Harris law group

EXCLUSIVE : Media mogul Jose ‘Pepe’ Bastón is looking to ramp up his interests in the U.S. after signing with Allied Management Group , the company founded by former NBCU exec John Pollak and actor Wilmer Valderrama. Bastón, who spent three decades at Mexican media giant Televisa, has signed with the company through its partnership with Monica Gil and Carolina Aymerich’s CRE84U. The aim is to grow Bastón and his Elefantec Global studio’s business in the English-language market in the U.S. Elefantec Global, which is based in Los Angeles, Bogota and Mexico City and has relationships throughout Latin America and the U.S., is behind projects such as Miguel Bose biopic Bose and limited series La Rebelion and has a partnership with Fox-owned MarVista Entertainment. It comes as U.S. buyers look to grow their Latino-infused content. Bastón said, “Our mission is to create cultural relevant content not only for the global Latino audience but also for worldwide audiences … [Read more...] about Jose ‘Pepe’ Bastón Signs With John Pollak & Wilmer Valderrama’s Allied Management Group

EXCLUSIVE: The Gotham Group , which most recently produced Disney+’s Stargirl based on the bestselling novel, has made its latest book deal. It has optioned Christina Hammonds Reed’s upcoming debut YA novel The Black Kids , setting Rafiki helmer Wanuri Kahiu to direct and Allison Davis to adapt it. The novel, to be published September 1 via Simon & Schuster, is a coming-of-age story of a wealthy African-American teenager whose family gets caught in the vortex of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Kahiu’s previous film Rafiki was banned in her native Kenya for a time ahead of its world premiere at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, where it made history as the first Kenyan film selected. It explored LGBTQ issues in a country that criminalizes homosexual acts between consenting adults. The film’s success helped Kahiu land gigs in the U.S. Now managed by Gotham Group, she is also set to direct Millie Bobby Brown in The Thing About Jellyfish for Made Up Stories, … [Read more...] about ‘Rafiki’ Helmer Wanuri Kahiu To Direct Gotham Group’s YA Adaptation ‘The Black Kids’

Whitney director Kevin Macdonald has struck a multi-project deal with rebranded Banijay label Workerbee Group. Macdonald, whose past credits include the celebrated Houston doc, Oscar winner One Day in September and Marley, will work closely with Workerbee’s new Films division to jointly identify premium unscripted projects to collaborate on. The pair have previously collaborated on hit A+E Janet Jackson doc series Janet and the new partnership has already spawned a major feature doc for a streamer, which will be announced shortly. “On a personal level I’m huge fan of Kevin’s approach to storytelling and his partnerships with our lead Director Ben Hirsh have produced our most exciting documentary projects to date,” said Workerbee CEO Rick Murray. “Knowing we are going to forge more high-profile films together is a great way to kick start our Workerbee Films division.” Macdonald added: “I’ve had a rewarding time working with Rick and the Workerbee team … [Read more...] about ‘Whitney’ Director Kevin Macdonald Partners With Rebranded Banijay Label Workerbee Group

EXCLUSIVE : Cohen Media Group has acquired all North American distribution rights to filmmaker Mark Cousins ’ Alfred Hitchcock doc My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock . The film premiered at Telluride and examines the Psycho and Vertigo director’s vast body of work, exploring his techniques, themes and obsessions. The plan is for a theatrical release later this year. Cousins, who utilizes actor and impressionist Alistair McGowan to portray Hitch in voiceover, connects the stylistic dots running through the director’s 50-plus films, from revered classics like North by Northwest, Psycho and Rear Window to less frequently discussed but intriguing works such as The Paradine Case, Sabotage and more, stretching all the way back to his silent films. The deal, announced by Cohen Media Group Chairman and CEO Charles S. Cohen, was negotiated by CMG Senior Vice President Robert Aaronson and Cleo Veger, Head Sales at London-based film sales company Dogwoof. Among … [Read more...] about Mark Cousins’ Alfred Hitchcock Documentary Gets North American Deal

In a first-time first-person account of her life and career, legendary singer, actress, director and producer Barbra Streisand will publish her memoir, My Name is Barbra , on November 7, 2023 via Penguin Random House imprint Viking. The Penguin Group made it official on Tuesday, calling the tome “engrossing and delightful.” There have been dozens of books written about the now 80-year-old artist, but this will be the first to tell her story in her own words. And by account, it’s a lot of words. Pre-order listings have it clocking in at 1,040 pages. Fitting for a woman whose groundbreaking career has spanned six decades and included two Oscars, five Emmys, 10 Grammys, 11 Golden Globes and a Tony as well as countless other awards. Streisand is among the handful of EGOT winners and has one of the most recognizable voices in the history of popular music. She has been nominated for a Grammy 46 times. Her first Oscar was for Best Actress, in a breakout performance as … [Read more...] about Barbra Streisand’s First Memoir, ‘My Name Is Barbra’, Set For Fall Release

EXCLUSIVE: Digital content indie Cowshed Social has rebranded to Cowshed Collective , signed a former YMU Chief Business Officer and split into four divisions. Cowshed, which creates content for Gen-Zs, will now operate with a Studios, Social, Creators and Ventures division. Studios will focus on producing content for broadcasters, Social on building brands, Creators on talent development and Ventures will be business-to-business. Hamizadeh is a signature hire who joins as Chief Business Officer. She is a former YMU Chief Business Officer and has also worked at UK publisher Haymarket. She joins soon after former Channel 4 and BBC Studios exec Matt Ford, while Cowshed Collective also recently hired former LADbible Group Head Of Production Joana Gutscher. “Cowshed is an impressive business that understands content, production, and how to deliver for clients to a high standard all within one agency,” said Hamizadeh. “I’m delighted to be involved in the next stage of … [Read more...] about Former YMU Business Exec Joins Rebranded Digital Content Indie Cowshed Collective

Editor’s note : Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series debuts and celebrates the scripts of films factoring in this year’s movie awards races. For her debut feature, filmmaker Georgia Oakley returns to 1980s Britain as Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government has introduced Section 28, a clause of the Local Government Act that seeks to prohibit “the promotion of homosexuality” by local authorities across the United Kingdom. At the time, protests were rife, but many gay women and men felt compelled to keep their sexuality a secret. Blue Jean , written and directed by Oakley, follows Jean, a school gym teacher who keeps her sexuality a secret from her colleagues. The threat is immediate and real: if exposed, her love life could cost her her job. However, Jean finds little sympathy from her girlfriend, Viv. Out and proud, Viv is part of a cooperative of similarly assertive lesbian women. Viv regards secrecy as a capitulation to an increasingly oppressive system. As … [Read more...] about ‘Blue Jean’: Read The Screenplay For Georgia Oakley’s BAFTA Nominated Debut

Recent Grammy winner Bad Bunny , Christina Aguilera and Jeremy Pope will be honored at the 34th annual GLAAD Media Awards next month for advancing and supporting the LGBTQ community. Bad Bunny — Spotify’s most-streamed artist in the world last year — will receive the Vanguard Award for having made “a significant difference in promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues.” Five-time Grammy winner Aguilera will receive the Advocate for Change Award for having “changed the game for LGBTQ people around the world.” And Pose alum and two-time Tony nominee Pope will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for having made “a significant difference in raising visibility and promoting acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues.” Read bios for all three below. The awards show will be handed during the March 30 ceremony at the Beverly Hilton. RELATED: 2023 Awards Season Calendar – Dates For The Oscars, Guilds & More Bad Bunny’s advocacy and outspoken allyship for the … [Read more...] about GLAAD Media Awards: Bad Bunny, Christina Aguilera & Jeremy Pope Set For Honors

EXCLUSIVE : Lance Bass , a member of pop group NSYNC and a trained Russian cosmonaut, is hosting a new podcast series about space. Bass will host The Last Soviet , which tells the story of Russian astronaut Sergei Krikalev’s 313 days in space during the collapse of the USSR. The eight-part series, which comes from iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope, will launch on February 15. In 2002, Bass underwent training in Star City, Russia and became a certified cosmonaut. He was certified both by the Russian Space Program and by NASA for a mission on the Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft to the International Space Station but after his financial sponsors backed out, Bass was denied a seat on the mission. Krikalev was stranded on board Mir during the dissolution of the Soviet Union and his return was delayed for twice as long as the mission was planned originally. “I fell in love with space when my grandfather took me to see my first rocket launch as a kid. I even came close to … [Read more...] about Lance Bass To Host Space History Podcast Series ‘The Last Soviet’ For iHeartPodcasts & Kaleidoscope

EXCLUSIVE: Kelly Hu ( BMF , The Orville) has joined the cast of the CBS series East New York in a recurring role. She will make her debut in episode 112 titled “Up in Smoke,” airing February 19. She will play Allison Cha, a tenacious and straightforward political policy advisor brought into shadow Suarez (Jimmy Smits) to understand the day-to-day duties of the NYPD. From William Finkelstein and Mike Flynn, East New York follows Regina Haywood (Amanda Warren), the newly promoted deputy inspector of East New York, an impoverished, working-class neighborhood at the eastern edge of Brooklyn. She leads a diverse group of officers and detectives, some of whom are reluctant to deploy her creative methods of serving and protecting during the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification. The series also stars Jimmy Smits, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Richard Kind, Olivia Luccardi, and Lavel Schley. William Finkelstein, Mike … [Read more...] about ‘East New York’ Adds Kelly Hu In Recurring Role