Phil bowker

Shark Tank EP Phil Gurin has launched a global distribution outfit. LA-based TGC Global Entertainment (TGC GE) launches with formats, documentaries and non-scripted series from both Gurin’s shingle The Gurin Company and third-party producers. The slate features the likes of Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, which launches on Canada’s CBC next month, entertainment format Fridge Wars and gameshow Parking Lot Payday. Pilots include ABC ’s People Vs. Puppets and ITV’s Strangers on a Train. TGC GE is in the process of establishing a global network of sales agents, the distributor said, with focus on Europe, Asia, Eastern Europe/CIS, Latin America and North America. All content represented has been produced somewhere in the world and comes with a broadcaster and/or streamer commitment to either a pilot, special or a full series. Gurin himself is a U.S. formats vet, having won four Emmys EPing ABC’s Shark Tank for the past 13 years, while past credits include the … [Read more...] about ‘Shark Tank’ EP Phil Gurin Launches Global Distribution Outfit

Jenny Slate is pretty memorable as an entitled dry-cleaning client twirling a chihuahua around her head in Everything Everywhere All at Once , but it’s her role as an animated shell with one googly eye that really captured attention this season. In Marcel the Shell with Shoes On , we’re given a full-length feature version of the character Slate co-created with director Dean Fleischer Camp back in 2010. Voicing Marcel and leaning into her improv skills to help cook up the comedy character’s quirky and poignant dialogue, Slate explains why she thinks Marcel’s miniature perspective has inspired so many, and why this gig suits her so much better than SNL ever did. DEADLINE: Years ago, you came up with the voice of Marcel when you and Dean and some friends were squashed into a hotel room at a wedding. What part of you was speaking through Marcel back then? Because doing voices can sometimes be about expressing a thing you wouldn’t normally say. JENNY SLATE : And … [Read more...] about ‘Marcel The Shell With Shoes On’ Co-Creator & Star Jenny Slate On Making A Moving Miniature Microcosm: “You Can Be Lost In It”

Suffice it to say that Avatar: The Way of Water commanded the Visual Effects Society ’s attention. James Cameron box office-smash sequel scored a record 14 nominations for the 2023 VES Awards , which were announced today. Helped by three noms in the Emerging Technology category, Disney’s The Way of Water topped the single-year noms haul by Disney+’s The Mandalorian in 2021. It also shattered the old high-water mark for films, set by — no big surprise here — the original Avatar, which amassed 11 noms in 2010. The hardware will be doled out at the 21st annual VES Awards on Wednesday, February 15, at The Beverly Hilton. Avatar: The Way of Water will vie for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature — the category that hews closest to the Visual Effects Oscar — against Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Jurassic World: Dominion, The Batman and Top Gun: Maverick , the film right behind the Avatar sequel on the 2022 list of top … [Read more...] about VES Awards Nominations: ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water’ Smashes Records With 14 Noms From Visual Effects Society

Joe Letteri , who has won four Visual Effects Oscars for two The Lord Of The Ring s movies, King Kong and Avatar , will be given the Visual Effects Society ’s VES Georges Méliès Award, bestowed for “pioneering significant and lasting contributions to the art and science of the visual effects industry by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work.” The annual award will be handed out February 13 at the 16th annual VES Awards at the Beverly Hilton. Leterri, currently director at Weta Digital, has 10 Oscar noms overall. He also has received a Sci-Tech Technical Achievement Award from the movie academy for co-developing the subsurface scattering technique that brought LOTR ‘s Gollum to life; his specialty is realistic creatures, from the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park to King Kong and Avatar ‘s Na’vi, and most recently Caesar in the Planet of the Apes movies and Luc Besson’s Valerian and the City of A Thousand Planets . He also has won four BAFTA … [Read more...] about Four-Time Oscar Winner Joe Letteri To Receive VES’ George Méliès Award

EXCLUSIVE: Rain (fka Rain Management Group ) has added The Rookery ’s Adam Robinson as manager following Rain Management Group’s acquisition of the management and production company. Rain Management Group rebranded to Rain as of the January 1, 2023 merger. Robinson launched his management and production company, The Rookery in 2008. In 14 years as a manager, he has developed and curated a list of clients including Rob Hardy (pilot director , The Quad, Raising Kanan, All American ), Crystle Roberson (Producer/ Director, Queens , Genius: MLK/X ), Jeff Byrd (producer/director, Our Kind Of People , Yellowjackets ), Brendan Walsh (producer/director, Power Book II: Ghost) , James Bamford (producer/director, Arrow ), Gary Hardwick ( Deliver Us From Ev a), Brian Egeston ( The Game , the upcoming On a Wing and a Prayer ), Lamont Magee ( All American: Homecoming ), Katrina O Gilvie ( All Rise ), MacArthur Genius award winner Alex Rivera ( Sleep Dealer) , and … [Read more...] about Rain Adds The Rookery’s Adam Robinson As Manager Amid Acquisition & Rebrand

EXCLUSIVE: Fox is developing a one-hour drama about undercover FBI agents from Joy Blake ( Beacon 23), The Nacelle Company and Fox Entertainment Studios. Written and executive produced by Blake, in the Untitled Undercover FBI Project , a female FBI agent suffering a bad case of career burnout is sent to train a team of ambitious, determined rookies in what it takes to go deep undercover. Nacelle Company’s Matt Ochacher, Brian Volk-Weiss and Michael Pelmont also executive produce with Phil Donlon. Former FBI agents Scott Payne and Melissa Fortunato serve as consulting producers. Fox Entertainment Studios is the studio. Blake serves as executive producer and co-showrunner on Beacon 23 , Spectrum Originals and AMC Networks ’ psychological thriller series starring Lena Headey and Stephan James. The series is currently in production on Season 2. Her other credits include Netflix’s First Kill, co-executive producer on The Resident, Next and The Passage and … [Read more...] about FBI Drama From Joy Blake & Nacelle Company In Works At Fox

Cecilia Vega is departing ABC News for CBS News and 60 Minutes , where she will be a correspondent. Vega, who has been ABC News’ chief White House correspondent, will begin reporting for 60 Minutes in the spring and will be based in Washington. Vega said in a statement, “This is a dream come true. I am beyond honored to join the ranks of this legendary show and to work alongside the best reporters in journalism.” Bill Owens, executive producer of 60 Minutes , said that Vega was a “sensational storyteller. I have admired her work for a long, long time and couldn’t be more excited to welcome her to 60 Minutes. Her new colleagues couldn’t agree more.” Vega was named ABC News’ chief White House correspondent in 2021, and has also anchored Good Morning America and the Saturday edition of World News Tonight . She previously was senior White House correspondent during Donald Trump’s administration, and was the lead reporter at ABC News for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 … [Read more...] about Cecilia Vega To Join ‘60 Minutes’ After Departure From ABC News

Paul Simms , the creator of the NBC comedy NewsRadio and currently showrunner on FX’s What We Do in the Shadows and an executive producer on Atlanta , will be this year’s recipient of the WGA East ’s Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence. The honor will be presented by Atlanta ‘s Donald Glover at the 75th annual Writers Guild Awards ceremony March 5 at New York’s Edison Ballroom. “I’m deeply honored to receive the Herb Sargent Award and truly grateful to the writers I’ve worked with over the years,” Simms said. “Without their input, I’m not even capable of coming up with a funny quote, and I look forward to their assessments of all the various ways this quote you’re reading right now missed the mark and could have been better.” Simms joined the guild in 1990 as a writer for Late Night with David Letterman . He was a writer and producer for the first three seasons of HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show , and in1995 created the NBC sitcom NewsRadio , starring … [Read more...] about Paul Simms To Receive WGA East’s Herb Sargent Award

A familiar face is about to matriculate on Bel-Air : Tatyana Ali, who played Ashley Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air , is set to recur as an English literature teacher in the second season of the Peacock reboot. The streamer also released the Season 2 trailer, which teases tumultuous times ahead for Will (Jabari Banks). Ali joins stars Jabari Banks (Will), Adrian Holmes (Philip Banks) and Cassandra Freeman (Vivian Banks) in the new, 10-episode season that kicks off Feb. 23 on Peacock. Ali will play Mrs. Hughes, a teacher at Bel-Air middle school who sees something special in Ashley Banks (Akira Akbar). Per the logline: Season two of Bel-Air picks up with Will at a crossroads as a new figure comes into his life who challenges what he’s learned in Bel-Air and competes for control of his influence. He juggles this while navigating his home life with the Banks family and trying to rebuild the trust that was broken at the end of last season. We’ll see Will and … [Read more...] about ‘Bel-Air’: Tatyana Ali From ‘Fresh Prince Of Bel Air’ To Recur On Peacock Reboot This Season; Watch Trailer

Donn Cambern , the Oscar-nominated Romancing the Stone film editor whose credits also include Easy Rider , The Last Picture Show and Ghostbusters II and was a longtime president of the Motion Picture Editors Guild , died Wednesday, his family told the guild. He was 93. Born on October 9, 1929, in Los Angeles, Cambern came from a showbiz family. His father was in the music-publishing business, and his mother played harp on movie soundtracks including Top Hat for the RKO Pictures orchestra. He graduated from UCLA in 1952 and landed a gig at Disney as a messenger. He began his career in 1960s television, serving as music editor for episodes of I Spy, That Girl and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir along with scores of episodes of both The Andy Griffith Show and its spinoff Gomer Pyle, USMC. Cambern pivoted to features by the late ’60s, and among his first projects was Easy Rider, the 1969 counterculture road-trip classic starring Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson and … [Read more...] about Donn Cambern Dies: ‘Easy Rider’ Editor & ‘Romancing The Stone’ Oscar Nominee Who Led Editors Guild Was 93