Little demon

The Only Way is Essex indie Lime Pictures has unveiled UK entertainment vet Mirella Breda as its Chief Creative Officer, Unscripted. Breda, Escape to the Chateau indie Two Rivers Media’s Head of Entertainment, joins in the newly-created role, which was revealed last month following the departure of Lime’s Sarah Tyekiff and decision by the All3Media -backed indie to forge popular factual division with All3Media stablemates Lion Television and Wise Owl Films. Lime produces reality hits such as The Only Way is Essex and Geordie Shore and scripted shows including Hollyoaks and Free Rein. Breda, whose past credits include Big Brother , Stars in Their Eyes and Tenable and is a former MD of Big Brother producer Initial, will oversee the division that will forge popular factual shows for the domestic and global market. Tyekiff is departing soon to launch her own production company while Rebecca Kenny-Smith was recently promoted to Director of … [Read more...] about ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ Indie Lime Pictures Unveils Chief Creative Officer For Unscripted

The furor over a Chinese spy balloon that flew over U.S. airspace has further chilled D.C.-Beijing tensions, but the entertainment industry already has been swept up in the heightened atmosphere of American hawkishness. Hollywood studios and producers are poised to get a new level of scrutiny over their dealings with China — reflecting a bipartisan hardline toward Beijing and escalating concerns over its influence. A little publicized provision of a recently passed defense bill restricts the U.S. government from spending funds on movies that, to gain entry into the Chinese marketplace, are altered in the face of Chinese government dictates. The provision in the National Defense Authorization Act , approved in a bipartisan vote of Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in December, is the latest example of an increased focus on China’s role, not just in the entertainment industry but also in sports and social media. While Republicans have led attacks on … [Read more...] about Hollywood’s China Predicament: New Law Restricts U.S. Cooperation On Projects Modified To Appease Beijing

Like Richard Nixon’s bestselling 1962 book Six Crises, Woody Allen ’s Crisis In Six Scenes is part stump speech, part career retrospective and a whole lot of filler. After Allen’s nearly 50-year absence from television, the September 30-launching Amazon series is a limp effort from an American icon. In a role he’s been playing for decades, Allen portrays Sidney J. Munsinger, an upscale suburban ad-man-turned-frustrated novelist who now is trying to write a sitcom. To joke, the late-1960s-set Crisis does little to hide Allen’s contempt for the gig, literally and figuratively. Elaine May is Sidney’s psychologist spouse Kay and contemporary wild child and new The Voice judge Miley Cyrus is an on-the-run radical named Lennie Dale, who lands on their doorstep. Maybe the fact that none of Crisis ‘ six episodes clocks in at more than 30 minutes reveals just how little Allen seems to care about the medium and the possibilities of the platform because the meandering … [Read more...] about ‘Crisis In Six Scenes’ Review: Woody Allen’s Limp Amazon Series Is All Old Tricks

EXCLUSIVE : Over the last year, director and VFX artist Kane Parsons has shot his YouTube following into the stratosphere with the viral success of his mysterious short, “ The Backrooms (Found Footage).” It’s the first in a series of found-footage horror videos which have thus far garnered nearly 100 million views and will now be adapted for the big screen by A24 , Atomic Monster , Chernin Entertainment and 21 Laps. Parsons — who’s just 17 years old — will direct from a script by Roberto Patino ( DMZ ). He’ll just have to wait till his summer vacation. Details as to the plot of the sci-fi horror feature are under wraps. But in the ’90s-set original short (which you can view below), a young filmmaker’s fall into another dimension leaves him wandering through an unsettlingly yellow, empty and labyrinthine office space, which may or may not be home to otherworldly beings. The film’s title and setting draw inspiration from the imagery of a creepypasta (or internet urban … [Read more...] about ‘The Backrooms’ Horror Film Based On Viral Shorts By 17-Year-Old Kane Parsons In Works At A24, Atomic Monster, Chernin & 21 Laps

Chlöe Bailey, Tosin Cole , Olivia Colman and Woody Harrelson are set to star in Girl From the North Country , adapted from the Tony Award-winning Broadway show of the same name inspired by the songs of Bob Dylan. The movie adaptation is written and directed by Conor McPherson, the playwright behind the original Broadway musical. Graham Broadbent and Pete Czerninare produce under the banner of their award-winning Blueprint Pictures ( The Banshees of Inisherin , Lady Chatterley’s Lover and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri). CAA Media Finance will represent the film’s domestic sales with Rocket Science launching international sales at the upcoming European Film Market during the Berlin Film Festival. The original Broadway show reimagines 20 legendary Bob Dylan songs including “Forever Young,” “All Along the Watchtower,” “Hurricane,” “Slow Train Coming,” “Make You Feel My Love” and “Like a Rolling Stone.” Set in 1934 against the backdrop of … [Read more...] about Chlöe Bailey, Tosin Cole, Olivia Colman & Woody Harrelson To Star In Bob Dylan-Inspired ‘Girl From The North Country’

Showtime has given a straight-to-series order to The Department (w/t) based on the acclaimed French espionage political thriller The Bureau , from George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures, MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios. Clooney will direct the series and also executive produce with Heslov through their Smokehouse Pictures. Production is slated to begin later this year. Created by Eric Rochant, Le Bureau centers on the daily life and missions of agents within France’s principal external security service. It focuses on the “Bureau of Legends,” responsible for training and handling deep-cover agents on long-term missions in areas with French interests. Living under false identities for years, these agents’ missions are to identify and recruit good intelligence sources. RELATED: 2023 Showtime Pilots & Series Orders The Department, based on the riveting and brilliant series The Bureau , will follow in the great tradition of … [Read more...] about George Clooney To Direct ‘The Department’ Based On French Series ‘The Bureau’ At Showtime

TMZ/Getty Composite Eminem 's little girl -- who has been the focus of many of his songs over the years -- is all grown up ... and prepping to walk down the aisle. 27-year-old Hailie Jade announced Monday that her boyfriend, Evan McClintock , popped the question ... and she said yes. She threw up a little slide show capturing the sweet moment -- which looked to be coupled with some champagne and snazzy winter wear. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. Of course, she also showed off the rock on that finger ... and it's a beaut. Her caption ... "casual weekend recap," adding "i love you" while tagging Evan and tossing in emojis. Not much is known about the guy or his relationship with Hailie -- she keeps her life private, despite her famous dad. All we know is they've been dating for years -- since at least 2016, it seems, when she first posted photos with him -- and that Em seems to be cool with him. Slim … [Read more...] about Eminem’s Daughter Hailie Gets Engaged to Longtime Boyfriend