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
Mikey 17
‘The Starling Girl’: Bleecker Street Acquires Laurel Parmet’s Feature Directorial Debut – Sundance
Bleecker Street has picked up North American rights to Laurel Parmet ’s feature directorial debut The Starling Girl following its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, slating it for release in theaters later this year. Financials weren’t disclosed. The film written and directed by Parmet follows 17-year-old Jem Starling (Eliza Scanlen), who struggles to define her place within her fundamentalist Christian community in rural Kentucky. Even her greatest joy — the church dance group — is tempered by worry that her love of dance is actually sinful, and she’s caught between a burgeoning awareness of her own sexuality and an instinctive resistance to her mom’s urging that the time has come to begin courting. She finds respite from her confusion in the encouragement of her youth pastor Owen (Lewis Pullman), who is likewise drawn to the blossoming Jem’s attention. Jimmi Simpson ( Westworld ), Wrenn Schmidt ( For All Mankind ) and Austin Abrams ( Paper Towns … [Read more...] about ‘The Starling Girl’: Bleecker Street Acquires Laurel Parmet’s Feature Directorial Debut – Sundance
Going First At Bargaining Table Means A Lot, But No Word Yet If It Will Be DGA, WGA or SAG-AFTRA
EXCLUSIVE: Which guild will go first at the bargaining table – the DGA , the WGA or SAG-AFTRA – remains undetermined for the upcoming cycle of film and TV contract talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers. If history is any judge, who goes first could foreshadow whether there will be a strike – or more than one strike – this year. In the end, it will be up to each guild, working in consultation with the AMPTP , to decide when, and in what order, they start bargaining. The DGA has gone first in each of the past three three-year bargaining cycles, even though its contracts expire at the same time as SAG-AFTRA’s – on June 30 – and two months after the WGA’s contract on May 1. The DGA often begins its negotiations many months in advance of the expiration of its contracts. “When it comes to making the decision about when to start negotiations,” the DGA said recently, “we are guided by one simple principle: We will only begin bargaining … [Read more...] about Going First At Bargaining Table Means A Lot, But No Word Yet If It Will Be DGA, WGA or SAG-AFTRA
(Non) Shocker! SAG-AFTRA Board Approves New Contract
As expected, the national board of SAG-AFTRA voted overwhelmingly tonight to approve the terms of a new three-year film and TV contract . It now will go to the union’s 165,000 members for final ratification. The new contract had been unanimously recommended to the board by the union’s negotiating committee, which included SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard and National Executive Director David White . The board tonight voted 90% to 10% to approve the new contract, which achieved the major goal of the union going into the talks: the unification of its two separate television contracts. Related: Guild Official: Merging SAG And AFTRA TV Deals Key Goal Of Talks When SAG and AFTRA merged in 2012, the new union was stuck with two separate pension and health plans, and two separate TV contracts. The unification of the TV contracts, which guild leaders called “historic,” is considered a major milestone in the still-evolving merger of the two unions. Related: WGA … [Read more...] about (Non) Shocker! SAG-AFTRA Board Approves New Contract
WGA West Rejects MPAA’s “Unreasonable” Approach To Copyright Infringement
Looks like not everyone in Hollywood is on the same page when it comes to combating copyright infringement . Specifically, the Writers Guild of America West thinks that the multimillion-dollar damages the Motion Picture Association of America wants extracted from file-sharing sites “has little additional deterrent effect” and “high statutory penalties are not only often unreasonable but unpayable.” The strong comments from the WGAW comes in a submission the guild made on January 17 ( read it here ) to the Commerce Department on its paper on Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Digital Economy. Citing that “television and film are controlled by a handful of media companies who decide what content consumers have access to,” the guild’s remarks are a clear slap to the MPAA and the studios from the representatives of more than 8,000 frontline content creators. Related: WGA Sets Feb. 3 As Start Of New Contract Talks With Producers No surprise … [Read more...] about WGA West Rejects MPAA’s “Unreasonable” Approach To Copyright Infringement
Broadway‘s ‘Room’: First-Look Video And Photo Of Adrienne Warren In Stage Adaptation Of Acclaimed Novel And Film
EXCLUSIVE: When the announcement was made in January that Emma Donoghue had developed a play (with music) of her bestselling novel Room and the acclaimed film that followed – and that the play was heading to Broadway – plenty of New Yorkers were filled with questions (Londoners and Canadians had already seen the show). Some of the answers might be addressed in a new trailer and first-look photo provided exclusively to Deadline. How can a stage play (with music) adapt a tale of such a troubled, harrowing story of domestic abuse, with its downbeat claustrophobia and mental cruelty, translate to a theater district more welcoming to The Music Mans and Funny Girls of the world. With the exclusive release to Deadline today of the production’s first trailer and key art, the questioners might get some hints, like the reminder that there are heavy doses of inspiration, hope and love that breathe air into Room . Starring Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren – … [Read more...] about Broadway‘s ‘Room’: First-Look Video And Photo Of Adrienne Warren In Stage Adaptation Of Acclaimed Novel And Film
Douglas Foundation Archive Adds 10,000 Personal Items From Anne And Kirk, Goes Online Fully Digitized For Public Access
EXCLUSIVE: Michael Douglas has more on his mind that the impending worldwide launch of his latest foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania which opens February 17, and has its World Premiere in Westwood Monday night. Or even his upcoming Apple TV+ eight episode series Franklin based on the life of founding father Benjamin Franklin in which he plays the title role. The actor is also currently dedicated to his work as Trustee with the Douglas Foundation , the charitable entity that had allocated more than $118 million in grants before Kirk Douglas ’ death three years ago at age 103 and his wife Anne’s death a year later at 102 (they were married for 66 years). Michael says the Foundation has disbursed several million dollars since then. Now the Douglas Foundation, which was created by Kirk and Anne in 1964 when Michael was just 20, has just launched for the first time a high resolution on-line library of documents, photos and … [Read more...] about Douglas Foundation Archive Adds 10,000 Personal Items From Anne And Kirk, Goes Online Fully Digitized For Public Access
Prince Harry Allegedly Lost Virginity to Charles’ Former Stable Girl
Gallery Launch Gallery Getty Prince Harry suggested he'd lost his virginity to an esteemed older woman in the U.K.'s countryside -- but, according to the alleged V-card-taker, she was just a couple years older. A woman named Sasha Walpole has come forward to claim she was the one who first slept with PH in the summer of 2001 ... when she says she was just about to turn 19, while Harry was 16 (going on 17). What's more, she says it was Harry who put the moves on her. 'I'm the older woman who took Harry's virginity': Digger driver Sasha Walpole, 40, comes forward pic.twitter.com/Zjnyx7k92t — DTN NEWS (@DTNNEWUpdates) February 4, 2023 @DTNNEWUpdates Walpole -- who used to work as a stable girl for then-Prince, Charles at his Gloucestershire estate, Highgrove House, and now makes a living as an industrial plow digger -- says she was pals with Harry at the time, and had known him for years. On July 21, 2001 ... she says she invited Harry to … [Read more...] about Prince Harry Allegedly Lost Virginity to Charles’ Former Stable Girl
Deion Branch Down To Be College Head Coach One Day After Interim Stint At Louisville
TMZSports.com Deion Branch got a little taste of what being a college head coach would feel like when he was thrust into the interim role at Louisville in December ... and now, he tells TMZ Sports he could see himself handling the role full-time one day. The former NFL receiver had to step in at the 2022 Fenway Bowl on Dec. 17 after then Cardinals HC Scott Satterfield bolted for Cincinnati -- and Branch shined as fill-in head man, leading his alma mater to a 24-7 victory. Louisville interim head coach Deion Branch gets a bath as the Cardinals beat Cincinnati 24-7 in the Fenway Bowl to keep the Keg of Nails. This is a special moment for the beloved New England Patriot and former UofL player to come back to Massachusetts and get this win. pic.twitter.com/Uxp421FhSu — Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) December 17, 2022 @Tyler_Greever Branch -- who had been UL's Director of Player Development last season before taking the interim gig -- called it all a … [Read more...] about Deion Branch Down To Be College Head Coach One Day After Interim Stint At Louisville
Viola Davis Becomes Latest EGOT Recipient with Grammys Win
Getty Viola Davis just joined an exclusive club in the world of entertainment ... becoming the 18th EGOT winner in history, this after snagging a Grammy and giving a helluva reaction. The actress was up for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording for the narration on her memoir, "Finding Me," which was just selected as the winner during the pre-broadcast show that's underway right now. “I just EGOT” VIOLA DAVIS #GrammyWinner pic.twitter.com/VQ0DK8GIAW — Juan C Arciniegas (@JuanCarlosCNN) February 5, 2023 @JuanCarlosCNN She went up there for her acceptance speech and got a roaring applause when she said emphatically and quite simply, "I just EGOT!" Indeed, she did ... and now, she's on the list. Viola joins 17 others who came before her, including two other Black women ... Whoopi Goldberg , who received the honor in 2002 with her Tony award, and Jennifer Hudson -- who hit that milestone last year with her own Tony. … [Read more...] about Viola Davis Becomes Latest EGOT Recipient with Grammys Win