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
Pari 2018 trailer
Germany’s DCM & Flute Film To Adapt Acclaimed Novel ‘History Of Violence’ By French Prodigy Édouard Louis — EFM
EXCLUSIVE : German distributor-producer DCM , whose releases have included Spencer , Moonlight and The Artist , is teaming up with Berlin-based producer Flute Film on a film version of Édouard Louis’ acclaimed 2016 novel History Of Violence . The autobiographical novel, translated into 30 languages, is the second by prodigious French novelist Louis. Based on a real incident, it concerns a violent rape and robbery in Paris on Christmas Eve and the subsequent recounting of events to police and family members. The German-language film version has a script by Dan Kitrosser, best known for Sundance drama We The Animals . Igor Plischke ( Metamorphosis ) will direct. Liza Stutzky ( System Crashers ) is casting director and Saralisa Volm ( Silent Forest ) is associate producer. Producers Christopher Zwickler ( The Magic Flute ) and Dario Suter ( Kon-Tiki ), who optioned the book rights, will be discussing the project with potential finance and … [Read more...] about Germany’s DCM & Flute Film To Adapt Acclaimed Novel ‘History Of Violence’ By French Prodigy Édouard Louis — EFM
Talking Points Memo Editorial Staff Ratifies First Contract With WGA East
The 11-member editorial staff of Talking Points Memo has unanimously ratified its first union contract with the WGA East , making it the latest digital news site to come under the guild’s umbrella. All members of the news and political site’s editorial staff signed a letter expressing their intent to join the guild in May 2018, and publisher Josh Marshall immediately recognized the union as their bargaining representative. The new three-year agreement includes a minimum starting salary of $52,000, annual cost-of-living wage increases of 3% for employees earning under $75,000, weekend pay and reimbursements, 10 weeks of paid parental leave and a non-discrimination clause and a commitment from management for diverse hiring practices. “TPM has a history of reporting on labor rights and this collective bargaining agreement demonstrates that they are willing to walk-the-walk and address the concerns raised by guild-represented employees at the bargaining table,” said … [Read more...] about Talking Points Memo Editorial Staff Ratifies First Contract With WGA East
Banijay Americas Promotes Ben Samek To CEO As Cris Abrego Steps Down, Stays As Chairman
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
Former CNN Marketing Exec Rick Lewchuk Launches Film at 11 Marketing Firm
Former CNN marketing exec Rick Lewchuk is launching Film at 11 Marketing to providing coaching for news, sports, and entertainment marketers. “In my career as a marketing executive, I had a dual role … the responsibility of overseeing our marketing and creative efforts and also the role of coaching my teams,” said Lewchuk. “That was the advantage that the large organizations for which I worked. They could have an executive with decades of experience to work with and develop the next generations of talent. Unfortunately, many smaller networks, station groups, and local stations don’t have that luxury. That is where bringing in a coach with experience will add effectiveness to any marketing team’s efforts.” Lewchuk is the former Senior Vice President, Creative Marketing and Brand Standards for CNN Worldwide. For over a decade, Lewchuk oversaw on-air and off-channel brand and marketing for all CNN Worldwide businesses including CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, HLN, … [Read more...] about Former CNN Marketing Exec Rick Lewchuk Launches Film at 11 Marketing Firm
‘The Walking Dead’ Ratings Fall To Lowest Result Since 2011
Any episode of The Walking Dead that finds close pals Rick Grimes and Daryl Dixon scrapping is already problematic. Add a new empathetic angle to villain Negan and helicopters hovering over the zombie apocalypse and you have a clearly special show of the AMC blockbuster series. However, with all that and a rising Sunday Night Football and the American Music Awards on NBC and ABC, the November 19 TWD ended up with a very different type of distinction. The Season 8 “The Big Scary U” episode fell a six-year ratings low for the series based on Robert Kirkman’s comics. Or, to do the math, with a 3.4 rating among adults 18-49, TWD had its worst result since November 20. 2011. That Season 2 “Secrets” episode drew a 3.1 among the key demo. Week to week, TWD was down 13% among the key demo. In a season that has seen TWD stumble in live + same day results since its October 22 premiere, the fifth episode of Season 8 didn’t do much better viewershipwise. … [Read more...] about ‘The Walking Dead’ Ratings Fall To Lowest Result Since 2011
‘Outlander’ EP Ronald D. Moore On Tonight’s Finale, Season 4, Golden Globes & Tobias Menzies Return
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains details of tonight’s Outlander Season 3 finale & Season 4 of the Starz drama EXCLUSIVE: On the eve of the Golden Globe nominations being announced, tonight’s sweeping, sultry and almost human sacrificing Season 3 finale of Outlander has brought Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser to 18 th century America. After a viewership-high hitting season that played out the reunion of the Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan -portrayed lovers over time and space, the Ronald D. Moore -developed Starz series based on Diana Gabaldon’s novels is set to plant a flag on a very different landscape than before. With a move to Sunday nights and a fall premiere this season starting on September 10, the 2015 Golden Globe-nominated Best Drama Series saw double-digit increases overall and a multi-platform average audience of 5.7 million for its 13-episode run. “We saw evidence of people going back and discovering the show for the … [Read more...] about ‘Outlander’ EP Ronald D. Moore On Tonight’s Finale, Season 4, Golden Globes & Tobias Menzies Return