Uli Edel will direct “Shadow Song,” the story of the bond between a Chinese music student and his Jewish classmate.
The film is a feature-length version of the 2017 short “A Children’s Song” and boasts a screenplay by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs (“Chocolat”). Edel is an Academy Award and Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker who previously directed “The Baader Meinhof Complex” and “Houdini.”
The feature film will be produced by Sid Ganis and Nancy Hult Ganis at Out of the Blue Entertainment, and The H Collective’s Kent Jianhui Huang and Mark Rau, who was recently named CEO of Thc Germany. Ganis, who is on the board of Thc, produced “A Children’s Song,” which won top awards at more than 20 film festivals worldwide.
“Shadow Song” was inspired by a true story and is set in contemporary times with flashbacks to World War II. It follows two music students who meet while attending a U.
The film is a feature-length version of the 2017 short “A Children’s Song” and boasts a screenplay by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs (“Chocolat”). Edel is an Academy Award and Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker who previously directed “The Baader Meinhof Complex” and “Houdini.”
The feature film will be produced by Sid Ganis and Nancy Hult Ganis at Out of the Blue Entertainment, and The H Collective’s Kent Jianhui Huang and Mark Rau, who was recently named CEO of Thc Germany. Ganis, who is on the board of Thc, produced “A Children’s Song,” which won top awards at more than 20 film festivals worldwide.
“Shadow Song” was inspired by a true story and is set in contemporary times with flashbacks to World War II. It follows two music students who meet while attending a U.
- 12/9/2020
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has exceeded its pre-opening fundraising goal of $388 million, director and president Bill Kramer announced Friday. A donation from film production company Laika closed out the campaign goal, the total of which encompasses capital gifts endowments, funding for education programs and other special gifts.
More than 13,000 donors contributed to the campaign, which is headed by chair Bob Iger and co-chairs Annette Bening and Tom Hanks, including individuals, corporations, foundations and government entities.
“Closing this fundraising campaign is an important and exciting milestone for the Academy Museum,” Kramer said. “We are deeply grateful to our campaign leadership and to our Trustees, donors, and partners who have made important commitments to the campaign. Their support is helping to make the Academy’s long-held dream of building the world’s premier film museum a reality.”
The Academy announced in January that it had reached 95% of the $388 million goal.
More than 13,000 donors contributed to the campaign, which is headed by chair Bob Iger and co-chairs Annette Bening and Tom Hanks, including individuals, corporations, foundations and government entities.
“Closing this fundraising campaign is an important and exciting milestone for the Academy Museum,” Kramer said. “We are deeply grateful to our campaign leadership and to our Trustees, donors, and partners who have made important commitments to the campaign. Their support is helping to make the Academy’s long-held dream of building the world’s premier film museum a reality.”
The Academy announced in January that it had reached 95% of the $388 million goal.
- 11/13/2020
- by Natalie Oganesyan and Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures just got a boost from Oregon animation studio Laika that put it over the top in fulfilling its pre-opening fundraising goal of $388 million and also has assured AMPAS members that it is on track to meet its planned April 30 opening date. Museum director and president Bill Kramer made the fundraising announcement today.
The total includes capital gifts, endowments, funding for education programs and other special gifts for the campaign, launched in 2012 and chaired by Bob Iger and co-chairs Annette Bening and Tom Hanks. More than 13,000 donors contributed to the campaign, with the biggest sum coming from Cheryl and Haim Saban, who donated $50 million and in return will have the (former May Company) building renamed the Saban Building.
“This is a great day for the Academy Museum and the entire world of film,” Iger said. “Thanks to the wonderful generosity of a broad community of donors,...
The total includes capital gifts, endowments, funding for education programs and other special gifts for the campaign, launched in 2012 and chaired by Bob Iger and co-chairs Annette Bening and Tom Hanks. More than 13,000 donors contributed to the campaign, with the biggest sum coming from Cheryl and Haim Saban, who donated $50 million and in return will have the (former May Company) building renamed the Saban Building.
“This is a great day for the Academy Museum and the entire world of film,” Iger said. “Thanks to the wonderful generosity of a broad community of donors,...
- 11/13/2020
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, Leslie Jones and Kristen Bell get roles in “Queenpins,” “Sing 2” gets a new date and Sid Ganis launches a U.S.-China project.
Castings
“Saturday Night Live” star Leslie Jones and Kristen Bell are attached to star as Phoenix housewives in “Queenpins.”
The story centers on creation of a scheme to counterfeit coupons, leaving the housewives with $40 million coupon cartel. The team of Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, who directed “Beneath The Harvest Sky,” have been attached to direct from their own script.
Linda McDonough is producing. CAA is shopping the package. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
Date Changes
Universal has moved back Illumination’s “Sing 2” from Dec. 25, 2020, to July 2, 2021, and placed DreamWorks Animation’s “The Croods 2” on Dec. 23, 2020.
“Sing 2” is being directed again by Garth Jennings. Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Nick Kroll...
Castings
“Saturday Night Live” star Leslie Jones and Kristen Bell are attached to star as Phoenix housewives in “Queenpins.”
The story centers on creation of a scheme to counterfeit coupons, leaving the housewives with $40 million coupon cartel. The team of Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, who directed “Beneath The Harvest Sky,” have been attached to direct from their own script.
Linda McDonough is producing. CAA is shopping the package. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
Date Changes
Universal has moved back Illumination’s “Sing 2” from Dec. 25, 2020, to July 2, 2021, and placed DreamWorks Animation’s “The Croods 2” on Dec. 23, 2020.
“Sing 2” is being directed again by Garth Jennings. Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Nick Kroll...
- 4/13/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The H Collective has teamed with Out of the Blue Entertainment to develop a feature adaptation of the 2015 English and Chinese language short, A Children’s Song, which was inspired by the true story of how thousands of migrated to China to refuge during World War II.
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs (Chocolat) is adapting the script for the feature. Producers are Sid Ganis, who produced the short, and Nancy Hult Ganis via Out of the Blue, alongside Kenneth Huang for The H Collective. The producers are currently out to potential directors as they aim to start production in the U.S. and China later this year.
Set in contemporary times with flashbacks to WWII, the story is about an aspiring Chinese music student who comes to the U.S. and befriends an equally talented young Jewish student at school. Everything changes when they are to perform an unpublished piece...
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs (Chocolat) is adapting the script for the feature. Producers are Sid Ganis, who produced the short, and Nancy Hult Ganis via Out of the Blue, alongside Kenneth Huang for The H Collective. The producers are currently out to potential directors as they aim to start production in the U.S. and China later this year.
Set in contemporary times with flashbacks to WWII, the story is about an aspiring Chinese music student who comes to the U.S. and befriends an equally talented young Jewish student at school. Everything changes when they are to perform an unpublished piece...
- 4/12/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Production shceduled for Us, China later this year.
Chocolat Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs is adapting a feature version of the 2015 English and Chinese-language short A Children’s Song for Out of the Blue Entertainment and The H Collective.
Sid Ganis will produce with his Out of the Blue Entertainment partner Nancy Hult Ganis and Kenneth Huang of Los Angeles-based The H Collective. Nic Crawley and Kent Huang serve as executive producers with Fiona Yang of Shanghai Jinghang Puwan Entertainment.
The producers are currently out to potential directors ahead of a planned production start in the Us and China later this year.
Chocolat Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robert Nelson Jacobs is adapting a feature version of the 2015 English and Chinese-language short A Children’s Song for Out of the Blue Entertainment and The H Collective.
Sid Ganis will produce with his Out of the Blue Entertainment partner Nancy Hult Ganis and Kenneth Huang of Los Angeles-based The H Collective. Nic Crawley and Kent Huang serve as executive producers with Fiona Yang of Shanghai Jinghang Puwan Entertainment.
The producers are currently out to potential directors ahead of a planned production start in the Us and China later this year.
- 4/12/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The H Collective and Vin Diesel/One Race Films have acquired rights to the xXx franchise from Revolution Studios, and Diesel will reprise his role as Xander Cage in the fourth installment that will go before cameras in December 2018. D.J. Caruso, who helmed last year’s xXx: Return of Xander Cage, is returning as director.
Under the deal, Revolution Studios retains rights to the first three films which have collectively grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide. The franchise, however, has been steadily losing audiences domestically. Xander Cage only opened to $20.1M in its debut weekend in January last year and ran out of gas at $44.8M. The first xXx opened 2002 and hauled in $142.1M domestically.
In China, Diesel’s return to the franchise after Ice Cube starred in the interim was welcome news. China accounting for the bulk of Xander Cage‘s $69.3M overseas debut, so, it’s no wonder why Chinese-backed...
Under the deal, Revolution Studios retains rights to the first three films which have collectively grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide. The franchise, however, has been steadily losing audiences domestically. Xander Cage only opened to $20.1M in its debut weekend in January last year and ran out of gas at $44.8M. The first xXx opened 2002 and hauled in $142.1M domestically.
In China, Diesel’s return to the franchise after Ice Cube starred in the interim was welcome news. China accounting for the bulk of Xander Cage‘s $69.3M overseas debut, so, it’s no wonder why Chinese-backed...
- 4/17/2018
- by Anita Busch
- Deadline Film + TV
The H Collective, a film company announced in June that said it would be financing and/or producing four projects a year over the next four years from producers Sid and Nancy Hult Ganis, Mark Johnson and Joe Roth, today announced the appointment of Nic Crawley as CEO. Crawley most recently served as President of International Marketing and Distribution at Paramount Pictures but also had a long stint at Disney. Crawley starts in October. The H Collective also said that the…...
- 9/14/2017
- Deadline
Veteran producers Sid Ganis, Nancy Hult Ganis, Mark Johnson, Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum have teamed up to form The H Collective, a new film financing, production, marketing and distribution company, the producers announced Monday. The lead project on the new company’s slate is a fourth sequel to Vin Diesel’s “xXx” action franchise following Paramount’s January release of “xXx: Return of Xander Cage,” which grossed $346 million worldwide. The H Collective will finance the new film, which will be produced by Roth and Kirschenbaum, and acquire all rights excluding TV and U.S. theme park rights. Also Read:...
- 6/19/2017
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
Production partners include Sid Ganis, Mark Johnson, Joe Roth.
Chinese businessman Jian-hua ‘Kenny’ Huang is understood to be behind Us-based finance, production, marketing and distribution company The H Collective.
The venture claims to have an exclusive partnership with entertainment conglomerate Beijing Culture and plans to finance and/or produce four broadly appealing features a year over the next four years in the family/comedy, action-adventure, horror / genre, and prestige categories. A press conference about the venture is scheduled for Tuesday at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Representatives of The H Collective say it has struck deals with producers Sid Ganis and Nancy Hult Ganis, Mark Johnson, and Joe Roth (main picture) and Jeff Kirschenbaum.
Huang is a businessman and facilitator understood to enjoy close ties with former Paramount vice-president Rob Moore and Huahua Media, the company linked to an on-again, off-again $1bn investment in the studio with Shanghai Film Group.
The Chinese...
Chinese businessman Jian-hua ‘Kenny’ Huang is understood to be behind Us-based finance, production, marketing and distribution company The H Collective.
The venture claims to have an exclusive partnership with entertainment conglomerate Beijing Culture and plans to finance and/or produce four broadly appealing features a year over the next four years in the family/comedy, action-adventure, horror / genre, and prestige categories. A press conference about the venture is scheduled for Tuesday at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Representatives of The H Collective say it has struck deals with producers Sid Ganis and Nancy Hult Ganis, Mark Johnson, and Joe Roth (main picture) and Jeff Kirschenbaum.
Huang is a businessman and facilitator understood to enjoy close ties with former Paramount vice-president Rob Moore and Huahua Media, the company linked to an on-again, off-again $1bn investment in the studio with Shanghai Film Group.
The Chinese...
- 6/19/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Jan. 29, 2013
Price: DVD $30.99
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
ABC TV show Pan Am was canceled after its first season, but it did have its fans and even garnered awards overseas.
The drama series is set in the early 1960s, when commercial flights are just beginning. Christina Ricci (Bel Ami) headlines the show as the spunky Maggie Ryan, a Pan Am stewardess with ambitions for more.
The television show also stars Margot Robbie (TV’s Neighbors) as a fledgling stewardess, Kelli Garner (Going the Distance) as a stewardess recruited by the CIA as a spy, Karine Vanasse (Midnight in Paris) as a French stewardess and Michael Mosley (TV’s Justified) and Mike Vogel (What’s Your Number?) as pilots trying to find women and build their careers.
Created by Jack Orman (Men of a Certain Age), Pan Am follows the flight crew members on their journeys overseas and as they witness history.
Price: DVD $30.99
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
ABC TV show Pan Am was canceled after its first season, but it did have its fans and even garnered awards overseas.
The drama series is set in the early 1960s, when commercial flights are just beginning. Christina Ricci (Bel Ami) headlines the show as the spunky Maggie Ryan, a Pan Am stewardess with ambitions for more.
The television show also stars Margot Robbie (TV’s Neighbors) as a fledgling stewardess, Kelli Garner (Going the Distance) as a stewardess recruited by the CIA as a spy, Karine Vanasse (Midnight in Paris) as a French stewardess and Michael Mosley (TV’s Justified) and Mike Vogel (What’s Your Number?) as pilots trying to find women and build their careers.
Created by Jack Orman (Men of a Certain Age), Pan Am follows the flight crew members on their journeys overseas and as they witness history.
- 12/7/2012
- by Sam
- Disc Dish
"Unforgettable," the canceled procedural starring Poppy Montgomery and Dylan Walsh, may be recalled by CBS for a second season. The network is reportedly in talks to air 13 new episodes in summer 2013. In case you need a refresher, the show centered around a detective (Montgomery) gifted with the unique ability to remember everything she observes. Sony TV had been shopping 'Unforgettable' -- which earned respectable ratings, averaging 12 million viewers -- around to other networks, including TNT and Lifetime, since its cancellation. [Deadline]
"Homeland's" British star Damian Lewis will be sharing the screen -- and probably a cuppa -- with fellow Englishman Rupert Friend when Showtime's absorbing thriller returns for its sophomore season. The new series regular's credits include "Pride & Prejudice" and "The Young Victoria," but might be most familiar to Americans as Keira Knightley's arm candy during the former couple's five-year relationship. In "Homeland," Friend plays a CIA...
"Homeland's" British star Damian Lewis will be sharing the screen -- and probably a cuppa -- with fellow Englishman Rupert Friend when Showtime's absorbing thriller returns for its sophomore season. The new series regular's credits include "Pride & Prejudice" and "The Young Victoria," but might be most familiar to Americans as Keira Knightley's arm candy during the former couple's five-year relationship. In "Homeland," Friend plays a CIA...
- 6/21/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
"Pan Am" is officially dead. Sony was attempting to get "Pan Am" a new home after ABC canceled the low-rated series, but the revival failed to take off.
In a letter to World Wings International, a non-profit organization of former Pan Am flight attendants, Nancy Hult Ganis, a former Pan Am flight attendant and executive producer on the ABC series, made the announcement.
"After ABC cancelled the show, there was a gallant effort by the team at Sony to resurrect the series through various other venues," Ganis said in the Facebook post. "Unfortunately for those who enjoyed the episodes or the promise of what it could or should have been, the 'Pan Am' series officially ended this past weekend."
Rumors swirled that Amazon could pick up the series for its streaming service, but a deal never came together. According to Ganis, all the contracts of the cast and crew have expired.
In a letter to World Wings International, a non-profit organization of former Pan Am flight attendants, Nancy Hult Ganis, a former Pan Am flight attendant and executive producer on the ABC series, made the announcement.
"After ABC cancelled the show, there was a gallant effort by the team at Sony to resurrect the series through various other venues," Ganis said in the Facebook post. "Unfortunately for those who enjoyed the episodes or the promise of what it could or should have been, the 'Pan Am' series officially ended this past weekend."
Rumors swirled that Amazon could pick up the series for its streaming service, but a deal never came together. According to Ganis, all the contracts of the cast and crew have expired.
- 6/20/2012
- by Chris Harnick
- Aol TV.
"Pan Am" is officially dead. Sony was attempting to get "Pan Am" a new home after ABC canceled the low-rated series, but the revival failed to take off.
In a letter to World Wings International, a non-profit organization of former Pan Am flight attendants, Nancy Hult Ganis, a former Pan Am flight attendant and executive producer on the ABC series, made the announcement.
"After ABC cancelled the show, there was a gallant effort by the team at Sony to resurrect the series through various other venues," Ganis said in the Facebook post. "Unfortunately for those who enjoyed the episodes or the promise of what it could or should have been, the 'Pan Am' series officially ended this past weekend."
Rumors swirled that Amazon could pick up the series for its streaming service, but a deal never came together. According to Ganis, all the contracts of the cast and crew have expired.
In a letter to World Wings International, a non-profit organization of former Pan Am flight attendants, Nancy Hult Ganis, a former Pan Am flight attendant and executive producer on the ABC series, made the announcement.
"After ABC cancelled the show, there was a gallant effort by the team at Sony to resurrect the series through various other venues," Ganis said in the Facebook post. "Unfortunately for those who enjoyed the episodes or the promise of what it could or should have been, the 'Pan Am' series officially ended this past weekend."
Rumors swirled that Amazon could pick up the series for its streaming service, but a deal never came together. According to Ganis, all the contracts of the cast and crew have expired.
- 6/20/2012
- by Chris Harnick
- Huffington Post
ABC had big hopes for its pricy, period drama Pan Am, a soap opera in the sky featuring the attractive stewardesses and pilots of Pan Am airlines in 1963, created by Jack Orman and Nancy Hult Ganis and produced by ABC and Sony TV. Despite a high profile female cast including Christina Ricci, Kellie Garner and recently hired supporting player Ashley Greene and the film's cool retro setting of 1960s New York City, a swinging backdrop that owes a lot to the acclaimed AMC drama Mad Men, Pan Am failed to retain the solid ratings from its Sept. 25 premiere. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed reports today of ABC cutting its season short at 14 episodes.
- 11/29/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
ABC had big hopes for its pricy, period drama Pan Am, a soap opera in the sky featuring the attractive stewardesses and pilots of Pan Am airlines in 1963, created by Jack Orman and Nancy Hult Ganis and produced by ABC and Sony TV. Despite a high profile female cast including Christina Ricci, Kellie Garner and recently hired supporting player Ashley Greene and the film's cool retro setting of 1960s New York City, a swinging backdrop that owes a lot to the acclaimed AMC drama Mad Men, Pan Am failed to retain the solid ratings from its Sept. 25 premiere. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed reports today of ABC cutting its season short at 14 episodes.
- 11/29/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
ABC had big hopes for its pricy, period drama Pan Am, a soap opera in the sky featuring the attractive stewardesses and pilots of Pan Am airlines in 1963, created by Jack Orman and Nancy Hult Ganis and produced by ABC and Sony TV. Despite a high profile female cast including Christina Ricci, Kellie Garner and recently hired supporting player Ashley Greene and the film's cool retro setting of 1960s New York City, a swinging backdrop that owes a lot to the acclaimed AMC drama Mad Men, Pan Am failed to retain the solid ratings from its Sept. 25 premiere. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed reports today of ABC cutting its season short at 14 episodes.
- 11/29/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
It’s hard not to be a little intrigued by Christina Ricci. Getting her start as a child actor in the 1990 with The Addams Family and coming-of-age film Mermaids opposite Cher and Winona Ryder, she later transformed into a teen idol for rebels and outsiders with films like Buffalo ’66, The Opposite of Sex, and John Waters’ Pecker.
Indeed, it’s been nothing if not an unconventional career trajectory for the now-31-year-old actress, which is why I was curious to hear that she’d be starring in a series regular role on the new ABC show Pan Am, which follows the lives of a group of young stewardesses in the early 1960s.
And yet true to her image as one of the industry’s more thoughtful and articulate young actresses, the show clearly illuminates issues Ricci feels very strongly about.
“The show involves women navigating a blatantly misogynistic society,” said Ricci,...
Indeed, it’s been nothing if not an unconventional career trajectory for the now-31-year-old actress, which is why I was curious to hear that she’d be starring in a series regular role on the new ABC show Pan Am, which follows the lives of a group of young stewardesses in the early 1960s.
And yet true to her image as one of the industry’s more thoughtful and articulate young actresses, the show clearly illuminates issues Ricci feels very strongly about.
“The show involves women navigating a blatantly misogynistic society,” said Ricci,...
- 10/10/2011
- by Chris Eggertsen
- The Backlot
A sneak peek of ABC's Pan Am, starring Christina Ricci, Margot Robbie, Michael Mosley, Karine Vanasse, Mike Vogel and Kelli Garner. Catch the series premiere of the eagerly anticipated show on September 25th at 10/9c. Pan Am is executive produced by Jack Orman, Thomas Schlamme and Nancy Hult. We have a great sneak peek from the show and don't forget to check out the three TV spots we added previously as well. Passion, adventure and espionage... They do it all - and they do it at 30,000 feet. The style of the 1960s, the energy and excitement of the Jet Age and a drama full of sexy entanglements deliciously mesh in a thrilling and highly original new series...
- 9/22/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
A sneak peek of ABC's Pan Am, starring Christina Ricci, Margot Robbie, Michael Mosley, Karine Vanasse, Mike Vogel and Kelli Garner. Catch the series premiere of the eagerly anticipated show on September 25th at 10/9c. Pan Am is executive produced by Jack Orman, Thomas Schlamme and Nancy Hult. We have a great sneak peek from the show and don't forget to check out the three TV spots we added previously as well. Passion, adventure and espionage... They do it all - and they do it at 30,000 feet. The style of the 1960s, the energy and excitement of the Jet Age and a drama full of sexy entanglements deliciously mesh in a thrilling and highly original new series...
- 9/22/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Remember when flying was fun? Before your lip stick had to go in a plastic bag and your high heels had to go through X-Ray. When it was all glamorous, with handsome pilots and gorgeous air hostess? When you could still smoke in the cabin, and drink as many cocktails as you wanted while on your way to some exotic location? Well that’s the world of Pan Am, ABC’s new show, taking us back to the good ole days of air travel in the 60’s.
Here’s the official word from ABC,
Passion, adventure and espionage… They do it all—and they do it at 30,000 feet. The style of the 1960s, the energy and excitement of the Jet Age and a drama full of sexy entanglements deliciously mesh in a thrilling and highly original new series [...] Welcome to the Jet Age. It’s 1963. WWII andKoreaare history. A new kind of war,...
Here’s the official word from ABC,
Passion, adventure and espionage… They do it all—and they do it at 30,000 feet. The style of the 1960s, the energy and excitement of the Jet Age and a drama full of sexy entanglements deliciously mesh in a thrilling and highly original new series [...] Welcome to the Jet Age. It’s 1963. WWII andKoreaare history. A new kind of war,...
- 9/8/2011
- by Fay Brennan
- Obsessed with Film
Check out these new images, a poster and 3 TV spots from ABC's Pam Am which stars Christina Ricci, Margot Robbie, Michael Mosley, Karine Vanasse, Mike Vogel and Kelli Garner. Making its premiere on Sunday, September 25th at 10/9 c, the series is executive produced by Jack Orman, Thomas Schlamme and Nancy Hult. Passion, adventure and espionage... They do it all - and they do it at 30,000 feet. The style of the 1960s, the energy and excitement of the Jet Age and a drama full of sexy entanglements deliciously mesh in a thrilling and highly original new series, Pan Am. In this modern world, air travel represents the height of luxury, and Pan Am is the biggest name in the business. The planes are sleek and glamorous, the pilots are rock stars, and the stewardesses are the most desirable women in the world. Not only are these flyboys and girls young and good looking,...
- 9/7/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Check out these new images, a poster and 3 TV spots from ABC's Pam Am which stars Christina Ricci, Margot Robbie, Michael Mosley, Karine Vanasse, Mike Vogel and Kelli Garner. Making its premiere on Sunday, September 25th at 10/9 c, the series is executive produced by Jack Orman, Thomas Schlamme and Nancy Hult. Passion, adventure and espionage... They do it all - and they do it at 30,000 feet. The style of the 1960s, the energy and excitement of the Jet Age and a drama full of sexy entanglements deliciously mesh in a thrilling and highly original new series, Pan Am. In this modern world, air travel represents the height of luxury, and Pan Am is the biggest name in the business. The planes are sleek and glamorous, the pilots are rock stars, and the stewardesses are the most desirable women in the world. Not only are these flyboys and girls young and good looking,...
- 9/7/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The producers of Pan Am have pulled out all the stops to tell a story about the glamorous jet age of the ’60s, but one thing you won’t see on the ABC drama are cigarettes between the fingers of those young and attractive stewardesses.
Producers admitted that ABC-Disney nixed the use of tobacco by key stars like Christina Ricci and Margot Robbie, despite the fact that smoking was de rigueur on flights – and throughout the terminal — in those days. In contrast, cigarettes are featured liberally on AMC’s Mad Men, which also takes place in the ’60s. Cigarettes even...
Producers admitted that ABC-Disney nixed the use of tobacco by key stars like Christina Ricci and Margot Robbie, despite the fact that smoking was de rigueur on flights – and throughout the terminal — in those days. In contrast, cigarettes are featured liberally on AMC’s Mad Men, which also takes place in the ’60s. Cigarettes even...
- 8/7/2011
- by Lynette Rice
- EW - Inside TV
Blake Neely is set to score the upcoming ABC drama Pan Am. The show set in the 1960′s revolves around pilots and flight attendants working at the iconic and once-dominant Pan Am airline. The drama stars Christina Ricci in her first major TV gig, as well as Kelli Garner (The Aviator), Jonah Lotan (Generation Kill), Michael Mosley (Scrubs), Margot Robbie and Karine Vanasse. Jack Orman (ER, Jag) created the show and Thomas Schlamme (Parenthood, The West Wing) directed the pilot. Orman and Schlamme are also producing alongside Nancy Hult Ganis, who was a Pan Am flight attendant herself in the 70′s. Pan Am is scheduled to premiere this fall on ABC and will airing every Sunday night at 10:00pm.Visit ABC’s official show webpage for updates on the project and check out the trailer below.
Neely (The Pacific, Life as We Know It) is coming off a busy TV season.
Neely (The Pacific, Life as We Know It) is coming off a busy TV season.
- 6/8/2011
- by filmmusicreporter
- Film Music Reporter
ABC has a slew of new shows coming, many of which need a lot of luck if they're going to last more than a handful of episodes. The schedule has been released, so let's take a lot at what's coming.
Oddly enough, as part of the new announcement, ABC has solidified the return of several more shows, including Happy Endings, despite the fact that two other networks have shows on their slate with cast members from the show. That should be interesting. Of course, it works for me, because I'm a fan.
In other news, Desperate Housewives will not die. Are you kidding me with this show still being on?
New Series - “Apartment 23,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Good Christian Belles,” “Last Man Standing,” “Man Up,” “Missing,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Pan Am,” “Revenge,” “The River,” “Scandal,” “Suburgatory” and “Work It” Join the Lineup
Returning shows - “America’s Funniest Home Videos,...
Oddly enough, as part of the new announcement, ABC has solidified the return of several more shows, including Happy Endings, despite the fact that two other networks have shows on their slate with cast members from the show. That should be interesting. Of course, it works for me, because I'm a fan.
In other news, Desperate Housewives will not die. Are you kidding me with this show still being on?
New Series - “Apartment 23,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Good Christian Belles,” “Last Man Standing,” “Man Up,” “Missing,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Pan Am,” “Revenge,” “The River,” “Scandal,” “Suburgatory” and “Work It” Join the Lineup
Returning shows - “America’s Funniest Home Videos,...
- 5/18/2011
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
This upcoming television season will also debut a bunch of shows set in the 1960's. I'm sure this new trend is somehow a result of Mad Men's popularity. The Playboy Club will premiere on Mondays at 10pm this Fall on NBC. Eddie Cibrian and Amber Heard star in a drama which "explores the lives of Playboy bunnies toiling at the Playboy Club in 1960s Chicago." Pan Am will premiere on Sundays at 10pm this Fall on ABC. Christina Ricci stars in this new series which promises to be "Mad Men's style meets Grey's Anatomy's entanglements in this thrilling and highly original new drama from producer Nancy Hult Ganis (a former stewardess), writer Jack Orman (ER) and director Tommy Schlamme (The West Wing)." Watch both trailers embedded after the jump. Leave your thoughts in the comments below. The Playboy Club Trailer: The Playboy Club An American icon is born.
- 5/17/2011
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
Earlier we shared ABC's primetime lineup, and now we have some clips from the new drama series for you. Be sure to check out the comedy clips here. The clips include, Pan Am, Charlie's Angels, Once Upon A Time, Revenge, The River, and Scandal. At this time we don't have clips for Missing or Good Christian Belles, but we will post once they are available. I am interested in seeing The River and Once Upon A Time. Watch the clips below and share your thoughts!
Pan Am
Passion, jealousy and espionage... They do it all - and they do it at 30,000 feet. The style of the 1960s, the energy and excitement of the Jet Age and a drama full of sexy entanglements deliciously mesh in this thrilling and highly-original new series. In this modern world, air travel represents the height of luxury and Pan Am is the biggest name in the business.
Pan Am
Passion, jealousy and espionage... They do it all - and they do it at 30,000 feet. The style of the 1960s, the energy and excitement of the Jet Age and a drama full of sexy entanglements deliciously mesh in this thrilling and highly-original new series. In this modern world, air travel represents the height of luxury and Pan Am is the biggest name in the business.
- 5/17/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Before the days of full-body scans, charges for checked luggage and $8 boxes of cheese and crackers, air travel used to be considered glamorous. ABC is hoping to recapture some of that lost era with its new drama "Pan Am."
The series, which will air at 10 p.m. Et Sundays in the fall, focuses on the stewardesses and pilots of Pan Am, the premier airline of the 1960s. It stars Christina Ricci, Kelli Garner ("My Generation"), Margot Robbie ("Neighbours"), Karine Vanasse, Jonah Lotan ("CSI: NY," "24") and Michael Mosley ("Scrubs," "Justified"). "ER" veteran Jack Orman created it and executive produces with director Thomas Schlamme ("The West Wing," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") and Nancy Hult Ganis.
Like NBC's new series "The Playboy Club," "Pan Am" looks like it's trying to find some of the "Mad Men" vibe with its setting and attention to period detail. It also, however, feels like the...
The series, which will air at 10 p.m. Et Sundays in the fall, focuses on the stewardesses and pilots of Pan Am, the premier airline of the 1960s. It stars Christina Ricci, Kelli Garner ("My Generation"), Margot Robbie ("Neighbours"), Karine Vanasse, Jonah Lotan ("CSI: NY," "24") and Michael Mosley ("Scrubs," "Justified"). "ER" veteran Jack Orman created it and executive produces with director Thomas Schlamme ("The West Wing," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") and Nancy Hult Ganis.
Like NBC's new series "The Playboy Club," "Pan Am" looks like it's trying to find some of the "Mad Men" vibe with its setting and attention to period detail. It also, however, feels like the...
- 5/17/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
ABC released its fall schedule on Tuesday which includes five total soaps - Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Pan Am, and Once Upon A Time.
Come midseason, hot new soap Good Christian Belles will premiere along with The River and Scandal. ABC may be canceling its daytime soaps but the genre is alive and well at night.
Here's the lineup for fall:
Monday
8:00 p.m. Dancing With The Stars
10:00 p.m. Castle
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. Last Man Standing (new)
8:30 p.m. Man Up (new)
9:00 p.m. Dancing With The Stars Results Show
10:00 p.m. Body Of Proof
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. The Middle
8:30 p.m. Suburgatory (new)
9:00 p.m. Modern Family
9:30 p.m. Happy Endings
10:00 p.m. Revenge (new)
Thursday
8:00 p.m. Charlie's Angels (new)
9:00 p.m. Grey's Anatomy
10:00 p.m. Private Practice
Friday
8:00 p.
Come midseason, hot new soap Good Christian Belles will premiere along with The River and Scandal. ABC may be canceling its daytime soaps but the genre is alive and well at night.
Here's the lineup for fall:
Monday
8:00 p.m. Dancing With The Stars
10:00 p.m. Castle
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. Last Man Standing (new)
8:30 p.m. Man Up (new)
9:00 p.m. Dancing With The Stars Results Show
10:00 p.m. Body Of Proof
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. The Middle
8:30 p.m. Suburgatory (new)
9:00 p.m. Modern Family
9:30 p.m. Happy Endings
10:00 p.m. Revenge (new)
Thursday
8:00 p.m. Charlie's Angels (new)
9:00 p.m. Grey's Anatomy
10:00 p.m. Private Practice
Friday
8:00 p.
- 5/17/2011
- by We Love Soaps TV
- We Love Soaps
NBC and Fox have both unleashed their Fall 2011-2012 TV schedule, now ABC has released theirs. I’m excited to see Castle, Modern Family, and The Middle back in the mix. Most of the new shows they have line-up don’t really interest me, but there are a few that have caught my eye. PanAm is another 1960’s based TV show that will go against AMC’s Mad Men and NBC’s The Playboy Club. There’s a show called Revenge that sounds really interesting, but the new series I’m most excited about is is the fantasy series Once Upon A Time, a show where fairy tales collide with the modern day.
Here is ABC’s full schedule along with a description of all of their shows. Go through them below and let us know what TV series you’re most excited about seeing.
Day Time Series
Monday:
8:00 p.
Here is ABC’s full schedule along with a description of all of their shows. Go through them below and let us know what TV series you’re most excited about seeing.
Day Time Series
Monday:
8:00 p.
- 5/17/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Chicago – NBC & Fox released their schedules already this week and there are a few interesting highlights, but ABC has released easily the most aggressive and ambitious new slate of programs, which will feature at least one new program five nights a week. Overall, they’re debuting seven new programs in the Fall alone, clearly trying to cement an exciting schedule before the mid-season instead of holding back programs for 2012.
Charlie’s Angels
Photo credit: ABC
As far as returning series go, “Cougar Town” will not return until 2012, allowing the promising “Happy Endings” to move into a great spot, post-“Modern Family.” (Thank you ABC. Thank you.) “Happy Endings” and “Extreme Makover: Home Edition” (which will be on Fridays now) are the only returning shows moving as ABC had enough to worry about with new shows and are keeping “Dancing With the Stars,” “Castle,” “Body of Proof,” “The Middle,” “Modern Family,...
Charlie’s Angels
Photo credit: ABC
As far as returning series go, “Cougar Town” will not return until 2012, allowing the promising “Happy Endings” to move into a great spot, post-“Modern Family.” (Thank you ABC. Thank you.) “Happy Endings” and “Extreme Makover: Home Edition” (which will be on Fridays now) are the only returning shows moving as ABC had enough to worry about with new shows and are keeping “Dancing With the Stars,” “Castle,” “Body of Proof,” “The Middle,” “Modern Family,...
- 5/17/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
ABC hopes 13 is its lucky number. The network has picked up a baker’s dozen new shows to populate its fall and midseason schedule, which includes opening a new comedy block.
Mondays will stay the same with Dancing With the Stars and Castle. Tuesdays will open with a comedy hour that includes Tim Allen’s new sitcom, Last Man Standing, paired with another new comedy, Man Up. Wednesdays adds new comedy Suburgatory, plus soap thriller, Revenge, at 10 p.m., with Cougar Town shifting to midseason and Happy Endings getting the Modern Family lead-in. Charlie’s Angels will go into Thursdays at 8 p.
Mondays will stay the same with Dancing With the Stars and Castle. Tuesdays will open with a comedy hour that includes Tim Allen’s new sitcom, Last Man Standing, paired with another new comedy, Man Up. Wednesdays adds new comedy Suburgatory, plus soap thriller, Revenge, at 10 p.m., with Cougar Town shifting to midseason and Happy Endings getting the Modern Family lead-in. Charlie’s Angels will go into Thursdays at 8 p.
- 5/17/2011
- by James Hibberd
- EW - Inside TV
Deadline is reporting that despite soft ratings for its midseason freshman run, ABC’s comedy Happy Endings will come back next season after the network just renewed it. This is not a surprise as the ensemble relationship comedy has had big support internally at the network.
THR has the latest on the studios cancellations and pick-ups as well.
Cancellations:
V – kind of new that was happening Brothers and Sisters – never seen an episode but it had a big fanbase, one that apparently had been diminishing over the past year. Not good for a pricey show, given the talent.
Pick-Ups:
Charlie’s Angels – A modern take on the 1970s series starring Annie Ilonzeh (Melrose Place), Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood) and Rachael Taylor (Grey’s Anatomy) as Charlie’s (Robert Wagner) new Angels. The Miami-set drama, from Sony Pictures Television, is written by Smallville duo Alfred Gough and Miles Millar...
THR has the latest on the studios cancellations and pick-ups as well.
Cancellations:
V – kind of new that was happening Brothers and Sisters – never seen an episode but it had a big fanbase, one that apparently had been diminishing over the past year. Not good for a pricey show, given the talent.
Pick-Ups:
Charlie’s Angels – A modern take on the 1970s series starring Annie Ilonzeh (Melrose Place), Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood) and Rachael Taylor (Grey’s Anatomy) as Charlie’s (Robert Wagner) new Angels. The Miami-set drama, from Sony Pictures Television, is written by Smallville duo Alfred Gough and Miles Millar...
- 5/13/2011
- by Kevin Coll
- FusedFilm
In her first major TV gig, Christina Ricci has closed a deal to star in ABC's drama pilot Pan Am. The project, from Sony Pictures TV, writer Jack Orman and director Thomas Schlamme, is a sexy soap set against the Jet-Age about pilots and flight attendants working at the iconic Pan Am airline in the 1960s. Ricci, repped by Icm and Management 360, will play the lead, Maggie, a fiery stewardess who is leading a double life - on duty she is a beautiful, perfectly groomed and poised stewardess, and off duty she is earthy, bohemian living among the beatniks and intellectuals of Greenwich Village. Exec producing are Orman, Schlamme and producer Nancy Hult Ganis, a former Pan Am flight attendant. Jaime King is set to co-star opposite Rachel Bilson in CW's drama pilot Hart of Dixie. The project, from writer Leila Gerstein, Wbtv and Fake Empire, is a comedic...
- 3/2/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
ABC has green lit the one-hour period crime drama pilot "Poe" and the jet-setting soap "Pan Am" says The Live Feed.
Warner Bros. Pictures is behind "Poe" which is described as a crime procedural that follows Edgar Allan Poe as the world's first detective, using unconventional methods to investigate dark mysteries in 19th-century Boston.
Chris Hollier penned the script and will serve as supervising producer alongside Dan Lin as executive producer.
"Pan Am" is described as a "sexy soap" that focuses on the stewardesses and pilots, and their adventures.
Jack Orman ("ER") penned the script and Tommy Schlamme will direct the pilot. Schlamme, Orman, Sid Ganis and Nancy Hult Ganis will executive produce.
Warner Bros. Pictures is behind "Poe" which is described as a crime procedural that follows Edgar Allan Poe as the world's first detective, using unconventional methods to investigate dark mysteries in 19th-century Boston.
Chris Hollier penned the script and will serve as supervising producer alongside Dan Lin as executive producer.
"Pan Am" is described as a "sexy soap" that focuses on the stewardesses and pilots, and their adventures.
Jack Orman ("ER") penned the script and Tommy Schlamme will direct the pilot. Schlamme, Orman, Sid Ganis and Nancy Hult Ganis will executive produce.
- 1/26/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
ABC greenlit four pilots Tuesday, including one following Pan Am pilots in the '60s and another re-imagining writer Edgar Allen Poe as a detective.
Pan Am is described as a prime time soap chronicling the adventures of stewardesses and pilots during the Jet Age of the late '50s and early '60s. Jack Orman (ER) wrote the pilot and will executive produce with Nancy Hult Ganis and Tommy Schlamme (The West Wing). Schlamme will direct the pilot.
NBC developing drama set in Playboy clubs
Following the critical and commercial success of...
Read More >...
Pan Am is described as a prime time soap chronicling the adventures of stewardesses and pilots during the Jet Age of the late '50s and early '60s. Jack Orman (ER) wrote the pilot and will executive produce with Nancy Hult Ganis and Tommy Schlamme (The West Wing). Schlamme will direct the pilot.
NBC developing drama set in Playboy clubs
Following the critical and commercial success of...
Read More >...
- 1/25/2011
- by Kate Stanhope
- TVGuide - Breaking News
Update 1:40 Pm: After just picking up a period soap, Pan Am, ABC has also greenlighted a period Pi show. In its second drama pilot order today and fourth overall, the network has picked up Poe, a crime procedural following Edgar Allan Poe, the world's very first detective, as he uses unconventional methods to investigate dark mysteries in 1840s Boston. Chris Hollier (Kyle Xy) penned the project for Warner Bros. TV and Lin Pictures. He will be supervising producer, with Dan Lin executive producing. It has been a very intriguing pilot pickup day at ABC with two pretty bold drama choices -- unconventional takes on familiar franchises: soap, detective show -- and two more conventional multicamera comedy picks. Update 12:40Pm As expected, it is a busy pickup day at ABC. The network just gave the green light to period drama pilot Pan Am, from Sony Pictures TV and ER alum Jack Orman.
- 1/25/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will receive a lifetime achievement award from the ICG Publicists.
Ganis, who is co-head of the Out of the Blue production company, will be feted Feb. 7 at the publicists' 44th annual awards luncheon at the Beverly Hilton. He is in his 20th year as an Academy member, representing AMPAS' public relations branch.
"Sid reflects the highest standards of the public relations professional," said Henri Bollinger, award committee chairman for the ICG Publicists. "His background in marketing has also led him to become a successful producer and an effective advocate for the entire film industry."
Ganis has produced movies including Mr. Deeds, Big Daddy and Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo at Out of the Blue. Most recently, he and wife Nancy Hult Ganis were among the producers on Akeelah and the Bee.
Past recipients of the publicists' lifetime achievement award include Julie Andrews, Clint Eastwood, Warren Beatty and longtime Variety columnist Army Archerd.
Ganis, who is co-head of the Out of the Blue production company, will be feted Feb. 7 at the publicists' 44th annual awards luncheon at the Beverly Hilton. He is in his 20th year as an Academy member, representing AMPAS' public relations branch.
"Sid reflects the highest standards of the public relations professional," said Henri Bollinger, award committee chairman for the ICG Publicists. "His background in marketing has also led him to become a successful producer and an effective advocate for the entire film industry."
Ganis has produced movies including Mr. Deeds, Big Daddy and Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo at Out of the Blue. Most recently, he and wife Nancy Hult Ganis were among the producers on Akeelah and the Bee.
Past recipients of the publicists' lifetime achievement award include Julie Andrews, Clint Eastwood, Warren Beatty and longtime Variety columnist Army Archerd.
- 11/29/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will receive a lifetime achievement award from the ICG Publicists.
Ganis, who is co-head of the Out of the Blue production company, will be feted Feb. 7 at the publicists' 44th annual awards luncheon at the Beverly Hilton. He is in his 20th year as an Academy member, representing AMPAS' public relations branch.
"Sid reflects the highest standards of the public relations professional," said Henri Bollinger, award committee chairman for the ICG Publicists. "His background in marketing has also led him to become a successful producer and an effective advocate for the entire film industry."
Ganis has produced movies including Mr. Deeds, Big Daddy and Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo at Out of the Blue. Most recently, he and wife Nancy Hult Ganis were among the producers on Akeelah and the Bee.
Past recipients of the publicists' lifetime achievement award include Julie Andrews, Clint Eastwood, Warren Beatty and longtime Variety columnist Army Archerd.
Ganis, who is co-head of the Out of the Blue production company, will be feted Feb. 7 at the publicists' 44th annual awards luncheon at the Beverly Hilton. He is in his 20th year as an Academy member, representing AMPAS' public relations branch.
"Sid reflects the highest standards of the public relations professional," said Henri Bollinger, award committee chairman for the ICG Publicists. "His background in marketing has also led him to become a successful producer and an effective advocate for the entire film industry."
Ganis has produced movies including Mr. Deeds, Big Daddy and Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo at Out of the Blue. Most recently, he and wife Nancy Hult Ganis were among the producers on Akeelah and the Bee.
Past recipients of the publicists' lifetime achievement award include Julie Andrews, Clint Eastwood, Warren Beatty and longtime Variety columnist Army Archerd.
- 11/28/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
During the course of the half-dozen years it has taken Doug Atchison's "Akeelah and the Bee" to go from script to screen, that old schoolhouse standby known as the spelling bee suddenly became hot property, informing everything from the documentary "Spellbound" to the novel/film "Bee Season" to the hit Broadway musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."
Arriving in that aftermath, Atchison's heartfelt drama about an 11-year-old black girl from South Central L.A. who expertly faces down the multisyllabics at the Scripps National Spelling Bee can't help but feel a bit played out despite its empowering message and nice performances.
Such subject matter would, back in the day, have made for a swell "ABC Afterschool Special", but as a significant moviegoing draw, suffice it to say the future isn't looking exactly pulchritudinous.
Effectively anchoring the picture is Keke Palmer's lovely lead performance as Akeelah Anderson, a bright, highly articulate kid who's a terror in Scrabble but an underachiever in the classroom.
Taken under the wing of the sternly professorial but soft-spoken Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne), Akeelah ascends the spelling competition ladder leading to a hard-earned spot in the big event despite the objections of her hard-working, widowed mother (Angela Bassett), who would seem to have a bee in her bonnet.
Akeelah ultimately earns her seat in the Washington Hyatt Grand Ballroom, but Will She go the distance to become a motivating force for her family, friends and general community at large?
Word.
Adhering closely to the inspirational film playbook, Atchison hits all the essential emotional posts, but even if certain scenes have a weakness for the overly purposeful, this stuff can still click effectively with audiences, especially with an accomplished cast.
While Fishburne and Bassett, who worked together in "What's Love Got to Do With It", bring the required weight to their respective roles, the film does particularly well by the effervescent performances of its juvenile cast. In addition to Palmer's bright work, young JR Villarreal demonstrates some natural comic timing as Javier, an easygoing spelling bee veteran from Woodland Hills who shows her the ropes.
Behind the scenes, M. David Mullen's photography is clean and crisp, while editor Glenn Farr ("The Right Stuff") orchestrates all that spelling quite efficaciously.
Akeelah and the Bee
Lionsgate
A Lionsgate, 2929 Prods. and Starbucks Entertainment presentation ofan Out of the Blue Entertainment and Reactor Films production
in association with Cinema Gypsy Productions Inc.
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Doug Atchison
Producers: Nancy Hult Ganis, Sid Ganis, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Romersa, Danny Llewelyn
Executive producers: Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban, Marc Butan, Helen Sugland, Michael Burns, Michael Paseornek, Tom Ortenberg
Director of photography: M. David Mullen
Production designer: Warren Alan Young
Editor: Glenn Farr
Costume designer: Sharen Davis
Music: Aaron Zigman
Cast:
Dr. Larabee: Laurence Fishburne
Tanya: Angela Bassett
Akeelah: Keke Palmer
Mr. Welch: Curtis Armstrong
Javier: JR Villarreal
Dylan: Sean Michael Afable
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 112 minutes...
Arriving in that aftermath, Atchison's heartfelt drama about an 11-year-old black girl from South Central L.A. who expertly faces down the multisyllabics at the Scripps National Spelling Bee can't help but feel a bit played out despite its empowering message and nice performances.
Such subject matter would, back in the day, have made for a swell "ABC Afterschool Special", but as a significant moviegoing draw, suffice it to say the future isn't looking exactly pulchritudinous.
Effectively anchoring the picture is Keke Palmer's lovely lead performance as Akeelah Anderson, a bright, highly articulate kid who's a terror in Scrabble but an underachiever in the classroom.
Taken under the wing of the sternly professorial but soft-spoken Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne), Akeelah ascends the spelling competition ladder leading to a hard-earned spot in the big event despite the objections of her hard-working, widowed mother (Angela Bassett), who would seem to have a bee in her bonnet.
Akeelah ultimately earns her seat in the Washington Hyatt Grand Ballroom, but Will She go the distance to become a motivating force for her family, friends and general community at large?
Word.
Adhering closely to the inspirational film playbook, Atchison hits all the essential emotional posts, but even if certain scenes have a weakness for the overly purposeful, this stuff can still click effectively with audiences, especially with an accomplished cast.
While Fishburne and Bassett, who worked together in "What's Love Got to Do With It", bring the required weight to their respective roles, the film does particularly well by the effervescent performances of its juvenile cast. In addition to Palmer's bright work, young JR Villarreal demonstrates some natural comic timing as Javier, an easygoing spelling bee veteran from Woodland Hills who shows her the ropes.
Behind the scenes, M. David Mullen's photography is clean and crisp, while editor Glenn Farr ("The Right Stuff") orchestrates all that spelling quite efficaciously.
Akeelah and the Bee
Lionsgate
A Lionsgate, 2929 Prods. and Starbucks Entertainment presentation ofan Out of the Blue Entertainment and Reactor Films production
in association with Cinema Gypsy Productions Inc.
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Doug Atchison
Producers: Nancy Hult Ganis, Sid Ganis, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Romersa, Danny Llewelyn
Executive producers: Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban, Marc Butan, Helen Sugland, Michael Burns, Michael Paseornek, Tom Ortenberg
Director of photography: M. David Mullen
Production designer: Warren Alan Young
Editor: Glenn Farr
Costume designer: Sharen Davis
Music: Aaron Zigman
Cast:
Dr. Larabee: Laurence Fishburne
Tanya: Angela Bassett
Akeelah: Keke Palmer
Mr. Welch: Curtis Armstrong
Javier: JR Villarreal
Dylan: Sean Michael Afable
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 112 minutes...
- 3/22/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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