Writer-director Paul Schrader, who will attend the International Film Festival Rotterdam on Monday (29 Jan) to give a Masterclass, has predicted that he will finish his career working in cinema - and he has warned that TV drama is not the haven for filmmakers that it recently seemed.“I think I’ll finish out working for the cinema particularly now that television has lost some of its allure,” Schrader said. “You know, there are 500 scripted TV series now being made. Do you really want to get into that world?”The veteran filmmaker added that the “so called freedom of TV is not as free as you might think”. He said that his latest feature, First Reformed (which premiered in Venice and which is screening at IFFR), could not have been made for television, which is why he plans to stick to making movies. “I think I’ll try to ride that old broken-down horse into the cinematic sunset.”First ReformedFirst Reformed sees Schrader moving … [Read more...] about Paul Schrader: ‘television has lost some of its allure’
Television
UK’s National Film and Television School to receive honorary Bafta award
The UK’s National Film and Television School will receive the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at this year’s Bafta ceremony on Feb 18.Marc Samuelson, chair of Bafta’s Film Committee, explained the decision: “The NFTS provides a fantastic training ground for the next generation of creative talent - each year many of Bafta’s talented scholarship recipients receive their training at the school, and an overwhelming number of its students and alumni go on to become BAFTA-winners and household names. The NFTS is a truly integral part of our industry, and is hugely deserving of this award.”Opened in 1971, the NFTS boasts alumni including directors Sarah Gavron (Suffragette), Lynne Ramsay (We Need To Talk About Kevin) and David Yates (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), cinematographers Roger Deakins (Skyfall) and Charlotte Bruus Christensen (Molly’s Game), and composer Dario Marianelli (Darkest House).The school’s … [Read more...] about UK’s National Film and Television School to receive honorary Bafta award
SAG Awards: Alexander Skarsgard Wins Best Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Alexander Skarsgard won the SAG Award for best actor in a television movie or limited series for Big Little Lies on Sunday night.Upon accepting his award, the former True Blood actor made a joke at his expense. "A lot of people have been talking about who the greatest male actor ever is. Is it [fellow nominee] Mr. Robert De Niro? Or the tall dude from Trueblood? The thespians have spoken. Thank you very much for that."He beat out Benedict Cumberbatch for Sherlock: The Lying Detective, Jeff Daniels for Godless, De Niro for The Wizard of Lies and Geoffrey Rush for Genius for the honor.The SAG Awards are being simulcast live on TNT and TBS from the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles, with Kristen Bell serving as the first-ever host of the show, which features an all-female lineup of presenters. Morgan Freeman is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.Keep up with all the latest news here. … [Read more...] about SAG Awards: Alexander Skarsgard Wins Best Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
Facebook sets first drama series, ‘Sacred Lies’ from Blumhouse Television
Facebook has ordered its first drama series, a half-hour thriller from Blumhouse Television based on a Brothers Grimm story and a contemporary young adult novel.With the working title Sacred Lies, former True Blood executive producer Raelle Tucker and director Scott Winant will serve as executive producers on the 10-episode series.Tucker will also serve as showrunner and adapt the source material, the Grimm tale The Handless Maiden and Stephanie Oakes’ 2015 novel The Sacred Lies Of Minnow Bly. Winant will also direct the first two episodes.Also on board as executive producers on the story – about a teen with no hands who escapes from a cult and finds herself in juvenile detention, suspected of knowing who killed her cult leader – will be Blumhouse Television’s Jason Blum, Marci Wiseman and Jeremy Gold.The project was unveiled at this week’s NATPE television market in Miami by Facebook director of development Ricky Van Veen, who also announced two … [Read more...] about Facebook sets first drama series, ‘Sacred Lies’ from Blumhouse Television
‘Maudie’ leads Irish Film and Television Academy awards nominations
The Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) has unveiled the nominations for its 2018 film and drama awards.Now in its 15th year, the event celebrates the best in Irish film and TV from the past 12 months.In the film categories, Aisling Walsh’s Maudie, starring Sally Hawkins, leads the way with six nominations including best feature film and director.Cardboard Gangsters, Handsome Devil, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Farthest follow with five nominations, while The Drummer And The Keeper, The Killing Of A Sacred Deer, Maze and Michael Inside received four apiece.The Lodgers, Pilgrimage, Song Of Granite all received three nods, while Lady Bird received two.In the drama categories, Vikings leads the way on six nominations including best drama, while Game Of Thrones and Peaky Blinders received five each. Paula received four, Acceptable Risk and Into The Badlands received three apiece, while Line Of Duty and Striking Out received two.IFTA CEO Aine Moriarty … [Read more...] about ‘Maudie’ leads Irish Film and Television Academy awards nominations