Michael koryta

When it comes to diversity in film, streaming far outpaced theatrical releases last year, according to a new report from UCLA , which found that diversity has taken “a step back in theatrical films but strides forward in streaming.” The report found that women and people of color fared far better in the streamers than in theatrical releases in every job category surveyed, which included directors, writers, lead actors and overall casts. And despite recent progress, the report’s authors say that in 2022, diversity in many key jobs on theatrical releases saw a “backslide to 2019 levels.” Even so, the percentage of women directors of theatrical films has nearly tripled since 2011 – from 4.6% to 14.6% last year – though they remain underrepresented by a factor of more than 3-to-1. Women writers and cast members have also gained ground in theatrical films. Last year, 27% of writers and 41% of cast members were women, compared to 17% and 40%, respectively, in 2019. And on … [Read more...] about Streaming Films Are Far More Diverse Than Theatrical Features, Study Finds

Scott Pilgrim will be back, and in computer-generated living color: Netflix has picked up an anime series about the beloved slacker-musician from the classic graphic novels, which was made into a 2010 film that starred Michael Cera . In fact, Cera will lend his voice to the new series as Scott, a member of a garage band who falls for a gal named Ramona but must first defeat her seven previous lovers. Mary Elizabeth Winstead will reprise the role as Ramona. Other actors from the movie who will be lending their voice for the Netflix series are Satya Bhabha as Matthew Patel, Kieran Culkin as Wallace Wells, Chris Evans as Lucas Lee, Anna Kendrick as Stacey Pilgrim, Brie Larson as Envy Adams, Alison Pill as Kim Pine, Aubrey Plaza as Julie Powers, Brandon Routh as Todd Ingram, Jason Schwartzman as Gideon Graves, Johnny Simmons as Young Neil, Mark Webber Stephen Still, Mae Whitman as Roxie and Ellen Wong as Knives Chau. Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski, the … [Read more...] about Netflix Orders New Anime Series Based On ‘Scott Pilgrim’; Original Cast From 2010 Movie To Voice

EXCLUSIVE: Bria Samoné Henderson ( The Good Doctor ), Stakiah Lynn Washington ( Primo ), Tonya Pinkins ( Red Pill ), and Kim Estes ( Dexter ) have joined the cast of Angel City , the debut feature from filmmaker Noel Braham . Braham, who is also head of LA’s growing Micheaux Film Festival , penned the screenplay and will direct with Courtney L. Branch producing and Mario Contini set as director of photography. Sherri Martin, Dale Martin, Hadassah McGrew, and Michael Knapp serve as executive producers. Principal photography is set to begin in Los Angeles in April. The film’s full synopsis reads: Angel City follows the journey of Ace, an optimistic rideshare driver in Los Angeles with big dreams of becoming a star. Obsessed with finding his big break, he grapples with the looming specter of homelessness, struggling to make ends meet, and his determination is put to the ultimate test when he’s suddenly evicted from a hostel. The pic, which is from LA-based … [Read more...] about ‘The Good Doctor’ Actor Bria Samoné Henderson & ‘Primo’s Stakiah Lynn Washington Among Cast Set For Indie LA Drama ‘Angel City’

ABC News underwent a round of staff reductions on Thursday, with about 50 positions impacted as part of parent Walt Disney Co.’s companywide cuts. ABC News President Kim Godwin also announced a realignment of her leadership team, with Katie den Daas serving as vice president of newsgathering, overseeing the domestic and international teams, as well as NewsOne; Derek Medina, executive vice president, will oversee an expanded business and operations team; and Stacia Deshishku, executive editor and senior vice president of news, who will oversee the investigative and enterprise reporting units, as well as linear shows and special events. According to a network source, among the employees who were impacted by the layoffs were Wendy Fisher, senior vice president, newsgathering; Galen Gordon, senior VP of talent strategy and development; Mary Noonan, vice president of talent strategy and development; Alison Rudnick, vice president of corporate communications, Chris Vlasto, … [Read more...] about ABC News Undergoes Round Of Layoffs And Realignment Of Leadership Team

Mayans M.C. will premiere its fifth and final season on Wednesday, May 24 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX , and streaming the next day on Hulu. The premiere will include the first two episodes of the 10-episode final season, with one new episode each following week. The series will be available on Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ under the Star banner in all other territories. Mayans M.C. follows the life of Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes (JD Pardo), president of the Mayans M.C. charter on the Cali/Mexi border. Once a golden boy with the American Dream in his grasp, EZ has now risen to lead his brother Angel (Clayton Cardenas) and the Santo Padre M.C. in a bloody war against their rival Sons of Anarchy. Defending the California territory and patch begins to claim lives within the club and causes strain between EZ and Angel — as one brother devotes himself to the club and the other to family. Felipe (Edward James Olmos) attempts to heal these fractured bonds for the future of the Reyes family. … [Read more...] about ‘Mayans M.C.’ Sets Premiere For Fifth & Final Season; Teaser Trailer Drops

Mubi is adding over 50 features from the Sony Pictures ’ library to its U.S. streaming service. The mix of studio and arthouse fare includes Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind , Martin Scorsese ’s The Age of Innocence , The Last Picture Show by Peter Bogdanovich and films from Wes Anderson , Pedro Almodovar and Guillermo Del Toro. The company’s growing and global streaming service currently offers over 900 titles in the U.S., where it adds one new film to the platform daily. The Sony deal is a significant haul, especially since studios have become more aggressive in retaining content for their own services. Sony, uniquely, doesn’t have a streaming platform in-house. Each Sony film has its own window, with some available already and all cycling onto the service at some point through the end of 2024. Others titles in the deal include 2046 by Wong Kar-wai; Volver by Almodóvar; Safe by Todd Haynes; To Sleep With Anger by Charles … [Read more...] about Mubi Adding Over 50 Feature Films From Sony Pictures’ Library In New Content Deal

“I never set out to play the hero, but since I’m usually cast as one I want to be the best paid hero.” That’s what Sean Connery said at a moment when he was re-negotiating his James Bond deal. As a serious actor, Connery admitted he never understood what traits audiences wanted from their movie heroes and his confusion would be shared by studio mavens today. Even long-in-the-tooth leading men can find a second wind. Keanu Reeves is drawing record box office in John Wick: Chapter 4 , cast as a laconic virtuoso of death who emerges from retirement because his dog got killed. Tom Cruise doesn’t kill anyone on screen in Top Gun: Maverick , but his actions in keeping that movie from a streaming bow helped put the theatrical business back on track. Meanwhile, Harrison Ford cemented his status at 80 as the dean of geriatric heroism: He’s got the James Mangold-directed Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny headed to Cannes, and up next is Thunderbolt Ross in Captain … [Read more...] about Peter Bart: Contrasting The Leading-Man Life From Keanu, Cruise & Harrison Ford To Sean Connery & Seminal Swashbuckler Errol Flynn

EXCLUSIVE : Steve Small and Gwen Osborne have today announced the launch of Convergence Entertainment Group , their new film production and financing company based in Los Angeles. Convergence will operate as an independent studio, developing, financing and producing features for theatrical, broadcast and streaming markets. The company will utilize private equity funding to acquire top-level material and package projects with respected actors and filmmakers. Convergence plans to produce around half a dozen theatrical features per year for now, with hopes to expand its volume of production and financing as it continues to reach its growth objectives. “Convergence aims to create a filmmaker and talent-friendly studio where artists can create and finance projects that ultimately get distributed to outlets looking for high quality, innovative and unique original content,” Small told Deadline. Osborne added that the company “is well-poised to take advantage of the … [Read more...] about Steve Small & Gwen Osborne Launch Convergence Entertainment Group

EXCLUSIVE: Mayan Lopez has signed with APA . Lopez is the co-creator, writer, producer, and star of the NBC comedy series Lopez vs Lopez . Lopez and her real-life father George Lopez, who also co-created the series with Debby Wolfe, play fictionalized versions of themselves in the multi-cam, which airs Friday nights at 8 p.m. Lopez vs. Lopez is a working-class family comedy about dysfunction, reconnection and all the pain and joy in between. It follows a working-class, old-school Latino (George Lopez) who moves in with his modern Gen Z daughter (Mayan Lopez) as they rebuild their dysfunctional relationship one argument at a time. In December, NBC announced that it gave the freshman series a full-season, 22-episode. The series does well on broadcast for a Friday primetime spot. Season 1 is averaging about 2M same-day viewers per episode, which leads nicely into the rest of NBC’s Friday lineup. Lopez, who has been honored as part of the LA Times’ inaugural LA … [Read more...] about APA Signs Mayan Lopez, ‘Lopez vs Lopez’ Co-Creator & Star

Getty Alabama Crimson Tide star Brandon Miller -- one of the best players in college basketball this season -- is foregoing the rest of his time in Tuscaloosa and entering the NBA Draft. The 20-year-old freshman was a key part to Bama's success in 2022-23 ... averaging nearly 19 points, eight rebounds and two assists a game. The Tide had an early exit from the NCAA tournament, however ... with Miller scoring just nine points in the Sweet 16 loss to San Diego State. Miller racked up several honors as a result of his performance in his lone college season ... including SEC Player of the Year and first-team All-American. Getty Miller's season was marred with controversy, however ... after cops stated he brought ex-teammate Darius Miles his gun the night it was allegedly used to kill Jamea Harris. Miller was not charged with a crime, but Miles and his friend, 20-year-old Michael Davis -- the one actually accused of pulling the trigger … [Read more...] about Alabama Star Brandon Miller Entering NBA Draft