Give credit where credit are due

Once again, The Simpsons are being credited for predicting a future dumpster fire. Case in point: a 1990 episode of the animated Fox comedy depicted an angry mob of people protesting the planned exhibition of Michelangelo’s David in Springfield. “It’s fifth,” a woman tells Marge. “It graphically portrays parts of the human body, which practical as they may be, are evil.” Flash forward to this week, when a Florida charter school principal says she was forced to resign after some parents complained about their sixth grade students seeing a picture of David in class. It all unfolded at Tallahassee Classical, which bases its curriculum on the conservative and Christian Hillsdale College in Michigan. According to The Washington Post , the charter schools that rely on Hillsdale’s curriculum are supposed to teach Renaissance art to sixth graders, which includes the statue of David. But Barney Bishop III, the chair of the school board, told reporters that parents — two, to … [Read more...] about ‘The Simpsons’ Credited For Predicting Fate Of Florida Principal Who Was Forced Out By Parents Angered By Michelangelo’s ‘David’

MindGeek , the parent of Pornhub , the world’s biggest porn site, and other adult entertainment platforms was acquired by a Canadian private equity firm called Ethical Capital Partners, or ECP, for an undisclosed amount. ECP launched in 2022 in Montreal. Its website says it’s good at dealing with problem companies, seeking out tech-focused investment and advisory opportunities “in industries that require principled ethical leadership…have legal and regulatory complexity and that put a value on transparency and accountability.” Pornhub, founded in 2007, changed the world of adult entertainment. It has over 76 million monthly active registered members and over 130 million adults visit the site daily for “the best selection of award-winning performers, the most extensive collection of high-quality videos, and a safe, user-friendly experience for viewers,” the deal announcement says. It’s been plagued by scandal and is the subject of the Netflix documentary Money Shot: The Pornhub … [Read more...] about Pornhub Acquired By Canadian Private Equity Firm Ethical Capital Partners As Netflix Doc Debuts

Oscar-winning screenwriter, playwright and film director Christopher Hampton was on feisty form in a masterclass in Qatar earlier this week as part of the Doha Film Institute ’s Qumra talent incubator event (March 10-16). Hampton, who won Academy Awards for the screenplays of Dangerous Liaisons and The Father and was Oscar-nominated for Atonement , urged aspiring screenwriters in the auditorium to try to retain some sort of control of their work and creative vision. “I would advise anybody to try to get at least some sort of associate producer credit to maintain a grip on the material and you have to fight… fight with a lot of people,” he said. “They don’t want to give it to you. They don’t want to give you those powers, but I’ve always argued that since the writer is the origin of the piece, they deserve to be respected.” “Don’t be unreasonable because there is a very strong possibility that other people’s ideas will be as good as yours but there comes a … [Read more...] about Christopher Hampton Talks Screenwriter Control; ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ Sprint Against Miloš Forman – Qumra Masterclass

EXCLUSIVE: The Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews , held in northern Scotland, has set the lineup for its second edition, running April 14 – 16. Over the course of three days, the festival will host a series of official screenings and industry talks from filmmakers and artists such as director Joe Russo ( Avengers: Endgame, The Gray Man ), who returns to St Andrews after supporting the inaugural edition in 2022. Russo will be bringing with him what the festival has described as an “early sneak peek of a hotly anticipated project” that he has executive produced under his AGBO production outfit. The title of the pic will not be unveiled until the screening begins. The festival has also set Russo as the host of a public discussion on gaming and contemporary storytelling with Epic Games Chief Creative Officer Donald Mustard, who has worked as a creator and director on titles such as Fortnite . Russo’s AGBO is among the backers of Sands, alongside … [Read more...] about Scotland’s Sands International Film Festival Of St Andrews Sets Second Edition Including Joe Russo Talk & Mystery AGBO Debut

Brian Walsh , the popular Australian TV and film executive credited with a key role in Neighbours ‘ global success, has died unexpectedly. He was 68. An outpouring of sadness has come from Australian media industry following the death of Walsh, who was mentor to stars such as Guy Pearce and helped launch the careers of Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue. Australian network Foxtel , where Walsh most recently worked, confirmed he passed away yesterday in Sydney. Pearce wrote on Twitter he was “utterly devastated” at the loss of his “long time friend and mentor,” while the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts called him “one of Australia’s most distinguished television producers.” Many of industry figures in Australia and further afield took to Twitter to recognize the influence of the exec, who was a familiar face at events such as the LA Screenings and Mipcom. Walsh’s 28-year career began at Australian public service network the ABC before he feature … [Read more...] about Brian Walsh Dies: Popular Australian TV Exec Behind ‘Neighbours’ Success And Mentor To Guy Pearce Was 68

EXCLUSIVE: Tyrese Gibson ( The Fast and Furious franchise) and Harvey Keitel ( Reservoir Dogs ) have signed on to star in the action thriller The Wrecker . The pic is currently shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Filmmaker Art Camacho is directing from an original screenplay by Niko Foster, who also stars in the pic. The film’s plot follows a dishonorably discharged ex-marine named Tony, now turned car mechanic, whose life takes an unexpected turn when his reckless brother makes a bad decision gaining the unwanted attention of a notorious crime boss. Foster produces for Chasing Butterflies Pictures alongside Al Bravo for Al Bravo Films. Additional producers include Colin Bates, Eduard Osipov, Michael Pizzimenti, and Hemdee Kiwanuka. Stuart Alson, Nicole Holland, and Elias Axume, Premiere Entertainment CEO, serve as executive producers. Jiarui Guo and Michelle Wang Deppe co-produce. Camacho recently directed the action film Ruthless , starring Dermot Mulroney … [Read more...] about Tyrese Gibson And Harvey Keitel To Star In Action Thriller ‘The Wrecker’

Jacqueline West is one of Hollywood’s most respected costume designers with four Oscar nominations for Philip Kaufmann’s Quills , David Fincher’s The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button , Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s The Revenant and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune : Part One . She is also Terrence Malick’s go-to costume designer, after a recommendation from his long-time production designer Jack Fisk, working with him on The New World , The Tree of Life , To the Wonder and Knight of Cups , while other credits include Stephen Norrington’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen , Ben Affleck’s Argo and Martin Scorsese’s upcoming Killers Of The Flower Moon . Talking about her career in a masterclass for the Doha Film Institute , West said she fell into cinema by chance after connecting with Kaufmann through a clothes store she set up in Berkeley in the 1990s after majoring in art history, having originally planned to study sciences. “I never planned to work … [Read more...] about Costume Designer Jacqueline West On ‘The Revenant’ & ‘Dune’; Spills Beans On Zendaya’s Off-The-Peg Desert Dress – Qumra Masterclass

Following her critically acclaimed work in Normal People and Where The Crawdads Sing , Daisy Edgar-Jones has found her first studio tentpole as she is set to star in Twisters , a new chapter to the 1996 box-office hit for Amblin Entertainment and Universal Pictures. Lee Isaac Chung is on board to direct from a script by Mark L. Smith. The film will be co-financed by Warner Bros. Starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, Twister was a massive hit in 1996, scoring more than $494 million at the worldwide box office, thanks in no small part to the film’s ground-breaking special effects. The original film was helmed by Speed director Jan De Bont and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by author Michael Crichton. Executive Vice President of Production Sara Scott and Creative Executive Jacqueline Garell will oversee for Universal Pictures, and Ashley Jay Sandberg will oversee for Kennedy/Marshall. Edgar-Jones starred in Sony’s Where the Crawdads … [Read more...] about Daisy Edgar-Jones To Star In ‘Twisters’ For Amblin And Universal Pictures

EXCLUSIVE: Award-winning documentary producer and film programmer Sara Archambault is joining the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. As the newly-named Documentary Film Project Manager, Archambault will oversee a new initiative on documentary film in the public interest. “The initiative will engage with scholars, filmmakers, journalists, and industry leaders around the major questions facing the documentary film industry today,” according to a release announcing Archambault’s appointment, “and will include activities such as fellowships, screenings, convenings, and new prizes.” Archambault’s most recent producing credits include Riotsville, U.S.A. and A Decent Home , both from 2022, as well as the upcoming Richland . She previously spent a decade as the program director of the LEF Foundation in Cambridge, Mass., and nine years as founder/programmer of the Brattle Theatre’s The DocYard … [Read more...] about Producer Sara Archambault Joins Harvard’s Shorenstein Center, Heading New Initiative On “Documentary Film In The Public Interest”

EXCLUSIVE : Game of Thrones alum John Bradley is set as the lead of North Shore , a Paramount+ crime thriller series from Cold Feet creator Mike Bullen. Downton Abbey ‘s Joanne Froggatt has closed a one-year deal to star in the six-episode first season of the Australian original. S et on and around Sydney Harbour, North Shore follows the clash of cultures when British and Australian detectives team to solve a complex murder mystery, and uncover a conspiracy with international political consequences. 2022 Paramount+ Pilots & Series Orders The series centers on Max Wylie (Bradley), a British detective who, offside with his colleagues, is seconded to Australia to observe the investigation into the suspicious death of a young woman, the daughter of a British cabinet minister. When Max travels to Australia his life is at a crossroads. His boss doubts Max is a team player and questions whether he has a future in the police, and his wife is contemplating … [Read more...] about John Bradley To Headline ‘North Shore’ Paramount+ Crime Series; Joanne Froggatt Also Stars