Breaking bad

The Downtown Albuquerque Railyards will serve as the headquarters for the New Mexico Media Academy , a collaborative workforce development program equipping NM residents with the skills they need to build successful film and TV careers, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Wednesday. The training hub formerly known as the Next Generation Media Academy will be constructed in the Boiler Room location of the Railyards which have long been a production hotspot, featuring onscreen in projects ranging from Breaking Bad to The Avengers . A companion campus, serving Southern New Mexico, will be built in Las Cruces. Both locations will offer industry-standard, hands-on, and craft-specific workforce training and job competencies for the film, television and digital media industry, with a spotlight on such emerging focus areas as virtual and extended reality and volumetric production. And facilities will therefore feature not only classrooms, offices, lab, post-production and flex … [Read more...] about New Mexico Media Academy Sets Albuquerque Headquarters, Names Chad Burris Executive Director

WME is teaming with Inevitable Foundation , the non-profit helping disabled screenwriters to reach their full commercial and creative potential, on a new initiative to empower them. While there’s no official name for the initiative, Inevitable Foundation will look through it to leverage the leading agency’s expertise, resources and relationships to break down barriers for disabled writers. The Foundation will now receive financial support from WME, also working with their TV and MP lit agents to increase development and staffing opportunities for disabled writers, and setting their Accelerate Fellows up with opportunities for mentorship by notable agency clients. “We are thrilled to partner with WME to help disabled writers build creative power in the film and television industry,” said Inevitable Foundation co-founders Richie Siegel and Marisa Torelli-Pedevska. “Disabled writers represent only 0.15% of first-look and overall deals, 3% of upper-level television writers, … [Read more...] about WME, Inevitable Foundation Partner On Initiative To Empower Disabled Writers

Doubleday will publish the sequel to John Grisham ’s bestseller The Firm this fall. The new legal thriller, titled The Exchange: After The Firm , will mark the return of protagonist Mitch McDeere; publication date is October 17. The announcement was made today by Grisham’s publisher, Suzanne Herz, EVP, Publisher Vintage/Anchor Books, and rights to the work were sold by David Gernert at The Gernert Company. The book will be published by Doubleday in hardcover, as an ebook, and in audio by Penguin Random House. Anchor will published it in trade paper a year later. An announced hardcover first printing of 1.5 million copies has been set. “When last seen in The Firm , Mitch McDeere and his wife Abby were fleeing Memphis with the bad guys in hot pursuit,” says Grisham. “Now they’re back, fifteen years later, and living in New York where Mitch is an international lawyer and a partner in a mega-firm. His work takes him across the globe, and not always to safe places. … [Read more...] about John Grisham Sequel To ‘The Firm’ Coming From Doubleday: ‘The Exchange’ Arrives This Fall

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar winning co-director/co-scribe/producer of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , Rodney Rothman , and former MGM exec Adam Rosenberg , have inked a first look deal with Sony Pictures to develop, produce, write, and direct feature films through their company, Modern Magic . Under their deal with the studio, Rothman and Rosenberg are developing a feature film based on an original idea by Emmy Award winner Quinta Brunson ( Abbott Elementary ), with Emmy Award nominee Jonathan Krisel ( Portlandia ) attached to direct. “Rodney Rothman is the ultimate paradox, wickedly funny yet also highly capable of the most sophisticated, heartfelt storytelling. He is an extraordinary talent and we are thrilled to expand our relationship with him. He and his producing partner Adam Rosenberg have a great plan for their new company now solidified in this new first-look deal,” said Sanford Panitch, President, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group. Said Rothman, … [Read more...] about Rodney Rothman & Adam Rosenberg’s Modern Magic Signs First Look Deal With Sony; Quinta Brunson Pic In The Works

Getty Lamar Jackson says he did NOT sit out games last year as a negotiating tactic, and if anyone suggests he did, the NFL MVP most definitely will not hesitate to check fans online. That's what happened Tuesday night as fallout from news of 26-year-old Jackson's trade request continues, with some now accusing Lamar of intentionally missing games as a way to either protect his health, or show his value, and in turn receive a huge new contract. Getty Lamar Jackson Reveals He Requested Trade From Ravens Something Lamar says is absolutely not true. "I don’t remember me sitting out on my guys week 1 vs jets To week 12 vs Broncos. How come all of a sudden I sit out because of money in which I could’ve got hurt at anytime within that time frame," Jackson said on Twitter. "When we know the Super Bowl been on my mind since April 2018." Jackson added, "Let’s get real. I rather have a 100% PCL than go out there and play horrible forcing myself … [Read more...] about Lamar Jackson Rips Critics Saying He Sat Out Games Over Money

TMZ.com The growth of AI technology is going too far too quickly and dangerously -- at least, according to tech giants Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak ... who've joined a huge group of leaders asking developers to temporarily call it quits. Musk, Wozniak and more than 1,100 others in the technology industry all signed an open letter from Future of Life Institute ... calling out developers of AI software, because they might not be aware of the "catastrophic" risks that can come with it. Document Launch Doc The concerned leaders call the rapid growth a "dangerous race," and they're asking labs to take a 6-month break to allow for further risk assessment on AI. They're also asking the government to intervene if developers refuse to pause. The signees go on to point out that competing AI labs are pushing hard to develop the best version out there, and might not be aware of what could come from it ... with the eerie possibility … [Read more...] about Elon Musk, Tech Leaders Call for Pause on ‘Catastrophic’ AI Development

EXCLUSIVE : UTA has signed rising Australian actor Luke Bracey for representation in all areas. Bracey most recently starred alongside Austin Butler and Tom Hanks in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis , an acclaimed Warner Bros. drama on the life, relationships, work and legacy of the King of Rock and Roll. The actor played talent manager Jerry Schilling in the film, which proved to be one of the great success stories of 2022. Pic opened at #1 at the box office last June following its world premiere at Cannes and went on to gross over $288M worldwide, garnering eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, among many other accolades. Bracey prior to Elvis starred opposite Emma Roberts in Netflix’s rom-com Holidate , which topped charts in its first month on the streamer in the fall of 2020. He also starred alongside Andrew Garfield and Vince Vaughn in Mel Gibson’s Academy Award-nominated WWII drama Hacksaw Ridge and appeared in Lionsgate’s 2015 remake of the … [Read more...] about UTA Signs ‘Elvis’ Actor Luke Bracey

ITV Studios has acquired a majority stake in Australian producer Lingo Pictures — marking its first acquisition in the country. ITV’s production and sales arm paid an undisclosed amount for the Sydney-based company, which is best known for Upright , the Sky and Foxtel Australia drama starring Tim Minchin and House of the Dragons ‘ Milly Alcock. Deadline understands the deal value is in the eight-figure US dollars region. The deal highlights the growing value international production groups are seeing in Australia, whose favorable tax breaks system is increasingly attractive, and Australian dramas, with Paramount+’s Last King of the Cross one of the most sought-after titles available at Mipcom last month. Lingo owners Helen Bowden and Jason Stephens will continue to head up Lingo, which will now sit in ITV Studios ’ international production arm, which Lisa Perrin leads as Managing Director. Other international drama labels in the group include Ben Stephenson’s … [Read more...] about ITV Studios Buys Majority Stake In ‘Upright’ Producer Lingo Pictures In Australia

TMZ.com Angela White -- who's best known, to this point, as Blac Chyna -- is turning over a new leaf to set a good example for her little ones, and it's obvious the changes are way more than just cosmetic. Angela joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live" to fill us in on how and why she decided to re-brand from her ex-stripper/reality TV and OnlyFans star persona ... to instead focus on motherhood, music and new business ventures. She says her kids were a big reason for the change, and also ... she was just "sick and tired of being sick and tired." Angela says the turnaround started for her when she was Baptized last year on her birthday -- something that's helped her find peace in every aspect of her life. Case in point, Angela says even her once bitter and litigious relationship with Rob Kardashian is much smoother now, as they happily share custody of 6-year-old Dream . She added there's no bad blood with the Kardashian clan as a whole. … [Read more...] about Blac Chyna Says New Angela White Chapter Prompted by Love for Her Kids, God