The 2022 Sundance Film Festival arguably was among the best years for recent breakout filmmakers. Several new filmmakers jumped out as promising voices: Cooper Raiff with “Cha Cha Smooth,” Nikyatu Jusu with “Nanny,” and Julian Higgins with “God’s Country.” But arguably, the film that popped the most, perhaps because of its second life on Netflix and streaming services, was John Patton Ford’s “Emily The Criminal” starring Aubrey Plaza.
Continue reading Margaret Qualley, Glenn Powell & Ed Harris Join A24’s ‘Huntington’ From Director John Patton Ford at The Playlist.
Continue reading Margaret Qualley, Glenn Powell & Ed Harris Join A24’s ‘Huntington’ From Director John Patton Ford at The Playlist.
- 5/1/2024
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Alex Russell, whose writing credits include FX’s “Dave” and “The Bear” and Netflix’s “Beef,” is making his directorial debut with the upcoming thriller “Lurker,” starring and Théodore Pellerin (“Never Rarely Sometimes Always”) and Archie Madekwe (“Saltburn”).
Havana Rose Liu, Sunny Suljic, Daniel Zolghadri and Zack Fox round out the cast of “Lurker,” which follows a retail employee (Pellerin) who infiltrates the inner circle of an artist on the verge of stardom (Madekwe). As he gets closer to the budding music star, access and proximity become a matter of life and death.
WME Independent will represent worldwide sales for the film, which begins shooting this spring.
Pellerin’s credits include Philippe Lesage’s “Genesis,” Eliza Hittman’s “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” and Joel Edgerton’s “Boy Erased.”
Last year Madekwe starred as Farleigh Start in Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn” and as Jann Mardenborough in Sony’s “Gran Turismo.” His...
Havana Rose Liu, Sunny Suljic, Daniel Zolghadri and Zack Fox round out the cast of “Lurker,” which follows a retail employee (Pellerin) who infiltrates the inner circle of an artist on the verge of stardom (Madekwe). As he gets closer to the budding music star, access and proximity become a matter of life and death.
WME Independent will represent worldwide sales for the film, which begins shooting this spring.
Pellerin’s credits include Philippe Lesage’s “Genesis,” Eliza Hittman’s “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” and Joel Edgerton’s “Boy Erased.”
Last year Madekwe starred as Farleigh Start in Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn” and as Jann Mardenborough in Sony’s “Gran Turismo.” His...
- 3/25/2024
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Riverdale stars Camila Mendes, Lili Reinhart and Madelaine Petsch (Picture Credit: Instagram)
It has been six months since Riverdale ended. The CW supernatural teenage show had quite a long run of seven seasons. From romance to murder mystery to horror elements, the series had everything. Based on Archie Comics, the show stars Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse, Camila Mendes, Kj Apa, Madelaine Petsch, Vanessa Morgan, Casey Cott and others.
Riverdale’s storyline always perplexed the audience. Sometimes, it made sense, and most of the time, none of it made sense. However, the show gave us unique talents and solid friendships. Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes and Madelaine Petsch are one such trio who became good friends on the sets. The ladies often shared beautiful pictures and cool TikTok videos.
So, has anything changed ever since the show ended? Did their friendship change, and is the cast still connected via group chat? Camila has answered these burning questions.
It has been six months since Riverdale ended. The CW supernatural teenage show had quite a long run of seven seasons. From romance to murder mystery to horror elements, the series had everything. Based on Archie Comics, the show stars Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse, Camila Mendes, Kj Apa, Madelaine Petsch, Vanessa Morgan, Casey Cott and others.
Riverdale’s storyline always perplexed the audience. Sometimes, it made sense, and most of the time, none of it made sense. However, the show gave us unique talents and solid friendships. Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes and Madelaine Petsch are one such trio who became good friends on the sets. The ladies often shared beautiful pictures and cool TikTok videos.
So, has anything changed ever since the show ended? Did their friendship change, and is the cast still connected via group chat? Camila has answered these burning questions.
- 2/17/2024
- by Pooja Darade
- KoiMoi
Exclusive: Dylan Gelula (Dream Scenario) has joined Paramount Pictures’ untitled sequel to Smile, the 2022 horror thriller from Parker Finn, which went on to outsized success in theaters after initially being set to debut on Paramount+.
The actress joins an ensemble that also includes Naomi Scott, Lukas Gage, Kyle Gallner and Rosemarie DeWitt, as previously announced.
Details as to the plot and cast members’ roles are under wraps. But Finn has returned to direct from his own script, with Temple Hill producing. The sequel is slated for release on October 18, 2024, when it will go up against an unnamed title from Universal Pictures.
Grossing over $217M at the worldwide box office, Smile was one of the great, unexpected box office successes of 2022. One of a number of original studio horror films of late to expand into a franchise, pic tells the story of Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), a psychiatrist who becomes...
The actress joins an ensemble that also includes Naomi Scott, Lukas Gage, Kyle Gallner and Rosemarie DeWitt, as previously announced.
Details as to the plot and cast members’ roles are under wraps. But Finn has returned to direct from his own script, with Temple Hill producing. The sequel is slated for release on October 18, 2024, when it will go up against an unnamed title from Universal Pictures.
Grossing over $217M at the worldwide box office, Smile was one of the great, unexpected box office successes of 2022. One of a number of original studio horror films of late to expand into a franchise, pic tells the story of Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), a psychiatrist who becomes...
- 2/12/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Dakota Johnson is calling out Hollywood for being “afraid” to greenlight and distribute indie films.
The “Madame Web” actress and TeaTime producer told L’Officiel that she finds it “really fucking bleak” that executives, especially at streaming services, aren’t willing to to take a risk on smaller budget original movies.
“We made a movie called ‘Daddio’ that was sold at Telluride to Sony Classics, which was amazing, but it took a lot of fighting to get that made,” Johnson said. “People are just so afraid, and I’m like, why? What’s going to happen if you do something brave? It just feels like nobody knows what to do and everyone’s afraid. That’s what it feels like. Everyone who makes decisions is afraid. They want to do the safe thing, and the safe thing is really boring.”
Johnson continued, “I am discovering that it’s really fucking bleak in this industry.
The “Madame Web” actress and TeaTime producer told L’Officiel that she finds it “really fucking bleak” that executives, especially at streaming services, aren’t willing to to take a risk on smaller budget original movies.
“We made a movie called ‘Daddio’ that was sold at Telluride to Sony Classics, which was amazing, but it took a lot of fighting to get that made,” Johnson said. “People are just so afraid, and I’m like, why? What’s going to happen if you do something brave? It just feels like nobody knows what to do and everyone’s afraid. That’s what it feels like. Everyone who makes decisions is afraid. They want to do the safe thing, and the safe thing is really boring.”
Johnson continued, “I am discovering that it’s really fucking bleak in this industry.
- 2/7/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Bosnian-Dutch writer and director Ena Sendijarević has signed with Black Bear’s management arm.
Sendijarević’s second feature “Sweet Dreams” was selected as the official Dutch submission for this year’s Academy Awards and deemed a “startlingly accomplished sophomore film” by Variety. She was also one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch for 2024.
Sendijarević’s feature debut, “Take Me Somewhere Nice,” an absurdist European road trip movie, won the Special Jury award at the 48th International Film Festival in Rotterdam, as well as the “Heart of Sarajevo” award at the 25th Sarajevo Film Festival. The film was then selected for the 72nd Cannes Film Festival Acid selection. Sendijarević has also made several short films, the latest of which, “Import,” had its world premiere in Cannes’ Director’s Fortnight section and was the official Dutch entry for Live Action Short Film at the 89th Academy Awards.
Next for Sendijarević is “The Possessed,...
Sendijarević’s second feature “Sweet Dreams” was selected as the official Dutch submission for this year’s Academy Awards and deemed a “startlingly accomplished sophomore film” by Variety. She was also one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch for 2024.
Sendijarević’s feature debut, “Take Me Somewhere Nice,” an absurdist European road trip movie, won the Special Jury award at the 48th International Film Festival in Rotterdam, as well as the “Heart of Sarajevo” award at the 25th Sarajevo Film Festival. The film was then selected for the 72nd Cannes Film Festival Acid selection. Sendijarević has also made several short films, the latest of which, “Import,” had its world premiere in Cannes’ Director’s Fortnight section and was the official Dutch entry for Live Action Short Film at the 89th Academy Awards.
Next for Sendijarević is “The Possessed,...
- 1/30/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Mubi has unveiled their February 2024 lineup, featuring Roy Andersson’s little-seen 1991 short World of Glory, Nicole Holofcener’s Lovely & Amazing starring Catherine Keener with an early Jake Gyllenhaal performance, and special Black History Month selections: Spike Lee’s Red Hook Summer, Kasi Lemmon’s Eve’s Bayou, Carl Franklin’s One False Move, and more.
Check out the lineup below, including recently added January titles, and get 30 days free here.
Just-Added
American Movie, directed by Christopher Smith | Festival Focus: Sundance
Pieces of April, directed by Peter Hedges | Festival Focus: Sundance
The Blair Witch Project, directed by Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez | Festival Focus: Sundance
But I’m a Cheerleader, directed by Jamie Babbit | Festival Focus: Sundance
Secretary, directed by Steven Shainberg | Festival Focus: Sundance
Medicine for Melancholy directed by Barry Jenkins | First Films First
Antiviral, directed by Brandon Cronenberg | First Films First
Shithouse, directed by Cooper Raiff | First Films First
Age of Panic,...
Check out the lineup below, including recently added January titles, and get 30 days free here.
Just-Added
American Movie, directed by Christopher Smith | Festival Focus: Sundance
Pieces of April, directed by Peter Hedges | Festival Focus: Sundance
The Blair Witch Project, directed by Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez | Festival Focus: Sundance
But I’m a Cheerleader, directed by Jamie Babbit | Festival Focus: Sundance
Secretary, directed by Steven Shainberg | Festival Focus: Sundance
Medicine for Melancholy directed by Barry Jenkins | First Films First
Antiviral, directed by Brandon Cronenberg | First Films First
Shithouse, directed by Cooper Raiff | First Films First
Age of Panic,...
- 1/25/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Kerry Howley, a screenwriter, author and essayist, has signed with Black Bear for representation. The news comes as Howley is about to make waves at Sundance, where “Winner,” a comedic coming-of-age story that she wrote, is going to debut. Howley adapted the story from her own New York Magazine profile on Reality Winner, an Air Force vet and Nsa translator who leaked an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. The film is directed by Susanna Fogel (“Cat Person”). It stars Emilia Jones, Connie Britton and Zach Galifianakis. “Winner” will debut in Sundance’s Premieres section.
Howley authored the non-fiction book “Bottom’s Up and The Devil Laughs,” which was recently picked as a New York Times 2023 Top Ten Book of the Year and a Vanity Fair Best Book of the Year. She is currently a staff writer at New York Magazine, most recently contributing the cover...
Howley authored the non-fiction book “Bottom’s Up and The Devil Laughs,” which was recently picked as a New York Times 2023 Top Ten Book of the Year and a Vanity Fair Best Book of the Year. She is currently a staff writer at New York Magazine, most recently contributing the cover...
- 1/16/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Emmy winner Brad Garrett is set as a new series regular opposite Gina Rodriguez in the upcoming second season of ABC’s comedy series Not Dead Yet.
From creators David Windsor and Casey Johnson, Not Dead Yet is based on Alexandra Potter’s 2020 book Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up. It follows Nell Serrano (Rodriguez), a broke and newly single self-described disaster who writes obituaries at her local newspaper alongside her best friend and her nemesis boss. The twist…she can see the dead people she’s writing about, and they offer her life advice – whether she wants it or not.
Garrett will play Duncan Rhodes, the owner/publisher of the SoCal Independent newspaper, among many other successful businesses. He is also the father of Nell’s boss Lexi (Lauren Ash). Duncan is a total master of the universe. He has exuberant confidence and charisma and at the...
From creators David Windsor and Casey Johnson, Not Dead Yet is based on Alexandra Potter’s 2020 book Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up. It follows Nell Serrano (Rodriguez), a broke and newly single self-described disaster who writes obituaries at her local newspaper alongside her best friend and her nemesis boss. The twist…she can see the dead people she’s writing about, and they offer her life advice – whether she wants it or not.
Garrett will play Duncan Rhodes, the owner/publisher of the SoCal Independent newspaper, among many other successful businesses. He is also the father of Nell’s boss Lexi (Lauren Ash). Duncan is a total master of the universe. He has exuberant confidence and charisma and at the...
- 12/13/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Fusion Entertainment has signed Bria Vinaite, an actress who got her breakout role as a woman living on the economic fringes in Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project.”
The Lithuania-born actress was discovered by filmmaker Baker when she was working in the fashion industry and cast in the lead part of a struggling single mother raising her daughter in a motel. Her performance earned Vinaite multiple award nominations from critics groups including Chicago Film Critics Association and San Diego Film Critics Association.
Since “The Florida Project” debuted in 2017, Vinaite has gone on to act in TV series including “The Oa” and films such as “Balance Not Symmetry” and “Lost in Transmissions.” Next year, she will star in “Pandemonium,” the latest feature from Icelandic filmmaker Anton Sigurdsson. It follows a group of wealthy New Yorkers trapped at a wellness retreat run by a nefarious guru. The film shoots in New Jersey...
The Lithuania-born actress was discovered by filmmaker Baker when she was working in the fashion industry and cast in the lead part of a struggling single mother raising her daughter in a motel. Her performance earned Vinaite multiple award nominations from critics groups including Chicago Film Critics Association and San Diego Film Critics Association.
Since “The Florida Project” debuted in 2017, Vinaite has gone on to act in TV series including “The Oa” and films such as “Balance Not Symmetry” and “Lost in Transmissions.” Next year, she will star in “Pandemonium,” the latest feature from Icelandic filmmaker Anton Sigurdsson. It follows a group of wealthy New Yorkers trapped at a wellness retreat run by a nefarious guru. The film shoots in New Jersey...
- 12/1/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Black Bear’s management arm has signed the Swedish actor and model Simon Lööf for representation.
Lööf is currently on set in the lead role of Netflix’s Swedish thriller An Honest Life, directed by Mikael Marcimain, which is due to be released globally 2024.
Based on a thriller by Joakim Zander of the same name, the buzzed about production revolves around a disillusioned law school student who finds himself on the wrong side of the law, when he falls under the thrall of an anarchic, young woman he meets a political demonstration.
Simon Lööf made his acting debut in 2020 in teen ice hockey drama Eagles, which he followed with a co-starring role in the critically acclaimed Swedish series Threesome opposite Matilda Källström.
Aside from An Honest Life, Lööf’s will soon be seen in the series So Long, Marianne about the relationship between...
Lööf is currently on set in the lead role of Netflix’s Swedish thriller An Honest Life, directed by Mikael Marcimain, which is due to be released globally 2024.
Based on a thriller by Joakim Zander of the same name, the buzzed about production revolves around a disillusioned law school student who finds himself on the wrong side of the law, when he falls under the thrall of an anarchic, young woman he meets a political demonstration.
Simon Lööf made his acting debut in 2020 in teen ice hockey drama Eagles, which he followed with a co-starring role in the critically acclaimed Swedish series Threesome opposite Matilda Källström.
Aside from An Honest Life, Lööf’s will soon be seen in the series So Long, Marianne about the relationship between...
- 11/8/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
With her upcoming Marvel/Sony superhero feature "Madame Web" releasing February 16, 2024, actress Dakota Johnson, the daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, is no stranger to posing for fashion photographers and international magazine covers:
"...Johnson's breakthrough role was playing 'Anastasia Steele' in the erotic romantic drama film series "Fifty Shades" (2015–2018)...
"...and received a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination in 2016.
"Johnson then appeared in films "Black Mass" (2015)...
"...Luca Guadagnino's drama "A Bigger Splash" (2015)...
"...the romantic comedy "How to Be Single" (2016)...
"...the supernatural horror film "Suspiria" (2018)...
"...the thriller "Bad Times at the El Royale" (2018)...
"...the coming-of-age film "The Peanut Butter Falcon" (2019)...
"...Maggie Gyllenhaal's psychological drama "The Lost Daughter" (2021)...
"...and Cooper Raiff's "Cha Cha Real Smooth" (2022).
"February 2022, Johnson was cast as 'Madame Web' in the upcoming superhero film of the same name, set in Sony's 'Spider-Man Universe'.
Click the images to enlarge...
"...Johnson's breakthrough role was playing 'Anastasia Steele' in the erotic romantic drama film series "Fifty Shades" (2015–2018)...
"...and received a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination in 2016.
"Johnson then appeared in films "Black Mass" (2015)...
"...Luca Guadagnino's drama "A Bigger Splash" (2015)...
"...the romantic comedy "How to Be Single" (2016)...
"...the supernatural horror film "Suspiria" (2018)...
"...the thriller "Bad Times at the El Royale" (2018)...
"...the coming-of-age film "The Peanut Butter Falcon" (2019)...
"...Maggie Gyllenhaal's psychological drama "The Lost Daughter" (2021)...
"...and Cooper Raiff's "Cha Cha Real Smooth" (2022).
"February 2022, Johnson was cast as 'Madame Web' in the upcoming superhero film of the same name, set in Sony's 'Spider-Man Universe'.
Click the images to enlarge...
- 10/29/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Exclusive: Fusion Entertainment has signed Monica Sorelle (director and co-writer), Robert Colom (co-writer and producer) and Chris Renois (actor), the trio behind the acclaimed independent drama Mountains.
The film premiered at Tribeca Festival, where it received Special Jury Mention for Best Narrative Film. It also won the audience award at BlackStar and was an official selection at the Toronto Film Festival. Mountains has garnered glowing reviews, with Deadline calling it “Affecting and meditative… An enormously impressive feature debut. It will have its Los Angeles premiere at the upcoming AFI Fest.
Mountains marks the debut feature of Miami-based Haitian-American writer-director Sorelle, also a producer and visual artist who worked in the casting department on Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight. The film is a loving look at the intergenerational frictions within a Haitian-American family in a rapidly gentrifying Miami, exploring the desires and conflicts of three main characters: Xavier (Atibon Nazaire), a middle-aged demolition...
The film premiered at Tribeca Festival, where it received Special Jury Mention for Best Narrative Film. It also won the audience award at BlackStar and was an official selection at the Toronto Film Festival. Mountains has garnered glowing reviews, with Deadline calling it “Affecting and meditative… An enormously impressive feature debut. It will have its Los Angeles premiere at the upcoming AFI Fest.
Mountains marks the debut feature of Miami-based Haitian-American writer-director Sorelle, also a producer and visual artist who worked in the casting department on Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight. The film is a loving look at the intergenerational frictions within a Haitian-American family in a rapidly gentrifying Miami, exploring the desires and conflicts of three main characters: Xavier (Atibon Nazaire), a middle-aged demolition...
- 10/23/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Black Bear’s management arm has signed award-winning Quebec director Sophie Dupuis for representation. Most recently, Dupuis’ third picture, “Solo,” premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the award for best Canadian film. The film, which was written and directed by Dupuis, stars fellow Black Bear client Théodore Pellerin. It is set in Montreal’s drag queen scene.
Critics embraced the film with SlashFilm calling it “a vibrant portrait of queer nightlife” and the Toronto Star praising the work as a “dexterous film that combines bold images with the quiet beat of a heart torn asunder two ways.”
Dupuis’ previous work, which also showcases her impactful storytelling and her focus on human complexity, has been widely lauded. Her feature film debut, the crime drama “Family First,” earned four Canadian Screen Awards. It was selected as Canada’s submission for best foreign language film at the 2018 Academy Awards.
Critics embraced the film with SlashFilm calling it “a vibrant portrait of queer nightlife” and the Toronto Star praising the work as a “dexterous film that combines bold images with the quiet beat of a heart torn asunder two ways.”
Dupuis’ previous work, which also showcases her impactful storytelling and her focus on human complexity, has been widely lauded. Her feature film debut, the crime drama “Family First,” earned four Canadian Screen Awards. It was selected as Canada’s submission for best foreign language film at the 2018 Academy Awards.
- 10/12/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Fusion Entertainment has signed on to manage Joanna Arnow, an acclaimed acclaimed writer, director, actor and editor whose narrative feature debut “The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed” impressed audiences and critics when it debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in the Directors Fortnight section. The film was later acquired by Magnolia Pictures. It will be released domestically in 2024 after having its U.S. premiere this week at the New York Film Festival
This puts Arnow under the same management team as “Red Rocket” and “The Florida Project” filmmaker Sean Baker, who was an executive producer on the film.
Arnow also joins a roster of notable multi-hyphenates including “She Dies Tomorrow” filmmaker Amy Seimetz, “Cha Cha Real Smooth” director, writer and star Cooper Raiff, and”Saint Frances” writer and star Kelly O’Sullivan. Other notable Fusion management clients include: “Triangle of Sadness” breakout Dolly De Leon; writer-directors-producers Greg Kwedar and Clint Benley,...
This puts Arnow under the same management team as “Red Rocket” and “The Florida Project” filmmaker Sean Baker, who was an executive producer on the film.
Arnow also joins a roster of notable multi-hyphenates including “She Dies Tomorrow” filmmaker Amy Seimetz, “Cha Cha Real Smooth” director, writer and star Cooper Raiff, and”Saint Frances” writer and star Kelly O’Sullivan. Other notable Fusion management clients include: “Triangle of Sadness” breakout Dolly De Leon; writer-directors-producers Greg Kwedar and Clint Benley,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The Walking Dead spinoffs Daryl Dixon and The Ones Who Live and Interview with a Vampire are set to resume production after AMC Networks struck agreements with SAG-AFTRA.
The three shows are part of interim agreements with the Breaking Bad broadcaster that will allow filming to resume on the three high-profile series.
It’s understood that these agreements are specific to these three shows, rather than a blanket agreement between the company and the guild. AMC Networks, which produces the shows via AMC Studios, confirmed the waivers to Deadline, but didn’t comment further. AMC Networks is a member of the AMPTP but is not among the studios involved in the negotiations.
They mark the most significant television properties to strike such an agreement since the actors walked out. Other series on the interim agreement list include faith series The Chosen, Apple’s Tehran, which was handed an agreement due to its international nature,...
The three shows are part of interim agreements with the Breaking Bad broadcaster that will allow filming to resume on the three high-profile series.
It’s understood that these agreements are specific to these three shows, rather than a blanket agreement between the company and the guild. AMC Networks, which produces the shows via AMC Studios, confirmed the waivers to Deadline, but didn’t comment further. AMC Networks is a member of the AMPTP but is not among the studios involved in the negotiations.
They mark the most significant television properties to strike such an agreement since the actors walked out. Other series on the interim agreement list include faith series The Chosen, Apple’s Tehran, which was handed an agreement due to its international nature,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Peter White and Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Adam Sandler long ago perfected the art of working with his friends. So what’s next? Now, he’s taking that same approach of working with people he already knows and loves to generate a platform, through his Happy Madison production shingle and streaming giant Netflix, for his own daughters Sunny and Sadie Sandler to shine.
Is it still nepotism if it’s this blatant? Probably — but in an added twist, Sandler’s choice to bolster his daughters comes with a pleasant surprise: it works, and well.
Directed by Sammi Cohen, this new entry in the Sandler-family-business model, “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” is an endearing take on the coming-of-age tween film, with a heavy dose of religion — in the best way. Sunny Sandler stars as Stacy, a sweet 13-year-old who dreams of a blow-out bash bat mitzvah, one heavy on the New York City influences and Lmfao bangers,...
Is it still nepotism if it’s this blatant? Probably — but in an added twist, Sandler’s choice to bolster his daughters comes with a pleasant surprise: it works, and well.
Directed by Sammi Cohen, this new entry in the Sandler-family-business model, “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” is an endearing take on the coming-of-age tween film, with a heavy dose of religion — in the best way. Sunny Sandler stars as Stacy, a sweet 13-year-old who dreams of a blow-out bash bat mitzvah, one heavy on the New York City influences and Lmfao bangers,...
- 8/23/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Lili Reinhart, Cooper Raiff and Mark Ruffalo are set to headline Hal & Harper, an independent television series from Cha Cha Real Smooth filmmaker and star Raiff, Deadline has learned.
(L-r) Addison Timlin and Havana Rose Liu
According to sources, Addison Timlin (Blackout) and Havana Rose Liu (No Exit) also have been cast in the show, written and directed by Raiff, which landed a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement a couple of weeks ago. The came before the guild on Monday modified its interim agreement policy to exclude WGA-covered projects shot in the U.S. Reps for everyone involved declined comment.
On SAG-AFTRA’s official list of films and TV series granted interim agreements, Hal & Harper is listed as being produced by Bad Bangs LLC.
There are no official details about the series, which is said to be a comedic family drama. Raiff has spoken about Hal & Harper, which has been a...
(L-r) Addison Timlin and Havana Rose Liu
According to sources, Addison Timlin (Blackout) and Havana Rose Liu (No Exit) also have been cast in the show, written and directed by Raiff, which landed a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement a couple of weeks ago. The came before the guild on Monday modified its interim agreement policy to exclude WGA-covered projects shot in the U.S. Reps for everyone involved declined comment.
On SAG-AFTRA’s official list of films and TV series granted interim agreements, Hal & Harper is listed as being produced by Bad Bangs LLC.
There are no official details about the series, which is said to be a comedic family drama. Raiff has spoken about Hal & Harper, which has been a...
- 8/16/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Humanitas, the organization that annually honors film and television writers whose work best explores the human condition, has revealed its 2023 winners.
Among the prizewinners is Craig Mazin, who scripted Season 1 The Last of Us episode “Long Long Time” that starred Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett. Mazin won in the Drama Teleplay category, beating out fellow semifinalists that included Peter Gould who was up for the series-finale episode of Better Call Saul.
Other Humanitas category winners in TV included Amy Sherman-Palladino for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Comedy Teleplay), and Tony Phelan & Joan Rater for the pilot of A Small Light in Limited Series.
On the movie side, winners included Tyler Perry for his Tyler Perry: A Jazzman’s Blues in the Drama Feature Film category, over Rebecca Lenkiewicz for She Said and Michael Reilly & Keith Beauchamp and Chinonye Chukwu for Till. Cooper Raiff won Comedy Feature Film for his indie Cha Cha Real Smooth,...
Among the prizewinners is Craig Mazin, who scripted Season 1 The Last of Us episode “Long Long Time” that starred Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett. Mazin won in the Drama Teleplay category, beating out fellow semifinalists that included Peter Gould who was up for the series-finale episode of Better Call Saul.
Other Humanitas category winners in TV included Amy Sherman-Palladino for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Comedy Teleplay), and Tony Phelan & Joan Rater for the pilot of A Small Light in Limited Series.
On the movie side, winners included Tyler Perry for his Tyler Perry: A Jazzman’s Blues in the Drama Feature Film category, over Rebecca Lenkiewicz for She Said and Michael Reilly & Keith Beauchamp and Chinonye Chukwu for Till. Cooper Raiff won Comedy Feature Film for his indie Cha Cha Real Smooth,...
- 8/16/2023
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
This year’s Humanitas Prizes for screenwriting, usually handed out at Beverly Hilton ceremony, were announced via the Los Angeles Times this year in solidarity with the unions on strike, including the Unite Here Local 11 hospitality workers. And on top of awarding shows like The Last of Us and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Humanitas, an organization founded in 1974, also honored the striking Writers Guild of America itself with its “Voice for Change” award. Past winners of that award have included Ava DuVernay and Kenya Barris.
Humanitas’ mission is to tell “stories that explore the human experience because we believe that the act of acknowledging our common humanity is transformational.” With that in mind, this year the organization’s winners include The Last of Us‘ Craig Mazin for the teleplay for the emotional and critically lauded episode “Long, Long Time” in the drama television category. In the comedy equivalent, Amy Sherman-Palladino...
Humanitas’ mission is to tell “stories that explore the human experience because we believe that the act of acknowledging our common humanity is transformational.” With that in mind, this year the organization’s winners include The Last of Us‘ Craig Mazin for the teleplay for the emotional and critically lauded episode “Long, Long Time” in the drama television category. In the comedy equivalent, Amy Sherman-Palladino...
- 8/15/2023
- by Esther Zuckerman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Black Bear, the production, management and financing company founded by Teddy Schwarzman, on Thursday announced its signing of Simona Tabasco, one of the breakout Italian stars of The White Lotus‘ second season.
The news follows the firm’s introduction to Tabasco as the producer of Immaculate, a forthcoming psychological horror film in which she stars opposite fellow White Lotus alum Sydney Sweeney.
In the Sicily-set second installment of Mike White’s HBO satire The White Lotus, examining the dynamics between employees and guests at luxury hotels around the world, Tabasco starred alongside Adam Dimarco, Michael Imperioli, Beatrice Grannò, Theo James and more. The 10x Emmy-winning series had her playing the role of Lucia Greco, a prostitute enjoying the high life alongside aspiring chanteuse Mia (Grannò), as she builds her business on the grounds of The White Lotus Sicily. For her performance, the actress was recognized with an Emmy nom...
The news follows the firm’s introduction to Tabasco as the producer of Immaculate, a forthcoming psychological horror film in which she stars opposite fellow White Lotus alum Sydney Sweeney.
In the Sicily-set second installment of Mike White’s HBO satire The White Lotus, examining the dynamics between employees and guests at luxury hotels around the world, Tabasco starred alongside Adam Dimarco, Michael Imperioli, Beatrice Grannò, Theo James and more. The 10x Emmy-winning series had her playing the role of Lucia Greco, a prostitute enjoying the high life alongside aspiring chanteuse Mia (Grannò), as she builds her business on the grounds of The White Lotus Sicily. For her performance, the actress was recognized with an Emmy nom...
- 8/10/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Actor Alexandra McVicker has signed with Fusion Entertainment for management. McVicker, who is transgender, hails from Lexington, Kentucky. Prior to her transition, she was known for her breakout role on the HBO show “Vice Principals,” a dark comedy starring Danny McBride and Walton Goggins as conniving high school vice principals vying to run the school. As a recurring character on the second season, McVicker played a trouble student named Robin Shandrell whom Neal Gamby (McBride) decides to take on as a pet project during the school semester. McVicker also starred in Amazon’s 2019 pilot based on the acclaimed UK show “People Just Do Nothing”; the pilot was directed by “The Bear” creator Christopher Storer and McVicker played a former pro skater in the episode.
McVicker also acted in Paramount’s comedy “Action Point” alongside Johnny Knoxville, who plays a daredevil that designs a theme park alongside his friends. The film...
McVicker also acted in Paramount’s comedy “Action Point” alongside Johnny Knoxville, who plays a daredevil that designs a theme park alongside his friends. The film...
- 8/8/2023
- by Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Black Bear’s management arm has signed Danish-American actor Elliott Crosset Hove for representation.
Hove is best known for the well-received Danish/Icelandic feature Godland, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
His lauded performance in the picture earned him Best Male Actor at Denmark’s 2023 Bodil Awards, as well as a Best Actor nomination at the European Film Awards.
Hove’s previous feature roles include Rasmus Heisterberg’s 2016 feature film In the Blood, for which Hove was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Bodil Awards, and Hlynur Pálmason’s Winter Brothers, which won him a Danish Robert Award and Best Actor at the Locarno Film Festival. He has also appeared in Journal 64, Before the Frost, Parents and Wildland.
Most recently, Hove starred in Katrine Brocks’ The Great Silence and Simon Jaquemet’s Electric Child, which is currently in post-production, alongside Rila Fukushima.
Hove is best known for the well-received Danish/Icelandic feature Godland, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
His lauded performance in the picture earned him Best Male Actor at Denmark’s 2023 Bodil Awards, as well as a Best Actor nomination at the European Film Awards.
Hove’s previous feature roles include Rasmus Heisterberg’s 2016 feature film In the Blood, for which Hove was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Bodil Awards, and Hlynur Pálmason’s Winter Brothers, which won him a Danish Robert Award and Best Actor at the Locarno Film Festival. He has also appeared in Journal 64, Before the Frost, Parents and Wildland.
Most recently, Hove starred in Katrine Brocks’ The Great Silence and Simon Jaquemet’s Electric Child, which is currently in post-production, alongside Rila Fukushima.
- 7/11/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
"Cha Cha Real Smooth" is a comedy-drama feature, written, directed by Cooper Raiff, produced by and starring Dakota Johnson ("Madame Web"), with Raúl Castillo, Odeya Rush, Evan Assante, Vanessa Burghardt, Brad Garrett and Leslie Mann, now streaming on AppleTV+:
"...fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old 'Andrew' is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey.
"But if there's one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it's how to get a party started...
"...which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar.
"When Andrew befriends a local mom, 'Domino' and her daughter, 'Lola', he finally discovers a future he wants...
"...even if it might not be his own..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old 'Andrew' is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey.
"But if there's one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it's how to get a party started...
"...which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar.
"When Andrew befriends a local mom, 'Domino' and her daughter, 'Lola', he finally discovers a future he wants...
"...even if it might not be his own..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 5/8/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Exclusive: Rising Australian actress Olivia DeJonge has signed with Linden Entertainment for management.
DeJonge starred opposite Austin Butler in Baz Luhrmann’s celebrated Warner Bros drama Elvis, which grossed over $288M globally and this year notched eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. The actress portraying the King of Rock and Roll’s one-time wife, Priscilla Presley, was recognized with a Best Supporting Actress Aacta Award for her performance.
DeJonge also recently appeared in HBO Max’s true-crime limited series The Staircase, created by Antonio Campos, starring there opposite Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sophie Turner, Dane DeHaan and Juliette Binoche.
The thesp earlier in her career earned a Young Artist Award nom for her starring turn in M. Night Shyamalan’s Uni horror-thriller The Visit, as well as a West Australian Screen Award for her work in the Maziar Lahooti short, Good Pretender. Other notable...
DeJonge starred opposite Austin Butler in Baz Luhrmann’s celebrated Warner Bros drama Elvis, which grossed over $288M globally and this year notched eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. The actress portraying the King of Rock and Roll’s one-time wife, Priscilla Presley, was recognized with a Best Supporting Actress Aacta Award for her performance.
DeJonge also recently appeared in HBO Max’s true-crime limited series The Staircase, created by Antonio Campos, starring there opposite Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sophie Turner, Dane DeHaan and Juliette Binoche.
The thesp earlier in her career earned a Young Artist Award nom for her starring turn in M. Night Shyamalan’s Uni horror-thriller The Visit, as well as a West Australian Screen Award for her work in the Maziar Lahooti short, Good Pretender. Other notable...
- 4/26/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Logan Miller (Escape Room franchise) has signed on to star alongside Barbarian breakout Georgina Campbell in Psycho Killer, a new horror-thriller from New Regency, which is heading into production in early spring.
Related Story Megan Thee Stallion Circling Josh & Benny Safdie’s Netflix Film With Adam Sandler Related Story 'Amsterdam': Read The Screenplay For David O. Russell's Wild Comic Mystery Related Story 'Amsterdam' Stands To Lose Nearly $100 Million: What This Means For Upscale Movies
The film penned by Andrew Kevin Walker reportedly follows Jane Thorne (Campbell), a police officer who makes it her mission to take down a serial killer referred to on the news as the ‘Satanic Slasher,’ following the murder of her state trooper husband. Miller will play Marvin, a goth-type nebbish who works for the mysterious Pendleton in his massive mansion.
Directing Psycho Killer is Gavin Polone,...
Related Story Megan Thee Stallion Circling Josh & Benny Safdie’s Netflix Film With Adam Sandler Related Story 'Amsterdam': Read The Screenplay For David O. Russell's Wild Comic Mystery Related Story 'Amsterdam' Stands To Lose Nearly $100 Million: What This Means For Upscale Movies
The film penned by Andrew Kevin Walker reportedly follows Jane Thorne (Campbell), a police officer who makes it her mission to take down a serial killer referred to on the news as the ‘Satanic Slasher,’ following the murder of her state trooper husband. Miller will play Marvin, a goth-type nebbish who works for the mysterious Pendleton in his massive mansion.
Directing Psycho Killer is Gavin Polone,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
"Cha Cha Real Smooth" is the 2022 comedy-drama feature, written and directed by Cooper Raiff, produced by and starring Dakota Johnson ("Madame Web"), with Raúl Castillo, Odeya Rush, Evan Assante, Vanessa Burghardt, Brad Garrett and Leslie Mann, now streaming on AppleTV+:
"...fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old 'Andrew' is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey.
"But if there's one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it's how to get a party started...
"...which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar.
"When Andrew befriends a local mom, 'Domino' and her daughter, 'Lola', he finally discovers a future he wants...
"...even if it might not be his own..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old 'Andrew' is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey.
"But if there's one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it's how to get a party started...
"...which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar.
"When Andrew befriends a local mom, 'Domino' and her daughter, 'Lola', he finally discovers a future he wants...
"...even if it might not be his own..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 3/15/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
With her upcoming Marvel/Sony superhero feature "Madame Web" releasing early 2004, actress Dakota Johnson, the daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, is no stranger to posing for fashion photographers and international magazine covers:
"...Johnson's breakthrough role was playing 'Anastasia Steele' in the erotic romantic drama film series "Fifty Shades" (2015–2018)...
"...and received a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination in 2016.
"Johnson then appeared in films "Black Mass" (2015)...
"...Luca Guadagnino's drama "A Bigger Splash" (2015)...
"...the romantic comedy "How to Be Single" (2016)...
"...the supernatural horror film "Suspiria" (2018)...
"...the thriller "Bad Times at the El Royale" (2018)...
"...the coming-of-age film "The Peanut Butter Falcon" (2019)...
"...Maggie Gyllenhaal's psychological drama "The Lost Daughter" (2021)...
"...and Cooper Raiff's "Cha Cha Real Smooth" (2022).
"February 2022, Johnson was cast as 'Madame Web' in the upcoming superhero film of the same name, set in Sony's 'Spider-Man Universe'.
Click the images to enlarge...
"...Johnson's breakthrough role was playing 'Anastasia Steele' in the erotic romantic drama film series "Fifty Shades" (2015–2018)...
"...and received a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination in 2016.
"Johnson then appeared in films "Black Mass" (2015)...
"...Luca Guadagnino's drama "A Bigger Splash" (2015)...
"...the romantic comedy "How to Be Single" (2016)...
"...the supernatural horror film "Suspiria" (2018)...
"...the thriller "Bad Times at the El Royale" (2018)...
"...the coming-of-age film "The Peanut Butter Falcon" (2019)...
"...Maggie Gyllenhaal's psychological drama "The Lost Daughter" (2021)...
"...and Cooper Raiff's "Cha Cha Real Smooth" (2022).
"February 2022, Johnson was cast as 'Madame Web' in the upcoming superhero film of the same name, set in Sony's 'Spider-Man Universe'.
Click the images to enlarge...
- 3/6/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Most Oscar documentary nominees launch at Sundance. There are exceptions, like winners “Citizenfour,” “Free Solo,” and “My Octopus Teacher,” but it remains the festival of choice for non-fiction films.
A Sundance award doesn’t hurt, either: The 2022 documentary Oscar winner, Questlove’s “Summer of Soul,” began its journey as a 2021 Sundance double winner with an Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize. This year, the Oscar nominees include “Navalny” (U.S. Documentary audience and Festival Favorite award), “Fire of Love” (editing award), “All that Breathes,” (Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema Documentary), and “House Made of Splinters” (World Cinema Documentary Directing Award).
This year’s Sundance crop, sampled by those in Park City theaters as well as online, is just as impressive. Jury prizes didn’t always go to the buzziest titles, but Sundance award-winners get a lift toward getting seen and often acquired.
Sheila Nevins’ MTV Documentary Films grabbed Chilean...
A Sundance award doesn’t hurt, either: The 2022 documentary Oscar winner, Questlove’s “Summer of Soul,” began its journey as a 2021 Sundance double winner with an Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize. This year, the Oscar nominees include “Navalny” (U.S. Documentary audience and Festival Favorite award), “Fire of Love” (editing award), “All that Breathes,” (Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema Documentary), and “House Made of Splinters” (World Cinema Documentary Directing Award).
This year’s Sundance crop, sampled by those in Park City theaters as well as online, is just as impressive. Jury prizes didn’t always go to the buzziest titles, but Sundance award-winners get a lift toward getting seen and often acquired.
Sheila Nevins’ MTV Documentary Films grabbed Chilean...
- 1/29/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival has finally concluded after a whirlwind week of highly anticipated premieres, the IndieWire Studio at Sundance sessions presented by Dropbox, and of course, lavish parties.
IndieWire editors give a VIP peek of the top afterparties and private events throughout the snow-filled annual mecca for independent film, where multi-million-dollar distribution deals were being made, complete with diary entries from IndieWire’s top editors in attendance.
Films like “Fair Play,” “The Deepest Breath,” and “Run Rabbit Run” sold to Netflix while on the ground in Park City, Utah, as breakout movies like “Past Lives” and “Earth Mama” debuted at the 2023 festival already attached to A24. The acclaimed studio also snagged horror film “Talk to Me.”
IndieWire’s 2023 Sundance bible captures our film reviews and exclusive interviews with stars like Anne Hathaway (“Eileen”), Jonathan Majors (“Magazine Dreams”), Nicholas Braun (“Cat Person”), Mia Goth (“Infinity Pool”), Stephen Curry (“Underrated”), and...
IndieWire editors give a VIP peek of the top afterparties and private events throughout the snow-filled annual mecca for independent film, where multi-million-dollar distribution deals were being made, complete with diary entries from IndieWire’s top editors in attendance.
Films like “Fair Play,” “The Deepest Breath,” and “Run Rabbit Run” sold to Netflix while on the ground in Park City, Utah, as breakout movies like “Past Lives” and “Earth Mama” debuted at the 2023 festival already attached to A24. The acclaimed studio also snagged horror film “Talk to Me.”
IndieWire’s 2023 Sundance bible captures our film reviews and exclusive interviews with stars like Anne Hathaway (“Eileen”), Jonathan Majors (“Magazine Dreams”), Nicholas Braun (“Cat Person”), Mia Goth (“Infinity Pool”), Stephen Curry (“Underrated”), and...
- 1/28/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson, Eric Kohn, Kate Erbland, Ryan Lattanzio, Christian Blauvelt, Jason Gonzalez and Vincent Perella
- Indiewire
Ben Whishaw is on the biggest winning streak of his nearly quarter-century film career.
The versatile British actor won a Gotham Award for BBC/AMC+ limited series “This Is Going to Hurt,” earned Indie Spirit and National Board of Review honors for his ensemble work in “Women Talking” and stars in two new Sundance films: the dark comedy “Bad Behaviour” with Jennifer Connelly and the romantic drama “Passages.”
“One of the deep pleasures of being an actor is that you get to move between different mediums. That it’s possible in the way it is now is just so wonderful,” says Whishaw, who won Sundance’s world cinema dramatic special jury award for acting with his 2020 drama “Surge.” “Each one offers a slightly different challenge. Watching films is my favorite thing, but making a TV show is so much fun because [you have] more time to explore a character. There’s a...
The versatile British actor won a Gotham Award for BBC/AMC+ limited series “This Is Going to Hurt,” earned Indie Spirit and National Board of Review honors for his ensemble work in “Women Talking” and stars in two new Sundance films: the dark comedy “Bad Behaviour” with Jennifer Connelly and the romantic drama “Passages.”
“One of the deep pleasures of being an actor is that you get to move between different mediums. That it’s possible in the way it is now is just so wonderful,” says Whishaw, who won Sundance’s world cinema dramatic special jury award for acting with his 2020 drama “Surge.” “Each one offers a slightly different challenge. Watching films is my favorite thing, but making a TV show is so much fun because [you have] more time to explore a character. There’s a...
- 1/21/2023
- by Gregg Goldstein
- Variety Film + TV
Chicago – 2022 was a year of change and transformation. The former leader of the free world morphed into a horribly photoshopped digital trading card spokesmodel and pitch man. That and a full on spy challenging the DOJ to find the stolen classified documents in a shell game of 3 card monte exactly like a subway car hustler.
“Step right up Ladies and gentlemen and find the nuclear codes! Are they under Mar-a-Lago, in Bedminster or Trump Tower? Lay down your cash and you can win in a flash!.”
Elon Musk, the now former richest man on the planet and CEO of spontaneously combustible car and rocket companies, shape shifted into Julius Streicher 2.0. Under Musk’s genius leadership Twitter welcomed white nationalists and antisemites to his new platform with a fervor not seen since the brown shirted glory days with Streicher, an executed war criminal and Der Führer’s Bff.
Self Portrait: Photographer...
“Step right up Ladies and gentlemen and find the nuclear codes! Are they under Mar-a-Lago, in Bedminster or Trump Tower? Lay down your cash and you can win in a flash!.”
Elon Musk, the now former richest man on the planet and CEO of spontaneously combustible car and rocket companies, shape shifted into Julius Streicher 2.0. Under Musk’s genius leadership Twitter welcomed white nationalists and antisemites to his new platform with a fervor not seen since the brown shirted glory days with Streicher, an executed war criminal and Der Führer’s Bff.
Self Portrait: Photographer...
- 1/7/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Ron Howard and Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch Among Honorees in Newport Beach Film Festival TV Special
PBS SoCal and Kcet are partnering with the Newport Beach Film Festival for a broadcast premiere of the “Newport Beach Film Festival Honors,” scheduled to air Sunday. The 30-minute special will be hosted by Jenelle Riley, Variety’s deputy awards and features editor, and includes interviews with honorees from the event such as Eddie Redmayne, Jonathan Majors, Patton Oswalt, Keke Palmer, Aubrey Plaza, Colson Baker and Paul Feig, along with several of Variety‘s 10 Actors to Watch.
“Newport is very proud to play an expanded role in the awards and FYC season,” Gregg Schwenk, co-founder and CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival, told Variety. “Our amazing film programming along with unique opportunities to engage with the industry create a powerful opportunity to boost a film or specific talent.”
Howard, the Oscar-winning director behind films like “Apollo 13,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and “Thirteen Lives,” was previously awarded with...
“Newport is very proud to play an expanded role in the awards and FYC season,” Gregg Schwenk, co-founder and CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival, told Variety. “Our amazing film programming along with unique opportunities to engage with the industry create a powerful opportunity to boost a film or specific talent.”
Howard, the Oscar-winning director behind films like “Apollo 13,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and “Thirteen Lives,” was previously awarded with...
- 1/6/2023
- by Katie Reul
- Variety Film + TV
Way before Vanessa Burghardt was cast in “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” movies played an extremely important role in her life. “I didn’t really have any friends in school and so movies became the way that I came to understand social situations and other people and it was kind of the way I fulfilled the socialization I wasn’t getting. They were really important to me,” she tells Gold Derby during our recent webchat (watch the exclusive video interview above).
She even remembers one of the earliest performances she saw that made her want to explore becoming an actress. “I remember seeing, weirdly, Kristen Stewart in ‘Zathura.’ That was the first time where I kind of realized what the idea of acting was. Then I saw the gag reel for ‘The Avengers’ and I looked at the behind the scenes pictures and I knew that I wanted to be a part of it forever.
She even remembers one of the earliest performances she saw that made her want to explore becoming an actress. “I remember seeing, weirdly, Kristen Stewart in ‘Zathura.’ That was the first time where I kind of realized what the idea of acting was. Then I saw the gag reel for ‘The Avengers’ and I looked at the behind the scenes pictures and I knew that I wanted to be a part of it forever.
- 12/8/2022
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
The rise of Cooper Raiff continues following the buzzy Sundance and then Apple TV+ debuts of his feature film “Cha Cha Real Smooth” this year. Also in 2022, the “Shithouse” director announced a new film, “The Trashers,” starring David Harbour and Cooper Hoffmann, and launched production company Small Ideas with former Black Bear Pictures executive Clementine Quittner.
The outfit will aim to develop and produce independent film and television projects from emerging filmmakers and creators, as well as writer-director Raiff’s own work. The first project at Small Ideas will be an undisclosed TV series written, directed, and produced by Raiff, with Quittner also producing.
“Cha Cha” was released by Apple TV+ on June 17 but remains in the mix for fall screenplay kudos. Raiff directs, writes, and stars in this low-key comedy about a 22-year-old named Andrew in a post-undergrad slump, and with no clear life path forward. Co-stars include Dakota Johnson...
The outfit will aim to develop and produce independent film and television projects from emerging filmmakers and creators, as well as writer-director Raiff’s own work. The first project at Small Ideas will be an undisclosed TV series written, directed, and produced by Raiff, with Quittner also producing.
“Cha Cha” was released by Apple TV+ on June 17 but remains in the mix for fall screenplay kudos. Raiff directs, writes, and stars in this low-key comedy about a 22-year-old named Andrew in a post-undergrad slump, and with no clear life path forward. Co-stars include Dakota Johnson...
- 12/7/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Click here to read the full article.
Cooper Raiff began the pandemic by taking the top prize at the Covid-canceled 2020 SXSW film festival with his feature debut, Shithouse. Less than two years later, his sophomore effort — Apple’s Cha Cha Real Smooth, which follows a recent college graduate who strikes up a friendship with young mother Domino (Dakota Johnson) and her autistic daughter, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt) — premiered at Sundance. Raiff talked to THR about writing and directing his second feature, casting authentically and finding out what size movie works best for him.
What makes a good coming-of-age movie to you?
Someone who wants to grow, someone who wants to do better. There are a lot of coming-of-age movies that don’t center on a person who wants better for their life, and I’m not interested in those movies. I’m so interested in the movies that follow someone who...
Cooper Raiff began the pandemic by taking the top prize at the Covid-canceled 2020 SXSW film festival with his feature debut, Shithouse. Less than two years later, his sophomore effort — Apple’s Cha Cha Real Smooth, which follows a recent college graduate who strikes up a friendship with young mother Domino (Dakota Johnson) and her autistic daughter, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt) — premiered at Sundance. Raiff talked to THR about writing and directing his second feature, casting authentically and finding out what size movie works best for him.
What makes a good coming-of-age movie to you?
Someone who wants to grow, someone who wants to do better. There are a lot of coming-of-age movies that don’t center on a person who wants better for their life, and I’m not interested in those movies. I’m so interested in the movies that follow someone who...
- 12/6/2022
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Cooper Raiff went through tons of audition tapes to cast the role of autistic teen, Lola, in his movie “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” but when he saw Vanessa Burghardt’s tape, he knew that she was the one. “She was nothing like the character that I had originally written. I remember being really scared to tell the producers that it’s gotta be her and I’m gonna rewrite it all to make it work,” he tells Gold Derby during our recent chat (watch the exclusive video interview above). Seeing Burghardt, who also has autism, do the reading with her mother made Raiff think of the relationship between his mom and his sister which originally inspired the movie. “I felt connected with her already through the computer and when I met her, even more so. We’re still close. I just adore her and I’m obsessed with her in...
- 11/23/2022
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Last week Tony Award-nominated star of stage and screen, and the first deaf actress to play a Marvel Superhero, Lauren Ridloff hosted the Media Access Awards, in partnership with nonprofit disability services provider Easterseals Southern California.
The virtual event, which was streamed Live on the Emmy Award-winning entertainment and pop culture news source, ExtraTV.com honored Selma Blair, Peter Farrelly, David Zimmerman, Allen Rucker, Sofia Sanchez, As We See It, Love on the Spectrum U.S, Cha Cha Real Smooth, and Only Murders in the Building.
Founded by Norman Lear in 1979, and now spearheaded by Executive Producer Deborah Calla, and writer Allen Rucker, the Media Access Awards is an annual celebration honoring those in film and TV who include disabled characters and actors in their work, the 2022 Media Access Awards paid tribute to those individuals, series, and films that have redefined on-screen representation for the disability community, while advancing the...
The virtual event, which was streamed Live on the Emmy Award-winning entertainment and pop culture news source, ExtraTV.com honored Selma Blair, Peter Farrelly, David Zimmerman, Allen Rucker, Sofia Sanchez, As We See It, Love on the Spectrum U.S, Cha Cha Real Smooth, and Only Murders in the Building.
Founded by Norman Lear in 1979, and now spearheaded by Executive Producer Deborah Calla, and writer Allen Rucker, the Media Access Awards is an annual celebration honoring those in film and TV who include disabled characters and actors in their work, the 2022 Media Access Awards paid tribute to those individuals, series, and films that have redefined on-screen representation for the disability community, while advancing the...
- 11/23/2022
- Look to the Stars
Click here to read the full article.
Taylour Paige, Raúl Castillo and Asia Kate Dillon will announce the film and TV nominees for the 2023 Independent Spirit Awards, The Hollywood Reporter can reveal exclusively.
Paige and Castillo will reveal the film nominees on Tuesday, Nov. 22 and Dillon will reveal the TV nominees on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Both sets of nominations will be announced on Film Independent’s YouTube channel, at 7 a.m. Pt.
Earlier this year, Paige won the Spirit award for best female lead for her performance in Zola. This year she also starred in Lena Dunham’s Sharp Stick and Mack and Rita opposite Diane Keaton. Paige recently wrapped Beverly Hills Cop opposite Eddie Murphy and Joseph Gordon Levitt.
Castillo has roles in a number of this year’s awards hopeful films, including Elegance Bratton’s The Inspection, Cooper Raiff’s Cha Cha Real Smooth and Jeremiah Zagar’s Hustle.
Taylour Paige, Raúl Castillo and Asia Kate Dillon will announce the film and TV nominees for the 2023 Independent Spirit Awards, The Hollywood Reporter can reveal exclusively.
Paige and Castillo will reveal the film nominees on Tuesday, Nov. 22 and Dillon will reveal the TV nominees on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Both sets of nominations will be announced on Film Independent’s YouTube channel, at 7 a.m. Pt.
Earlier this year, Paige won the Spirit award for best female lead for her performance in Zola. This year she also starred in Lena Dunham’s Sharp Stick and Mack and Rita opposite Diane Keaton. Paige recently wrapped Beverly Hills Cop opposite Eddie Murphy and Joseph Gordon Levitt.
Castillo has roles in a number of this year’s awards hopeful films, including Elegance Bratton’s The Inspection, Cooper Raiff’s Cha Cha Real Smooth and Jeremiah Zagar’s Hustle.
- 11/17/2022
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Media Access Awards, in partnership with nonprofit disability services provider Easterseals Southern California, has announced the honorees of the 2022 Media Access Awards which will stream Live on the Emmy Award-winning entertainment and pop culture news source, ExtraTV.com; on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 6pm Pt / 9pm Et.
Founded by Norman Lear in 1979 as an annual celebration honoring those in film and TV who include disabled characters and actors in their work, the 2022 Media Access Awards will pay tribute to those individuals, series, and films that have redefined on-screen representation for the disability community, while advancing the portrayal and employment of people with disabilities in Hollywood.
“We are thrilled to again be celebrating the immensely talented people paving the way to a more inclusive world. We salute them all!” said the co-ceo’s of the Media Access Awards Deborah Calla, also the show’s Executive Producer, and Allen Rucker the show’s writer.
Founded by Norman Lear in 1979 as an annual celebration honoring those in film and TV who include disabled characters and actors in their work, the 2022 Media Access Awards will pay tribute to those individuals, series, and films that have redefined on-screen representation for the disability community, while advancing the portrayal and employment of people with disabilities in Hollywood.
“We are thrilled to again be celebrating the immensely talented people paving the way to a more inclusive world. We salute them all!” said the co-ceo’s of the Media Access Awards Deborah Calla, also the show’s Executive Producer, and Allen Rucker the show’s writer.
- 10/27/2022
- Look to the Stars
The Newport Beach Film Festival has announced its 2022 award winners, including an Audience Award for “The Banshees of Inisherin” and Festival Awards for “Devotion” and “The Lost King.”
In its 23rd year, the festival showcased over 350 films from around the world, as well as hosted red carpet premieres, nightly special events, live music performances and conversations with filmmakers. This year’s festival also featured the 2022 Festival Honors program celebrating the Nbff honorees and Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch, along with Nbff’s selection of International Spotlights, Centerpiece screenings, Special Programs and curated shorts programs.
The 2022 Festival honorees included Ron Howard for Variety’s Legend and Groundbreaker Awards; Jonathan Majors, Patton Oswalt, Keke Palmer and Aubrey Plaza for Artist of Distinctions Awards; Colson Baker and Anna Diop for Spotlight Awards; Cooper Raiff for the Maverick Award; and Aimee Carrero for the Breakout Performance Award.
Eddie Redmayne received the Icon Award, while...
In its 23rd year, the festival showcased over 350 films from around the world, as well as hosted red carpet premieres, nightly special events, live music performances and conversations with filmmakers. This year’s festival also featured the 2022 Festival Honors program celebrating the Nbff honorees and Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch, along with Nbff’s selection of International Spotlights, Centerpiece screenings, Special Programs and curated shorts programs.
The 2022 Festival honorees included Ron Howard for Variety’s Legend and Groundbreaker Awards; Jonathan Majors, Patton Oswalt, Keke Palmer and Aubrey Plaza for Artist of Distinctions Awards; Colson Baker and Anna Diop for Spotlight Awards; Cooper Raiff for the Maverick Award; and Aimee Carrero for the Breakout Performance Award.
Eddie Redmayne received the Icon Award, while...
- 10/26/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Though the 95th Academy Awards are still five months away, it’s never too early to look at some of the circuit contenders. Here’s some of the films that could score a minimum of two nominations in the major categories — picture, director, screenplay, international film and the acting races.
Armageddon Time
(Focus Features)
James Gray’s autobiographical coming-of-age story about growing up in 1980s Queens features an outstanding supporting cast of potential nominees, including prior Oscar winners Anne Hathaway and Anthony Hopkins, plus Emmy-winner Jeremy Strong. Gray could also earn recognition for his sensitive original screenplay, which offers an uncompromising look at a turbulent era.
Avatar: The Way Of Water
(Disney)
James Cameron’s original blockbuster earned nine Oscar nominations, including best picture, and although we’ve only seen a teaser trailer, expect “The Way of Water” to wow audiences and Oscar voters. It’s only natural given advancements...
Armageddon Time
(Focus Features)
James Gray’s autobiographical coming-of-age story about growing up in 1980s Queens features an outstanding supporting cast of potential nominees, including prior Oscar winners Anne Hathaway and Anthony Hopkins, plus Emmy-winner Jeremy Strong. Gray could also earn recognition for his sensitive original screenplay, which offers an uncompromising look at a turbulent era.
Avatar: The Way Of Water
(Disney)
James Cameron’s original blockbuster earned nine Oscar nominations, including best picture, and although we’ve only seen a teaser trailer, expect “The Way of Water” to wow audiences and Oscar voters. It’s only natural given advancements...
- 10/26/2022
- by Shalini Dore, Jazz Tangcay, Jenelle Riley, Michaela Zee, EJ Panaligan, Carole Horst, Malina Saval and Katie Reul
- Variety Film + TV
The Napa Valley Film Festival announced its 2022 Film, Food and Wine Showcase programming and honors, to take place at The Culinary Institute of America at Copia on Nov. 10-13 featuring a curated group of films and honoree tributes that celebrate artistic achievement.
Leading the honorees is Laura Dern, who will be honored with the Legend Award. Additional honorees include rising director Cooper Raiff, actor Stephanie Hsu, actor and musician Janelle Monáe, actor Regina Hall and others. The showcase will also include CIA-curated culinary events to go along with four special screenings, which aims to celebrate the food and wine culture from each film presented.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled about the 2022 Nvff Film, Food and Wine Showcase nor prouder of our team of dedicated board directors, our partners at The CIA at Copia, and our showcase team. This marks our post-covid return to multi-day events that connect our...
Leading the honorees is Laura Dern, who will be honored with the Legend Award. Additional honorees include rising director Cooper Raiff, actor Stephanie Hsu, actor and musician Janelle Monáe, actor Regina Hall and others. The showcase will also include CIA-curated culinary events to go along with four special screenings, which aims to celebrate the food and wine culture from each film presented.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled about the 2022 Nvff Film, Food and Wine Showcase nor prouder of our team of dedicated board directors, our partners at The CIA at Copia, and our showcase team. This marks our post-covid return to multi-day events that connect our...
- 10/24/2022
- by EJ Panaligan
- Variety Film + TV
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for Ticket to Paradise, The White Lotus, The School for Good and Evil and The Good Nurse.
Ticket to Paradise premiere
Julia Roberts and George Clooney premiered their new rom-com on Monday in Westwood, alongside costars Kaitlyn Dever, Maxime Bouttier and Lucas Bravo.
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Chairman Donna Langley, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Ol Parker and Tim Bevan Amal and George Clooney Maxime Bouttier and Kaitlyn Dever
The School for Good and Evil premiere
Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington and Michelle Yeoh walked the carpet on Tuesday for the premiere of their new Netflix fantasy flick, joined by the film’s young stars Sofia Wylie and Sophia Anne Caruso, and costars Laurence Fishburne and Patti LuPone. Director Paul Feig said that he “loved the...
Ticket to Paradise premiere
Julia Roberts and George Clooney premiered their new rom-com on Monday in Westwood, alongside costars Kaitlyn Dever, Maxime Bouttier and Lucas Bravo.
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Chairman Donna Langley, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Ol Parker and Tim Bevan Amal and George Clooney Maxime Bouttier and Kaitlyn Dever
The School for Good and Evil premiere
Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington and Michelle Yeoh walked the carpet on Tuesday for the premiere of their new Netflix fantasy flick, joined by the film’s young stars Sofia Wylie and Sophia Anne Caruso, and costars Laurence Fishburne and Patti LuPone. Director Paul Feig said that he “loved the...
- 10/21/2022
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Oscar-winning director Ron Howard was honored with the Variety Legend and Groundbreaker Award as part of the Newport Beach Film Festival Honors, a star-studded celebration of artists who’ve made a “significant impact” on entertainment this year.
Held at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, Calif., on Oct. 16, Howard was joined onstage at the swanky brunch by fellow awardees Jonathan Majors, Patton Oswalt, Keke Palmer, Aubrey Plaza, Colson Baker, Anna Diop, Cooper Raiff and Aimee Carrero.
The event also feted Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch honorees — Kerry Condon, Stephanie Hsu, Ximena Lamadrid, Christina Jackson, Thuso Mbedu, Zen McGrath, Amber Midthunder, Sam Nivola, Jeremy Pope and Joseph Quinn — who all gathered for a special conversation, where they dished on the ups and downs of the business so far and where they want to pivot their careers from here.
Held at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, Calif., on Oct. 16, Howard was joined onstage at the swanky brunch by fellow awardees Jonathan Majors, Patton Oswalt, Keke Palmer, Aubrey Plaza, Colson Baker, Anna Diop, Cooper Raiff and Aimee Carrero.
The event also feted Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch honorees — Kerry Condon, Stephanie Hsu, Ximena Lamadrid, Christina Jackson, Thuso Mbedu, Zen McGrath, Amber Midthunder, Sam Nivola, Jeremy Pope and Joseph Quinn — who all gathered for a special conversation, where they dished on the ups and downs of the business so far and where they want to pivot their careers from here.
- 10/20/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
“Cha Cha Real Smooth” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” are among the recent honorees of the Ruderman Family Foundation’s Seal of Authentic Representation, Variety has learned exclusively.
The Foundation recognizes films and television series that include authentic representation of people with disabilities. Vanessa Burghardt, an actor with autism, plays Domino’s (Dakota Johnson) autistic daughter Lola in the comedy-drama film “Cha Cha Real Smooth.”
“From the moment the film’s creator, Cooper Raiff, saw Vanessa’s audition, he knew instantly that she was our Lola. No one could deny her talent but authenticity was important to everyone, so Cooper changed the script to age up the character and that was the end of it. Looking back, I cannot imagine another person playing Lola,” said producer Jessica Switch in a statement. “Vanessa was perfect. She was extremely professional and sweet on set. She nailed every take and always came prepared.
The Foundation recognizes films and television series that include authentic representation of people with disabilities. Vanessa Burghardt, an actor with autism, plays Domino’s (Dakota Johnson) autistic daughter Lola in the comedy-drama film “Cha Cha Real Smooth.”
“From the moment the film’s creator, Cooper Raiff, saw Vanessa’s audition, he knew instantly that she was our Lola. No one could deny her talent but authenticity was important to everyone, so Cooper changed the script to age up the character and that was the end of it. Looking back, I cannot imagine another person playing Lola,” said producer Jessica Switch in a statement. “Vanessa was perfect. She was extremely professional and sweet on set. She nailed every take and always came prepared.
- 10/19/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
There are few stranger things than David Harbour being a bad Santa.
The “Stranger Things” actor stars as Santa Claus in “Violent Night,” in theaters December 2. But this year, Santa is giving out season’s beatings.
Per the official synopsis for “Violent Night,” when a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint. The gang is out to steal 300 million in a family’s vault, but Santa coming down the chimney throws a whole lot of coal in their plans…and Santa is ready to hand out grenades for all of his Naughty List members.
John Leguizamo, Cam Gigandet, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson, and Beverly D’Angelo also star.
Tommy Wirkola (“Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters...
The “Stranger Things” actor stars as Santa Claus in “Violent Night,” in theaters December 2. But this year, Santa is giving out season’s beatings.
Per the official synopsis for “Violent Night,” when a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (Harbour) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint. The gang is out to steal 300 million in a family’s vault, but Santa coming down the chimney throws a whole lot of coal in their plans…and Santa is ready to hand out grenades for all of his Naughty List members.
John Leguizamo, Cam Gigandet, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Edi Patterson, and Beverly D’Angelo also star.
Tommy Wirkola (“Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters...
- 10/5/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Novel, the UK-based studio that has become Europe’s largest independent podcast producer on the back of a host of acclaimed, award-winning and globally chart-topping podcasts made for partners including Wondery, iHeart, Spotify, Amazon, the BBC and more, announces the hiring of Neil Krishnan as their new Head of TV and Film. Krishnan joins from his role as Director of Creative Acquisitions for Universal Studio Group, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies.
Krishnan brings a keen eye for exceptional stories and the creative vision necessary to shepherd the company’s slate of audio projects into the Hollywood landscape. As Director of Creative Acquisitions for Universal Studio Group, he was instrumental in finding and landing undeniable IP across NBCUniversal’s four television studios and approximately 200 talent deals, and was a key player in closing several competitive IP projects across books, graphic novels and podcasts.
Previously, Krishnan worked...
Krishnan brings a keen eye for exceptional stories and the creative vision necessary to shepherd the company’s slate of audio projects into the Hollywood landscape. As Director of Creative Acquisitions for Universal Studio Group, he was instrumental in finding and landing undeniable IP across NBCUniversal’s four television studios and approximately 200 talent deals, and was a key player in closing several competitive IP projects across books, graphic novels and podcasts.
Previously, Krishnan worked...
- 10/5/2022
- Podnews.net
Click here to read the full article.
Please Note: This forecast, assembled by The Hollywood Reporter‘s executive editor of awards Scott Feinberg, reflects his best attempt to predict the behavior of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, not his personal preferences. He arrives at these standings by drawing upon consultations with voters and industry insiders, analysis of marketing and awards campaigns, results of awards ceremonies that precede the Oscars and the history of the Oscars ceremony itself. There will be regular updates to reflect new developments.
* * *
*Best Picture*
Frontrunners
The Fabelmans (Universal)
Top Gun: Maverick (Paramount)
Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight)
Women Talking (Uar)
Elvis (Warner Bros.)
The Woman King (Sony)
She Said (Universal)
Tár (Focus)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)
Major Threats
Till (Uar)
Close (A24)
Triangle of Sadness (Neon)
Good Night Oppy (Amazon)
The Whale (A24)
Empire of Light...
Please Note: This forecast, assembled by The Hollywood Reporter‘s executive editor of awards Scott Feinberg, reflects his best attempt to predict the behavior of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, not his personal preferences. He arrives at these standings by drawing upon consultations with voters and industry insiders, analysis of marketing and awards campaigns, results of awards ceremonies that precede the Oscars and the history of the Oscars ceremony itself. There will be regular updates to reflect new developments.
* * *
*Best Picture*
Frontrunners
The Fabelmans (Universal)
Top Gun: Maverick (Paramount)
Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight)
Women Talking (Uar)
Elvis (Warner Bros.)
The Woman King (Sony)
She Said (Universal)
Tár (Focus)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)
Major Threats
Till (Uar)
Close (A24)
Triangle of Sadness (Neon)
Good Night Oppy (Amazon)
The Whale (A24)
Empire of Light...
- 10/4/2022
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Can Will Smith overcome the controversy surrounding the slap heard around the world to win his second Oscar?
That’s the question facing Apple after it announced that it will release “Emancipation,” a drama about an escaped slave that it paid Smith 35 million to star in and produce. The streamer is betting that the furor over Smith’s assault of Chris Rock at the Oscars has died down, particularly after Smith recorded an awkward apology video.
But even if Smith becomes the first performer since Tom Hanks to score back-to-back Oscars for best actor, he won’t be able to pick up his prize in person. Nor will he even be able to accept it via satellite. That’s because in April, facing almost certain expulsion, Smith decided to resign from membership of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. That was followed almost immediately by the Academy Board of...
That’s the question facing Apple after it announced that it will release “Emancipation,” a drama about an escaped slave that it paid Smith 35 million to star in and produce. The streamer is betting that the furor over Smith’s assault of Chris Rock at the Oscars has died down, particularly after Smith recorded an awkward apology video.
But even if Smith becomes the first performer since Tom Hanks to score back-to-back Oscars for best actor, he won’t be able to pick up his prize in person. Nor will he even be able to accept it via satellite. That’s because in April, facing almost certain expulsion, Smith decided to resign from membership of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. That was followed almost immediately by the Academy Board of...
- 10/4/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
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