How long affairs last

Now that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has deferred its proposed “Best Popular Picture” Oscar for further study, here’s a modest proposal: Why not make this an Article XI, Section 1(b) issue? Believe it or not, there is a mechanism by which Academy members — all 9,000-plus of them — can be directly included in particularly important decisions. Ordinarily, the group’s 54-member Board of Governors holds plenary power. It can admit some members, exclude others , hire executives, defend against lawsuits and decide what awards should be given and under what rules. If need be, the governors also can change their own bylaws. That typically requires 10 days’ notice of a pending revision and approval by two-thirds of the entire board. Reading through what archivists at the Academy’s Margaret Herrick Library say are the current bylaws (as revised on April 5, 2016), it appears that the new “pop” Oscar — which stirred controversy in the ranks after being announced … [Read more...] about Should The Academy Go Ahead With That “Pop” Oscar? Let The Members Decide

A Broadway musical take of the six-time Oscar-winning, $472 million worldwide-grossing movie La La Land is in development, Emmy- and Tony-winning producer Marc Platt said Tuesday. The show, based on the Damien Chazelle-directed movie, will be helmed by Tony and Drama Desk-winning director Bartlett Sher based on a book written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar and three-time Barrymore Award winner Matthew Decker. The stage adaptation will feature music by the film’s composer and two-time Oscar winner Justin Hurwitz and lyrics by Oscar- and Tony-winning composing team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul . The movie, which starred Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, followed an aspiring actress and a jazz musician as they pursue their dreams in Los Angeles. The pic won Oscars for director, actress in a leading role, production design, cinematography, original score and original song among its 14 nominations. “I’m thrilled to reunite with Lionsgate and the … [Read more...] about ‘La La Land’ Broadway Musical In The Works

EXCLUSIVE: Steven Ogg , notably recognized for his roles on The Walking Dead and Westworld , has signed with Buchwald for representation. Most recently, Ogg played the role of Pike in TNT’s post-apocalyptic dystopian thriller Snowpiercer opposite Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs. He also had pivotal roles in the Emmy-nominated series Better Call Saul and Amazon’s The Tick . On the film side, Ogg can be seen in Antoine Fuqua’s Apple TV+ thriller Emancipation opposite Will Smith and Ben Foster, and in the cyberpunk indie The Dresden Sun . The actor has also appeared in Ani Simon-Kennedy’s Tribeca drama The Short History of the Long Road and Carl Strathie’s sci-fi pic Solis , among other titles. Ogg is also well known for his portrayal of the Trevor Philips character in the Grand Theft Auto video game, for which he was nominated for Best Performer at the BAFTA Games Awards. He continues to be managed by Luber Roklin Entertainment. … [Read more...] about ‘Walking Dead’ Actor Steven Ogg Signs With Buchwald

EXCLUSIVE : Johannes Roberts — the filmmaker behind the shark thrillers 47 Meters Down (2017) and 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019) — is reteaming with Byron Allen ’s Allen Media Group Motion Pictures on a new film in the genre titled The Red Triangle . The project will look to recapture the success of those past two films co-written and directed by Roberts, each of which registered strongly at the worldwide box office. The original, starring Mandy Moore and Matthew Modine, marked AMGMP’s entrée into the theatrical marketplace and grossed over $62MM worldwide. The sequel, featuring Yellowjackets ‘ Sophie Nélisse, John Corbett, Nia Long, Brec Bassinger and more, netted over $47MM globally. AMGMP’s next big-budget theatrical feature is set in Northern California — famous for its gorgeous beaches, but also known for a particular stretch of ocean that has a bloody reputation — The Red Triangle. Stretching south from Bodega Bay toward San Francisco and jutting out … [Read more...] about ‘47 Meters Down’ Filmmaker Johannes Roberts Reteaming With Allen Media Group Motion Pictures For Shark Thriller ‘The Red Triangle’

EXCLUSIVE: VMI Worldwide has acquired world rights to the vampire comedy Don’t Suck from American Sicario director RJ Collins and will be selling the film at the upcoming European Film Market. Scroll down for the trailer below. The pic stars Jamie Kennedy, who plays Pete, a washed-up veteran comedian who must find an opener for his upcoming comedy tour. Pete is introduced to Ethan (Matt Rife) by his girlfriend Stephanie (Ellen Hollman), who convinces him to take this young comedian on tour as his opener. Things start to take a wacky turn when Pete finds out Ethan is a Vampire, and their tour goes from cheap motels, morning DJs, dive bars, and dinners to opening up for the Russell Peters special in Vegas. All while Ethan and Pete attempt to bridge the gap between being real and exploiting his vampirism. Don’t Suck features appearances from various comedians, including Russell Peters, Matt Rife, Jimmie Walker, Jimmy Shubert, and Carrot Top. The deal was … [Read more...] about ‘Don’t Suck’: VMI Worldwide Boards Jamie Kennedy Vampire Comedy & Releases First Trailer — EFM

EXCLUSIVE : Talent manager Chris Kiely has been promoted to Partner at Authentic Talent and Literary Management after nearly 11 years with the company. Kiely’s new role will see him take on increased responsibilities in hiring, recruitment, and the establishing and maintaining of agency relationships, while continuing his day-to-day business as a manager and his mentorship of junior employees. The promotion follows Authentic founder and CEO Jon Rubinstein’s 2021 decision to steer the company away from a single leadership structure, with growth instead being driven by a larger partnership group. Others playing key roles in the process after being introduced as Partners last year include Anne Woodward, Sean Elliott, Jane Berliner, Jill Kaplan, Vikram Dhawer, Bob Glennon, Don Wongprapan, Meg Mortimer and Rick Dorfman. Kiely’s promotion also recognizes the role he’s played in finding opportunities for creatives from underrepresented communities, as a manager who’s long … [Read more...] about Authentic Talent And Literary Management Ups Chris Kiely To Partner

EXCLUSIVE : Indie director-producer Chadd Harbold has been appointed as Head of Production at Post Film , the burgeoning independent film production and finance company led by Russ Posternak . Harbold’s new role will have him overseeing all aspects of production for the company’s upcoming slate of films, while developing new projects for it to produce and/or finance. Harbold’s feature producing credits include Ana Asensio’s Most Beautiful Island , for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award; Shout! Studios’ upcoming sci-fi drama Linoleum , starring Jim Gaffigan and Rhea Seehorn; and the crime drama South of Heaven , starring Jason Sudeikis and Evangeline Lilly, as well as Post Film’s The Wrath of Becky , the sequel to its 2020 box office-topping indie action-thriller Becky, which is set to premiere at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival. Titles directed by Harbold include the thriller Private Property , starring Ashley Benson and Shiloh Fernandez, … [Read more...] about Chadd Harbold Appointed As Head Of Production At Russ Posternak’s Post Film

EXCLUSIVE : Chandler Riggs ( The Walking Dead ) and Samantha Isler ( Molly’s Game ) are set to lead the Christmas-themed dramedy Breakup Season , marking the feature debut of writer-director H. Nelson Tracey . The indie going into production this month in La Grande, Oregon follows a young man (Riggs) as he brings his girlfriend (Isler) back to his rural Oregon hometown to meet his family for the first time, over the course of the holidays. The introduction doesn’t go as planned. Pic also stars James Urbaniak ( The Fabelmans ), Jacob Wysocki ( Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising ), Brook Hogan, Carly Stewart, and Kailey Rhodes. Stephen Mastrocola, Rafi Jacobs, and Liana Montemayor of the L.A.-based Static Films will produce alongside Tracey. Also producing is Christopher Jennings, co-founder of the Eastern Oregon Film Festival, whose residency program is where the script was developed. “I first visited La Grande, Oregon in the fall of 2019 for the annual … [Read more...] about ‘The Walking Dead’s Chandler Riggs, Samantha Isler Board H. Nelson Tracey’s Dramedy ’Breakup Season’

EXCLUSIVE: Starz ’s eight-episode drama series The Venery of Samantha Bird has added Mission: Impossible actor Henry Czerny and Desperate Housewives actor Doug Savant in recurring roles. Katherine Langford stars as Samantha Bird, who, while visiting family in New England, reconnects with her childhood sweetheart (Finn Jones) and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But underneath their fever dream lurks a more unsettling interpretation of this affair. The series is described as a haunting portrayal of addictive love and the repercussions that a relationship has on the families in a small New England town. RELATED: 2023 Starz Pilots & Series Orders Czerny will play Teddy, Samantha’s father and a former artist and teacher. Theodore “Teddy” Bird moves to Little Yorn with his wife, Nan, reuniting with their longtime friends, Al and Carol Minot. Savant plays Al Minot, a sharp businessman who is deeply invested in maintaining the … [Read more...] about Starz Series ‘The Venery Of Samantha Bird’ Adds Henry Czerny & Doug Savant

There’s a change at the top of Banijay’s Americas operation. The company, which houses a slew of production companies that make shows including Fox’s MasterChef and Amazon’s Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls , has promoted Ben Samek to CEO as Cris Abrego moves out of that role but remaining as Chairman. It comes as Banijay Americas officially becomes the holding company that oversees the group’s ten production companies in North and South America, which includes Bunim/Murray Productions, Truly Original and 51 Minds Entertainment. Samek, who was previously President and COO becomes CEO, Banijay Americas with Abrego staying on as Chairman of the Americas. Abrego will now focus on acquisitions and new business ventures. Samek joined Endemol USA in 2014 as COO and transitioned to COO of Endemol Shine North America in 2015. Promoted to President and COO for Endemol Shine North America in January 2018, Samek then expanded his areas of oversight to include the … [Read more...] about Banijay Americas Promotes Ben Samek To CEO As Cris Abrego Steps Down, Stays As Chairman