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‘Hunchback Assignments’ Steampunk Movie in the Works
23 minutes ago
Vancouver-based Thunderbird and Australia’s Sandpiper Entertainment are developing a feature film based on Arthur Slade’s steampunk novel “The Hunchback Assignments.”
ScreenWest, the Western Australia government’s film and television agency, is funding initial script development with Thunderbird. Sandpiper’s Paul Barron is working with Thunderbird’s Alex Raffé on the project.
The working title of the film is “Modo,” taken from the principal character’s name of a hunchbacked shapeshifter at the center of the first novel and its sequels.
Modo is rescued as a child in a traveling freak show and raised in isolation as an agent for the Permanent Association, a spy agency behind Brittania’s efforts to rule the empire. At 14, Modo is left on the streets of London to fend for himself and, with another Association agent, the two uncover a plot by the Clockwork Guild behind the murders of important men.
“Arthur Slade has created a unique world, »
- Dave McNary
‘The Mermaid’ Becomes Highest-Grossing Film Ever in China
1 hour ago
Stephen Chow’s fishy fantasy “The Mermaid” comfortably won its second week at the Chinese box office and swam into the record books as the biggest film of all time released in China.
At the end of the weekend it stood at $415 million after 14 days of release, overtaking the previous records of “Monster Hunt” and “Furious 7,” both set last year. Estimates for Monday (Feb. 22) see it extending that score to $431 million.
In the past week it scored $139 million, ahead of $40 million for “The Monkey King 2” and $32.5 million for “The Man From Macau 3.” Both films were released the same day as “Mermaid,” the first day of the Chinese New Year holidays, and stand at $157 million and $152 million, respectively.
Over the three-day Friday-to-Sunday weekend, “The Mermaid” was again top, beating new release “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon II: The Green Destiny,” which opened with $20.8 million in three days. That puts “Mermaid” on »
- Patrick Frater
Abff Award Recipient Don Cheadle Discusses His Diverse Acting Roles and Hope That ‘We Aren’t Boxed In’
2 hours ago
The American Black Film Festival (Abff) partnered with Bet Networks to produce the inaugural Abff Awards on Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton, where celebrities including Robert Downey Jr., Pharrell and Anthony Anderson gathered to celebrate African American culture and excellence in entertainment.
“Anytime we can come together and celebrate each other and recognize the phenomenal work that we’ve done in this city is great,” Justin Hires, who stars in the upcoming “Rush Hour” reboot, told Variety before the awards show. “Hopefully this will be the first of many.”
Prior to the awards show proceedings, Black Enterprise president and CEO Earl Graves Jr. graced the stage to address the current state of African American representation in the industry.
“The entertainment industry is more than film and television production, and African Americans must become full participants in all aspects of this business,” he said. “Candidly, it’s outrageous that Hollywood »
- Alyssa Sage
‘Good Morning, Mr. Mandela’ Movie in the Works
2 hours ago
Maven Pictures and Jacqui Lewis are producing the film adaptation of Zelda la Grange’s book “Good Morning, Mr. Mandela,” based on her friendship with the former South African president.
La Grange, a white Afrikaner, grew up surrounded by people who perceived Mandela as a terrorist but she eventually served as one his most devoted associates for almost two decades. She began working in Mandela’s office as a typist in 1994, when he was elected as the post-apartheid president, and was promoted in 1999 to the post of private secretary to the office of the president.
Maven co-founders Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler are producing with Lewis. The producers have not yet attached a director or actors for “Good Morning, Mr. Mandela.”
Mandela died in late 2013, shortly after the release of the film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” starring Idris Elba and Naomie Harris, with Justin Chadwick directing from a script by William Nicholson. »
- Dave McNary
Demian Bichir Joins Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien: Covenant’
2 hours ago
“The Hateful Eight” star Demian Bichir is coming onboard Fox’s “Alien: Covenant,” Ridley Scott’s sequel to “Prometheus.”
He joins Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston and Danny McBride. Bichir received an Oscar nomination for best actor for 2011’s “A Better Life.”
Principal photography for “Alien: Covenant” will be shot in Australia’s New South Wales. The film will hit theaters on Oct. 6, 2017.
Plot details have not been disclosed for “Alien: Covenant.”
“Prometheus” was set about 30 years prior to the events in Scott’s 1979 movie “Alien.” The movie, which generated more than $400 million worldwide, was centered on scientists aboard the spaceship Prometheus discovering remains of an advanced civilization that was developing weapons that could wipe out the human race.
The original “Alien,” starring Sigourney Weaver, was followed by three sequels released in 1986, 1992 and 1997.
Bichir’s recent credits include “Death in Buenos Aires,” “Machete Kills,” “Savages” and “The Heat.” He is repped by CAA. »
- Dave McNary
Film Review: ‘The Brothers Grimsby’
3 hours ago
An engorged animal member delivers the most inspired gag, so to speak, in “The Brothers Grimsby,” a smutty but strained spy spoof in which most of the human-based comedy stays comparatively flaccid. Threadbare even by the raggedy standards of writer-star Sacha Baron Cohen’s post-“Borat” output, this tale of two estranged siblings — raised on opposite ends of the British class spectrum — reuniting to fight a global terrorism syndicate scores some stray yuks with its uneasy blend of jocular genre satire, extreme gross-out content and casually bloody, video-game-style action. Yet for all the boundaries it ostensibly pushes, the pic’s mirth-to-minute ratio is notably lower than that of last year’s sweeter-natured “Spy.” Some timely punchlines may earn these brothers a degree of fleeting pop-cultural notoriety; it remains to be seen, however, just how many HIV-aids jokes auds are willing to laugh at in an otherwise sparsely filled 82 minutes.
On local turf, »
- Guy Lodge
Kristin Chenoweth’s Dramedy ‘Hard Sell’ Lands at Momentum
3 hours ago
Momentum Pictures has acquired the North American distribution rights to the coming of age drama-comedy “Hard Sell,” starring Kristin Chenoweth, Katrina Bowden and Skyler Gisondo.
Sean Nabloff directed from his own script in his feature debut. Producers are Nalaboff, Jimmy Seargeant and Jared Greenman through Yellow Cote Productions. The film will receive a day-and-date theatrical release in the spring.
“Hard Sell” is set on the Gold Coast of Long Island. It centers on Gisondo’s character, a senior at an elite private school who struggles to support his unstable mom, played by Chenoweth. Desperate to make some quick cash, he enlists the help of a beautiful runaway, played by Bowden. They devise an unconventional plan of profiting off of the wayward teens at Hardy’s school — which places them amid the lifestyles of the rich and dysfunctional.
“‘Hard Sell’ is a wonderful coming-of-age story that tackles some very real questions: »
- Dave McNary
Why More Lgbt-Rights Stories Need to Be Brought to the Screen (Guest Column)
4 hours ago
In the 1950s, a stunningly-attractive upper middle-class married woman living in the suburbs of a large American city on the East Coast decided one day that she had to stop hiding the fact that she was a lesbian. Summoning up a degree of courage that seems almost unimaginable today, she effectively “came out” to her husband at a time when there was no such thing as “coming out” since almost all gay people lived in the closet and being gay was a crime in most states.
She told her husband that he “deserved better” — he deserved to be truly loved in the way a husband should be loved by his wife. This woman got a divorce, packed up her belongings, and moved to New York City like so many others (including myself three decades later) “in order to be gay.”
While this may sound like a description of the plot »
- Roberta Kaplan
Sacha Baron Cohen Drinks, Takes Aim and Cracks Oscar Diversity Jokes at ‘Brothers Grimsby’ Premiere
4 hours ago
Jaws dropped Monday evening, as writer and star Sacha Baron Cohen made his charmingly uncouth and scantily clad entrance into Leicester Square for the world bow of “The Brothers Grimsby.”
As simpleton spy Nobby, Baron Cohen stepped out of his battered white van onto the red carpet, takeaway dinner still in hand. Careful not to spill his treasured feast, he eyed up the harem of swimsuit clad beauties who stood awaiting his arrival.
Straight to business, Nobby was soon working the carpet in his underpants and skin-tight top, complete with this season’s must-have accessory, a contrasting gun holster. A spy ready to save the world: a beer in one hand, a gun in the other.
With Nobby’s beer-hand bandaged, he was duly asked the cause of his affliction. “Some violent person attacked me,” he exclaimed, quickly elaborating incredulously, “What happened was, I punched him in the face, and then he attacked me! »
- Helen Jackson
Rooney Mara Hated Sparking Whitewashing Debate as Tiger Lily in ‘Pan’
5 hours ago
Rooney Mara has opened up about the whitewashing debate that ignited when she was cast as Tiger Lily in 2015 film “Pan,” leading to thousands protesting the fact that a white actress was cast in the famous part.
In an interview with the Telegraph, Mara said she hated being at the center of the controversy and being on “that side” of the conversation.
“[It was a] tricky thing to deal with,” Mara said. “There were two different periods; right after I was initially cast, and the reaction to that, and then the reaction again when the film came out.
“I really hate, hate, hate that I am on that side of the whitewashing conversation,” she went on. “I really do. I don’t ever want to be on that side of it again. I can understand why people were upset and frustrated.”
Although she said she enjoyed her time working on the movie and »
- Jacob Bryant
Iatse Leader Michael Proscia Dies at 87
5 hours ago
Michael Proscia, a longtime leader of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, died Sunday. He was 87.
Proscia first joined Iatse in 1957 with membership to Iatse Locals One, 52 and 477. After serving as president and business agent of Local 52 for a number of years, he was elected as an international vice president in 1980 and served as general secretary-treasurer from 1994 to 2002, when he announced his retirement.
Proscia was executive vice president of the conference of motion picture and television unions in New York, and was active in the Press Club and the Radio and Television Working Press Association. He also served as a film commissioner for the state of New Jersey.
Proscia was a founding member of Iatse Local 477. In 2011, he was presented with a cut-glass award to commemorate the establishment of the Michael W. Proscia/Iatse Local 477 Scholarship, which helps children of Florida’s professional filmworkers with tuition and living expenses while attending the technical schools, »
- Dave McNary
Fusion to Air Russell Simmons’ All Def Movie Awards Special Opposite Oscars
6 hours ago
It’s not likely to put a dent in the ratings for the Oscars, but the symbolism can’t be ignored. Russell Simmons’ All Def Movie Awards has struck a deal for a highlights special to air Sunday on the Fusion cabler opposite ABC’s telecast of the 88th annual Academy Awards.
The event produced by Simmons’ All Def Digital venture was born in response to the uproar over this year’s all-white roster of Oscar acting nominees, the second consecutive year that minority actors were left on the sidelines of filmdom’s most coveted kudos. Tony Rock, brother of Oscars host Chris Rock, will emcee the All Def ceremony. Fusion, moreover, is jointly owned by ABC parent Disney and Univision, although Univision is in the process of buying out Disney’s stake in the cable channel that launched in October 2013.
The All Def ceremony will tape Wednesday night at Hollywood nightclub Lure. »
- Cynthia Littleton
Visual Effects Society Announces 2016 Board of Directors Officers
6 hours ago
The Visual Effects Society (Ves) announced Monday the names of those sitting on its 2016 board of directors. The officers, elected at the January 2016 board meeting, will make up the Ves board executive committee.
Mike Chambers was re-elected as the board chair. Jeffrey Okun will serve as first vice chair and Nancy St. John was elected as second vice chair. The treasurer and secretary are Susan Thurmond O’Neal and Rita Cahill, respectively.
Chambers, who has been a member of Ves for almost 20 years, is an independent visual effects producer as well as a vfx consultant. The board chair is currently in post-production on “Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass.”
Okun was recently named a fellow of the Ves and received the Founder’s Award. St. John has helped build vfx facilities around the world and was previously Ves first vice chair. O’Neal has worked in the visual effects industry for over 18 years. »
- Margaret Lenker
At 87, Walk of Fame Honoree Ennio Morricone Lives Up to His Legend
6 hours ago
The career of Italian composer Ennio Morricone, who on Feb. 26 will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has few — if any — parallels in the history of film music.
The composer for “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” “The Mission,” “The Untouchables,” “Cinema Paradiso” and an estimated 375 other feature films (not to mention another 90 or so TV projects) is perhaps the most prolific in Western cinema.
He is also among the most respected. Filmmakers from Terrence Malick to John Boorman, Mike Nichols to Barry Levinson, Roman Polanski to Bernardo Bertolucci, Roland Joffe to Brian De Palma, have sought him out to contribute to their films.
Reached at his home in Rome, he says via interpreter, that receiving the star is “a great accolade,” adding, “I can only anticipate how I’m going to feel when I’m there in L.A.”
It’s just the latest honor for the 87-year-old maestro. »
- Jon Burlingame
‘Spotlight’ Producer Open Road Teams With MadRiver
6 hours ago
Open Road Films and MadRiver Pictures have unveiled a non-exclusive production alliance for all of Open Road Films’ own productions over the coming years.
The news comes following the release of Open Road’s “Spotlight,” which was co-produced with Participant Media and has grossed $38 million in the U.S. since its Nov. 6 release. Open Road’s other notable titles include Jake Gyllenhaal’s “Nightcrawler”; Bill Murray’s “Rock the Kasbah”; “Triple 9,” starring Kate Winslet, Aaron Paul, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Casey Affleck; and Oliver Stone’s biopic “Snowden,” starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley.
Under the deal, MadRiver and topper Marc Butan will work with Open Road’s team to help source and oversee production of Open Road Films’ in-house productions. Two to four films a year are expected to be produced through the deal, with each film getting a wide domestic release via Open Road.
Open Road will have »
- Dave McNary
James Pitaro to Lead Disney’s Consumer Products/Interactive as Leslie Ferraro Exits Company
6 hours ago
Updated: James Pitaro has been promoted to chairman of Disney’s newly-combined consumer products and interactive media division, as the group’s previous co-leader, Leslie Ferraro, leaves the company.
Pitaro moves up from his position as co-chair of consumer products and interactive media and president of the interactive operation, according to an announcement from the company’s chief operating officer, Tom Staggs.
The move supplants Ferraro, who had been co-chair of the division and whose promotion last year had been touted as making her one of the highest ranking women in the history of the entertainment conglomerate. Disney said she is exiting “to pursue marketing and consumer engagement projects, with Disney as her first client.”
Ferraro had worked more than 20 years in consumer marketing, 17 of them with Disney, with much of her work focused on the company’s theme parks. The consumer products/interactive operation she co-lead with Pitaro since »
- James Rainey
Annick Muller Joins Wolf Kasteler PR as Sr. VP in New York
6 hours ago
Annick Muller will join Wolf Kasteler Public Relations as senior VP in the firm’s New York office, Annett Wolf and Lisa Kasteler announced Monday. Muller will begin her new position on March 1.
“We are very excited that Annick, who is so well respected and greatly experienced, is joining us as we celebrate the firm’s 25th anniversary,” Wolf and Kasteler said in a joint statement. “This is an important and evolving time for us.”
“I am grateful for the mentorship and guidance I received as part of ID for 15 years,” Muller said. “I am excited to embark on my next chapter with the wonderful team at Wolf Kasteler Public Relations.”
Muller began her career in public relations in 2001, working for ID Public Relations in the Los Angeles office and then moving to New York. Muller has experience working with personal clients on awards campaigns and with television networks on new and current programs. »
- Margaret Lenker
‘Batman V Superman’ Run Time Revealed
7 hours ago
Warner Bros.’ “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” has a lengthy run time of two hours and 31 minutes, the AMC Theaters chain has revealed.
The film, directed by Zack Snyder, is three minutes longer than Snyder’s 2013 Superman tentpole “Man of Steel” and 12 minutes shorter than his 2009 action movie “Watchmen.” By comparison, Fox’s surprise hit “Deadpool” has a much shorter run time of an hour and 46 minutes.
Warner Bros. is releasing the film worldwide on March 25 and has been touting “Batman V Superman” as a war between the DC superheroes when a new threat arises and puts mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.
Snyder directed from a script by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer. Producers are Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder.
The film also stars Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane returning from “Man of Steel.” Jesse Eisenberg stars as Lex Luthor, »
- Dave McNary
Douglas Slocombe, Cinematographer for ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ Dies at 103
7 hours ago
Oscar-nominated British cinematographer Douglas Slocombe, whose many films include several classic Ealing comedies in the 1940s and ’50s and the first three Indiana Jones pics in the 1980s, has died, his family told the Agence France-Presse. He was 103.
Slocombe drew Oscar noms for “Travels With My Aunt” in 1973, “Julia” in 1978 and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in 1982. He is famous within the industry for never having used a light meter on the set of “Raiders.”
He shot Ealing comedies including “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” “The Lavender Hill Mob” and “The Man in the White Suit.”
During the 1960s he was d.p. on films including “The Servant,” “The Blue Max,” “The Fearless Vampire Killers,” “The Lion in Winter” and “The Italian Job.”
In addition to the pics for which he was Oscar nominated, he shot “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “The Great Gatsby,” “The Maids” and “Rollerball” in the 1970s.
“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade »
- Carmel Dagan
Berlin: Strong 2016 Fest Buoyed by Artistic Innovation, Identification (Opinion)
8 hours ago
In the opening scene of Berlin best director winner Mia Hansen-Love’s “Things to Come,” a French philosophy teacher (insightfully played by Isabelle Huppert) spends her vacation grading essays, having posed a relatively simple challenge to her students: “Can we put ourselves in the place of another?” That question may as well have been the mantra of this year’s Berlin competition lineup.
Historically speaking, Berlin is not exactly known for having the world’s most empathetic program. Typically, the lineup spans an eclectic and often challenging mix of auteur films (such as Lav Diaz’s eight-hour “A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery”), avant garde/experimental fare (which make up the bulk of the Forum section) and political statements (one or two anti-Nazi pics, presumably in expiation for the nation’s past, plus a range of immigrant-sensitive/anti-colonialist/free-expression statements). Throw in a bunch of Lgbt-themed movies (the most of any mainstream festival, »
- Peter Debruge
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