
- 4/18/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
The Tribeca Film Festival has actually been known as the Tribeca Festival for four years now, but perhaps the name change and evolution of the festival has never been more evident than with the announcement of its robust and impressive 2024 TV slate.
The 2024 Tribeca Festival, which takes place June 5-16, announced an exciting showcase of highly anticipated world premieres of new and returning programs from networks and streamers such as Apple TV+, AMC, HBO, Hulu, Paramount+, and more.
Continue reading Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘Presumed Innocent’ Mini-Series Leads Tribeca Festival’s 2024 TV Line-Up at The Playlist.
The 2024 Tribeca Festival, which takes place June 5-16, announced an exciting showcase of highly anticipated world premieres of new and returning programs from networks and streamers such as Apple TV+, AMC, HBO, Hulu, Paramount+, and more.
Continue reading Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘Presumed Innocent’ Mini-Series Leads Tribeca Festival’s 2024 TV Line-Up at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
Glen Powell and Richard Linklater may be long-time collaborators and friends — and now, with the imminent release of their “Hit Man,” credited co-writers — but these two can still surprise each other.
Case in point: for the fact-based and very fun “Hit Man,” Powell stars as Gary Johnson, a seemingly regular dude who ends up moonlighting for the New Orleans Police Department as a fake assassin, tasked with snagging people who are attempting to employ a hitman to off certain people in their lives. The film, based on a Texas Monthly story, follows Gary as he tries on all sorts of personas — redneck hitman, Russian hitman, the list goes on and on — while also romancing a potential client (Adria Arjona) under the guise of smooth-talking hitman Ron. But all those other personas? Powell-original creations!
During an event held on Wednesday evening in New York City, Powell was on hand for a post-screening chat,...
Case in point: for the fact-based and very fun “Hit Man,” Powell stars as Gary Johnson, a seemingly regular dude who ends up moonlighting for the New Orleans Police Department as a fake assassin, tasked with snagging people who are attempting to employ a hitman to off certain people in their lives. The film, based on a Texas Monthly story, follows Gary as he tries on all sorts of personas — redneck hitman, Russian hitman, the list goes on and on — while also romancing a potential client (Adria Arjona) under the guise of smooth-talking hitman Ron. But all those other personas? Powell-original creations!
During an event held on Wednesday evening in New York City, Powell was on hand for a post-screening chat,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Last night, Quentin Tarantino fans were hit with a shocking bolt from out of the blue. The American auteur, known for his sometimes unpredictable moves, decided to scrap his “Movie Critic” film as his tenth and final film. This decision, unlike his previous one with “The Hateful Eight,” which was leaked and he eventually reversed, seems to be much more permanent.
While THR reported on the news last night, further details have come to light.
Continue reading Tarantino’s ‘Movie Critic’ Became A Separate ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ Spin-Off Film, But Both Are Now Scrapped at The Playlist.
While THR reported on the news last night, further details have come to light.
Continue reading Tarantino’s ‘Movie Critic’ Became A Separate ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ Spin-Off Film, But Both Are Now Scrapped at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
Writer/director Zack Snyder always has ambitious plans for his movies, and when it comes to his brand new science-fiction space opera series “Rebel Moon,” the filmmaker’s thinking isn’t veering far off from the audacious. Just one day before the second installment’s release, “Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver,” Snyder has said that he has plans for up to six ‘Rebel Moon’ movies.
In a recent interview with RadioTimes.com, Snyder opened up about the status of the series and where he would like it to head next.
Continue reading Zack Snyder Has A Vision For At Least 6 ‘Rebel Moon’ Movies at The Playlist.
In a recent interview with RadioTimes.com, Snyder opened up about the status of the series and where he would like it to head next.
Continue reading Zack Snyder Has A Vision For At Least 6 ‘Rebel Moon’ Movies at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
After a five-movie spate at Universal that resurrected his career, M. Night Shyamalan now has a first-look deal at Warner Bros. Pictures. So what’s the first film of Shyamalan’s at his new studio home? That would be “Trap,” a thriller that stars his eldest daughter, rising music star Saleka Shyamalan.
Read More: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2024
And since this is an M.
Continue reading ‘Trap’ Trailer: M. Night Shyamalan’s Latest Thriller Gives A Pop Star’s Arena Event A Dark Twist at The Playlist.
Read More: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2024
And since this is an M.
Continue reading ‘Trap’ Trailer: M. Night Shyamalan’s Latest Thriller Gives A Pop Star’s Arena Event A Dark Twist at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
It really needn’t be said how much Christopher Nolan’s Best Picture winner “Oppenheimer” has brought the aftershock of the atomic bomb ripping through the public consciousness again.
So the current zeitgeist is as good as any for boutique distributor and arthouse restoration outfit Arbelos to uncover a lost 1961 gem: Peter Kass’ 1961 “Time of the Heathen.” Set in the immediate aftermath of the atomic bomb, the avant-garde drama was shot by American science-fiction artist Ed Emshwiller as cinematographer. The film’s bold visuals are on full display in the exclusive trailer, hosted by IndieWire, below for the re-release of “Time of the Heathen.” Arbelos will open the film at New York’s Film at Lincoln Center on May 10 and at LA’s American Cinematheque on May 12.
Kass, who died in 2008, was best known for his work as a theater instructor in New York, collaborating with the likes of Faye Dunaway,...
So the current zeitgeist is as good as any for boutique distributor and arthouse restoration outfit Arbelos to uncover a lost 1961 gem: Peter Kass’ 1961 “Time of the Heathen.” Set in the immediate aftermath of the atomic bomb, the avant-garde drama was shot by American science-fiction artist Ed Emshwiller as cinematographer. The film’s bold visuals are on full display in the exclusive trailer, hosted by IndieWire, below for the re-release of “Time of the Heathen.” Arbelos will open the film at New York’s Film at Lincoln Center on May 10 and at LA’s American Cinematheque on May 12.
Kass, who died in 2008, was best known for his work as a theater instructor in New York, collaborating with the likes of Faye Dunaway,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Toss a coin to your witcher. Netflix has officially renewed its fantasy drama series “The Witcher” for seasons four and five, which will be its final two. The fourth season has just begun filming in the United Kingdom, with the fifth and final season being filmed immediately afterward.
These final two installments will cover Andrzej Sapkowski’s three remaining books in his “Witcher” series that the show is based on— “Baptism of Fire,” “The Tower of the Swallow,” and “Lady of the Lake.
Continue reading ‘The Witcher’: Netflix Renews Fantasy Series For 2 Seasons Ending With Season 5 at The Playlist.
These final two installments will cover Andrzej Sapkowski’s three remaining books in his “Witcher” series that the show is based on— “Baptism of Fire,” “The Tower of the Swallow,” and “Lady of the Lake.
Continue reading ‘The Witcher’: Netflix Renews Fantasy Series For 2 Seasons Ending With Season 5 at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by The Playlist Staff
- The Playlist
Brian Cox has gained a reputation in recent years as being, well, frank and outspoken in his opinions. That goes for his stance on method acting in particular, which he deems “f*cking annoying” and blames Daniel Day-Lewis for its popularity. Cox’s 2021 book had some choice words about fellow actors, too, including Johnny Depp (“so overblown, so overrated”) and Edward Norton (“a bit of a pain in the arse”), among others.
Continue reading Brian Cox Criticizes Joaquin Phoenix’s “Terrible” Performance In ‘Napoleon’: “It Really Is Appalling, I Don’t Know What He Was Thinking” at The Playlist.
Continue reading Brian Cox Criticizes Joaquin Phoenix’s “Terrible” Performance In ‘Napoleon’: “It Really Is Appalling, I Don’t Know What He Was Thinking” at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
With his latest film “Trap,” filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan is letting the audience in on one of his signature twists a little earlier this time around.
In a new trailer for the thriller, which was first shown during the Warner Bros. CinemaCon presentation in early April, star Josh Harnett is first shown as a dad taking his teenage daughter to a pop concert akin to one of the blockbuster tours that dominated summer 2023. Leaving his seat for the bathroom, Hartnett’s character notices a higher-than-normal police presence around the venue and asks a concessions worker if he knows what’s going on.
Turns out, that Lady Raven concert is a sting operation to catch a serial killer on the loose in the city. After thanking the worker for the tip, Hartnett goes into the bathroom stall, pulls out his phone, and opens an app that reveals security footage of a...
In a new trailer for the thriller, which was first shown during the Warner Bros. CinemaCon presentation in early April, star Josh Harnett is first shown as a dad taking his teenage daughter to a pop concert akin to one of the blockbuster tours that dominated summer 2023. Leaving his seat for the bathroom, Hartnett’s character notices a higher-than-normal police presence around the venue and asks a concessions worker if he knows what’s going on.
Turns out, that Lady Raven concert is a sting operation to catch a serial killer on the loose in the city. After thanking the worker for the tip, Hartnett goes into the bathroom stall, pulls out his phone, and opens an app that reveals security footage of a...
- 4/18/2024
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Documentarian Chris Wilcha is stepping back through time for his latest feature “Flipside.”
Wilcha revisits his own shelved past projects including capturing “This American Life” icon Ira Glass in the midst of a creative rebirth, an origin story of David Bowie’s ode to a local New Jersey cable television hero, and an unlikely connection between jazz photographer Herman Leonard and TV writer David Milch.
The film is the product of Wilcha returning to the record store where he worked as a teenager in New Jersey and realizing that the staple of his youth is now out of touch with the times. Per the official synopsis, “Flipside” documents Wilcha’s “tragicomic attempt to revive the store while revisiting other documentary projects he has abandoned over the years. This disparate collection of stories coheres into something strange and expansive — a moving meditation on music, work, and the sacrifices and satisfaction of...
Wilcha revisits his own shelved past projects including capturing “This American Life” icon Ira Glass in the midst of a creative rebirth, an origin story of David Bowie’s ode to a local New Jersey cable television hero, and an unlikely connection between jazz photographer Herman Leonard and TV writer David Milch.
The film is the product of Wilcha returning to the record store where he worked as a teenager in New Jersey and realizing that the staple of his youth is now out of touch with the times. Per the official synopsis, “Flipside” documents Wilcha’s “tragicomic attempt to revive the store while revisiting other documentary projects he has abandoned over the years. This disparate collection of stories coheres into something strange and expansive — a moving meditation on music, work, and the sacrifices and satisfaction of...
- 4/18/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
French director Bertrand Bonello is rightly back in the imaginations of U.S. cinephiles, as his new film “The Beast” is now playing stateside. The time-hopping sci-fi romantic drama starring Léa Seydoux and George MacKay as would-be lovers across centuries had the biggest opening weekend yet for distributor Sideshow/Janus Films earlier this month. Now, Bertrand Bonello’s previously undistributed 2022 film “Coma” is finally joining “The Beast” at theaters beginning in May from Film Movement. Watch the trailer for “Coma,” an IndieWire exclusive, below.
Combining live-action and animation, “Coma” centers on a teenage girl in lockdown amid a global health crisis (cough cough) who develops a disturbing relationship with a YouTuber. The cast features Louise Labèque, Julia Faure, Gaspard Ulliel, Laetitia Casta, Vincent Lacoste, Louis Garrel, and Anaïs Demoustier. This was the last film Ulliel worked on before he died in January 2022 after a skiing accident. Ulliel was meant to...
Combining live-action and animation, “Coma” centers on a teenage girl in lockdown amid a global health crisis (cough cough) who develops a disturbing relationship with a YouTuber. The cast features Louise Labèque, Julia Faure, Gaspard Ulliel, Laetitia Casta, Vincent Lacoste, Louis Garrel, and Anaïs Demoustier. This was the last film Ulliel worked on before he died in January 2022 after a skiing accident. Ulliel was meant to...
- 4/18/2024
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
“Dune: Part Two” returns to IMAX screens this weekend, a move that will likely send Denis Villeneuve‘s sequel over the $700 million global box office barrier. That’ll be a coup for him and Warner Bros. and all but assure Villeneuve makes “Dune: Part Three” as soon as possible.
Continue reading ‘Dune: Part Three’: Denis Villeneuve Calls Chani His “Secret Weapon,” Hints He Knows “Exactly What To Do” For Third Film at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Dune: Part Three’: Denis Villeneuve Calls Chani His “Secret Weapon,” Hints He Knows “Exactly What To Do” For Third Film at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
The Rooftop Films 2024 Filmmaker Fund winners have officially been unveiled, with buzzy titles like Eliza Hittman’s fourth feature “Motherlove” and Debra Granik and Alex Mallis’ collaborative documentary among the top titles.
This year, twenty-three cash and service grants will be provided to independent filmmakers to support the production of their next short or feature film, including two Rooftop Films Water Tower Feature Film cash grants, generously supported by the Laurence W. Levine Foundation. In the past 24 years, Rooftop Films has awarded over $2,300,000 in cash and services to notable films and filmmakers including Alex Ross Perry, Carlos López Estrada, Nikyatu Jusu, and David Lowery.
Among the 2024 grantees are Eliza Hittman for her highly-anticipated fourth feature film, “Motherlove,” and Debra Granik and Alex Mallis for their untitled collaborative documentary investigating the past, present, and future of legalized marijuana in New York state.
Hittman’s acclaimed third feature “Never Rarely Sometimes Always...
This year, twenty-three cash and service grants will be provided to independent filmmakers to support the production of their next short or feature film, including two Rooftop Films Water Tower Feature Film cash grants, generously supported by the Laurence W. Levine Foundation. In the past 24 years, Rooftop Films has awarded over $2,300,000 in cash and services to notable films and filmmakers including Alex Ross Perry, Carlos López Estrada, Nikyatu Jusu, and David Lowery.
Among the 2024 grantees are Eliza Hittman for her highly-anticipated fourth feature film, “Motherlove,” and Debra Granik and Alex Mallis for their untitled collaborative documentary investigating the past, present, and future of legalized marijuana in New York state.
Hittman’s acclaimed third feature “Never Rarely Sometimes Always...
- 4/18/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The 2024 Tribeca Festival TV and Now lineup is just about as star-studded as it gets.
This year’s installment, presented by Okx, includes the world premiere of David E. Kelley’s legal thriller “Presumed Innocent” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, who also executive produces along with J.J. Abrams. Ruth Negga, Peter Sarsgaard, Renate Reinsve, and O-t Fagbenle co-star in the Apple TV+ series that marks Gyllenhaal’s first foray into TV.
The Tribeca Festival takes place June 5 through 16 and highlights new and returning programs from networks and streamers such as Apple TV+, AMC, HBO, Hulu, Paramount+, and more. The 2024 TV lineup features 11 series premieres and two first looks at returning series, including the Season 4 premiere of “My Brilliant Friend” and “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol” Season 2.
True crime docuseries including as Hulu’s “Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer,” executive produced by Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning, and...
This year’s installment, presented by Okx, includes the world premiere of David E. Kelley’s legal thriller “Presumed Innocent” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, who also executive produces along with J.J. Abrams. Ruth Negga, Peter Sarsgaard, Renate Reinsve, and O-t Fagbenle co-star in the Apple TV+ series that marks Gyllenhaal’s first foray into TV.
The Tribeca Festival takes place June 5 through 16 and highlights new and returning programs from networks and streamers such as Apple TV+, AMC, HBO, Hulu, Paramount+, and more. The 2024 TV lineup features 11 series premieres and two first looks at returning series, including the Season 4 premiere of “My Brilliant Friend” and “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol” Season 2.
True crime docuseries including as Hulu’s “Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer,” executive produced by Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning, and...
- 4/18/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Nearly ten year after the Emmy Award-winning first season, “The Jinx” is remarkably back on HBO. Andrew Jarecki, Marc Smerling, and Zac Stuart-Pontier’s engrossing docuseries about the string of murders connected to Robert Durst built to a now-infamous climax, and will return with more story to tell April 21.
Before that, it’s worth revisiting the 2015 series and decades of headlines it interrogates. “The Jinx” gripped its audience with mounting evidence against Durst and a scintillating narrative structure, but also quickly came under fire for manipulating the timeline and even Durst’s hot mic recordings for dramatic effect. In 2015, IndieWire’s Matt Brennan pointed out that “The Jinx” set an impossible standard for documentary drama — one that the series itself had arguably not cleared in the first place. Jessica Kiang wrote that “This is not Jarecki’s gotcha so much as it is a self-initiated, cloudily motivated performance piece of Durst’s,...
Before that, it’s worth revisiting the 2015 series and decades of headlines it interrogates. “The Jinx” gripped its audience with mounting evidence against Durst and a scintillating narrative structure, but also quickly came under fire for manipulating the timeline and even Durst’s hot mic recordings for dramatic effect. In 2015, IndieWire’s Matt Brennan pointed out that “The Jinx” set an impossible standard for documentary drama — one that the series itself had arguably not cleared in the first place. Jessica Kiang wrote that “This is not Jarecki’s gotcha so much as it is a self-initiated, cloudily motivated performance piece of Durst’s,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
Man's Castle.“When you’re dead, you get a hunk of earth. When you’re alive, all you’ve got is that hunk of blue.” This is how Bill (Spencer Tracy), the restless hero of Frank Borzage’s Man’s Castle (1933), explains his insistence on sleeping under the open sky. Borzage’s films always cast their eyes heavenward with exalted sincerity; they offer no sop to modern irony or cynicism. No one should watch them who is not prepared to be enraptured.The essence of Borzage’s romanticism resides in the enchanted spaces his lovers create together: sometimes a semi-permanent home, like the Parisian garret in 7th Heaven (1927), at other times a fleeting idyll of shared fantasy, like the abandoned plantation mansion where the outcast couple in Moonrise (1948) waltz amid the shadows and cobwebs. These magical playhouses are spaces of care and refuge as much as dreamy eroticism; in Man’s Castle,...
- 4/18/2024
- MUBI
In this week’s episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo grows out his handlebar mustache and puts on a southern accent to discuss “Blood for Dust” with star Kit Harington (“Game of Thrones,” “Eternals”). The movie follows a struggling salesman with a troubled criminal past who is pulled back into a string of crimes by a former colleague, leading to a trail of blood…and dust.
Continue reading ‘Blood For Dust’: Kit Harington Talks New Crime Drama, The ‘Jon Snow’ Series, Almost Playing King Arthur & More [The Discourse Podcast] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Blood For Dust’: Kit Harington Talks New Crime Drama, The ‘Jon Snow’ Series, Almost Playing King Arthur & More [The Discourse Podcast] at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by Mike DeAngelo
- The Playlist
Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver” is almost upon us, debuting on Netflix this Friday, April 19 (read our review of ‘Part One’). Given its imminent release, the filmmaker appeared on the Happy Sad Confused podcast to discuss Rebel Moon’ and his entire career. While Snyder talked about much of his career, his time in the DC Universe, and more—he also revealed that Leonardo DiCaprio had some discussions about playing Lex Luthor before ultimately turning down the role—Snyder’s conversations about the R-Rated versions of “Rebel Moon” were arguably the most fascinating.
Continue reading ‘Rebel Moon’: Zack Snyder Says The Sex & Violence In His Extreme, R-Rated Versions Is “So Over The Top,” & More ‘Heavy Metal’ at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Rebel Moon’: Zack Snyder Says The Sex & Violence In His Extreme, R-Rated Versions Is “So Over The Top,” & More ‘Heavy Metal’ at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
There’s a funny little citation on multi-hyphenate Melissa Barrera’s Wikipedia page. About halfway down the section entitled “acting,” we’re told that “following her roles in horror media in 2022, Barrera was crowned a scream queen.” There was not an actual coronation for this honor, but it’s hard to argue with. After starring in two “Scream” movies, the Tubi chiller “Bed Rest,” and this week’s new release “Abigail” (a biting spin on the classic “Dracula’s Daughter”), the Mexican starlet is a bonafide scream queen, even if she was never quite expecting the honor.
For Barrera, who got her start on telenovelas and was introduced to most American audiences through the big screen musical “In the Heights,” it’s another step in a career that just keeps evolving in some surprising ways. No, Barrera told IndieWire with laugh, she didn’t set out to be “scream queen,” but she loves it.
For Barrera, who got her start on telenovelas and was introduced to most American audiences through the big screen musical “In the Heights,” it’s another step in a career that just keeps evolving in some surprising ways. No, Barrera told IndieWire with laugh, she didn’t set out to be “scream queen,” but she loves it.
- 4/18/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
With “Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver” hitting Netflix tomorrow, Zack Snyder is making the press rounds to promote his latest film. But the most intriguing stuff he talked about on the Happy Sad Confused podcast didn’t have anything to do with “Rebel Moon” at all. Instead, Snyder talked about some of the actors he met with as he was casting Lex Luthor for “Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice,” including comic book guy Leonardo DiCaprio.
Continue reading Zack Snyder Says He Talked With Leonardo DiCaprio & Adam Driver For Lex Luthor Role at The Playlist.
Continue reading Zack Snyder Says He Talked With Leonardo DiCaprio & Adam Driver For Lex Luthor Role at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
Forget trailer debuts during football game halftimes or shown through “Fortnite,” the next frontier of debuting movie trailers is watching it on a screen that happens to be orbiting the Earth.
The first trailer for “Transformers One,” Paramount Animation and Hasbro’s animated “Transformers” origin movie, was screened inside a spacecraft that an hour ago launched from the Earth and traveled 125,000 feet into outer space. Paramount, via star Chris Hemsworth’s Instagram, did a livestream of the spacecraft launch followed by the first look at the trailer.
Why do this? “The sky is the limit” for the film, Hemsworth said in announcing the stunt.
Okay, technically, we first all saw it on ground level at CinemaCon last week, 3-D glasses and all. “Transformers One” is the first animated “Transformers” movie in 40 years, and to inaugurate the 40-year anniversary of the Transformers brand, the film is an origin story for how...
The first trailer for “Transformers One,” Paramount Animation and Hasbro’s animated “Transformers” origin movie, was screened inside a spacecraft that an hour ago launched from the Earth and traveled 125,000 feet into outer space. Paramount, via star Chris Hemsworth’s Instagram, did a livestream of the spacecraft launch followed by the first look at the trailer.
Why do this? “The sky is the limit” for the film, Hemsworth said in announcing the stunt.
Okay, technically, we first all saw it on ground level at CinemaCon last week, 3-D glasses and all. “Transformers One” is the first animated “Transformers” movie in 40 years, and to inaugurate the 40-year anniversary of the Transformers brand, the film is an origin story for how...
- 4/18/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
What happens when a fake hit man blurs the lines between reality and fiction? The true story of a professor going undercover acts as a starting point for Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man” (read our review). Its premise goes well beyond the events written about by Texas Monthly’s Skip Hollandsworth. Instead, the film takes a fictional journey into what could have happened between two people under different circumstances.
Continue reading ‘Hit Man’ Trailer: Glen Powell & Adria Arjona Lead Richard Linklater’s New Romantic Action Flick at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Hit Man’ Trailer: Glen Powell & Adria Arjona Lead Richard Linklater’s New Romantic Action Flick at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by Valerie Thompson
- The Playlist
Like a macabre pilgrimage, the Overlook Film Festival summons genre film obsessives from around the country and beyond to the party-friendly streets of New Orleans, Louisiana—a city whose one-of-a-kind history with the otherworldly befits the event’s atmosphere.
Dedicated to the late Doug Jones, a longtime festival programmer and esteemed member of the Los Angeles film community, the 2024 edition featured repertory presentations from his personal wish list. Throughout the weekend (April 4-7), festival co-directors Landon Zakheim and Michael Lerman paid tribute to Jones at multiple screenings, highlighting his contributions to Overlook over the years and his devotion to both film and music.
Continue reading At the 2024 Overlook Film Festival, The Past And Present Of Genre Merged at The Playlist.
Dedicated to the late Doug Jones, a longtime festival programmer and esteemed member of the Los Angeles film community, the 2024 edition featured repertory presentations from his personal wish list. Throughout the weekend (April 4-7), festival co-directors Landon Zakheim and Michael Lerman paid tribute to Jones at multiple screenings, highlighting his contributions to Overlook over the years and his devotion to both film and music.
Continue reading At the 2024 Overlook Film Festival, The Past And Present Of Genre Merged at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Playlist
Sure, HBO series “The Deuce” may have piqued some interest in the history of classic porn cinema, but now the outrageous true story of Times Square staple Chelly Wilson is getting the spotlight.
Documentary “Queen of the Deuce” centers on Wilson’s personal history before building a porn theater in the notorious Times Square vicinity known as the Deuce. Wilson’s reign ranged from the late ’60s to the mid-’80s as she earned a reputation as one of the savviest and most enigmatic figures on the scene.
Greek-born Wilson escaped the Holocaust in WWII, emigrated to the U.S., and married a slew of men while being openly gay. Her legacy in the world of adult cinema is examined by filmmaker Valerie Kontakos (“Mana”), who has written, directed, and produced the documentary.
“Queen of the Deuce” is further produced by Ed Barreveld and Despina Pavlaki, who also co-wrote the...
Documentary “Queen of the Deuce” centers on Wilson’s personal history before building a porn theater in the notorious Times Square vicinity known as the Deuce. Wilson’s reign ranged from the late ’60s to the mid-’80s as she earned a reputation as one of the savviest and most enigmatic figures on the scene.
Greek-born Wilson escaped the Holocaust in WWII, emigrated to the U.S., and married a slew of men while being openly gay. Her legacy in the world of adult cinema is examined by filmmaker Valerie Kontakos (“Mana”), who has written, directed, and produced the documentary.
“Queen of the Deuce” is further produced by Ed Barreveld and Despina Pavlaki, who also co-wrote the...
- 4/18/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Glen Powell is a triple threat (if you count the producing part) in Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man.” Powell co-wrote, produced, and stars in the upcoming feature from Linklater, reuniting the duo after “Everybody Wants Some!!”
In their new film, Powell portrays professor Gary Johnson, “who moonlights as a fake hit man for the New Orleans Police Department. Preternaturally gifted at inhabiting different guises and personalities to catch hapless people hoping to bump off their enemies, Gary descends into morally dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to one of those potential criminals, a beautiful young woman named Madison (Adria Arjona),” per the film’s synopsis. “As Madison falls for one of Gary’s hit man personas — the mysteriously sexy Ron — their steamy affair sets off a chain reaction of play acting, deception, and escalating stakes.”
Inspired by an unbelievable true story, the dramedy debuted at Venice last year before...
In their new film, Powell portrays professor Gary Johnson, “who moonlights as a fake hit man for the New Orleans Police Department. Preternaturally gifted at inhabiting different guises and personalities to catch hapless people hoping to bump off their enemies, Gary descends into morally dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to one of those potential criminals, a beautiful young woman named Madison (Adria Arjona),” per the film’s synopsis. “As Madison falls for one of Gary’s hit man personas — the mysteriously sexy Ron — their steamy affair sets off a chain reaction of play acting, deception, and escalating stakes.”
Inspired by an unbelievable true story, the dramedy debuted at Venice last year before...
- 4/18/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
How did friends become rivals? The Transformers venture into their past with “Transformers One.” This time, the popular franchise explores the backstories of Optimus Prime and Megatron. These legendary characters were not always enemies, instead existing side-by-side. The film takes a cue from the cult classic “The Transformers: The Movie” and opts for animation over live-action.
A first look during CinemaCon had the audience cheering.
Continue reading ‘Transformers One’ Trailer: Chris Hemsworth & Scarlett Johansson Lead A New Animated Adventure Coming In September at The Playlist.
A first look during CinemaCon had the audience cheering.
Continue reading ‘Transformers One’ Trailer: Chris Hemsworth & Scarlett Johansson Lead A New Animated Adventure Coming In September at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by Valerie Thompson
- The Playlist
What’s next for Martin Scorsese after “Killers Of The Flower Moon“? Well, it’s several things, including another Shūsaku Endō adaptation. Variety reports that Scorsese is circling the Japanese author’s 1973 novel “Life Of Jesus” as one of two films he plans to shoot back to back. The other project? Scorsese’s long-gestating Frank Sinatra biopic, which recently added Jennifer Lawrence to its cast list.
Continue reading ‘Life Of Jesus’: Martin Scorsese Eyes Andrew Garfield & Miles Teller For Roles In Upcoming Film at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Life Of Jesus’: Martin Scorsese Eyes Andrew Garfield & Miles Teller For Roles In Upcoming Film at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2024
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
American TV bosses obviously didn’t learn many lessons from “Episodes,” the Showtime/BBC co-production which brilliantly skewered the habit of adapting British sitcoms, and removing all nuances, subtleties, and idiosyncrasies in the process. In the 13 years since its premiere, there’s been numerous failed pilots (“Spy”), ratings disasters (“Free Agents”), and entire series considered unfit for public consumption (“Us and Them”) which originated across the pond. Now the most singular UK comedy of the 2010s is going transatlantic.
The BAFTA-nominated “Friday Night Dinner” — which served up 37 episodes from 2011-2020 —stemmed from creator Robert Popper’s real-life secular Jewish family and their weekly Shabbat meals, explaining why everything from its suburban London home to its lovable oddballs feels so wonderfully specific. Disappointingly, Amazon Freevee’s “Dinner with the Parents” is as generic as its title.
The 10-part series on Freevee does attempt to retain some of the original’s quirks.
The BAFTA-nominated “Friday Night Dinner” — which served up 37 episodes from 2011-2020 —stemmed from creator Robert Popper’s real-life secular Jewish family and their weekly Shabbat meals, explaining why everything from its suburban London home to its lovable oddballs feels so wonderfully specific. Disappointingly, Amazon Freevee’s “Dinner with the Parents” is as generic as its title.
The 10-part series on Freevee does attempt to retain some of the original’s quirks.
- 4/18/2024
- by Jon O'Brien
- Indiewire
When Quinn Shephard (indie hit “Blame” and internet satire “Not Okay”) set out to adapt Rebecca Godfrey’s bestselling narrative non-fiction book “Under the Bridge,” about the 1997 murder of teenager Reena Virk, one key aspect of the book stood out to her beyond the crime.
“I was so struck by how gentle [the book] was,” Shephard told IndieWire during a recent interview. “And there was a real sensitivity to the way that it approached the holistic story, as well as all of the characters. It was a very beautiful book; it was very poetic. I was really shocked that a story that was so dark and so brutal could have so much tenderness. [It’s] really a story of childhood and coming of age.”
Viewers of the eight-episode miniseries, which premiered on Hulu April 17, will quickly note the horror of a group of young teens in small town British Columbia murdering their classmate in a night of rage,...
“I was so struck by how gentle [the book] was,” Shephard told IndieWire during a recent interview. “And there was a real sensitivity to the way that it approached the holistic story, as well as all of the characters. It was a very beautiful book; it was very poetic. I was really shocked that a story that was so dark and so brutal could have so much tenderness. [It’s] really a story of childhood and coming of age.”
Viewers of the eight-episode miniseries, which premiered on Hulu April 17, will quickly note the horror of a group of young teens in small town British Columbia murdering their classmate in a night of rage,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Erin Strecker
- Indiewire
Greg Whiteley has a new sports docuseries at Netflix that really isn’t new at all. The seven-episode (at 45-minutes apiece) “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” will premiere this summer on Netflix. The streamer first announced the series on Thursday, when it also put out a teaser (below).
Greg Whiteley… Netflix… cheerleading docuseries… Why does this all sound so familiar? Oh yeah, it’s because Whiteley is the guy behind Netflix’s two-season docuseries “Cheer” (as well as the equally excellent five-season “Last Chance U”).
Fans of “Cheer” have been not-so-patiently waiting for a third season, so… isn’t this just that? Why not call “America’s Sweethearts” what it really is: “Cheer” Season 3. That’s what we want.
There’s plenty of precedent here. While “Cheer” Seasons 1 and 2 focused on competitive collegiate cheerleading (mostly) at Navarro College (also in Texas!), Whiteley’s precursor “Last Chance U” not only changed schools — it changed sports.
Greg Whiteley… Netflix… cheerleading docuseries… Why does this all sound so familiar? Oh yeah, it’s because Whiteley is the guy behind Netflix’s two-season docuseries “Cheer” (as well as the equally excellent five-season “Last Chance U”).
Fans of “Cheer” have been not-so-patiently waiting for a third season, so… isn’t this just that? Why not call “America’s Sweethearts” what it really is: “Cheer” Season 3. That’s what we want.
There’s plenty of precedent here. While “Cheer” Seasons 1 and 2 focused on competitive collegiate cheerleading (mostly) at Navarro College (also in Texas!), Whiteley’s precursor “Last Chance U” not only changed schools — it changed sports.
- 4/18/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Like most things in Hollywood, “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” began with a promise.
After years of whispered complaints about the sometimes-shady world of children’s entertainment, an investigative team set out to expose Dan Schneider’s Nickelodeon and the years of alleged abuse endured by the kids who worked there from 1994 to 2018. Others had tried to tell this story, but this time serious journalists planned to expose the industry’s seamy underbelly — documenting past wrongs, giving voice to victims, and charting tangible change.
Ex-kid actors and “Quiet on Set” subjects Raquel Lee Bolleau and Alexa Nikolas told IndieWire they were presented with a plan for an honest look at the issues and suffering borne out by their childhoods. Lee Bolleau (“The Amanda Show”) talked to the “Quiet on Set” producers about her passion for healing and protecting young performers still in the industry; Nikolas (“Zoey...
After years of whispered complaints about the sometimes-shady world of children’s entertainment, an investigative team set out to expose Dan Schneider’s Nickelodeon and the years of alleged abuse endured by the kids who worked there from 1994 to 2018. Others had tried to tell this story, but this time serious journalists planned to expose the industry’s seamy underbelly — documenting past wrongs, giving voice to victims, and charting tangible change.
Ex-kid actors and “Quiet on Set” subjects Raquel Lee Bolleau and Alexa Nikolas told IndieWire they were presented with a plan for an honest look at the issues and suffering borne out by their childhoods. Lee Bolleau (“The Amanda Show”) talked to the “Quiet on Set” producers about her passion for healing and protecting young performers still in the industry; Nikolas (“Zoey...
- 4/18/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Clara Bow was a movie star by the age of 20 — and washed up by 28. Now she’s poised to win over a new generation of fans as the title of the last track on Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department.”
Known as the “It Girl” for both her starring role in the silent comedy “It” and her place as one of the pre-eminent sexy symbols of ’20s Hollywood, Bow wasn’t washed up because her box office slipped. She was washed up because her scandal-plagued life made her a liability, both for the studios and for her own mental health. In David Stenn’s masterful biography “Runnin’ Wild,” he sums up the tragedy of Bow’s life with two quotes from the former Brooklyn girl who found her unaffected zest for living slowly beaten out of her. “Marriage means the fulfillment of everythin’ to me,” Bow said in 1933. “This sounds like the bunk,...
Known as the “It Girl” for both her starring role in the silent comedy “It” and her place as one of the pre-eminent sexy symbols of ’20s Hollywood, Bow wasn’t washed up because her box office slipped. She was washed up because her scandal-plagued life made her a liability, both for the studios and for her own mental health. In David Stenn’s masterful biography “Runnin’ Wild,” he sums up the tragedy of Bow’s life with two quotes from the former Brooklyn girl who found her unaffected zest for living slowly beaten out of her. “Marriage means the fulfillment of everythin’ to me,” Bow said in 1933. “This sounds like the bunk,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
The award-winning Turner Classic Movies podcast “The Plot Thickens” is ready to take on the Manifest Destiny of filmmaker John Ford.
The new fifth season, titled “Decoding John Ford,” centers on the legendary auteur best known for Westerns like “The Searchers.” Host Ben Mankiewicz dives into the mythology behind Ford’s filmography.
The seven-part podcast also examines Ford’s shelved WWII film that was commissioned by the U.S. military in 1944. Host Ben Mankiewicz travels to Europe to trace the mystery of whether the D-Day movie exists. The season debuts on June 6, the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The season features never-before-heard archival interviews with stars like John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, James Stewart, Woody Strode, and director Ford himself.
“John Ford is a mercurial figure. Not surprisingly given his stature, the stereotypes about Ford are incomplete,” TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz said in a release. “This is a man defined...
The new fifth season, titled “Decoding John Ford,” centers on the legendary auteur best known for Westerns like “The Searchers.” Host Ben Mankiewicz dives into the mythology behind Ford’s filmography.
The seven-part podcast also examines Ford’s shelved WWII film that was commissioned by the U.S. military in 1944. Host Ben Mankiewicz travels to Europe to trace the mystery of whether the D-Day movie exists. The season debuts on June 6, the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The season features never-before-heard archival interviews with stars like John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, James Stewart, Woody Strode, and director Ford himself.
“John Ford is a mercurial figure. Not surprisingly given his stature, the stereotypes about Ford are incomplete,” TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz said in a release. “This is a man defined...
- 4/18/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Quentin Tarantino is going back to the drawing board for what will be his 10th and final film. Tarantino is stepping away from “The Movie Critic” as his 10th feature and will no longer be making it, IndieWire has confirmed.
The news is a major shock, as the project had Brad Pitt in talks for the lead role and even rumors that Sony was circling the project to release it after previously releasing his prior film, 2019’s “Once Upon a Time In Hollywood.” The film even secured a California tax credit to shoot in Los Angeles and was meant to begin shooting earlier this year, but was delayed due to Tarantino reportedly rewriting his script.
But a source says Tarantino has now had a change of heart and moved on from the film entirely. It’s now unclear what he intends for his next film, presumably still meant to be his last.
The news is a major shock, as the project had Brad Pitt in talks for the lead role and even rumors that Sony was circling the project to release it after previously releasing his prior film, 2019’s “Once Upon a Time In Hollywood.” The film even secured a California tax credit to shoot in Los Angeles and was meant to begin shooting earlier this year, but was delayed due to Tarantino reportedly rewriting his script.
But a source says Tarantino has now had a change of heart and moved on from the film entirely. It’s now unclear what he intends for his next film, presumably still meant to be his last.
- 4/17/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Well, this is an interesting about-face, and so much for the rumors about the recent start dates. Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has decided to scrap “The Movie Critic” as his final film. He’s changed his mind; he won’t make it, and what he will substitute for his supposed tenth and final film is unclear.
According to Deadline, the rumors are true that Brad Pitt was going to star, and apparently, many of the previous members of Tarantino’s repertory company were eyeing roles, but it’s all moot now, and the film has been scrapped.
Continue reading Quentin Tarantino Scraps ’The Movie Critic’; Brad Pitt Would Have Reprised Cliff Booth Role From ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ at The Playlist.
According to Deadline, the rumors are true that Brad Pitt was going to star, and apparently, many of the previous members of Tarantino’s repertory company were eyeing roles, but it’s all moot now, and the film has been scrapped.
Continue reading Quentin Tarantino Scraps ’The Movie Critic’; Brad Pitt Would Have Reprised Cliff Booth Role From ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ at The Playlist.
- 4/17/2024
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
What’s the best destination for spring TV? IndieWire doesn’t have a definitive answer, but as we do every month we’ll help you weigh the options with a breakdown of everything coming to your favorite streaming platforms in May.
The month is a prime time to have Disney+, what with the ongoing and buzzy success of “X-Men 97” and upcoming “Marvel Studios’ Assembled” going behind the scenes of the reboot series. May is of course the month of Star Wars, and the House of Mouse will celebrate with “Star Wars: Tales of the Empire” on May 4. Disney is also home to BBC America’s “Doctor Who,” which returns for a highly-anticipated 14th season with Ncuti Gatwa stepping into the Tardis as the new Doctor (he stepped into the role in December 2023 as part of the series’ beloved Christmas special tradition).
Meanwhile, Hulu will continue airing episodes of FX’s...
The month is a prime time to have Disney+, what with the ongoing and buzzy success of “X-Men 97” and upcoming “Marvel Studios’ Assembled” going behind the scenes of the reboot series. May is of course the month of Star Wars, and the House of Mouse will celebrate with “Star Wars: Tales of the Empire” on May 4. Disney is also home to BBC America’s “Doctor Who,” which returns for a highly-anticipated 14th season with Ncuti Gatwa stepping into the Tardis as the new Doctor (he stepped into the role in December 2023 as part of the series’ beloved Christmas special tradition).
Meanwhile, Hulu will continue airing episodes of FX’s...
- 4/17/2024
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
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