Semicolon your story isnt over

Say “Montana” to anyone currently consuming a well-balanced media diet, and they’re likely to immediately think of Yellowstone, the unbelievably popular Dynasty -for-cowboys TV show that takes place in the “Treasure State.” Taylor Sheridan’s modern-day Western doesn’t have a lock on contemporary narratives in the region, to be sure, but it does cast a slightly odd shadow over the similarly looming landscapes of Scott McGehee and David Siegel’s Montana Story . They even have a handful of coincidentally similar aspects in common: Both have ill fathers at their centers, ones whose reputations for power-brokering and being right bastards precede them. Both feature dead mothers, long-suffering sons, city-living daughters reluctantly returning to the fold. The insular world of the state’s indigenous population pokes and prods on their respective peripheries. And while the latter’s Thorne ranch (as symbolic a name as you can imagine) is far too modest to hold a candle to the lavish, … [Read more...] about ‘Montana Story’ Is the Anti-‘Yellowstone.’ That’s a Good Thing

Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux took part in a ‘meet the press’ session with journalists in Cannes yesterday afternoon. The long-time chief was asked multiple questions about the festival’s stance towards Russia and about Deadline’s censorship story from yesterday . Given that the festival has a ban on Russian journalists from pro-Putin publications and on state-sponsored Russian delegations, he was asked the extent to which Cannes was concerned about the sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich being a financier of Competition film Tchaikovsky’s Wife (whose director Kirill Serebrennikov is a Russian dissident). Frémaux, who noted that he received five emails a day with questions on this subject, explained that the festival decided to accept the film because it was shot before the war against Ukraine, when receiving Russian money wasn’t problematic. “The film had already been shot, so that is the rule we decided to follow,” the festival head told … [Read more...] about Cannes Chief Thierry Frémaux Responds To Russian Oligarch Question & Deadline’s Censorship Story

Chicago indie rockers Horsegirl channel their indie rock predecessors, and take a bit of music video inspiration from Ok Go, in the new clip for their latest song, “World of Pots and Pans.” The simple video doesn’t involve elaborate treadmill choreography or anything like that, but still it finds the trio executing an impressive bit of real-time animation. In the clip, Horsegirl add and remove various objects and lyrics-embossed slides to a projector in perfect unison with the crunchy, pepped-up churn of “World of Pots and Pans.” “It feels special to showcase our creative chemistry,” the band said of the clip in a statement, and [guitarist/singer] Nora [Cheng] was able to finally carry out her childhood dreams of making an Ok Go-ish type video.” “World of Pots and Pans” is the third offering from Horsegirl’s upcoming debut album, Versions of Modern Performance . The band described it as the “first love song Horsegirl has ever written — or the closest thing to it,” … [Read more...] about Horsegirl Craft the Ultimate Indie Rock Love Story on New Song ‘World of Pots and Pans’

EXCLUSIVE : Brad Anderson , the multi-hyphenate behind the iconic Christian Bale thriller The Machinist , has signed with Paradigm for representation. Anderson is a writer, director and producer whose 2004 breakout feature told the story of industrial worker Trevor Reznik (Bale), who began to doubt his own sanity after going without sleep for a year. He recently directed an episode of HBO Max’s acclaimed DC series Peacemaker , and two installments (including the pilot) of Netflix’s chart-topping thriller Clickbait , most recently wrapping production on the horror-thriller Blood , starring Michelle Monaghan and Skeet Ulrich. That upcoming film follows Jess (Monaghan), whose son Owen (Finlay Wojtak-Hissong) is hit with a mysterious infection after being bitten by a dog at the old farmhouse the family has just moved back into. Anderson has also directed features including the thriller Fractured , starring Sam Worthington, Lily Rabe and Stephen Tobolowsky, … [Read more...] about Paradigm Signs ‘The Machinist’ And ‘Clickbait’ Filmmaker Brad Anderson

SAG Award-nominee Alexandra Billings ( Transparent ) will star in, and executive produce the upcoming trans revolutionary indie feature, Queen Tut . Fae Pictures is financing and producing the film in association with Hawkeye Pictures with the participation of Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates. The producing team will be attending the Cannes Market meeting with international sales prospects. Queen Tut will be directed by Egyptian-Canadian up-and-coming filmmaker Reem Morsi ( The Last Mark ), and is based on a script from Bryan Mark, Kaveh Mohebbi, and Abdul Malik. The story follows a shy Egyptian teenager who is discovering a new life in Toronto after his seamstress mother passes away in Cairo. He befriends a trans mother, played by Billings, who inspires him to resurrect his mother’s soul in himself by sewing and donning the magnum opus dress that she never completed making. Production is expected to begin in August at and in partnership with … [Read more...] about ‘Transparent’ Actress Alexandra Billings To Star And Executive Produce Trans Revolutionary Indie Feature ‘Queen Tut’

IllumiNative , The Black List and Sundance Institute today revealed the finalists for their 2022 Indigenous List , which represent the best and most promising Native creatives in the film and television industry. See the list below. The Indigenous List was launched in 2020 to provide a platform for Indigenous writers to showcase their scripts, create additional pathways and opportunities within the industry, and support the development of the next generation of screenwriters. This year’s writers will have the opportunity to meet with four Indigenous creatives who have first-look and/or overall development deals at major studios, including Bird Runningwater ( Cheyenne ); actor-director Michael Greyeyes ( Firestarter, Acting Good ); Sierra Teller Ornelas, showrunner/co-creator of Rutherford Falls; and Sterlin Harjo, showrunner/co-creator of Reservation Dogs . “As one of the few Indigenous producers with a first look at a studio, I’m excited to help … [Read more...] about Indigenous Screenwriters List 2022 Finalists Set

In 1971, the Cannes Film Festival opened with a screening of Gimme Shelter by Albert and David Maysles, an immersive, vérité depiction of two weeks in the touring life of the Rolling Stones . If that was all it did, it might have been forgotten by now. But by a terrible freak of chance, the filmmakers followed the band to the most notorious concert of their entire career — the Altamont Speedway Free Festival in Livermore, CA, where the Stones, along with Santana, Jefferson Airplane, The Flying Burrito Brothers and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, were set to perform a free concert for 300,000 people on Dec. 6, 1969. “We didn’t know what it was going to be,” Albert said later. “We just had a childish faith that having seen the Stones and getting along with them, there might be a feature film there.” At the apparent suggestion of Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead (who were originally set to perform at the festival but ended up steering clear due to serious … [Read more...] about Cannes Film Festival Has Had Its Musical Moments From The Stones To The Spice Girls

Top Gun : Maverick ’s Cannes Film Festival premiere marks another high point in the movie star career of Tom Cruise . The actor turns 60 on July 3, and unlike most leading men of that age who become quicker to call for the stunt double, Cruise shows little evidence of slowing down after 43 films. If anything, his Mission: Impossible stunts seem to grow more ambitiously dangerous, not to mention the fact that he and director Doug Liman will become the first to actually shoot a space film in space for real—aboard one of Elon Musk’s SpaceX crafts with the cooperation of NASA. So how does Cruise continue to carve such a path? “I’ve gotten to work with a number of actors who’ve had great success and long careers, Tom being at the top of the heap,” says Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. “He approaches every day with the enthusiasm that it’s his first movie, and at the same time puts the effort into it like it’s his last movie. That’s a good attitude … [Read more...] about What Makes Tom Cruise’s Star Shine So Brightly? Directors Share Their Insights – Cannes Disruptors

Julian Dennison ( Godzilla vs Kong ), Minnie Driver , James Rolleston ( The Dark Horse ) and Erana James are set to star in New Zealand coming-of-age tale One Winter from directors Paul Middleditch and Hamish Bennett . The title is based on a story by Middleditch, Keith Aberdein and Sonia Whiteman with Bennett and Whiteman adapting the screenplay. Story is set in New Zealand in 1981 when the arrival of the South African rugby team sets off nationwide protests against apartheid and racism. Josh Waaka (Dennison), a 17-year-old boy of mixed race who has been a passive bystander all of his life, is suddenly forced to stand up for himself, his family and his future. The film, which is set to begin shooting this summer in New Zealand, is produced by Emma Slade, Sandra Kailahi, Angela Cudd, Angela Sullivan and Alberto Marzan. Troy Lum is an exec producer. Blue Fox is launching international sales here in Cannes this week. Dennison, a young New Zealand … [Read more...] about Paul Middleditch & Hamish Bennett To Direct Julian Dennison, Minnie Driver & James Rolleston In Kiwi Rugby Drama ‘One Winter’ — Cannes

Home will return for a second season at Apple TV +. Unveiled on Tuesday, the streamer shared that it will continue to highlight elevated home design across the world with Season 2 of the Emmy-nominated docuseries Home , which will premiere on Friday, June 17. Home ‘s second season will feature new destinations and offer viewers unprecedented access into the world’s most innovative living spaces.  Each episode in the second season will unveil the boundary-pushing imagination of the visionaries who dared to dream and build them around the world, including the Netherlands, South Africa, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Iceland, and more. Through these unique stories from the homeowners, their deep intention and unique vision is unveiled in the remarkable homes they’ve created, leaving an indelible impact on those around them. Home is produced for Apple by A24 and is executive produced by Matthew Weaver, Kim Rozenfeld, Ian Orefice, Alyse Walsh, Collin Orcutt, Ben … [Read more...] about ‘Home’ Renewed For Season 2 By Apple TV+