Frank Shankwitz, an Arizona Highway Patrol officer who helped make terminally ill children’s last wishes come true through his charity foundation, died Jan. 24 at his home in Prescott, Ariz. He was 77. His wife, Kitty Shankwitz, said the cause was esophageal cancer.
The Make-a-Wish Foundation has had great support from Hollywood, from Disney setting up trips to Disneyland to movie stars doing meet and greets with kids. It all started with Shankwitz’s vision after a particular encounter.
Shankwitz was on patrol in April 1980 when he was alerted about a young boy who wanted to be a motorcycle officer when he grew up. The child had end-stage leukemia. Shankwitz’s visit made the child’s dying wish come true.
After that, Shankwitz realized he could help other children with their last requests. He and five other people founded the Make-a-Wish Foundation in 1980 It become a national organization with 64 chapters nationwide.
The Make-a-Wish Foundation has had great support from Hollywood, from Disney setting up trips to Disneyland to movie stars doing meet and greets with kids. It all started with Shankwitz’s vision after a particular encounter.
Shankwitz was on patrol in April 1980 when he was alerted about a young boy who wanted to be a motorcycle officer when he grew up. The child had end-stage leukemia. Shankwitz’s visit made the child’s dying wish come true.
After that, Shankwitz realized he could help other children with their last requests. He and five other people founded the Make-a-Wish Foundation in 1980 It become a national organization with 64 chapters nationwide.
- 2/7/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that 344 feature films are eligible for the 2019 Academy Awards.
To be eligible for the consideration, the films must open in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by Dec. 31, and begin a minimum run of seven consecutive days. Academy rules also state that a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format.
Nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards will be announced on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. The ceremony takes place on Sunday, Feb. 9, airing live from Hollywood on ABC.
“Abominable”
“Ad Astra”
“Adam”
“The Addams Family”
“The Aeronauts”
“After the Wedding”
“The Aftermath”
“Aga”
“Aladdin”
“Alita: Battle Angel”
“Always Be My Maybe”
“The Amazing Johnathan”
“American Factory”
“American Woman”
“Angel Has Fallen”
“The Angry Birds Movie 2”
“Anna”
“Annabelle Comes Home...
To be eligible for the consideration, the films must open in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by Dec. 31, and begin a minimum run of seven consecutive days. Academy rules also state that a feature-length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes and must have been exhibited theatrically on 35mm or 70mm film, or in a qualifying digital format.
Nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards will be announced on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. The ceremony takes place on Sunday, Feb. 9, airing live from Hollywood on ABC.
“Abominable”
“Ad Astra”
“Adam”
“The Addams Family”
“The Aeronauts”
“After the Wedding”
“The Aftermath”
“Aga”
“Aladdin”
“Alita: Battle Angel”
“Always Be My Maybe”
“The Amazing Johnathan”
“American Factory”
“American Woman”
“Angel Has Fallen”
“The Angry Birds Movie 2”
“Anna”
“Annabelle Comes Home...
- 12/18/2019
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Samson, God’s Not Dead franchise sell.
Pure Flix/Quality Flix has reported a strong response from Cannes buyers to Make-a-Wish Foundation drama Wish Man, and closed a string of deals on Samson and other slate titles.
Ron Gell, vice-president of international sales and distribution for Pure Flix/Quality Flix, said he was fielding interest from buyers in Latin America, the UK, Spain, France, Check Republic, Philippines, Poland, South Korea, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, and Italy.
Wish Man recounts the true story of former Arizona Highway Patrol officer Frank Shankwitz, who established the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Andrew Steel stars with Kirby Bliss Blanton,...
Pure Flix/Quality Flix has reported a strong response from Cannes buyers to Make-a-Wish Foundation drama Wish Man, and closed a string of deals on Samson and other slate titles.
Ron Gell, vice-president of international sales and distribution for Pure Flix/Quality Flix, said he was fielding interest from buyers in Latin America, the UK, Spain, France, Check Republic, Philippines, Poland, South Korea, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, and Italy.
Wish Man recounts the true story of former Arizona Highway Patrol officer Frank Shankwitz, who established the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Andrew Steel stars with Kirby Bliss Blanton,...
- 5/23/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Nagra-kudelski’s myCinema digital content distribution system has announced its full slate of films a year after it’s launch, teed off by the James Franco feature Zeroville, which the actor both directed and headlines.
Originally, Alchemy took domestic rights at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival to Zeroville months before the company capsized due to bankruptcy. Since its pick-up at Tiff, Zeroville unfortunately became entangled in Alchemy’s financial woes and was thrown into distribution limbo until the Us distribution rights were recently acquired by Nagra. The pic will hit cinemas in September. The comedy based on Steve Erickson’s novel about a young actor who arrives in Hollywood during a transitional time also stars Seth Rogen, Megan Fox, Joey King, Will Ferrell, Dave Franco, Danny McBride, and Jacki Weaver. myCinema delivers films over the internet which individual theaters can then licenses for any number of weeks of play.
Originally, Alchemy took domestic rights at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival to Zeroville months before the company capsized due to bankruptcy. Since its pick-up at Tiff, Zeroville unfortunately became entangled in Alchemy’s financial woes and was thrown into distribution limbo until the Us distribution rights were recently acquired by Nagra. The pic will hit cinemas in September. The comedy based on Steve Erickson’s novel about a young actor who arrives in Hollywood during a transitional time also stars Seth Rogen, Megan Fox, Joey King, Will Ferrell, Dave Franco, Danny McBride, and Jacki Weaver. myCinema delivers films over the internet which individual theaters can then licenses for any number of weeks of play.
- 4/1/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
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