EXCLUSIVE : How Long Gone , a culture and interview podcast founded by Chris Black and Jason Stewart, is going full Hollywood. The podcast, which is closing in on 500 episodes, having launched in the nascent stages of the pandemic, has signed with CAA . The move will see the agency explore opportunities across television, film and publishing for the pair, who are currently taking the show on the road with live shows in London. It’s full circle for the pair, who have often joked on the podcast about the desire to move into television and secure A-list representation. You could easily imagine a How Long Gone interview television series given the pair’s conversational style, appealing to hipsters around the country and internationally. Early interviews included the likes of Jeremy O. Harris, Whitney Port, Jake Lacy, Lili Anolik and Lena Dunham and they have followed that up with the likes of Bret Easton Ellis and B.J. Novak Black previously managed pop punk band … [Read more...] about As ‘How Long Gone’ Nears 500 Episodes, Culture Podcast Signs With CAA, Eyes TV & Film Opportunities
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As Writers Strike Looms, Reality Producers Optimistic About Possible Unscripted Boom
A potential writers strike would be incredibly harmful for many in Hollywood, but there’s one sector of the entertainment industry that is quietly optimistic that it could lead to a boom for them: the unscripted television makers. As history has shown, there’s also precedent for an uptick — from the 1988 strike that led to the creation of Fox’s Cops and the 2007-08 strike, which bolstered unscripted shows such as The Amazing Race and Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The issue was top of mind at this week’s Realscreen conference in Austin, where thousands of nonfiction producers, documentary filmmakers and buyers discussed the future of the unscripted business. Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery’s U.S. Networks Group, told Deadline that while a strike would aid the unscripted business, she warned there would be “big repercussions” RELATED: WGA Writers Look Back At 2007-08 Strike For Lessons To Apply To Looming … [Read more...] about As Writers Strike Looms, Reality Producers Optimistic About Possible Unscripted Boom
Sundance Doc ‘The Disappearance Of Shere Hite’ Focuses On Famed Sex Researcher Canceled By Conservatives And Defensive Men
On September 11, 2020, The New York Times published an obituary for Shere Hite, the renowned sex researcher and author, noting that her work “helped awaken women to their sexual power and advance the Second Wave of feminism.” One of the readers of that obituary was filmmaker Nicole Newnham , and it became the spark that set her on a journey to document a woman who sold almost 50 million books worldwide but who faced such a backlash over her research that it drove her into exile. The result of that cinematic quest is the film The Disappearance of Shere Hite , which just premiered in U.S. Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival. For Newnham, the Oscar-nominated director of Crip Camp (co-directed with Jim LeBrecht), the new film amounted to a rediscovery of Hite. She first became acquainted with the author’s taboo-shattering work, The Hite Report , as an adolescent. “I found it in my mom’s bedside chest where she would stick the books she didn’t … [Read more...] about Sundance Doc ‘The Disappearance Of Shere Hite’ Focuses On Famed Sex Researcher Canceled By Conservatives And Defensive Men
This Epic Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Game Bundle is Only $3.99
TMZ may collect a share of sales or other compensation from links on this page. Are you an adult who likes 'kid' things like toys and games instead of 'real' adult things like vacuum cleaners? Are you someone who's excited by nostalgia? And, are you a 'Star Wars' fan ? Then you might be what we call a 'kidult' and it's a great day to be you. Indulge your inner 'Star Wars' nerd with this Steam-powered Star Wars game bundle , which includes Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II. Make your inner child giddy with these nostalgic games, and even better, it's now only $3.99 from January 24 until January 30. This game allows you to unlock new powers (over 40 of them) and weapons while becoming fully engulfed in an immersive, action-packed, and turn-based role-playing experience . Choose from 9 customizable characters, including humans and droids, to build your crew of 3 adventurers. These 'Star Wars' games earned 5 out of … [Read more...] about This Epic Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Game Bundle is Only $3.99
Spike Lee To Receive BFI Fellowship
Spike Lee is to receive a BFI Fellowship, the highest honor bestowed by the UK’s lead organization for film. The award will be presented to filmmaker Lee at an event at BFI Southbank, hosted by BFI Chair Tim Richards and BFI Chief Exec Ben Roberts, with an on stage Q&A with Spike Lee accompanied by a screening of Summer of Sam , on 13 February 2023. While in the UK, Lee will visit teams at the BFI National Archive, who have liaised with the director on a new 35mm print of Malcolm X (1992), to premiere at the BFI’s inaugural Film on Film Festival taking place at BFI Southbank in June. He will also take a masterclass with young filmmakers. Born in Atlanta in 1957 but raised in Brooklyn, New York City, Lee received his MFA in Film Production at NYU/Tisch. After graduation, he founded 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, based in Brooklyn. Among his string of acclaimed movies are Cannes title She’s Gotta Have It , Oscar nominee Do the Right Thing , Jungle Fever , … [Read more...] about Spike Lee To Receive BFI Fellowship
Joe Cornish Talks Netflix Ghost Hunter Series ‘Lockwood & Co’ & Updates On ‘Attack The Block 2’
Joe Cornish ’s teen ghosthunter drama Lockwood and Co. launches on Netflix globally today. The show, the streamer’s latest young-adult scripted series from the UK, stars Ruby Stokes ( Bridgerton ) and newcomers Cameron Chapman and Ali Hadji-Heshmati as a teen trio who run an independent ghost fighting agency in London while competing with adult-run corporate rivals. The eight-part series, from Cornish’s Complete Fiction banner, is based on Jonathan Stroud’s books about an alternate modern world in which murderous ghosts have been attacking people since the 1960s, and only teenagers have the ability to see and repeal them. Netflix ordered it as one of seven British originals announced in December 2020. Several of these have been canned but anticipation around Lockwood has grown and reviews this week have been sparkling. “We have these brilliant books to draw on,” said Cornish in an interview with Deadline this week. “The challenge is to get it on screen with the … [Read more...] about Joe Cornish Talks Netflix Ghost Hunter Series ‘Lockwood & Co’ & Updates On ‘Attack The Block 2’
CNBC Drops ‘Jay Leno’s Garage’ From Primetime Lineup
CNBC is dropping Jay Leno ’s Garage , the classic car series that capitalized on the comedian’s prized collection, after seven seasons. The network chose not to renew the series after seven seasons, a source confirmed. KC Sullivan, named president last year, has chosen to focus on business oriented reality shows in the primetime lineup, including Shark Tank and Undercover Boss . But Jay Leno’s Garage , which started as a special in 2014 and became a series the next year, drew attention given Leno’s status as a former host of The Tonight Show and his ability to draw marquee guest stars, including President Joe Biden, who taped an appearance last year. In an earlier appearance, when he was serving as vice president, Biden appeared with former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Sullivan also dropped Shepard Smith’s high profile newscast The News with Shepard Smith , which aired at 7 PM. The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report on the cancellation of … [Read more...] about CNBC Drops ‘Jay Leno’s Garage’ From Primetime Lineup
Sylvia Syms Dies: ‘The Queen’ & ‘Victim’ Star Was 89
English actress Sylvia Syms has passed away in the UK aged 89, according to her family. Syms was best known for roles in movies including Ice Cold Alex , Victim , The Tamarind Seed and Stephen Frears’ The Queen , in which she played The Queen Mother. Syms passed away this morning at Denville Hall, a care home in London for those in the entertainment industry. In a statement shared with The Sun , Syms’ family said: “She has lived an amazing life and gave us joy and laughter right up to the end. Just yesterday we were reminiscing together about all our adventures. She will be so very missed. “We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Denville Hall for the truly excellent care they have taken of our Mum over the past year.” Syms was born in London in 1934 and attended The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In 1958, she landed a role in BAFTA-nominated film Ice Cold in Alex . A year later she starred in Expresso Bongo alongside Cliff … [Read more...] about Sylvia Syms Dies: ‘The Queen’ & ‘Victim’ Star Was 89
‘The Last of Us’ Renewed For Season 2 At HBO
HBO ’s high-profile drama The Last of Us will be back for a second season. Just two episodes in, the premium cabler said today that it has renewed the video game-based series from Chernobyl c reator Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The Last of Us this month scored the second-largest premiere after House of the Dragon since Boardwalk Empire’s launch in 2010. Episode 1 has surpassed 22 million viewers domestically, up nearly five times from its premiere-night audience on January 15. Episode 2 drew 5.7 million viewers across HBO Max and linear telecasts in the U.S. Sunday night. That’s about a million more than the audience that tuned in for the premiere episode and it marks the largest Week 2 audience growth for any HBO Original drama series. The series also is strong on social media, trending No. 1 both in the U.S. and worldwide on Twitter during its series debut. “Craig and Neil, alongside EP Carolyn Strauss, and the rest of our phenomenal cast and crew, … [Read more...] about ‘The Last of Us’ Renewed For Season 2 At HBO
Liz Garbus Set To Direct and EP Untitled Orphan Project For Hulu That Stars Ellen Pompeo
EXCLUSIVE: Two-time Academy Award nominee Liz Garbus is set to direct and executive produce the Untitled Orphan Project that’s in the works for Hulu . The ABC Signature drama will star Ellen Pompeo and is inspired by the true story of a Midwestern couple who adopts who they believe is an 8-year-old girl with a rare form of dwarfism. But as they begin to raise her alongside their three biological children, they slowly start to believe she may not be who she says she is. The real-life story has drawn parallels to the 2009 horror movie Orphan . The plan is to produce an eight-episode limited series. Pompeo will executive produce through her production banner Calamity Jane with Laura Holstein. The project was created and written by Katie Robbins ( The Affai r). Erin Levy will serve as showrunner on the series and executive produce alongside Robbins. Other exec producers are Andrew Stearn, Niles Kirschner, Mike Epps and Dan Spilo. Garbus’ first episode of … [Read more...] about Liz Garbus Set To Direct and EP Untitled Orphan Project For Hulu That Stars Ellen Pompeo