King Bee Productions, founded by Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola, has inked a first look deal with Sony Pictures Television.
The multi-year partnership will see King Bee developing and producing globally-targeted scripted content for Sony’s international production group and U.S. studio. The production company’s team includes Lizzie Nastro, who previously worked as head of acquisitions for IFC, and former Vice exec Sam Schlaifler who is joining as VP of development.
Among King Bee’s output is two seasons of “Doll & Em” (HBO and Sky) and feature film “To Dust” starring Matthew Broderick and Geza Rohrig.
Mortimer is currently working alongside Noah Baumbach on his upcoming, as-yet-untitled Netflix feature in which she also stars alongside George Clooney and Adam Sandler. The film has completed principal photographer. She also wrote, directed and starred in the recent adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s “The Pursuit of Love” (BBC/Amazon) which...
The multi-year partnership will see King Bee developing and producing globally-targeted scripted content for Sony’s international production group and U.S. studio. The production company’s team includes Lizzie Nastro, who previously worked as head of acquisitions for IFC, and former Vice exec Sam Schlaifler who is joining as VP of development.
Among King Bee’s output is two seasons of “Doll & Em” (HBO and Sky) and feature film “To Dust” starring Matthew Broderick and Geza Rohrig.
Mortimer is currently working alongside Noah Baumbach on his upcoming, as-yet-untitled Netflix feature in which she also stars alongside George Clooney and Adam Sandler. The film has completed principal photographer. She also wrote, directed and starred in the recent adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s “The Pursuit of Love” (BBC/Amazon) which...
- 10/10/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
On July 1, 1981, Hollywood was rocked by one of the most brutal murders in its history — the Wonderland Murders.
With ties to drugs, sex, and infamous names like John Holmes and Eddie Nash, the case has captivated true crime enthusiasts for decades.
Now, best-selling author Michael Connelly and Emmy-winning director Alison Ellwood are bringing this chilling story back to life with The Wonderland Massacre & The Secret History of Hollywood, a four-part docuseries premiering on MGM+ on September 8.
(© 2024 MGMPlus Entertainment LLC)
We had the pleasure of speaking with Connelly and Ellwood about their collaboration, our fascination with this crime, and how they’ve turned a notorious Hollywood tale into a compelling visual experience.
For anyone who’s followed the Wonderland case — or those discovering it for the first time — this series promises to be both an eye-opener and a deep dive into Hollywood’s shadowy past.
(© 2024 MGMPlus Entertainment LLC) “A Visual Story Begging to Be Told”
Connelly,...
With ties to drugs, sex, and infamous names like John Holmes and Eddie Nash, the case has captivated true crime enthusiasts for decades.
Now, best-selling author Michael Connelly and Emmy-winning director Alison Ellwood are bringing this chilling story back to life with The Wonderland Massacre & The Secret History of Hollywood, a four-part docuseries premiering on MGM+ on September 8.
(© 2024 MGMPlus Entertainment LLC)
We had the pleasure of speaking with Connelly and Ellwood about their collaboration, our fascination with this crime, and how they’ve turned a notorious Hollywood tale into a compelling visual experience.
For anyone who’s followed the Wonderland case — or those discovering it for the first time — this series promises to be both an eye-opener and a deep dive into Hollywood’s shadowy past.
(© 2024 MGMPlus Entertainment LLC) “A Visual Story Begging to Be Told”
Connelly,...
- 9/7/2024
- by Carissa Pavlica
- TVfanatic
Exclusive: Paramount+ has acquired the Cyndi Lauper documentary Let the Canary Sing and has set the premiere date for June 4 in the U.S. and Canada; the UK, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria can watch a day later.
Deadline has your first look at the trailer above.
Additionally, a companion album of the same name will be released by Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment. Tracks include many of her songs from her days in Blue Angel to her breakout single “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” to “True Colors” and “I Drove All Night,” to name a few.
Directed by Emmy Award-winning documentarian Alison Ellwood, Let the Canary Sing “chronicles Lauper’s meteoric ascent to stardom and her profound impact on generations through her music, ever-evolving punk style, unwavering feminism and tireless advocacy. The documentary takes the audience on an engaging...
Deadline has your first look at the trailer above.
Additionally, a companion album of the same name will be released by Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment. Tracks include many of her songs from her days in Blue Angel to her breakout single “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” to “True Colors” and “I Drove All Night,” to name a few.
Directed by Emmy Award-winning documentarian Alison Ellwood, Let the Canary Sing “chronicles Lauper’s meteoric ascent to stardom and her profound impact on generations through her music, ever-evolving punk style, unwavering feminism and tireless advocacy. The documentary takes the audience on an engaging...
- 5/7/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
MGM+ has announced the titles coming to the premium linear channel and streaming service during the month of May. The MGM Plus May 2024 lineup includes new Beacon 23 Season 2 episodes and the films French Girl and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning.
MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of exclusive original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices.
MGM+ is a destination for premium content, with original series including sci-fi horror series From, Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem, the Western adventure Billy the Kid, the anticipated new series Hotel Cocaine and Emperor of Ocean Park, the limited series A Spy Among Friends, and cinematic dramatic series Rogue Heroes, War of the Worlds, and Beacon 23.
The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries,...
MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of exclusive original series and docuseries, the latest movie releases, and classic film franchises—all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices.
MGM+ is a destination for premium content, with original series including sci-fi horror series From, Emmy-winning series Godfather of Harlem, the Western adventure Billy the Kid, the anticipated new series Hotel Cocaine and Emperor of Ocean Park, the limited series A Spy Among Friends, and cinematic dramatic series Rogue Heroes, War of the Worlds, and Beacon 23.
The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries,...
- 5/3/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
MGM+ has announced the acquisition of the two-part docuseries “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, debuting on the streamer on March 17 and March 24 at 9 p.m. Edt/Pdt. It focuses on the career of musician Paul Simon.
Per the docuseries’ description, “In Restless Dreams” “juxtaposes Simon’s process of making a new album during the Covid-19 pandemic against archival material tracing Simon’s career and creative journey, including revelatory, previously unseen footage from such historic moments as the recording of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and ‘Graceland,’ Simon & Garfunkel’s unforgettable reunion concert in Central Park, and, 10 years later, Simon’s solo concert there, where he performed before 750,000 people.”
Making appearances in the docuseries are “Saturday Night Live” creator and producer Lorne Michaels, Simon’s wife and singer Edie Brickwell and composer Wynton Marsalis.
Alex Gibney (“The Inventor”) directs and produces, with Jigsaw, Closer Media and Anonymous Content jointly producing.
Per the docuseries’ description, “In Restless Dreams” “juxtaposes Simon’s process of making a new album during the Covid-19 pandemic against archival material tracing Simon’s career and creative journey, including revelatory, previously unseen footage from such historic moments as the recording of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and ‘Graceland,’ Simon & Garfunkel’s unforgettable reunion concert in Central Park, and, 10 years later, Simon’s solo concert there, where he performed before 750,000 people.”
Making appearances in the docuseries are “Saturday Night Live” creator and producer Lorne Michaels, Simon’s wife and singer Edie Brickwell and composer Wynton Marsalis.
Alex Gibney (“The Inventor”) directs and produces, with Jigsaw, Closer Media and Anonymous Content jointly producing.
- 12/6/2023
- by Jaden Thompson and Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
Monday night’s special 40th anniversary screening of Jonathan Demme’s Stop Making Sense at the Toronto Film Festival is now Imax’s highest-grossing live event, the company said. The groundbreaking Talking Heads concert film, from A24, earned $640,839 and sold out 25 screens across 165 Imax locations in North America and the BFI Imax in London.
The remastered world premiere at Cineplex’s Scotiabank Imax Theatre in Toronto was followed by a Q&a live-streamed from TIFF and moderated by filmmaker Spike Lee with all four original band members in attendance: David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison. Lee called it “the greatest concert film ever.”
“The unforgettable Stop Making Sense looks and sounds even more incredible in Imax, and we’re excited to share this event with TIFF and our audiences everywhere,’ said CEO Rich Gelfond. “This further establishes our ability to deliver live and music experiences with extraordinary quality,...
The remastered world premiere at Cineplex’s Scotiabank Imax Theatre in Toronto was followed by a Q&a live-streamed from TIFF and moderated by filmmaker Spike Lee with all four original band members in attendance: David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison. Lee called it “the greatest concert film ever.”
“The unforgettable Stop Making Sense looks and sounds even more incredible in Imax, and we’re excited to share this event with TIFF and our audiences everywhere,’ said CEO Rich Gelfond. “This further establishes our ability to deliver live and music experiences with extraordinary quality,...
- 9/12/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
MGM+ has greenlit “Hollywood Black,” a new docuseries directed by Justin Simien.
Based on the book by historian Donald Bogle, this four-part docuseries tells the epic story of the actors, writers, directors and producers who fought for their place on the page, behind the camera, on the screen and in the credits. It is a definitive chronicle of a century of the Black experience in Hollywood, and a powerful reexamination of a quintessentially American story — in brilliant color.
“Hollywood, like many American industries, was built on Black culture and Black talent, even though it excluded Black people from many of its origin stories,” Simien said in a statement. “This series seeks to illuminate present-day controversies, from #OscarSoWhite to the almost regular ‘blackface reveal’ of prominent white celebrities, told through the lens of Black individuals throughout Hollywood history. It’s the most important story I’ve been able to tell to date,...
Based on the book by historian Donald Bogle, this four-part docuseries tells the epic story of the actors, writers, directors and producers who fought for their place on the page, behind the camera, on the screen and in the credits. It is a definitive chronicle of a century of the Black experience in Hollywood, and a powerful reexamination of a quintessentially American story — in brilliant color.
“Hollywood, like many American industries, was built on Black culture and Black talent, even though it excluded Black people from many of its origin stories,” Simien said in a statement. “This series seeks to illuminate present-day controversies, from #OscarSoWhite to the almost regular ‘blackface reveal’ of prominent white celebrities, told through the lens of Black individuals throughout Hollywood history. It’s the most important story I’ve been able to tell to date,...
- 4/11/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
History enthusiasts who use Xfinity services, this is your week. From Monday, March 6 through Sunday, March 12, Xfinity is offering free access to content from History Vault, the direct-to-consumer offering from the [History Channel]. The service normally costs $4.99 per month, so it’s an excellent chance for Xfinity internet and cable subscribers to get a free look at the service before committing to a subscription.
7-Day Free Trial $4.99 / month history vault via amazon.com
The free viewing window to History Vault is a part of Xfinity’s “Free This Week program.” It’s a lot like Sling TV’s Freeview promotion, but every week, users of Xfinity internet — as well as X1 TV and Xfinity Flex customers — get free content from a different premium streaming service or cable channel.
Content available from History Vault to select Xfinity customers this week includes:
“America: The Story of Us” “Susan B. Anthony: Rebel for the...
7-Day Free Trial $4.99 / month history vault via amazon.com
The free viewing window to History Vault is a part of Xfinity’s “Free This Week program.” It’s a lot like Sling TV’s Freeview promotion, but every week, users of Xfinity internet — as well as X1 TV and Xfinity Flex customers — get free content from a different premium streaming service or cable channel.
Content available from History Vault to select Xfinity customers this week includes:
“America: The Story of Us” “Susan B. Anthony: Rebel for the...
- 3/6/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Brandi Carlile’s new album In the Canyon Haze reimagines the songs on her 2021 LP In These Silent Days through the lens of L.A.’s Laurel Canyon. On release day, Sept. 28, Carlile and her band will bring the album to vivid life with a live performance broadcast to IMAX theaters.
Dubbed Brandi Carlile: In the Canyon Haze – Live from Laurel Canyon, the concert marks the first time the Grammy-winning Americana songwriter will play all of the LP’s songs live. Tickets are on sale now.
“I’ve made a...
Dubbed Brandi Carlile: In the Canyon Haze – Live from Laurel Canyon, the concert marks the first time the Grammy-winning Americana songwriter will play all of the LP’s songs live. Tickets are on sale now.
“I’ve made a...
- 9/9/2022
- by Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
If you’ve noticed a lot of music documentaries hitting your favorite platforms, that groundswell is driven by record companies like Universal Music Group looking for ways to invigorate their catalogues. So it makes perfect sense that a musician’s son like Hollywood super-producer Frank Marshall — who has long been Hollywood’s fave party DJ, worked on Martin Scorsese’s The Band documentary “The Last Waltz,” and plays a mean guitar — would move into the space.
Marshall has directed a few features over the years and started producing non-fiction series and features before moving into directing with “The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” and “Carole King & James Taylor: Just Call Out My Name.”
There’s no question Marshall can afford to do whatever he wants with his time. He still devotes his day job to shepherding the latest “Jurassic World” and “Indiana Jones” sequels, and feeds...
Marshall has directed a few features over the years and started producing non-fiction series and features before moving into directing with “The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” and “Carole King & James Taylor: Just Call Out My Name.”
There’s no question Marshall can afford to do whatever he wants with his time. He still devotes his day job to shepherding the latest “Jurassic World” and “Indiana Jones” sequels, and feeds...
- 5/13/2022
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Sony Music Entertainment is officially in production for a Cyndi Lauper documentary titled “Let The Canary Sing,” a feature-length film that promises to explore the singer’s 30-plus year career.
The film, which is being made in partnership with Lauper herself, will be directed by award-winning documentarian Alison Ellwood, who most recently directed the Emmy-nominated two-part documentary, “Laurel Canyon.” Ellwood has also previously collaborated with Fine Point Films on “The Go-Go’s,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to win Best Music Film at the Critics’ Choice Awards.
“Like many people, I assumed when Cyndi Lauper burst onto the music scene in the early ’80s, that she was another young star experiencing a meteoric rise to fame and success thanks to MTV,” said Ellwood. “Her music videos were wild and colorful, her songs like ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ were infectious. But as it turns out,...
The film, which is being made in partnership with Lauper herself, will be directed by award-winning documentarian Alison Ellwood, who most recently directed the Emmy-nominated two-part documentary, “Laurel Canyon.” Ellwood has also previously collaborated with Fine Point Films on “The Go-Go’s,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to win Best Music Film at the Critics’ Choice Awards.
“Like many people, I assumed when Cyndi Lauper burst onto the music scene in the early ’80s, that she was another young star experiencing a meteoric rise to fame and success thanks to MTV,” said Ellwood. “Her music videos were wild and colorful, her songs like ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ were infectious. But as it turns out,...
- 5/3/2022
- by Thania Garcia
- Variety Film + TV
Epix announced that its upcoming adventure series “Billy the Kid” will premiere on April 24.
The series follows famous outlaw William H. Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid (Tom Blyth), from his Irish roots to his cowboy days on the American frontier, including his role in the Lincoln County War.
The news came via Epix’s presentation at the Television Critics Association’s 2022 winter press tour, during which they also released a new trailer.
Epix also announced three newly greenlit docuseries: “Women Who Rock,” Season 2 of “NFL Icons” and “The Making of a Haunting: The Amityville Murders.” “Women Who Rock” is a tribute to female pioneers in the music industry and features artists including Nancy Wilson, Chaka Khan, Pat Benatar, Mavis Staples, Sheila E, Macy Gray, Rickie Lee Jones, Norah Jones, Aimee Mann, Tori Amos, Kate Pierson, Tina Weymouth and Nona Hendrix. The four-part series is from Network Entertainment. John Varvatos,...
The series follows famous outlaw William H. Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid (Tom Blyth), from his Irish roots to his cowboy days on the American frontier, including his role in the Lincoln County War.
The news came via Epix’s presentation at the Television Critics Association’s 2022 winter press tour, during which they also released a new trailer.
Epix also announced three newly greenlit docuseries: “Women Who Rock,” Season 2 of “NFL Icons” and “The Making of a Haunting: The Amityville Murders.” “Women Who Rock” is a tribute to female pioneers in the music industry and features artists including Nancy Wilson, Chaka Khan, Pat Benatar, Mavis Staples, Sheila E, Macy Gray, Rickie Lee Jones, Norah Jones, Aimee Mann, Tori Amos, Kate Pierson, Tina Weymouth and Nona Hendrix. The four-part series is from Network Entertainment. John Varvatos,...
- 2/3/2022
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Epix is continuing to rock with new music documentaries and is throwing some scares into the equation.
The MGM-owned cable network has ordered the four-part series Women Who Rock, exec produced by John Varvatos, who was behind its Punk series.
It is the latest music-focused series for the network, which recently aired Mr. A & Mr. M: The Story of A&m Records and has put a slew of titles into development (see the list below).
It has also ordered docuseries The Making of a Haunting: The Amityville Murders and renewed NFL Icons for a second season.
Women Who Rock will feature interviews with the likes of Nancy Wilson, Chaka Khan, Pat Benatar, Mavis Staples, Sheila E, Macy Gray, Rickie Lee Jones, Norah Jones, Aimee Mann, Tori Amos, Kate Pierson, Tina Weymouth and Nona Hendrix. It will pay homage to the legion of female pioneers in music who have stormed...
The MGM-owned cable network has ordered the four-part series Women Who Rock, exec produced by John Varvatos, who was behind its Punk series.
It is the latest music-focused series for the network, which recently aired Mr. A & Mr. M: The Story of A&m Records and has put a slew of titles into development (see the list below).
It has also ordered docuseries The Making of a Haunting: The Amityville Murders and renewed NFL Icons for a second season.
Women Who Rock will feature interviews with the likes of Nancy Wilson, Chaka Khan, Pat Benatar, Mavis Staples, Sheila E, Macy Gray, Rickie Lee Jones, Norah Jones, Aimee Mann, Tori Amos, Kate Pierson, Tina Weymouth and Nona Hendrix. It will pay homage to the legion of female pioneers in music who have stormed...
- 2/3/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The story of one of the most celebrated labels in recorded music history will unfold in a two-part docuseries, “Mr. A & Mr. M: The Story of A&m Records,” newly announced for the Epix network and being produced by the Kennedy/Marshall Company and Polygram Entertainment.
The first episode will premiere on the premium network Dec. 5 at 10 p.m., with the finale airing a week later in the same time slot.
One-time A&m artists Sheryl Crow, Yusuf/Cat Stevens and Peter Frampton are among those who sat for interviews for the doc series, which will include the music of the Police, the Go-Go’s, the Carpenters, Carole King and Joe Cocker, among others.
Producer Frank Marshall described it as following in the tradition of another two-part music doc that the Kennedy/Marshall Company did for Epix, last year’s acclaimed “Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time.”
“In the same way...
The first episode will premiere on the premium network Dec. 5 at 10 p.m., with the finale airing a week later in the same time slot.
One-time A&m artists Sheryl Crow, Yusuf/Cat Stevens and Peter Frampton are among those who sat for interviews for the doc series, which will include the music of the Police, the Go-Go’s, the Carpenters, Carole King and Joe Cocker, among others.
Producer Frank Marshall described it as following in the tradition of another two-part music doc that the Kennedy/Marshall Company did for Epix, last year’s acclaimed “Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time.”
“In the same way...
- 9/29/2021
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
On Tuesday, David Crosby declared to Howard Stern’s listeners that filmmaker Robert Zemeckis would be directing a documentary on Crosby, Stills & Nash, making possible use of “10,000 hours” of existing footage as well as fresh interviews. On Wednesday, that announcement got walked back a bit, with word that the tantalizing prospect of a full-on Csn doc is still only under discussion.
“They’re gonna do a huge documentary on Csn. You know about that, right?” Crosby asked Stern during their extensive SiriusXM interview, after the host had asked a number of questions about strained relations in the currently off-again supergroup. Crosby elaborated that the doc would be directed by Zemeckis and produced by Nigel Sinclair and Tim Sexton.
Asked Stern, “David, how can they do that without the three of you guys getting in the same room together?” — the near-impossibility of that having been just established.
“They’re gonna have to,...
“They’re gonna do a huge documentary on Csn. You know about that, right?” Crosby asked Stern during their extensive SiriusXM interview, after the host had asked a number of questions about strained relations in the currently off-again supergroup. Crosby elaborated that the doc would be directed by Zemeckis and produced by Nigel Sinclair and Tim Sexton.
Asked Stern, “David, how can they do that without the three of you guys getting in the same room together?” — the near-impossibility of that having been just established.
“They’re gonna have to,...
- 6/24/2021
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
The Producers Guild of America Awards were handed out during a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, March 24. Throughout their 31-year history, the PGA has proven to be one of the most successful Oscar bellwethers around. A whopping 21 of their picks have gone onto win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. That success rate flows from the fact that both the guild and the academy use the same voting system – the preferential ballot – to determine a winner. Scroll down for the 2021 Producers Guild of America Awards winners list.
This year, seven out of the 10 PGA contenders earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture: “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Promising Young Woman,” “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7.” The eighth Best Picture Oscar nominee – “The Father” – was missing from the PGA lineup, with “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “One Night in Miami” rounding out the guild’s top 10 list.
This year, seven out of the 10 PGA contenders earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture: “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Promising Young Woman,” “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7.” The eighth Best Picture Oscar nominee – “The Father” – was missing from the PGA lineup, with “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “One Night in Miami” rounding out the guild’s top 10 list.
- 3/24/2021
- by Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
It took the calendar hitting March, but the heart of awards season has finally arrived. The Oscar nominations are announced on March 15, days after the BAFTA Awards reveal its 2021 nominees. On March 24, the Producers Guild of America will hand out the 2021 PGA Awards, an often very reliable Best Picture indicator. Here’s everything to know about the 32nd annual PGA Awards, including the date of the ceremony and who is nominated.
When are the PGA Awards?
The 2021 PGA Awards will be announced on Wednesday, March 24. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the event was delayed and shifted to a virtual setting. Said PGA presidents Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher in a joint statement earlier this year, “Our 2021 PGA Awards will look different than previous years with a shift to a virtual presentation, but we’re excited by the opportunity to put on our show in a more accessible, personal, and entirely new way.
When are the PGA Awards?
The 2021 PGA Awards will be announced on Wednesday, March 24. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the event was delayed and shifted to a virtual setting. Said PGA presidents Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher in a joint statement earlier this year, “Our 2021 PGA Awards will look different than previous years with a shift to a virtual presentation, but we’re excited by the opportunity to put on our show in a more accessible, personal, and entirely new way.
- 3/8/2021
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
At long last the Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced its final batch of television nominees for the 2021 PGA Awards, providing a buzzy boost for shows looking to gain a foothold in the 2021 Emmy race, as well as revisiting some Emmy darlings from 2020.
Both the drama and comedy series categories saw a lot of turnover from last year’s PGA nominations. In drama, current Emmy favorite, Netflix’s”The Crown,” was the lone holdover from 2020. The same goes for Pop TV’s “Schitt’s Creek” in comedy series. But perhaps the most exciting aspect of today’s nominations is that both categories have the potential to crown a series that has never before won a PGA Award, creating an opportunity to honor a new generation of TV’s best shows.
Several freshman series also nabbed nominations from the PGA for their first seasons, including Netflix’s “Bridgerton,” Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso,...
Both the drama and comedy series categories saw a lot of turnover from last year’s PGA nominations. In drama, current Emmy favorite, Netflix’s”The Crown,” was the lone holdover from 2020. The same goes for Pop TV’s “Schitt’s Creek” in comedy series. But perhaps the most exciting aspect of today’s nominations is that both categories have the potential to crown a series that has never before won a PGA Award, creating an opportunity to honor a new generation of TV’s best shows.
Several freshman series also nabbed nominations from the PGA for their first seasons, including Netflix’s “Bridgerton,” Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso,...
- 3/8/2021
- by Libby Hill
- Indiewire
The music documentary resurgence is alive and well and set to continue into 2021 with an insatiable appetite for weird and wild movies about bands and artists. The release over recent years of films such as Amy and Searching For Sugar Man kicked off a trend that has been amplified by interest from the streaming services.
This year, there have been fantastic rock docs including Laurel Canyon, The Beastie Boys Story, The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne, The Go-Go’s, Creem: America’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll Magazine, The Changin’ Times of Ike White, Coachella: 20 Years In the Desert, The Bee Gees: How You Can Mend a Broken Heart, Blind Melon’s All I Can Say, Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane MacGowan, Song Exploder, Other Music and Zappa.
While there has been the regular churning of promotional films masquerading as documentaries, there have been more well researched deep dives into artists than ever before.
This year, there have been fantastic rock docs including Laurel Canyon, The Beastie Boys Story, The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne, The Go-Go’s, Creem: America’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll Magazine, The Changin’ Times of Ike White, Coachella: 20 Years In the Desert, The Bee Gees: How You Can Mend a Broken Heart, Blind Melon’s All I Can Say, Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane MacGowan, Song Exploder, Other Music and Zappa.
While there has been the regular churning of promotional films masquerading as documentaries, there have been more well researched deep dives into artists than ever before.
- 12/29/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Welcome to The B-Side, from The Film Stage. Here we talk about movie stars and filmmakers and not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones they made in between.
Today, Conor and I dish on our movie crushes. More specifically, the movie crush from my life as a young cinephile: Kate Beckinsale.
The B-Sides in the pipeline are: Laurel Canyon, Tiptoes, Nothing but the Truth, Whiteout, and Everybody’s Fine.
The sheer diversity of these five pictures cannot be overstated. Beckinsale, while known by most Americans for her role in the Underworld franchise, comes from a comedy lineage in the U.K., the daughter of sitcom legend Richard Beckinsale. Soon enough, period pieces like Much Ado About Nothing gave way to Hollywood dramas like Brokedown Palace and indie spotlights like The Last Days of Disco for Kate Beckinsale. And then… Pearl Harbor!
All of these...
Today, Conor and I dish on our movie crushes. More specifically, the movie crush from my life as a young cinephile: Kate Beckinsale.
The B-Sides in the pipeline are: Laurel Canyon, Tiptoes, Nothing but the Truth, Whiteout, and Everybody’s Fine.
The sheer diversity of these five pictures cannot be overstated. Beckinsale, while known by most Americans for her role in the Underworld franchise, comes from a comedy lineage in the U.K., the daughter of sitcom legend Richard Beckinsale. Soon enough, period pieces like Much Ado About Nothing gave way to Hollywood dramas like Brokedown Palace and indie spotlights like The Last Days of Disco for Kate Beckinsale. And then… Pearl Harbor!
All of these...
- 11/13/2020
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Alex Gibney is setting his sights on serial killers in “Crazy, Not Insane,” the latest documentary from the high-profile filmmaker.
Per HBO, the documentary profiles Dorothy Otnow Lewis, a veteran psychiatrist who has studied various infamous murderers. Her research includes videotaped death row interviews and examines the formative experiences and neurological dysfunction of such infamous murderers as Arthur Shawcross and Ted Bundy. Her work challenges the very notion of evil, proposing that murderers are made, not born.
The film also explores the death penalty itself, highlighting research that indicates states with the death penalty tend to have higher murder rates than those without, questioning the theory of the death penalty as a deterrent to violence. The film asks an important question: Once dangerous killers are locked away and the public is protected, why is society so determined to execute these human beings?
“Crazy, Not Insane,” which was recently showcased at Doc NYC,...
Per HBO, the documentary profiles Dorothy Otnow Lewis, a veteran psychiatrist who has studied various infamous murderers. Her research includes videotaped death row interviews and examines the formative experiences and neurological dysfunction of such infamous murderers as Arthur Shawcross and Ted Bundy. Her work challenges the very notion of evil, proposing that murderers are made, not born.
The film also explores the death penalty itself, highlighting research that indicates states with the death penalty tend to have higher murder rates than those without, questioning the theory of the death penalty as a deterrent to violence. The film asks an important question: Once dangerous killers are locked away and the public is protected, why is society so determined to execute these human beings?
“Crazy, Not Insane,” which was recently showcased at Doc NYC,...
- 10/27/2020
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
“Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution,” “Gunda” and “Mr. Soul” lead the fifth annual Critics Choice Association’s documentary nominations, with five apiece. Among the eclectic list of nominees are Taylor Swift, Greta Thunberg, veteran filmmaker Werner Herzog and longtime disability advocate Judith Heumann, as well as docs about such notables as John Lewis, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee and Frank Zappa.
Recognized with four nominations each are “Athlete A,” “Dick Johnson Is Dead,” “My Octopus Teacher” and “Totally Under Control.”
In terms of distributors, Netflix led with 31 nominations, followed by Neon with 14 and Magnolia Pictures with nine. Showtime had six, while HBO, Amazon, National Geographic, PBS Independent Lens and Shoes in the Bed Productions earned five each.
It’s the fifth annual documentary honors for the group, honoring projects released in theaters, on TV and on major digital platforms, as determined by the voting of Cca members. Winners will be announced at a presentation on Nov.
Recognized with four nominations each are “Athlete A,” “Dick Johnson Is Dead,” “My Octopus Teacher” and “Totally Under Control.”
In terms of distributors, Netflix led with 31 nominations, followed by Neon with 14 and Magnolia Pictures with nine. Showtime had six, while HBO, Amazon, National Geographic, PBS Independent Lens and Shoes in the Bed Productions earned five each.
It’s the fifth annual documentary honors for the group, honoring projects released in theaters, on TV and on major digital platforms, as determined by the voting of Cca members. Winners will be announced at a presentation on Nov.
- 10/26/2020
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
Epix has greenlighted Fiasco, a docuseries from Leon Neyfakh based on his podcast about America’s most pivotal historical events. The six-episode series about politics, power, and uncertainty hails from Prologue Projects and Left/Right.
Set to debut next year on the premium cabler, Fiasco host Neyfakh follows the day-to-day reality of our country’s most pivotal historical events, bringing to life the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light on the present. Season 1 will tell the story of the Iran-Contra affair, the Cold War-era debacle involving a secret war in Nicaragua and an arms-for-hostages deal with Iran that threatened the presidency of Ronald Reagan in the mid-1980s.
Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons of Prologue Projects and Underground’s Steven Fisher serve as executive producers, along with Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver, and John Marks for Left/Right, a Red Arrow Studios company. Fiasco is the second partnership for Epix,...
Set to debut next year on the premium cabler, Fiasco host Neyfakh follows the day-to-day reality of our country’s most pivotal historical events, bringing to life the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light on the present. Season 1 will tell the story of the Iran-Contra affair, the Cold War-era debacle involving a secret war in Nicaragua and an arms-for-hostages deal with Iran that threatened the presidency of Ronald Reagan in the mid-1980s.
Neyfakh, Andrew Parsons of Prologue Projects and Underground’s Steven Fisher serve as executive producers, along with Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver, and John Marks for Left/Right, a Red Arrow Studios company. Fiasco is the second partnership for Epix,...
- 10/5/2020
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Michael Wright joined Epix in 2017, just six months after MGM assumed control of what had been a joint venture between the studio, Lionsgate and Viacom by buying out its former partners. Since then, the premium cabler has grown its linear distribution, built out SVOD subscribers, and increased the breadth of its original programming by multiples of hours. Wright is pleased to now be seeing three years of work come to fruition — but not too pleased.
“At the risk of sounding like a cliched football coach, I would describe myself as pleased but not satisfied,” Wright says. “Less than two years ago, we were only available in about 40 million homes and had a handful of very high quality shows with little awareness. And today, we’re available literally everywhere.”
Of late, Epix has been steadily gaining creative traction with dramas such as “Perpetual Grace, Ltd.,” starring Ben Kingsley; “Pennyworth,” a Batman...
“At the risk of sounding like a cliched football coach, I would describe myself as pleased but not satisfied,” Wright says. “Less than two years ago, we were only available in about 40 million homes and had a handful of very high quality shows with little awareness. And today, we’re available literally everywhere.”
Of late, Epix has been steadily gaining creative traction with dramas such as “Perpetual Grace, Ltd.,” starring Ben Kingsley; “Pennyworth,” a Batman...
- 8/6/2020
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
Selection includes Sundance, Berlinale and Rotterdam award-winners.
The Sarajevo Film Festival (August 14-21) has revealed the 15 features selected for its Kinoscope strand, including award-winners from Sundance, the Berlinale and Rotterdam.
Scroll down for full lineup
Titles include South Korea’s The Woman Who Ran, which won the Silver Bear in Berlin for director Hong Sangsoo, and Shirley, starring Elisabeth Moss, which won the Auteur Filmmaking award at Sundance for director Josephine Decker.
Cannes 2020 label title Garagine, which proved one of the buzziest arthouse titles at the virtual Marche du Film, has also been selected as well as South Korea’s Beasts Clawing At Straws,...
The Sarajevo Film Festival (August 14-21) has revealed the 15 features selected for its Kinoscope strand, including award-winners from Sundance, the Berlinale and Rotterdam.
Scroll down for full lineup
Titles include South Korea’s The Woman Who Ran, which won the Silver Bear in Berlin for director Hong Sangsoo, and Shirley, starring Elisabeth Moss, which won the Auteur Filmmaking award at Sundance for director Josephine Decker.
Cannes 2020 label title Garagine, which proved one of the buzziest arthouse titles at the virtual Marche du Film, has also been selected as well as South Korea’s Beasts Clawing At Straws,...
- 8/3/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
It’s been 10 years since “The Kids Are All Right,” a queer family dramedy that was the darling of that year’s Sundance Film Festival, charted an unlikely ride to the Oscars and helped shift popular opinion about gay marriage.
Written by Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg, and directed by Cholodenko, the movie arrived as attitudes about gay rights were shifting dramatically. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore starred as a couple whose long marriage had grown stale, further strained by an emptying nest. As their eldest child prepares to leave for college, she hatches a plan with her teen brother to meet their biological father, an Echo Park-dwelling free spirit played by Mark Ruffalo. Tensions escalate as Moore and Ruffalo embark on a secret affair, the kids launch into full rebellion, and Bening unravels with boozy abandon.
While controversial in the LGBTQ community upon release for depicting a lesbian having...
Written by Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg, and directed by Cholodenko, the movie arrived as attitudes about gay rights were shifting dramatically. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore starred as a couple whose long marriage had grown stale, further strained by an emptying nest. As their eldest child prepares to leave for college, she hatches a plan with her teen brother to meet their biological father, an Echo Park-dwelling free spirit played by Mark Ruffalo. Tensions escalate as Moore and Ruffalo embark on a secret affair, the kids launch into full rebellion, and Bening unravels with boozy abandon.
While controversial in the LGBTQ community upon release for depicting a lesbian having...
- 7/30/2020
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
This year’s Emmy nominees in the seven music categories include such familiar scoring names as Ludwig Göransson, Pinar Toprak, Nicholas Britell, Mark Isham and Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross as well as figures from the pop world like Pharrell Williams, Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith, Ingrid Michaelson, Sheila E and the RZA.
Labrinth joined Reznor and Ross in being nominated in both song and score categories. The latter Nine Inch Nails members (and Oscar winners for “The Social Network”) are up for scoring “Watchmen” as well as contributing an original 1940s-themed song (“The Way It Used to Be”) to the HBO limited series. Labrinth’s two noms are for Showtime’s “Euphoria,” which earned him both a series dramatic score nomination and a song nod (“All for Us”).
Nathan Barr has the most nominations in the music categories, with three. He’s up against himself in the main title theme category,...
Labrinth joined Reznor and Ross in being nominated in both song and score categories. The latter Nine Inch Nails members (and Oscar winners for “The Social Network”) are up for scoring “Watchmen” as well as contributing an original 1940s-themed song (“The Way It Used to Be”) to the HBO limited series. Labrinth’s two noms are for Showtime’s “Euphoria,” which earned him both a series dramatic score nomination and a song nod (“All for Us”).
Nathan Barr has the most nominations in the music categories, with three. He’s up against himself in the main title theme category,...
- 7/28/2020
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
The Go-Gos’ lips are very unsealed, thankfully, in the documentary named after the band that debuts on Showtime July 31. It’ll be all the reunion that anyone gets for now: a brief summer tour that was announced when the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January is, of course, on hold until Go-Go music can safely make the world dance again. But the film from director Alison Ellwood (“Laurel Canyon”) will be a happy — if occasionally harrowing — occasion for fans of a band that has remained intermittently intact since “We Got the Beat” took the world by storm 40 years ago.
Variety spoke individually with all five members of the group about the film, their place in history and the perennial subject of why they aren’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — something Ellwood’s film might finally joyfully cajole certain committees into making happen.
Variety spoke individually with all five members of the group about the film, their place in history and the perennial subject of why they aren’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — something Ellwood’s film might finally joyfully cajole certain committees into making happen.
- 7/24/2020
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
The director of the new Laurel Canyon docu-series from Epix, Alison Ellwood, sat down with uInterview’s Erik Meers to reflect on the best parts of her deep-dive into the lives of some of the most famous people in 60s rock music. The docuseries follows the story of those living in Laurel Canyon, a community where famous musicians […]
The post ‘Laurel Canyon’ Director Alison Ellwood Explains How Pot Powered The 60s Music Scene appeared first on uInterview.
The post ‘Laurel Canyon’ Director Alison Ellwood Explains How Pot Powered The 60s Music Scene appeared first on uInterview.
- 5/29/2020
- by Marie Fiero
- Uinterview
Social distancing is easy for Bernie Leadon, who lives on a farm outside of Nashville. “It’s over 300 acres, so I can walk around with nobody there,” says the former Eagles guitarist. “So basically, I live in a park. I’m fortunate.”
Leadon is featured in the upcoming Laurel Canyon docuseries, which arrives on Epix in two parts on May 31st and June 7th. He hopped on the phone to discuss the film, his friendship with Gram Parsons, and the possibility of reuniting with the Eagles.
Alison Ellwood, who directed the new docuseries,...
Leadon is featured in the upcoming Laurel Canyon docuseries, which arrives on Epix in two parts on May 31st and June 7th. He hopped on the phone to discuss the film, his friendship with Gram Parsons, and the possibility of reuniting with the Eagles.
Alison Ellwood, who directed the new docuseries,...
- 5/22/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
Epix has ordered a six-part docuseries that will center on how Charles Manson and his cult terrorized California in the 1960s and ’70s.
Deadline reported that “Helter Skelter” will hail from “An Inconvenient Truth” producer Lesley Chilcott, Berlanti Productions, Rogue Atlas Productions, and Warner Horizon Unscripted Television. The docuseries will chronicle the history of the Manson Family and will feature never-before-seen interviews with Manson’s former cult followers as well as journalists who covered Manson.
More from IndieWireEpix Renews Crime Drama 'Godfather of Harlem' for a Second Season'Godfather of Harlem' Review: Epix's Overstuffed Gangster Drama Should Entertain Fans of the Genre
Manson died in late 2017 while serving out his life sentence at the age of 83.
“Helter Skelter” executive producers include Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Eli Frankel, and Lesley Chilcott. The docuseries will premiere June 14.
“Working with the brilliant Lesley Chilcott and the talented teams at Berlanti Productions,...
Deadline reported that “Helter Skelter” will hail from “An Inconvenient Truth” producer Lesley Chilcott, Berlanti Productions, Rogue Atlas Productions, and Warner Horizon Unscripted Television. The docuseries will chronicle the history of the Manson Family and will feature never-before-seen interviews with Manson’s former cult followers as well as journalists who covered Manson.
More from IndieWireEpix Renews Crime Drama 'Godfather of Harlem' for a Second Season'Godfather of Harlem' Review: Epix's Overstuffed Gangster Drama Should Entertain Fans of the Genre
Manson died in late 2017 while serving out his life sentence at the age of 83.
“Helter Skelter” executive producers include Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Eli Frankel, and Lesley Chilcott. The docuseries will premiere June 14.
“Working with the brilliant Lesley Chilcott and the talented teams at Berlanti Productions,...
- 4/8/2020
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Epix is exploring the story of Charles Manson and his followers in a docuseries from An Inconvenient Truth producer Lesley Chilcott, Berlanti Productions, Rogue Atlas Productions and Warner Horizon Unscripted Television.
The MGM-owned broadcaster has ordered six-part series Helter Skelter, a comprehensive telling of the story of how Manson and his cult terrorized California in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
More from DeadlineAT&t Offers Subscribers Free HBO, Premium Content Through AprilEmily Hampshire To Star In Epix Drama Based On Stephen King's 'Jerusalem's Lot''Pennyworth' Adds Five New Series Regulars As Production Begins On Season 2
It comes just over 50 years after the murder of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojtek Frykowski and Steven Parent and Manson’s subsequent trial. It will chronicle the Manson Family history, featuring never-before-accessed interviews from former family members and journalists first on the scene and in the courtroom, with archival footage and newly-unearthed images.
The MGM-owned broadcaster has ordered six-part series Helter Skelter, a comprehensive telling of the story of how Manson and his cult terrorized California in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
More from DeadlineAT&t Offers Subscribers Free HBO, Premium Content Through AprilEmily Hampshire To Star In Epix Drama Based On Stephen King's 'Jerusalem's Lot''Pennyworth' Adds Five New Series Regulars As Production Begins On Season 2
It comes just over 50 years after the murder of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojtek Frykowski and Steven Parent and Manson’s subsequent trial. It will chronicle the Manson Family history, featuring never-before-accessed interviews from former family members and journalists first on the scene and in the courtroom, with archival footage and newly-unearthed images.
- 4/8/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The Washington Post’s report on The Afghanistan Papers, which tells the secret history of the war in the country, is set to be turned into a documentary series and a scripted drama after Amblin Television acquired the rights.
The television division of Steven Spielberg’s production company has closed a deal with the Amazon-owned newspaper for the rights to At War with the Truth, the paper’s investigation into the six-part report.
It has tied with Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, who runs Jigsaw Productions, to develop the project as both a limited documentary series and limited scripted series.
The report was the result of a three-year investigation and a battle between the news organization and the U.S. government to have the documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. It tells the secret history of the war in Afghanistan, exposing behind-the-scenes frustrations, concerns, and blunt acknowledgements of...
The television division of Steven Spielberg’s production company has closed a deal with the Amazon-owned newspaper for the rights to At War with the Truth, the paper’s investigation into the six-part report.
It has tied with Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, who runs Jigsaw Productions, to develop the project as both a limited documentary series and limited scripted series.
The report was the result of a three-year investigation and a battle between the news organization and the U.S. government to have the documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. It tells the secret history of the war in Afghanistan, exposing behind-the-scenes frustrations, concerns, and blunt acknowledgements of...
- 1/30/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The cinematography of an individual movie is oftentimes a difficult thing to judge, not only because it can be tough to separate the work of the cinematographer from the overall visual storytelling, but also because most viewers react to the look and style of a film through the lens of how we felt about the movie itself. Looking at a cinematographer’s body of work, however, can be a very different exercise, as it reveals what aesthetic aspects are specific to the cinematographer and how they impact the storytelling of the films they’ve shot.
When doing these lists, there is always a nagging feeling that we might be under-representing the great international filmmakers from around the world simply based on our own U.S.-centric viewing habits. The interesting thing about modern cinematography, though, is so many of great talents from around the world eventually feel the pull of...
When doing these lists, there is always a nagging feeling that we might be under-representing the great international filmmakers from around the world simply based on our own U.S.-centric viewing habits. The interesting thing about modern cinematography, though, is so many of great talents from around the world eventually feel the pull of...
- 5/25/2018
- by Chris O'Falt, Jude Dry, Bill Desowitz, Eric Kohn, David Ehrlich, Steve Greene, Jamie Righetti, William Earl, Zack Sharf, Jenna Marotta and Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
The 2018 Independent Spirit Awards were handed out on Oscar eve, March 3, during a lively ceremony presided over by the comedy team of Nick Kroll and John Mulaney. These long-time comedy collaborators returned to host the 33rd Indie Spirits after a well-received turn at the podium last year.
Many Academy Awards hopefuls are in contention for these prizes bestowed by Film Independent. Luca Guadagnino‘s romance “Call Me by Your Name” has a leading six nominations and was locked in a tight race for Best Picture with Jordan Peele‘s horror satire “Get Out,” which won. Also in the hunt was Greta Gerwig‘s coming-of-age memoir “Lady Bird” is in the mix as well. The two Oscar frontrunners — “The Shape of Water” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” — were inexplicably snubbed in this top race.
As we predicted “Three Billboards” won the same acting awards that it is tipped to take...
Many Academy Awards hopefuls are in contention for these prizes bestowed by Film Independent. Luca Guadagnino‘s romance “Call Me by Your Name” has a leading six nominations and was locked in a tight race for Best Picture with Jordan Peele‘s horror satire “Get Out,” which won. Also in the hunt was Greta Gerwig‘s coming-of-age memoir “Lady Bird” is in the mix as well. The two Oscar frontrunners — “The Shape of Water” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” — were inexplicably snubbed in this top race.
As we predicted “Three Billboards” won the same acting awards that it is tipped to take...
- 3/3/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Today's magic number is 31. Can you believe it took Christian Bale 31 movies to win Oscar's love?
He debuted in the Steven Spielberg film Empire of the Sun (1987) which was nominated for six Oscars so they knew of him straight from the get-go. But nothing seemed to do it -- not literary adaptations (Little Women, The Portrait of a Lady), neither relationship dramas (Metroland, Laurel Canyon), nor glam rock epics (Velvet Goldmine). Of course it didn't happen for superheroes or serial killers (Batman, American Psycho) but even war dramas (Empire of the Sun, Rescue Dawn) didn't do it. And then suddenly The Fighter (2010) did. He crushed his competition on the way to a win.
Sometimes not being nominated but being routinely excellent is a good way to build crazy momentum for a win. Which working actor do you think is heading straight to an Oscar win as soon as they're finally nominated?...
He debuted in the Steven Spielberg film Empire of the Sun (1987) which was nominated for six Oscars so they knew of him straight from the get-go. But nothing seemed to do it -- not literary adaptations (Little Women, The Portrait of a Lady), neither relationship dramas (Metroland, Laurel Canyon), nor glam rock epics (Velvet Goldmine). Of course it didn't happen for superheroes or serial killers (Batman, American Psycho) but even war dramas (Empire of the Sun, Rescue Dawn) didn't do it. And then suddenly The Fighter (2010) did. He crushed his competition on the way to a win.
Sometimes not being nominated but being routinely excellent is a good way to build crazy momentum for a win. Which working actor do you think is heading straight to an Oscar win as soon as they're finally nominated?...
- 1/26/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
While many may scoff when I say this, let me just go ahead and admit right here that I unabashedly love the Underworld movies, a series I once referred to as the “Lord of the Rings of Werewolf Movies.” The first Underworld came along right at the perfect time for me. I was still super into horror action cinema at the time (coming off films like Blade and The Matrix, whose influences were being felt industry-wide), and I just couldn’t think of anything cooler than watching werewolves and vampires kicking each other’s respective otherworldly asses.
Other than the films’ tendencies to sometimes take themselves just a little too seriously, I've always felt like the Underworld movies have unjustly received a bad wrap within the horror community and deserve far more love and respect than they ever get. From their commitment to creating intricate character-driven storytelling that has taken us through (now) five films,...
Other than the films’ tendencies to sometimes take themselves just a little too seriously, I've always felt like the Underworld movies have unjustly received a bad wrap within the horror community and deserve far more love and respect than they ever get. From their commitment to creating intricate character-driven storytelling that has taken us through (now) five films,...
- 1/4/2017
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
We really prefer the Kate Beckinsale of "Laurel Canyon," "The Last Days Of Disco" and "Snow Angels" to the Hollywood version, because if you focus on “Pearl Harbor” and all those “Underworld” films it’s easy to forget that the English actress can really act when she choose to. But people gotta eat and it’s not every day that there’s a female lead in action/fantasy franchise heading towards its fifth installment. so perhaps in that regards, we can make some kind of concession. It’d been rumored in the past, but THR has confirmed that Beckinsale will return for the currently untitled and fifth installment of the “Underworld” series. Beckinsale mostly sat out of 2009's "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" though she did appear briefly. Once titled “Underworld: Next Generation," evidently that’s a hint at the plot that will pass the torch to apparently younger and hotter stars.
- 5/15/2015
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
For this week’s brand new spotlight piece (after taking a week off), I wanted to cite an A-lister who is known as one of the most deeply committed actors of his generation. Yes, it’s Christian Bale, an Academy Award winner who just overflows with talent. Once considered an incredibly snubbed actor who never quite captured Oscar’s attention, he’s since moved on to a much more respected part of his career, while also stepping effortlessly between blockbusters and independent fare. At this point, he’s almost a favorite of the voters and a multiple time nominee. As such, he’s someone I’d wanted to shine the spotlight on for some time, I’ve just been waiting for the right moment… Bale got started briefly as a teenager in television movies, but for most, the first real exposure to him came in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun,...
- 12/18/2014
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Us actress best known for her work in Coen Brothers’ movies including Fargo to receive talent award.
Us actress Frances McDormand is to be awarded the Persol Tribute to Visionary Talent Award 2014 at the 71st Venice International Film Festival (Aug 27 - Sep 6).
The prolific actress is best known for her collaborations with the Coen Brothers in films including Fargo, Raising Arizona, Burn After Reading and her first ever film role, Blood Simple.
McDormand will receive the honour on Sept 1 in the Sala Grande (Palazzo del Cinema) and will be followed by the out of competition screening of Olive Kitteridge directed by Lisa Cholodenko.
The four-part HBO miniseries adaptation of the eponymous Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Elizabeth Strout co-stars Richard Jenkins, Bill Murray, John Gallagher Jr. and Zoe Kazan.
The Playtone / As Is production will debut on HBO in the Us in November and is executive produced by McDormand alongide Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks and [link...
Us actress Frances McDormand is to be awarded the Persol Tribute to Visionary Talent Award 2014 at the 71st Venice International Film Festival (Aug 27 - Sep 6).
The prolific actress is best known for her collaborations with the Coen Brothers in films including Fargo, Raising Arizona, Burn After Reading and her first ever film role, Blood Simple.
McDormand will receive the honour on Sept 1 in the Sala Grande (Palazzo del Cinema) and will be followed by the out of competition screening of Olive Kitteridge directed by Lisa Cholodenko.
The four-part HBO miniseries adaptation of the eponymous Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Elizabeth Strout co-stars Richard Jenkins, Bill Murray, John Gallagher Jr. and Zoe Kazan.
The Playtone / As Is production will debut on HBO in the Us in November and is executive produced by McDormand alongide Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks and [link...
- 8/14/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
There will be lots of sci-fi at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International.
“The Hangover” actress Sondra Currie will be on location to pitch a new sci-fi television series “Ganymede Pan” to fans and others attending the convention. Currie is best known as Alan’s mother in all three “Hangover” movies.
“Ganymede Pan” pilot is directed by Alan J. Levi (“Jag,” “NCIS”).
Currie spoke with in detail about the premise of the television and her plans for the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con International.
Read the interview below.
Latino-Review: Tell me more about this show “Ganymede Pan.” I’ve seen the trailer. What is this science-fiction television show you’re trying to promote?
Sondra Currie: It’s a situation in which the universe is in grave danger. I play General Tai. She is the nemesis on the show. There’s a psychotropic substance or we call it a “trope.
“The Hangover” actress Sondra Currie will be on location to pitch a new sci-fi television series “Ganymede Pan” to fans and others attending the convention. Currie is best known as Alan’s mother in all three “Hangover” movies.
“Ganymede Pan” pilot is directed by Alan J. Levi (“Jag,” “NCIS”).
Currie spoke with in detail about the premise of the television and her plans for the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con International.
Read the interview below.
Latino-Review: Tell me more about this show “Ganymede Pan.” I’ve seen the trailer. What is this science-fiction television show you’re trying to promote?
Sondra Currie: It’s a situation in which the universe is in grave danger. I play General Tai. She is the nemesis on the show. There’s a psychotropic substance or we call it a “trope.
- 7/23/2014
- by Gig Patta
- LRMonline.com
Lana Del Rey has come a long way from her debut “Born to Die.” New “Ultraviolence” is legions more cohesive, conceptually stronger and packaged better than her scarlet starlets of 2011. The improvements are still in want. Del Rey is wearing, again, the troubled, beautiful and bored persona for this experiential album, which upfront demands a certain suspension of reality. From psyche-lilting opener “Cruel World” to dead-eyed cover “The Other Woman,” “Ultraviolence” doesn’t so much get exhausted as it exhausts you on this lethargic fantasy. She and producer Auerbach need for you to go there, even as you side-eye the payoff. Del Rey battles some of the tiresome tropes of fame (“Money Power Glory”) or the bitter backbiting (“Fucked My Way To The Top”) that have nipped at her heels during the last couple of years, during her rise to pop prominence, co-writing every song. But she does it in...
- 6/17/2014
- Hitfix
Wally Pfister made a name for himself as one of the top cinematographers in Hollywood over the past decade, shooting Bennett Miller's "Moneyball," Lisa Cholodenko's "Laurel Canyon," and the films of Christopher Nolan, culminating with his Oscar win for "Inception." But with "Interstellar," Nolan has to do without Pfister for the first time since his debut, "Following," as his regular Dp has greater ambitions. Pfister's directorial debut "Transcendence" hits theaters on April 17. It's a highly ambitious, fascinating concept, but it remains to be seen whether Pfister has a shot at a long-term career as a director. In anticipation for that project, here are fifteen major cinematographers who tried their hand at directing, with varying results. [Just a quick note: this list doesn't include directors who serve as their own cinematographers, such as Steven Soderbergh or Robert Rodriguez.] Mario Bava Cinematography Background: Bava got his start working with none other than Italian...
- 4/16/2014
- by Max O'Connell
- Indiewire
Olive Kitteridge Miniseries, Starring Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins, to Debut on HBO in 2014
Academy Award winner Frances McDormand 'Fargo,' 'North Country' and Academy Award nominee Richard Jenkins 'The Visitor,' HBO's 'Six Feet Under' star in the HBO Miniseries drama Olive Kitteridge, a film by Academy Award-nominated director Lisa Cholodenko 'The Kids Are All Right,' 'Laurel Canyon'. Based on Elizabeth Strout's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name and written by Emmy-winner Jane Anderson HBO's 'The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom' and 'Normal', the miniseries recently completed production in Massachusetts for debut later this year on HBO.
- 1/9/2014
- by TV News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Academy Award winner Frances McDormand ( Fargo , North Country ) and Academy Award nominee Richard Jenkins ( The Visitor , The Cabin in the Woods ) are set to star in the HBO Miniseries drama "Olive Kitteridge," a film by Academy Award-nominated director Lisa Cholodenko ( The Kids Are All Right , Laurel Canyon ). Based on Elizabeth Strout's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name and written by Emmy-winner Jane Anderson ("The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom," "Normal"), the miniseries recently completed production in Massachusetts for debut later this year on HBO. An HBO Miniseries presentation of a Playtone production in association with As Is, "Olive Kitteridge" is executive produced by...
- 1/9/2014
- Comingsoon.net
Odd List Ryan Lambie Simon Brew 12 Dec 2013 - 05:49
The year of Baggins, Potter and Spider-Man also had a wealth of lesser-known movies. Here’s our pick of 2002's underappreciated films...
At the top of the box office tree, 2002 was dominated by fantasy and special effects. Peter Jackson's The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers made almost a billion dollars all by itself, with Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets taking second place and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man not too far behind.
In many ways, 2002 set the tempo for the Hollywood blockbuster landscape, which has changed relatively little in the decade since. A quick look at 2013‘s top 10, for example, reveals a markedly similar mix of superhero movies, with Iron Man 3 still ruling the roost at the time of writing, followed by effects-heavy action flicks and family-friendly animated features.
As usual in these lists, we're looking...
The year of Baggins, Potter and Spider-Man also had a wealth of lesser-known movies. Here’s our pick of 2002's underappreciated films...
At the top of the box office tree, 2002 was dominated by fantasy and special effects. Peter Jackson's The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers made almost a billion dollars all by itself, with Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets taking second place and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man not too far behind.
In many ways, 2002 set the tempo for the Hollywood blockbuster landscape, which has changed relatively little in the decade since. A quick look at 2013‘s top 10, for example, reveals a markedly similar mix of superhero movies, with Iron Man 3 still ruling the roost at the time of writing, followed by effects-heavy action flicks and family-friendly animated features.
As usual in these lists, we're looking...
- 12/11/2013
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
Alessandro Nivola is joining the Broadway revival of the classic stiff-upper-lip drama "The Winslow Boy," Roundabout Theatre Company said Wednesday. The star of "Laurel Canyon" and "Junebug" joins a cast that includes Oscar and Tony nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio of "The Color of Money" fame and Tony Award winner and "Cheers" star Roger Rees. Terence Rattigan's drama centers on a teenage cadet dismissed from the Royal Naval College after he's accused of stealing a postal order. It follows his family's legal challenge in early 20th century England; Nivola will play a haughty but...
- 8/7/2013
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
Wally Pfister is pulling together a great cast for his first feature film project Transcendence. Prestige co-star Rebecca Hall has just joined the cast of the film, which also includes Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany.
From what we know of the film right now, Depp plays a scientist whose brain is uploaded into a supercomputer creating the world’s first machine that can think for itself. The story contains themes of singularity, and nanotechnology. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the story that was previously released,
A group of anti-technology terrorists assassinate Will, Evelyn uploads his brain into a prototype supercomputer. Although she at first finds the experiment seems to have gone wrong, before too long Evelyn finds Will responding in computer form.
She goes on to connect Will to the Internet so he can help make further scientific breakthroughs. Will asks Evelyn to connect a microphone and a camera...
From what we know of the film right now, Depp plays a scientist whose brain is uploaded into a supercomputer creating the world’s first machine that can think for itself. The story contains themes of singularity, and nanotechnology. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the story that was previously released,
A group of anti-technology terrorists assassinate Will, Evelyn uploads his brain into a prototype supercomputer. Although she at first finds the experiment seems to have gone wrong, before too long Evelyn finds Will responding in computer form.
She goes on to connect Will to the Internet so he can help make further scientific breakthroughs. Will asks Evelyn to connect a microphone and a camera...
- 3/5/2013
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
With credits that include "The Kids Are All Right," "Laurel Canyon," "High Art" and "The L Word," Lisa Cholodenko didn't always seem like the obvious choice to co-write (with Ron Lieber) and direct "Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." But she's been developing the vehicle for a while, first at Fox and then at Disney who picked the project up when it went into turnaround. But as the movie continues to move forward, Cholodenko has decided she won't get behind the camera after all. Deadline reports that Cholodenko has exited the movie, leaving a job vacancy to be filled as Disney still aims to shoot it this fall, with star Steve Carell still attached. Produced by Shawn Levy's company 21 Laps, the project takes its source material from Judith Viorst's book, about an unlucky family (with Carell as the father) living through a horrendous day,...
- 2/22/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Sometimes, two ladies make out with each other in major motion pictures. Other times, they not only make out with each other — they simulate sexual intercourse with each other. And because the Internet exists, each of those instances is easily accessible to everybody with a computer, context-free. I know, right? And some people claim to be "pessimists?" (laughs to himself.)
A ranking of such scenes is an inexact science, but we've created a surefire formula at NextMovie: Which do we like the most?
Gentlemen (and ladies), start your history deletions!
15. Kate Beckinsale and Frances McDormand, 'Laurel Canyon' (2002)
Dr. Christian Bale is engaged to Kate Beckinsale. There's a colleague of Bale's who wishes to have carnal relations with him. What's worse (better?), that colleague is Natasha McElhone. Beckinsale is jealous of this, so she does what any vengeful person would do in that situation: kiss her fiance's mom (Frances McDormand...
A ranking of such scenes is an inexact science, but we've created a surefire formula at NextMovie: Which do we like the most?
Gentlemen (and ladies), start your history deletions!
15. Kate Beckinsale and Frances McDormand, 'Laurel Canyon' (2002)
Dr. Christian Bale is engaged to Kate Beckinsale. There's a colleague of Bale's who wishes to have carnal relations with him. What's worse (better?), that colleague is Natasha McElhone. Beckinsale is jealous of this, so she does what any vengeful person would do in that situation: kiss her fiance's mom (Frances McDormand...
- 2/6/2013
- by Nick Blake
- NextMovie
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