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The Sundance Film Festival may kick the snow off its boots once and for all.
The annual celebration of independent film announced on Wednesday that it is open for pitches from cities across the United States on becoming the new permanent home of the festival starting in 2027.
Sundance has taken place in the luxury mountain haven of Park City, Utah since 1981 (except for two virtual years during the pandemic). It started off as the Utah/U.S. Film Festival in Salt Lake City in 1978. It will remain the host and headquarters of Sundance for two more years, at which point Park City’s contract with the Sundance Institute is up for renewal. Utah will remain in the mix as a continued home for Sundance.
“We are in a unique moment for our festival and our global film community, and with the contract up for renewal, this exploration allows us to...
The annual celebration of independent film announced on Wednesday that it is open for pitches from cities across the United States on becoming the new permanent home of the festival starting in 2027.
Sundance has taken place in the luxury mountain haven of Park City, Utah since 1981 (except for two virtual years during the pandemic). It started off as the Utah/U.S. Film Festival in Salt Lake City in 1978. It will remain the host and headquarters of Sundance for two more years, at which point Park City’s contract with the Sundance Institute is up for renewal. Utah will remain in the mix as a continued home for Sundance.
“We are in a unique moment for our festival and our global film community, and with the contract up for renewal, this exploration allows us to...
- 4/17/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety - Film News
Tribeca Festival has revealed its feature film lineup for its 2024 festival, which includes films from actors Lily Gladstone and Michael Cera and documentaries featuring Prince, Carlos Santana and Dolly Parton.
The opening night film is documentary “Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge,” directed by Tribeca alumna Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton.
This year’s festival, which runs from June 5-16 in New York City, has a program of 103 feature films from 114 filmmakers spanning 48 countries. The lineup features 86 world premieres, two international premieres, six North American premieres and eight New York premieres.
The final selections were chosen from a record-breaking pool of 13,016 submissions. Half of the films in competition are directed by women and 35% (36) of all feature films are directed by Bipoc filmmakers. There are 30 films directed by first-time filmmakers and 25 directors are making their return to the annual New York film festival.
“In a year of record high submissions, despite industry-wide challenges,...
The opening night film is documentary “Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge,” directed by Tribeca alumna Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton.
This year’s festival, which runs from June 5-16 in New York City, has a program of 103 feature films from 114 filmmakers spanning 48 countries. The lineup features 86 world premieres, two international premieres, six North American premieres and eight New York premieres.
The final selections were chosen from a record-breaking pool of 13,016 submissions. Half of the films in competition are directed by women and 35% (36) of all feature films are directed by Bipoc filmmakers. There are 30 films directed by first-time filmmakers and 25 directors are making their return to the annual New York film festival.
“In a year of record high submissions, despite industry-wide challenges,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
The documentary “Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution” is set to premiere globally on June 18 on Netflix. The feature-length documentary, the first of its kind to address this topic, examines the history of queer stand-up comedy as — according to its logline — “an instrument for social change over the past five decades, actively reflecting and challenging cultural norms and values.”
The film combines stand-up performances and talking head interviews, as well as archival materials featuring LGBTQ+ comedians, and includes Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhard, Wanda Sykes, Suzy Izzard, Hannah Gadsby, Tig Notaro, Rosie O’Donnell, Margaret Cho, Bob The Drag Queen and Trixie Mattel.
Historians interviewed for the documentary include Dave Holmes, Roger Mason, Shar Jossell, Susan Stryker and Kate Aurthur, Variety‘s Editor-at-Large.
“Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution” is written and directed by Page Hurwitz. “I’m excited for the film to premiere, particularly at this time, because comedy has the power to unite, and...
The film combines stand-up performances and talking head interviews, as well as archival materials featuring LGBTQ+ comedians, and includes Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhard, Wanda Sykes, Suzy Izzard, Hannah Gadsby, Tig Notaro, Rosie O’Donnell, Margaret Cho, Bob The Drag Queen and Trixie Mattel.
Historians interviewed for the documentary include Dave Holmes, Roger Mason, Shar Jossell, Susan Stryker and Kate Aurthur, Variety‘s Editor-at-Large.
“Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution” is written and directed by Page Hurwitz. “I’m excited for the film to premiere, particularly at this time, because comedy has the power to unite, and...
- 4/17/2024
- by Selena Kuznikov
- Variety - Film News
The Cannes Film Festival will award legendary Japanese anime house Studio Ghibli with its honorary Palme d’Or this year, the first time Cannes has given its highest award to a company instead of an individual.
“For the first time in our history, it’s not a person but an institution that we have chosen to celebrate,” said Cannes Festival president Iris Knobloch and general delegate Thierry Frémaux, announcing the honor on Wednesday. They praised Ghibli’s animated features as filled with characters who “populate our imaginations with prolific, colorful universes and sensitive, engaging narrations. With Ghibli, Japanese animation stands as one of the great adventures of cinephilia, between tradition and modernity.”
Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Studio Ghibli has in the past 40 years, “achieved what seemed to be an impossible feat: Independently producing pure masterpieces and conquering the mass market,” the festival said.
“For the first time in our history, it’s not a person but an institution that we have chosen to celebrate,” said Cannes Festival president Iris Knobloch and general delegate Thierry Frémaux, announcing the honor on Wednesday. They praised Ghibli’s animated features as filled with characters who “populate our imaginations with prolific, colorful universes and sensitive, engaging narrations. With Ghibli, Japanese animation stands as one of the great adventures of cinephilia, between tradition and modernity.”
Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Studio Ghibli has in the past 40 years, “achieved what seemed to be an impossible feat: Independently producing pure masterpieces and conquering the mass market,” the festival said.
- 4/17/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“For All Mankind” has been renewed for Season 5 at Apple TV+. In addition, Variety has learned the streamer has ordered a spinoff series focusing on the Soviet space program.
The spinoff is currently titled “Star City” and hails from “For All Mankind” creators Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi. Nedivi and Wolpert will serve as showrunners. The show will return to the beginning of “For All Mankind’s” alternative timeline, in which the Soviets are the first to reach the moon. But the show will then “explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts,...
The spinoff is currently titled “Star City” and hails from “For All Mankind” creators Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi. Nedivi and Wolpert will serve as showrunners. The show will return to the beginning of “For All Mankind’s” alternative timeline, in which the Soviets are the first to reach the moon. But the show will then “explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Lionsgate Television is teaming with Park Chan-wook to develop an English-language TV adaptation of Park’s iconic film “Oldboy.”
Park directed and co-wrote the original film, which was itself loosely based on the Japanese manga of the same name. He will produce the new series version along with his producing partner, Syd Lim. Executives Courtney Mock and Tara Joshi are overseeing the project for Lionsgate Television. Bryan Weiser negotiated the deal.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing ‘Oldboy’ into the world of television,” said Park. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
Originally released in 2003, “Oldboy” tells the story of a man who is kidnapped and held prisoner in a sealed hotel room for 15 years. He is suddenly released with no explanation, only to learn he has five days to discover why he was imprisoned or face the consequences.
Park directed and co-wrote the original film, which was itself loosely based on the Japanese manga of the same name. He will produce the new series version along with his producing partner, Syd Lim. Executives Courtney Mock and Tara Joshi are overseeing the project for Lionsgate Television. Bryan Weiser negotiated the deal.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing ‘Oldboy’ into the world of television,” said Park. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
Originally released in 2003, “Oldboy” tells the story of a man who is kidnapped and held prisoner in a sealed hotel room for 15 years. He is suddenly released with no explanation, only to learn he has five days to discover why he was imprisoned or face the consequences.
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Talk about nepotism. “Abigail,” a blood-sucking thriller about the daughter of Dracula, arguably the most famous vampire in history, is poised to lead at the domestic box office.
The R-rated movie, from Universal Pictures, is aiming for $12 million to $15 million from 3,300 North American theaters in its first weekend of release. But “Abigail” first has to fend off last weekend’s champion, A24’s “Civil War,” before taking the box office crown. The provocative thriller debuted last weekend with $25.8 million and looks to bring in $10 million to $12 million in its sophomore outing.
Based on projections, “Abigail” will, however, dance circles around two fellow newcomers, director Guy Ritchie’s “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” and Crunchyroll’s anime adventure “Spy x Family Code: White.” Those films are targeting $5 million to $6 million, though rivals have pegged ticket sales ever-so-slightly higher at $8 million.
“Abigail” is based on Universal’s classic 1936 monster film “Dracula’s Daughter...
The R-rated movie, from Universal Pictures, is aiming for $12 million to $15 million from 3,300 North American theaters in its first weekend of release. But “Abigail” first has to fend off last weekend’s champion, A24’s “Civil War,” before taking the box office crown. The provocative thriller debuted last weekend with $25.8 million and looks to bring in $10 million to $12 million in its sophomore outing.
Based on projections, “Abigail” will, however, dance circles around two fellow newcomers, director Guy Ritchie’s “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” and Crunchyroll’s anime adventure “Spy x Family Code: White.” Those films are targeting $5 million to $6 million, though rivals have pegged ticket sales ever-so-slightly higher at $8 million.
“Abigail” is based on Universal’s classic 1936 monster film “Dracula’s Daughter...
- 4/17/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Pamela Anderson is dressing up for Naked Gun.
The actor has signed on to star opposite Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled remake of Naked Gun, based on the crime spoof comedies that were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Akiva Schaffer is directing the comedy, which has a script by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Schaffer. The trio were behind the popular and Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.
The original movie, written and directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and based on their television series Police Squad! that lasted only six episodes, spoofed the tropes of police shows and films that had ingrained themselves into audience’s minds over the decades. It centered on an inept and clueless detective named Frank Drebin, played by Leslie Nielsen, who still somehow managed to solve the crime and save the day.
Plot details are...
The actor has signed on to star opposite Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled remake of Naked Gun, based on the crime spoof comedies that were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Akiva Schaffer is directing the comedy, which has a script by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Schaffer. The trio were behind the popular and Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.
The original movie, written and directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and based on their television series Police Squad! that lasted only six episodes, spoofed the tropes of police shows and films that had ingrained themselves into audience’s minds over the decades. It centered on an inept and clueless detective named Frank Drebin, played by Leslie Nielsen, who still somehow managed to solve the crime and save the day.
Plot details are...
- 4/16/2024
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Studiocanal’s Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” debuted atop the U.K and Ireland box office with £2.77 million ($3.4 million), according to numbers from Comscore.
It was neck-and-neck for the second spot. Entertainment Film Distributors’ “Civil War,” directed by Alex Garland and starring Kirsten Dunst, debuted with £1.82 million, including previews. In its third weekend, Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” collected £1.75 million over the three-day weekend for a running total of £17.29 million.
In fourth place, in its third weekend, Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” took in £1.18 million for a total of £11.89 million. Rounding off the top five, in its fourth weekend, Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” earned £787,000 for a total of £14.06 million.
There were two debuts in the top 10, both from India. Rft Films’ Malayalam-language “Aavesham,” starring Fahadh Faasil, opened in ninth place with £207,300, while Yash Raj Films’ Bollywood film “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,” with Akshay Kumar,...
It was neck-and-neck for the second spot. Entertainment Film Distributors’ “Civil War,” directed by Alex Garland and starring Kirsten Dunst, debuted with £1.82 million, including previews. In its third weekend, Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” collected £1.75 million over the three-day weekend for a running total of £17.29 million.
In fourth place, in its third weekend, Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” took in £1.18 million for a total of £11.89 million. Rounding off the top five, in its fourth weekend, Sony’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” earned £787,000 for a total of £14.06 million.
There were two debuts in the top 10, both from India. Rft Films’ Malayalam-language “Aavesham,” starring Fahadh Faasil, opened in ninth place with £207,300, while Yash Raj Films’ Bollywood film “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,” with Akshay Kumar,...
- 4/16/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety - Film News
The votes have been tallied, and Disney’s victory over the activist investor Nelson Peltz and his Trian Partners is final.
But thanks to a new filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, we now have a sense of just how big a margin it was. Disney on Wednesday filed the “final, certified voting results” from the annual shareholder meeting, as tallied by its independent auditor First Coast Results, Inc.
Arguably the biggest winner was Disney CEO Bob Iger, who can now move forward with the “distracting” proxy fight behind him. Iger’s board seat was also up for a vote, and the filing shows that he secured about 94 percent of the votes, or 1,118,465,241 votes, with only 73,022,334 votes to withhold.
Peltz, meanwhile, was seeking to replace Maria Elena Lagomasino on the board, but only received 370,974,890 votes, compared to Lagomasino’s 749,857,222, with the current director beating him by a two to one margin.
But thanks to a new filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, we now have a sense of just how big a margin it was. Disney on Wednesday filed the “final, certified voting results” from the annual shareholder meeting, as tallied by its independent auditor First Coast Results, Inc.
Arguably the biggest winner was Disney CEO Bob Iger, who can now move forward with the “distracting” proxy fight behind him. Iger’s board seat was also up for a vote, and the filing shows that he secured about 94 percent of the votes, or 1,118,465,241 votes, with only 73,022,334 votes to withhold.
Peltz, meanwhile, was seeking to replace Maria Elena Lagomasino on the board, but only received 370,974,890 votes, compared to Lagomasino’s 749,857,222, with the current director beating him by a two to one margin.
- 4/17/2024
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ashanti is pregnant with her and Nelly’s first child, the singer confirmed Wednesday. The duo also announced they are engaged.
Ashanti announced the pregnancy news via an Instagram video which portrays her getting ready for a performance. A handler and her mother, Tina Douglas, take turns asking her how much time she needs until she’s ready, until the “Foolish” singer finally steps out to say, “I’m going to need about nine months.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ashanti (@ashanti)
Ashanti captioned the video, “Baby baby baby baby….” Nelly also posted the video to his own Instagram.
The singer then revealed her engagement to Essence, telling the outlet, “This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation. Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who...
Ashanti announced the pregnancy news via an Instagram video which portrays her getting ready for a performance. A handler and her mother, Tina Douglas, take turns asking her how much time she needs until she’s ready, until the “Foolish” singer finally steps out to say, “I’m going to need about nine months.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ashanti (@ashanti)
Ashanti captioned the video, “Baby baby baby baby….” Nelly also posted the video to his own Instagram.
The singer then revealed her engagement to Essence, telling the outlet, “This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation. Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who...
- 4/17/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Henry Cavill nodded to his tumultuous history with post-credits scenes during a recent screening of his new Guy Ritchie-directed movie “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.” As reported by Insider, Cavill made some introductory remarks before the film and references his other Ritchie films, including his leading turn in the 2015 spy film “The Man from U.N.C.L.E” and his appearance “in a post-credits scene” for the director’s 2017 box office disappointment “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.”
“Turns out, I don’t have much luck with post-credit scenes,” Cavill then wisecracked to much audience laughter. “So, I may give up on those.”
Cavill is likely referring to how “King Arthur” did not get a sequel because it flopped at the box, but also a debacle ensued years later when he showed up as Superman in the post-credits scene of the 2022 comic book tentpole “Black Adam,” headlined by Dwayne Johnson. The moment...
“Turns out, I don’t have much luck with post-credit scenes,” Cavill then wisecracked to much audience laughter. “So, I may give up on those.”
Cavill is likely referring to how “King Arthur” did not get a sequel because it flopped at the box, but also a debacle ensued years later when he showed up as Superman in the post-credits scene of the 2022 comic book tentpole “Black Adam,” headlined by Dwayne Johnson. The moment...
- 4/17/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - Film News
The 100th episode of “9-1-1,” which guest starred Joey Graziadei and Jesse Palmer as a crossover with “The Bachelor,” reached a rating of 0.91 among adults age 18-49 according after one week of delayed viewing.
Up from a 0.59 according to same-day data, that marks show’s best Live + 7 rating in the key demo since the Season 6 finale in May 2023, per Nielsen. And after incorporating Disney’s proprietary data via streams on Hulu and other digital platforms, the 18-49 rating comes out to a 2.2, up from the 2.18 achieved the week before when “9-1-1” hit a season high of 10.7 million viewers according to Multiplatform + 7 data.
Up from a 0.59 according to same-day data, that marks show’s best Live + 7 rating in the key demo since the Season 6 finale in May 2023, per Nielsen. And after incorporating Disney’s proprietary data via streams on Hulu and other digital platforms, the 18-49 rating comes out to a 2.2, up from the 2.18 achieved the week before when “9-1-1” hit a season high of 10.7 million viewers according to Multiplatform + 7 data.
- 4/17/2024
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety - TV News
Jesse Eisenberg’s latest Sasquatch Sunset audience looked a little different than your typical film screening. The actor-producer took his movie back to the source material this week, showing it to a group of bonobos at Ape Initiative in Des Moines, Iowa.
The film, released at Sundance earlier this year, features Eisenberg and co-star Riley Keough dressed in prosthetic bodysuits to portray a family of sasquatches journeying across North America. The actors attended “ape camp” to learn how to move as their primate characters for the David and Nathan Zellner written-directed film, which hit select theaters on April 12.
In People‘s footage of Eisenberg and the Zellners’ visit, several of the primates watch the film closely. “The bonobos were very curious about Sasquatch Sunset,” Dr. Jared Taglialatela, the director of Ape Initiative, and Dr. Sara Skiba, Ape Initiative’s director of communication, told the outlet. “For many of the bonobos,...
The film, released at Sundance earlier this year, features Eisenberg and co-star Riley Keough dressed in prosthetic bodysuits to portray a family of sasquatches journeying across North America. The actors attended “ape camp” to learn how to move as their primate characters for the David and Nathan Zellner written-directed film, which hit select theaters on April 12.
In People‘s footage of Eisenberg and the Zellners’ visit, several of the primates watch the film closely. “The bonobos were very curious about Sasquatch Sunset,” Dr. Jared Taglialatela, the director of Ape Initiative, and Dr. Sara Skiba, Ape Initiative’s director of communication, told the outlet. “For many of the bonobos,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Leslie Moonves, the former CEO of CBS, was fined $15,000 on Wednesday by the L.A. City Ethics Commission for obtaining secret information in 2017 about an LAPD sex assault investigation of which he was the target.
The commission voted 4-0 to approve the penalty, which is the maximum allowed for ethics violations under the L.A. City Charter. The vote came two months after the commission rejected a $11,250 fine, finding it did not match the egregious nature of the violation.
The case, which reminded some observers of the police corruption depicted in “L.A. Confidential,” centered on Cory Palka, the retired commander of the Hollywood division.
The commission voted 4-0 to approve the penalty, which is the maximum allowed for ethics violations under the L.A. City Charter. The vote came two months after the commission rejected a $11,250 fine, finding it did not match the egregious nature of the violation.
The case, which reminded some observers of the police corruption depicted in “L.A. Confidential,” centered on Cory Palka, the retired commander of the Hollywood division.
- 4/17/2024
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety - TV News
Max’s Conan O’Brien Must Go is a travel show with a twist.
“My mission is that you learn nothing about the country,” O’Brien explained on a spectacular recent installment of the Hot Ones web series, an appearance that I’m confident did more to boost the visibility of Conan O’Brien Must Go than the dozens of marketing dollars Warner Bros. surely put into the series. “My job is that you know less about the country after I’m done than when I started.”
While O’Brien’s performance on Hot Ones — especially after pronouncing that he’d never encountered a spice until his 50s — may have surprised some observers, few of the late-night veteran’s devotees will be surprised that his assessment of Conan O’Brien Must Go is disingenuous. Or at least it’s a hair disingenuous. Conan O’Brien Must Go isn’t the sort of travel series...
“My mission is that you learn nothing about the country,” O’Brien explained on a spectacular recent installment of the Hot Ones web series, an appearance that I’m confident did more to boost the visibility of Conan O’Brien Must Go than the dozens of marketing dollars Warner Bros. surely put into the series. “My job is that you know less about the country after I’m done than when I started.”
While O’Brien’s performance on Hot Ones — especially after pronouncing that he’d never encountered a spice until his 50s — may have surprised some observers, few of the late-night veteran’s devotees will be surprised that his assessment of Conan O’Brien Must Go is disingenuous. Or at least it’s a hair disingenuous. Conan O’Brien Must Go isn’t the sort of travel series...
- 4/17/2024
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jerrod Carmichael appeared on a recent episode of “The Breakfast Club” (via Rolling Stone) and said: “I deeply regret saying anything about Dave Chappelle to the press. I want to say that I’m sorry for that.” Carmichael previously gave interviews to Esquire and GQ in which he criticized Chappelle’s legacy of making jokes about transgender people. Carmichael now noted that his frustration with Chappelle had only to do with the comedian repeatedly making jokes about the same topic and not the morality of the jokes themselves.
Carmichael called Chappelle “brilliant” and “a bright light in a dying industry,” noting that Chappelle is “more important than ever before” because stand-up comedy is dominated by comedians “just posting clips of them doing crowd work online and calling it art, and it’s not art.”
“Dave Chappelle is an artist — he’s one of the few artists that we have — and...
Carmichael called Chappelle “brilliant” and “a bright light in a dying industry,” noting that Chappelle is “more important than ever before” because stand-up comedy is dominated by comedians “just posting clips of them doing crowd work online and calling it art, and it’s not art.”
“Dave Chappelle is an artist — he’s one of the few artists that we have — and...
- 4/17/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - Film News
Two new cash prizes introduced this year in Swiss film festival Visions du Reel’s industry section, VdR-Industry, were among a flurry of awards handed out as the program wrapped in Nyon, Switzerland, on Wednesday.
The Eurimages Co-production Development Award, created to promote the fund’s role in encouraging international co-production from the initial stages of a project, and which comes with a cash prize of €20,000, went to “The Last Days of the Hospital” by Mehran Tamadon.
Set in a psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Paris, it tells the story of a group of patients invited to take over the wards as the health personnel gradually leave amid a crisis in the health sector.
A visibly moved Tamadon picked up the award, thanking the entire VdR-Industry team for organizing “such amazing pitching sessions.” The Franco-Iranian director was thrilled with the prize which he told Variety was a great stepping...
The Eurimages Co-production Development Award, created to promote the fund’s role in encouraging international co-production from the initial stages of a project, and which comes with a cash prize of €20,000, went to “The Last Days of the Hospital” by Mehran Tamadon.
Set in a psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Paris, it tells the story of a group of patients invited to take over the wards as the health personnel gradually leave amid a crisis in the health sector.
A visibly moved Tamadon picked up the award, thanking the entire VdR-Industry team for organizing “such amazing pitching sessions.” The Franco-Iranian director was thrilled with the prize which he told Variety was a great stepping...
- 4/17/2024
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety - Film News
About nine months months after the writers on MTV’s viral comedy clips show Ridiculousness launched their attempt to unionize, the group has reached a first labor contract with its employer.
The deal covering a group of 11 creative consultants who are unionized with the Writers Guild of America West was signed on Tuesday, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The new deal provides these staffers with minimum wage rates consistent with the WGA’s minimum basic agreement, residuals in basic cable and other markets and pension and health benefits, with paid parental leave included. The contract also establishes protocols for grievances and arbitration, holiday pay, language on the use of AI and “full season employment guarantees,” per the union.
The deal is retroactive to October 23, 2023, and creative consultants are set to receive payments, health and pension contributions and residuals dating back to that time. The contract does not require a ratification vote to take effect.
The deal covering a group of 11 creative consultants who are unionized with the Writers Guild of America West was signed on Tuesday, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The new deal provides these staffers with minimum wage rates consistent with the WGA’s minimum basic agreement, residuals in basic cable and other markets and pension and health benefits, with paid parental leave included. The contract also establishes protocols for grievances and arbitration, holiday pay, language on the use of AI and “full season employment guarantees,” per the union.
The deal is retroactive to October 23, 2023, and creative consultants are set to receive payments, health and pension contributions and residuals dating back to that time. The contract does not require a ratification vote to take effect.
- 4/17/2024
- by Katie Kilkenny
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Billy Joel: The 100th — Live at Madison Square Garden” reached 5.7 million viewers on Sunday night.
Calculated from Nielsen’s measurement of linear viewers on CBS and live streaming via Paramount+, this makes the Joel concert the fourth-most-watched special of 2024, ranking only behind the Oscars (19.5 million viewers on ABC), the Grammys (16.9 million viewers on CBS) and the Golden Globes (9.4 million viewers on CBS). It outpaced shows like the Emmys, which CBS aired to 4.3 million viewers in January.
This tally also puts “The 100th” above several musical holiday specials that aired at the end of 2023, which are a consistent ratings-bringer for broadcast networks.
Calculated from Nielsen’s measurement of linear viewers on CBS and live streaming via Paramount+, this makes the Joel concert the fourth-most-watched special of 2024, ranking only behind the Oscars (19.5 million viewers on ABC), the Grammys (16.9 million viewers on CBS) and the Golden Globes (9.4 million viewers on CBS). It outpaced shows like the Emmys, which CBS aired to 4.3 million viewers in January.
This tally also puts “The 100th” above several musical holiday specials that aired at the end of 2023, which are a consistent ratings-bringer for broadcast networks.
- 4/17/2024
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety - TV News
A lawsuit between Universal and two men who rented Yesterday and accused the studio of tricking fans into watching the film by featuring Ana de Armas in trailers when she didn’t actually appear in the movie has settled.
Attorneys for both sides on Friday informed the court of a settlement to resolve the case. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
The lawsuit, filed in 2022, revolved around accusations from Peter Michael Rosza and Conor Woulfe that they watched the trailer for Yesterday and thought that de Armas played a substantial role in the romantic comedy about an artist who rockets to fame after discovering that he’s the only person in the world to remember The Beatles, which allows him to pass their songs off as his own. But upon renting it, they learned that she doesn’t appear in the movie. They brought claims for false advertisement, unjust enrichment and unfair competition.
Attorneys for both sides on Friday informed the court of a settlement to resolve the case. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
The lawsuit, filed in 2022, revolved around accusations from Peter Michael Rosza and Conor Woulfe that they watched the trailer for Yesterday and thought that de Armas played a substantial role in the romantic comedy about an artist who rockets to fame after discovering that he’s the only person in the world to remember The Beatles, which allows him to pass their songs off as his own. But upon renting it, they learned that she doesn’t appear in the movie. They brought claims for false advertisement, unjust enrichment and unfair competition.
- 4/17/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Last April, Jason Kelce entered the NFL’s West Coast media hub in Inglewood, California (it’s right next door to SoFi Stadium), with trepidation. In an otherwise nondescript conference room, Kelce talked with those sitting with him about the difficulties that NFL stars can have after they retire from the game, an attendee recalls.
Kelce was in Los Angeles to attend the NFL’s broadcast boot camp, which gives players a chance to hone their skills for TV, radio, podcasts and other mediums.
“So many guys are interested in, ‘How can I stay in football?’ ‘I think I’d be good on TV, but I’m not really sure,’ ” Tracy Perlman, the NFL’s senior vp player operations, told The Hollywood Reporter at the time about the boot camp. “So this gives them the opportunity to learn about it and understand the commitment it takes, and it gives them the reps to figure out,...
Kelce was in Los Angeles to attend the NFL’s broadcast boot camp, which gives players a chance to hone their skills for TV, radio, podcasts and other mediums.
“So many guys are interested in, ‘How can I stay in football?’ ‘I think I’d be good on TV, but I’m not really sure,’ ” Tracy Perlman, the NFL’s senior vp player operations, told The Hollywood Reporter at the time about the boot camp. “So this gives them the opportunity to learn about it and understand the commitment it takes, and it gives them the reps to figure out,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When Ally Lewber joined the cast of “Vanderpump Rules” in Season 10 as James Kennedy’s new girlfriend, the chances for drama could not have been any higher. Kennedy had recently ended an engagement with fellow cast member Rachel Leviss, and the history of exes mingling with new partners on the series has historically not gone over well.
However, the 28-year-old has been a refreshingly calm addition. Her love of astrology, cats and music has quickly made her a fan favorite, as has her authenticity and ability to play peacemaker when moments turn emotional or explosive. Lewber was also famously first...
However, the 28-year-old has been a refreshingly calm addition. Her love of astrology, cats and music has quickly made her a fan favorite, as has her authenticity and ability to play peacemaker when moments turn emotional or explosive. Lewber was also famously first...
- 4/17/2024
- by Sharareh Drury
- Variety - TV News
New York University has revealed its 2024 picks for its Black List-inspired Purple List of the best production-ready screenplays from Tisch School of the Arts graduate film students and recent alumni.
The four screenplays, selected via a blind reading process by industry insiders, are Blue Comedy by Vincent Lee Accettola, Little Phnom Penh by Chheangkea, Rubber Hut by Hanna Gray Organschi and Satoshi by Sara Crow and David Rafailedes.
Blue Comedy follows a celebrity comedian who recently came out of the closet who returns to the Boston stand-up scene to mentor a straight comedian for whom he’s developed feelings. Little Phnom Penh explores a Cambodian woman’s personal desires and changing family roles over two decades in a story that spans across the U.S. and Cambodia after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Rubber Hut centers around a former ex-Pam Am stewardess who opens a drive-thru condom shop...
The four screenplays, selected via a blind reading process by industry insiders, are Blue Comedy by Vincent Lee Accettola, Little Phnom Penh by Chheangkea, Rubber Hut by Hanna Gray Organschi and Satoshi by Sara Crow and David Rafailedes.
Blue Comedy follows a celebrity comedian who recently came out of the closet who returns to the Boston stand-up scene to mentor a straight comedian for whom he’s developed feelings. Little Phnom Penh explores a Cambodian woman’s personal desires and changing family roles over two decades in a story that spans across the U.S. and Cambodia after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Rubber Hut centers around a former ex-Pam Am stewardess who opens a drive-thru condom shop...
- 4/17/2024
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Henry Cavill fans can finally see the British actor as James Bond — sorta.
A fake Bond movie trailer “starring” the former Witcher star has been racking up millions of views on YouTube despite being a total fake.
The “Bond 26” trailer introduces Cavill as the new Bond using a mix of footage from other movies and artificial intelligence. The trailer also ambitiously casts Margot Robbie as a Bond girl.
So far, the wannabe trailer has generated 2.3 million viewers, presumably driven by a mix of fans enjoying it as a “what-if” effort, along with some being fooled by it.
“Please note that this video is a concept trailer created solely for artistic and entertainment purposes,” creator KHStudio notes. “I have meticulously incorporated various effects, sound design, AI technologies, movie analytics, and other elements to bring my vision to life. Its purpose is purely artistic, aiming to entertain and engage with the YouTube community.
A fake Bond movie trailer “starring” the former Witcher star has been racking up millions of views on YouTube despite being a total fake.
The “Bond 26” trailer introduces Cavill as the new Bond using a mix of footage from other movies and artificial intelligence. The trailer also ambitiously casts Margot Robbie as a Bond girl.
So far, the wannabe trailer has generated 2.3 million viewers, presumably driven by a mix of fans enjoying it as a “what-if” effort, along with some being fooled by it.
“Please note that this video is a concept trailer created solely for artistic and entertainment purposes,” creator KHStudio notes. “I have meticulously incorporated various effects, sound design, AI technologies, movie analytics, and other elements to bring my vision to life. Its purpose is purely artistic, aiming to entertain and engage with the YouTube community.
- 4/17/2024
- by James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Comedian Rob Schneider is refuting a news item that appeared on Politico’s website this week stating that his stand-up set at a GOP event in late 2023 was cut short when his jokes were deemed too lewd for the conservative crowd.
The outspoken right-leaning comic, who made a name for himself as a Saturday Night Live cast member in the ’90s and went on to star in comedies including The Hot Chick and Grown-Ups spoke to TMZ about the Politico report, which reported that Senate Working Group Executive Director James Kimmey cut him off within 10 minutes into the set at L.A.’s Waldorf Astoria over the comedian’s “raunchy” jokes.
The event had about 150 attendees, Politico reports, and the guest list included 40-plus Senate chiefs of staff, who received an apology email regarding Schneider’s brief performance the day after the event. One joke about “Korean whore-houses” made it...
The outspoken right-leaning comic, who made a name for himself as a Saturday Night Live cast member in the ’90s and went on to star in comedies including The Hot Chick and Grown-Ups spoke to TMZ about the Politico report, which reported that Senate Working Group Executive Director James Kimmey cut him off within 10 minutes into the set at L.A.’s Waldorf Astoria over the comedian’s “raunchy” jokes.
The event had about 150 attendees, Politico reports, and the guest list included 40-plus Senate chiefs of staff, who received an apology email regarding Schneider’s brief performance the day after the event. One joke about “Korean whore-houses” made it...
- 4/17/2024
- by Kevin Dolak
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Documentary “Fixing the War,” about news fixers in Ukraine, was one of 15 projects selected in this week’s edition of VdR-Pitching, Visions du Réel’s international co-production and financing platform. Variety accompanied the team as they pitched to potential partners.
The film’s producers Gary Lennon of Plainsong Films and Olga Kravchenko of Moon Man were in Nyon to pitch the film, which is directed by Clare Stronge and Vadym Ikov. “Fixing the War” was pitched as the first film to show the vital role of the news fixers, who are locals hired to help a journalist working in a foreign country navigate everything from logistics to translations or safety issues.
The pair started with a 12-minute pitch to a room full of industry professionals, during which they outlined their project and illustrated it with a clip.
Stronge, who is currently on a shoot, described her intention in a recorded video message,...
The film’s producers Gary Lennon of Plainsong Films and Olga Kravchenko of Moon Man were in Nyon to pitch the film, which is directed by Clare Stronge and Vadym Ikov. “Fixing the War” was pitched as the first film to show the vital role of the news fixers, who are locals hired to help a journalist working in a foreign country navigate everything from logistics to translations or safety issues.
The pair started with a 12-minute pitch to a room full of industry professionals, during which they outlined their project and illustrated it with a clip.
Stronge, who is currently on a shoot, described her intention in a recorded video message,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety - Film News
Two years after he leapt to the forefront of the New Hollywood with The Godfather, and just months before he picked up the threads of that operatic crime saga with the magnificent sequel/prequel The Godfather Part II, Francis Ford Coppola released a quiet movie, one in which sound itself — and, more specifically, its surreptitious recording — is the narrative engine. Arriving during a particularly fertile era for American film, The Conversation was not a hit, but it is one of the period’s most subtle and shattering features. Half a century later, it resounds as hauntingly as ever, not merely as a cautionary tale but as a searing portrait of where we are now.
The movie took its New York bow on Coppola’s 35th birthday, April 7, 1974, a few weeks before its Palme d’Or triumph in Cannes. Today the octogenarian writer-director is again preparing to compete on the Croisette,...
The movie took its New York bow on Coppola’s 35th birthday, April 7, 1974, a few weeks before its Palme d’Or triumph in Cannes. Today the octogenarian writer-director is again preparing to compete on the Croisette,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Sheri Linden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chef and content creator Nick Digiovanni has signed with WME for representation in all areas, Variety has learned exclusively. He continues to be represented by Align PR and Yorn Levine Barnes.
Digiovanni rose to fame when he became the youngest-ever finalist on the cooking competition series “MasterChef” in 2019 during the show’s tenth season. He ultimately finished in third place, behind Sarah Faherty and eventual winner Dorian Hunter. He would return to the series in Season 11 as a mentor.
Since then, he has amassed a massive following on social media, regularly posting cooking content. At present, he has over 30 million...
Digiovanni rose to fame when he became the youngest-ever finalist on the cooking competition series “MasterChef” in 2019 during the show’s tenth season. He ultimately finished in third place, behind Sarah Faherty and eventual winner Dorian Hunter. He would return to the series in Season 11 as a mentor.
Since then, he has amassed a massive following on social media, regularly posting cooking content. At present, he has over 30 million...
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Donald Trump is keeping his Oscars feud with Jimmy Kimmel alive with a new post on Truth Social in which the former president once again slammed Kimmel for being a “horrendous” Academy Awards host. Trump then mixed up Kimmel with this year’s best picture presenter, Al Pacino. Trump’s diss arrived amid his hush money trial in New York City, for which Kimmel has been roasting Trump all week on his ABC late night show.
“Stupid Jimmy Kimmel, who still hasn’t recovered from his horrendous performance and big ratings drop as Host of The Academy Awards, especially when...
“Stupid Jimmy Kimmel, who still hasn’t recovered from his horrendous performance and big ratings drop as Host of The Academy Awards, especially when...
- 4/17/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - TV News
Simone Biles has shared the emotional toll that the Tokyo Olympics had on her.
While appearing on Wednesday’s episode of podcast Call Her Daddy, the athlete opened up about her mental state during her vault performance, where she got the twisties—a term for when gymnasts lose their perceptual awareness of their body’s position while spinning in the air.
“We already knew my gymnastics was janky, like, in training I was having twisties already,” recalled Biles. “But [at the moment], I’m trying to push past that and I would literally tell my teammates, ‘I’m fighting demons right now but I’m going to do it for you guys.'”
She explained that she felt like she was “fighting” her body and mind to perform the tricks and tried out some alternate maneuvers while practicing but was still not feeling certain about how her Olympics competition would go.
She recalled...
While appearing on Wednesday’s episode of podcast Call Her Daddy, the athlete opened up about her mental state during her vault performance, where she got the twisties—a term for when gymnasts lose their perceptual awareness of their body’s position while spinning in the air.
“We already knew my gymnastics was janky, like, in training I was having twisties already,” recalled Biles. “But [at the moment], I’m trying to push past that and I would literally tell my teammates, ‘I’m fighting demons right now but I’m going to do it for you guys.'”
She explained that she felt like she was “fighting” her body and mind to perform the tricks and tried out some alternate maneuvers while practicing but was still not feeling certain about how her Olympics competition would go.
She recalled...
- 4/17/2024
- by Tatiana Tenreyro
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Known in France as a giant of modernist sculpture, to the rest of the world Camille Claudel is mainly remembered as Auguste Rodin’s lover.
Her tragic life, which included spending the last decades of her life in an asylum, has been immortalized on film by Isabelle Adjani opposite Gerard Depardieu in 1988’s Camille Claudel, and again by Juliette Binoche in 2013’s Camille Claudel 1915. A student, model, muse and lover to Rodin who blossomed into his rival, she produced artwork every bit as radical and expressive as his. And now — on view at the Getty through July 21 — is the first North American show in more than 30 years focusing solely on her work, including roughly 60 pieces.
The star of the show (seen first in the U.S. at the Art Institute of Chicago) is The Mature Age along with several iterations of her signature piece, The Waltz. Portraits in bronze or marble are plentiful too,...
Her tragic life, which included spending the last decades of her life in an asylum, has been immortalized on film by Isabelle Adjani opposite Gerard Depardieu in 1988’s Camille Claudel, and again by Juliette Binoche in 2013’s Camille Claudel 1915. A student, model, muse and lover to Rodin who blossomed into his rival, she produced artwork every bit as radical and expressive as his. And now — on view at the Getty through July 21 — is the first North American show in more than 30 years focusing solely on her work, including roughly 60 pieces.
The star of the show (seen first in the U.S. at the Art Institute of Chicago) is The Mature Age along with several iterations of her signature piece, The Waltz. Portraits in bronze or marble are plentiful too,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Jordan Riefe
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Brian Cox has never been one to withhold his true feelings, and at London’s HistFest the “Succession” star unloaded on a variety of topics Sunday night including politics, theater critics and Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon.”
“It’s terrible,” Cox said of the Oscar-nominated historical drama, per The Standard. “A truly terrible performance by Joaquin Phoenix. It really is appalling. I don’t know what he was thinking. I think it’s totally his fault and I don’t think Ridley Scott helps him. I would have played it a lot better than Joaquin Phoenix, I tell you that. You can say it’s good drama. No — it’s lies.”
Cox then mused about Phoenix’s name: “I think he’s well named. Joaquin … wackeen … wacky. It’s a sort of wacky performance.”
Variety has reached out to representatives for both Cox and Phoenix.
Speaking more broadly, Cox bemoaned the...
“It’s terrible,” Cox said of the Oscar-nominated historical drama, per The Standard. “A truly terrible performance by Joaquin Phoenix. It really is appalling. I don’t know what he was thinking. I think it’s totally his fault and I don’t think Ridley Scott helps him. I would have played it a lot better than Joaquin Phoenix, I tell you that. You can say it’s good drama. No — it’s lies.”
Cox then mused about Phoenix’s name: “I think he’s well named. Joaquin … wackeen … wacky. It’s a sort of wacky performance.”
Variety has reached out to representatives for both Cox and Phoenix.
Speaking more broadly, Cox bemoaned the...
- 4/17/2024
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety - Film News
The Seattle International Film Festival has revealed its lineup for the 50th edition, which takes place May 9–19 at venues across Seattle and followed by a week of select virtual screenings on the Siff Channel May 20–27. The program includes 261 films representing 84 countries and regions, including 92 features, 47 documentaries, five archival features, two special tributes, two secret screenings and 115 short films.
The festival will open with Josh Margolin’s action comedy “Thelma” from Magnolia Pictures, which will screen at the Paramount Theatre during Siff’s opening night on May 9. Other highlights include “Dìdi” (“弟弟”), a directorial debut from Oscar nominee Sean Wang; Neon’s “Babes” written by and starring Ilana Glazer and directed by first time director Pamela Adlon; IFC’s “Ghostlight” and Harmony Korine’s “Aggro Dr1ft”. Siff will close with Greg Kwedar’s “Sing Sing” from A24, which will screen on May 18 at Siff Cinema Downtown. Tickets and schedules can...
The festival will open with Josh Margolin’s action comedy “Thelma” from Magnolia Pictures, which will screen at the Paramount Theatre during Siff’s opening night on May 9. Other highlights include “Dìdi” (“弟弟”), a directorial debut from Oscar nominee Sean Wang; Neon’s “Babes” written by and starring Ilana Glazer and directed by first time director Pamela Adlon; IFC’s “Ghostlight” and Harmony Korine’s “Aggro Dr1ft”. Siff will close with Greg Kwedar’s “Sing Sing” from A24, which will screen on May 18 at Siff Cinema Downtown. Tickets and schedules can...
- 4/17/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay, Selena Kuznikov and Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
As filmmakers start to incorporate more generative artificial intelligence into documentary production, leading to mounting concern over the use of “fake archival” materials, a group of producers is pushing ahead in their efforts to establish guardrails around the use of the technology in fact-based storytelling.
On Tuesday, leaders of the Archival Producers Alliance — a group of roughly 300 researchers and producers working in documentary internationally, including Oscar- and Emmy-winning filmmakers — presented their first draft of a set of proposed best practices for the use of generative AI in their field. (Archival producers find and license appropriate archival materials like historical photos and video footage for nonfiction projects.) During the session at the International Documentary Association’s biennial Getting Real Conference in Los Angeles, APA founders Rachel Antell and Jennifer Petrucelli (Crip Camp) and Stephanie Jenkins (Muhammad Ali) presented an initial outline for how filmmakers might handle consent, primary sources and transparency...
On Tuesday, leaders of the Archival Producers Alliance — a group of roughly 300 researchers and producers working in documentary internationally, including Oscar- and Emmy-winning filmmakers — presented their first draft of a set of proposed best practices for the use of generative AI in their field. (Archival producers find and license appropriate archival materials like historical photos and video footage for nonfiction projects.) During the session at the International Documentary Association’s biennial Getting Real Conference in Los Angeles, APA founders Rachel Antell and Jennifer Petrucelli (Crip Camp) and Stephanie Jenkins (Muhammad Ali) presented an initial outline for how filmmakers might handle consent, primary sources and transparency...
- 4/17/2024
- by Katie Kilkenny
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bill Maher welcomed Katie Couric onto his “Club Random” podcast and passionately defended Woody Allen while the two discussed canceled artists in Hollywood. Maher said “I don’t think he committed that crime” in reference to Dylan Farrow’s molestation allegation against Allen, adding: “There was two police investigations that exonerated him.”
“There’s these actors who won’t work with him anymore and some of them made movies with him are saying, ‘I regret doing that.’ What a bunch of pussies!” Maher said. “First of all, it’s a very improbable crime that they’re accusing him of. Plainly, the other party had motivation and [was] vindictive.”
Maher referenced the HBO documentary “Allen v. Farrow” and said it was all from Mia Farrow’s point of view, alluding that it can’t fully be trusted as an unbiased account of what allegedly happened between Woody Allen and his adopted daughter,...
“There’s these actors who won’t work with him anymore and some of them made movies with him are saying, ‘I regret doing that.’ What a bunch of pussies!” Maher said. “First of all, it’s a very improbable crime that they’re accusing him of. Plainly, the other party had motivation and [was] vindictive.”
Maher referenced the HBO documentary “Allen v. Farrow” and said it was all from Mia Farrow’s point of view, alluding that it can’t fully be trusted as an unbiased account of what allegedly happened between Woody Allen and his adopted daughter,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - Film News
Director Joshua Erkman’s feature debut, “A Desert,” will be launched for world sales by Yellow Veil Pictures ahead of its Tribeca Film Festival premiere in June.
The film stars Kai Lennox, David Yow (“I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore”) and Sarah Lind (“A Wounded Fawn”). Cinematographer Jay Keitel shot the film and Ty Segall composed its soundtrack and original score.
“A Desert” marks the first production from Yellow Veil Pictures in partnership with Capes & Fog, a production company founded by Erkman.
The film follows a past-his-prime photographer on a road trip across the American Southwest hoping to recapture the magic and success of his previous work. Instead, he finds himself thrust into the dark and chaotic underbelly of America and unwittingly drags his wife and a shady private detective down into the nightmare world with him.
“Moving into the production space has always been a...
The film stars Kai Lennox, David Yow (“I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore”) and Sarah Lind (“A Wounded Fawn”). Cinematographer Jay Keitel shot the film and Ty Segall composed its soundtrack and original score.
“A Desert” marks the first production from Yellow Veil Pictures in partnership with Capes & Fog, a production company founded by Erkman.
The film follows a past-his-prime photographer on a road trip across the American Southwest hoping to recapture the magic and success of his previous work. Instead, he finds himself thrust into the dark and chaotic underbelly of America and unwittingly drags his wife and a shady private detective down into the nightmare world with him.
“Moving into the production space has always been a...
- 4/17/2024
- by Selena Kuznikov
- Variety - Film News
Lionsgate Television is teaming with Park Chan-wook to develop an English-language TV adaptation of Park’s iconic film “Oldboy.”
Park directed and co-wrote the original film, which was itself loosely based on the Japanese manga of the same name. He will produce the new series version along with his producing partner, Syd Lim. Executives Courtney Mock and Tara Joshi are overseeing the project for Lionsgate Television. Bryan Weiser negotiated the deal.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing ‘Oldboy’ into the world of television,” said Park. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold,...
Park directed and co-wrote the original film, which was itself loosely based on the Japanese manga of the same name. He will produce the new series version along with his producing partner, Syd Lim. Executives Courtney Mock and Tara Joshi are overseeing the project for Lionsgate Television. Bryan Weiser negotiated the deal.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing ‘Oldboy’ into the world of television,” said Park. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Get ready for more Gladiators.
Range Sports has signed American Gladiators creator Johnny Ferraro for representation, with plans to revitalize the reality competition franchise.
Range plans to work with Ferraro and his partners “on the development of the American Gladiators IP across TV, film, attractions, merchandise and live events.” Ferraro and Range “are in active development on multiple projects” to bring the American Gladiators brand to new audiences.
“American Gladiators is an iconic brand, and we couldn’t be more excited to work with Johnny to accelerate its growth and expansion across sports, culture and entertainment,” said Will Funk and Greg Luckman, co-presidents of Range Sports, in a statement.
The original series, which ran in syndication from 1989-96, saw contestants face off against elite “gladiators” in made-for-tv competitions. It was revived in 2008 as a primetime show for NBC, and earlier this year it was rebooted by the BBC, earning a quick second series pickup.
Range Sports has signed American Gladiators creator Johnny Ferraro for representation, with plans to revitalize the reality competition franchise.
Range plans to work with Ferraro and his partners “on the development of the American Gladiators IP across TV, film, attractions, merchandise and live events.” Ferraro and Range “are in active development on multiple projects” to bring the American Gladiators brand to new audiences.
“American Gladiators is an iconic brand, and we couldn’t be more excited to work with Johnny to accelerate its growth and expansion across sports, culture and entertainment,” said Will Funk and Greg Luckman, co-presidents of Range Sports, in a statement.
The original series, which ran in syndication from 1989-96, saw contestants face off against elite “gladiators” in made-for-tv competitions. It was revived in 2008 as a primetime show for NBC, and earlier this year it was rebooted by the BBC, earning a quick second series pickup.
- 4/17/2024
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook is partnering with Lionsgate Television to develop a series version of his 2003 revenge thriller Oldboy.
The project would be an English-language adaptation of the story, which was loosely based on a magna with the same name.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television,” said Park. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
In addition to directing The Handmaiden and Decision to Leave, Park previously produced the dystopian thriller Snowpiercer which was likewise adapted into a series. He’s also directing and producing HBO’s new limited series The Sympathizer starring Robert Downey, Jr.
“Park is one of the most visionary storytellers of our generation, and we’re excited to partner with him in bringing his cinematic masterpiece to the television screen,” added Scott Herbst, EVP and Head of Scripted Development,...
The project would be an English-language adaptation of the story, which was loosely based on a magna with the same name.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television,” said Park. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
In addition to directing The Handmaiden and Decision to Leave, Park previously produced the dystopian thriller Snowpiercer which was likewise adapted into a series. He’s also directing and producing HBO’s new limited series The Sympathizer starring Robert Downey, Jr.
“Park is one of the most visionary storytellers of our generation, and we’re excited to partner with him in bringing his cinematic masterpiece to the television screen,” added Scott Herbst, EVP and Head of Scripted Development,...
- 4/17/2024
- by James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The workers who play characters like Goofy and Mickey Mouse and cheer and dance at parades at Disneyland have taken a step forward in their push to unionize with Actors’ Equity.
The group of organizers, which is seeking to represent 1,700 employees, filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, Actors’ Equity president Kate Shindle announced at a press conference in Anaheim on Wednesday. According to Shindle, a “supermajority” of eligible employees have signed union authorization cards, supporting the move to be represented by Actors’ Equity in collective bargaining. Beyond performers, the group — which calls itself “Magic United” — also includes workers who help facilitate character performers’ interactions with park patrons and trainers who work with them.
“These performers, and the Hosts, Leads and Trainers who create magic alongside them, know that their lives — as well as the Guest experience at Disneyland — can be improved through collective bargaining,...
The group of organizers, which is seeking to represent 1,700 employees, filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, Actors’ Equity president Kate Shindle announced at a press conference in Anaheim on Wednesday. According to Shindle, a “supermajority” of eligible employees have signed union authorization cards, supporting the move to be represented by Actors’ Equity in collective bargaining. Beyond performers, the group — which calls itself “Magic United” — also includes workers who help facilitate character performers’ interactions with park patrons and trainers who work with them.
“These performers, and the Hosts, Leads and Trainers who create magic alongside them, know that their lives — as well as the Guest experience at Disneyland — can be improved through collective bargaining,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Katie Kilkenny
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With France on its highest level of security alert amid geopolitical turmoil in Ukraine and the Middle East, organizers behind the Paris Olympics are still going ahead with ambitious plans to host the opening ceremony along the Seine river on July 26.
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, said on Monday in an interview with French outlets Bfm TV and Rmc that the opening ceremony could relocate to an indoor location “depending on our analysis of the context.” “We have fallback scenarios. There are plan Bs and plan Cs,” Macron said, citing the Stade de France as an alternate location.
Under...
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, said on Monday in an interview with French outlets Bfm TV and Rmc that the opening ceremony could relocate to an indoor location “depending on our analysis of the context.” “We have fallback scenarios. There are plan Bs and plan Cs,” Macron said, citing the Stade de France as an alternate location.
Under...
- 4/17/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety - TV News
With France on its highest level of security alert amid geopolitical turmoil in Ukraine and the Middle East, organizers behind the Paris Olympics are still going ahead with ambitious plans to host the opening ceremony along the Seine river on July 26.
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, said on Monday in an interview with French outlets Bfm TV and Rmc that the opening ceremony could relocate to an indoor location “depending on our analysis of the context.” “We have fallback scenarios. There are plan Bs and plan Cs,” Macron said, citing the Stade de France as an alternate location.
Under the current plans put together by Tony Estanguet, the gold-medal winning French athlete who presides over the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, as many as 10,500 athletes from all around the world will parade on boats along the six-kilometer Seine River. Macron suggested the itinerary might be shortened. Original plans have already been...
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, said on Monday in an interview with French outlets Bfm TV and Rmc that the opening ceremony could relocate to an indoor location “depending on our analysis of the context.” “We have fallback scenarios. There are plan Bs and plan Cs,” Macron said, citing the Stade de France as an alternate location.
Under the current plans put together by Tony Estanguet, the gold-medal winning French athlete who presides over the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, as many as 10,500 athletes from all around the world will parade on boats along the six-kilometer Seine River. Macron suggested the itinerary might be shortened. Original plans have already been...
- 4/17/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety - Film News
For 27 of the last 32 years, Ziffren Brittenham senior partner Clifford Gilbert-Lurie has served as one of the chairs of the Champions for Children’s gala dinner benefiting the Alliance for Children’s Rights, an experience he says is akin to throwing a wedding.
“There’s so much that goes into it, and then you’re very concerned that the dinner comes off well and everybody has a good time and it’s meaningful,” explains Gilbert-Lurie, who’s a past chairman and current board member of the organization. “When it’s finally over, I take this huge sigh of relief, because...
“There’s so much that goes into it, and then you’re very concerned that the dinner comes off well and everybody has a good time and it’s meaningful,” explains Gilbert-Lurie, who’s a past chairman and current board member of the organization. “When it’s finally over, I take this huge sigh of relief, because...
- 4/17/2024
- by Todd Longwell
- Variety - TV News
For 27 of the last 32 years, Ziffren Brittenham senior partner Clifford Gilbert-Lurie has served as one of the chairs of the Champions for Children’s gala dinner benefiting the Alliance for Children’s Rights, an experience he says is akin to throwing a wedding.
“There’s so much that goes into it, and then you’re very concerned that the dinner comes off well and everybody has a good time and it’s meaningful,” explains Gilbert-Lurie, who’s a past chairman and current board member of the organization. “When it’s finally over, I take this huge sigh of relief, because I don’t have to worry about it for a couple more months.”
According to Universal Studio Group chairman Pearlena Igbokwe, Gilbert-Lurie doesn’t wait that long. She says that he called her just a few days after last year’s dinner, “while I was still in the afterglow of an amazing night,...
“There’s so much that goes into it, and then you’re very concerned that the dinner comes off well and everybody has a good time and it’s meaningful,” explains Gilbert-Lurie, who’s a past chairman and current board member of the organization. “When it’s finally over, I take this huge sigh of relief, because I don’t have to worry about it for a couple more months.”
According to Universal Studio Group chairman Pearlena Igbokwe, Gilbert-Lurie doesn’t wait that long. She says that he called her just a few days after last year’s dinner, “while I was still in the afterglow of an amazing night,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Todd Longwell
- Variety - Film News
By all measures, Ziffren Brittenham senior partner Clifford Gilbert-Lurie has had a storied run as an entertainment attorney. Over the course of his four-decade-plus career, he has made big deals for a long list of loyal clients that have generated pages upon pages of headlines in the show business trades. For those professional accomplishments, along with his philanthropic efforts, he’s being honored with Variety’s Power of Law Award at a breakfast April 18 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.
But if one had to point to a single metric that sums up how much he is valued,...
But if one had to point to a single metric that sums up how much he is valued,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Todd Longwell
- Variety - TV News
Fremantle is to handle worldwide sales on country music feature documentary “Rebel Country,” which will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The film looks at a new breed of stars who are rewriting the rules and challenging the culture of country music. It explores the tensions of race, class, poverty, gender, sexuality and creativity versus commerce and geography that are prevalent in the U.S., while also acknowledging the musicians’ connection to Nashville’s rebellious roots.
“Rebel Country” is directed by Francis Whately, whose credits include “Five Years” and “Dolly Parton: Here I Am.” Executive producers are BMG, and Gabriel Jagger and Janet Lee for WhyNow Studios.
Whately said: “I am excited to have ‘Rebel Country’ premiere in this current moment that the country music genre is experiencing. The musicians, noted music journalists, and historians included in the film help give a broad picture of the genre...
The film looks at a new breed of stars who are rewriting the rules and challenging the culture of country music. It explores the tensions of race, class, poverty, gender, sexuality and creativity versus commerce and geography that are prevalent in the U.S., while also acknowledging the musicians’ connection to Nashville’s rebellious roots.
“Rebel Country” is directed by Francis Whately, whose credits include “Five Years” and “Dolly Parton: Here I Am.” Executive producers are BMG, and Gabriel Jagger and Janet Lee for WhyNow Studios.
Whately said: “I am excited to have ‘Rebel Country’ premiere in this current moment that the country music genre is experiencing. The musicians, noted music journalists, and historians included in the film help give a broad picture of the genre...
- 4/17/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety - Film News
Kenya Barris was deeply inspired by “The Cosby Show” when he created “Black-ish” in 2014. The writer and executive producer wanted to create a similarly beloved family sitcom that was expressly Black, not only with the characters, but also in the subject matter the show covered. That mission was achieved, and like “The Cosby Show,” “Black-ish” went on to spawn a TV universe that would also make an impact.
“Grown-ish” was the first “Black-ish” spinoff. It has now gone six seasons and will air its 100th episode this month. Similar to “A Different World” with Lisa Bonet’s Denise Huxtable from “The Cosby Show,...
“Grown-ish” was the first “Black-ish” spinoff. It has now gone six seasons and will air its 100th episode this month. Similar to “A Different World” with Lisa Bonet’s Denise Huxtable from “The Cosby Show,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Megan Vick
- Variety - TV News
Apple is doubling down on For All Mankind.
The iPhone maker and streamer has handed out a fifth season renewal for Ron Moore’s For All Mankind and a straight-to-series order for Star City, a spinoff following the Soviet space race.
As with the flagship series, Moore, Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi co-created Star City, with the latter duo set to showrun both programs for producer Sony Pictures Television.
“Our fascination with the Soviet space program has grown with every season of For All Mankind,” said executive producers Wolpert and Nedivi in a statement announcing the news Wednesday. “The more we learned about this secret city in the forests outside Moscow where the Soviet cosmonauts and engineers worked and lived, the more we wanted to tell this story of the other side of the space race. We could not be more excited to continue building out the alternate history universe...
The iPhone maker and streamer has handed out a fifth season renewal for Ron Moore’s For All Mankind and a straight-to-series order for Star City, a spinoff following the Soviet space race.
As with the flagship series, Moore, Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi co-created Star City, with the latter duo set to showrun both programs for producer Sony Pictures Television.
“Our fascination with the Soviet space program has grown with every season of For All Mankind,” said executive producers Wolpert and Nedivi in a statement announcing the news Wednesday. “The more we learned about this secret city in the forests outside Moscow where the Soviet cosmonauts and engineers worked and lived, the more we wanted to tell this story of the other side of the space race. We could not be more excited to continue building out the alternate history universe...
- 4/17/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Art house streamer Mubi has picked up worldwide rights for Witches, the new documentary feature from British director Elizabeth Sankey (Romantic Comedy) and will roll out the movie globally following its world premiere in the Viewpoints section of the Tribeca Festival in June.
Inspired by Sankey’s own struggles with mental health, the film draws connections between postpartum depression and the history and cinematic representation of witches in Western society.
“I started making Witches soon after being released from the psychiatric ward [for postpartum illness] as a way of trying to process what had happened to me,” said Sankey. “I researched the history of women in medicine and found they were once the main healers in their communities, but that ended with the 16th century witch trials. I also read about the women of this period who “confessed” to being witches without torture. Their symptoms were the same as mine — depression, suicidal ideation,...
Inspired by Sankey’s own struggles with mental health, the film draws connections between postpartum depression and the history and cinematic representation of witches in Western society.
“I started making Witches soon after being released from the psychiatric ward [for postpartum illness] as a way of trying to process what had happened to me,” said Sankey. “I researched the history of women in medicine and found they were once the main healers in their communities, but that ended with the 16th century witch trials. I also read about the women of this period who “confessed” to being witches without torture. Their symptoms were the same as mine — depression, suicidal ideation,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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