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Lytro Camera Introduction Draws a Crowd at Nab Show — and Promises a Revolution
4 hours ago
When the booths are struck, the drones are packed away and the broadcast trucks drive away, the 2016 Nab Show is likely to be remembered for just a handful of things: the first working demo of next-generation television in the U.S.; Ang Lee’s showing of footage from “Billy Lynn’s Halftime Walk”; and the first public introduction of the Lytro Cinema Camera.
Of the three, the Lytro system is the most obscure, but in the long run, possibly the most disruptive.
“It’s going to revolutionize not only the way we make films but the way we define photography,” said director Robert Stromberg, who put the camera through its paces as director of a short film shot entirely with the prototype. “It’s an amazing technology.”
A standing-room-only crowd packed into the largest meeting room at the Las Vegas Convention Center to watch the introduction — a far bigger crowd »
- David S. Cohen
Bruce Dern, Anthony Michael Hall to Star in ‘King Lear’ Adaptation (Exclusive)
4 hours ago
Bruce Dern, Anthony Michael Hall and Sean Astin are starring in “The Lears,” a comic adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” Variety has learned.
It’s the first in-house production for distributor NeoClassics Films and has started production in Malibu and other parts of Los Angeles. Aly Michalka, Victoria Smurfit and Nic Bishop are also starring.
Carl Bessai is directing from his own script. NeoClassics Films’ CEO Irwin Olian is producing in association with Bessai’s Raven West Films Ltd. NeoClassics will also serve as the film’s international sales agent.
“Carl’s script is a smart, modern day derivative of Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear,'” said Olian. “In the classic play, the old King wanted each of his three daughters to prove their love so that he could determine who was most worthy of his kingdom. In our modern spin, iconic architect Davenport Lear has created a family »
- Dave McNary
Studio 8 Acquires Daily Beast Article ‘Osama’s 11,’ George Mastras to Script
4 hours ago
Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8 has acquired the rights to the Daily Beast article “Osama’s 11” and set “Breaking Bad” scribe George Mastras to pen the script.
Written by Geoff Manaugh, the article revolves around the true story of a bank robber who, after being arrested for several bank robberies in Los Angeles, was recruited by the U.S. government to plan bank heists against Al Qaeda.
Several studios were in the mix before Studio 8 made the winning bid, which sources say was in the high six figures.
Lloyd Braun and Andrew Mittman will produce through Whalerock Industries along with Dan Halsted and Nate Miller at Manage-ment. Jon Silk brought the project in and will oversee production.
The property marks another big purchase for Robinov’s relatively new company which is currently in post-production on Albert Hughes adventure pic “The Solutrean.” The studio’s pipeline is beginning to fill »
- Justin Kroll
Watch the First Trailer for Emily Blunt’s ‘The Girl on the Train’
5 hours ago
Updated: The first trailer for “The Girl on The Train” starring Emily Blunt arrived online on Tuesday, but was taken down by Universal Pictures and will arrive officially tomorrow. This post will be updated when the video is available.
The trailer, which first debuted at CinemaCon earlier this month, shows Blunt’s Rachel as she becomes swept up in a mystery involving her ex-husband (Justin Theroux)’s missing nanny.
Rachel is lonely, alcoholic divorcée, whose train passed her old home — where her ex-husband and his new wife live — every day. She begins to spy on a couple a few houses down, played by Luke Evans and Haley Bennett. Once a mysterious disappearance occurs, Rachel gets more and more involved with their lives.
The trailer was backed by a soundtrack of Kanye West’s “Heartless.” Laura Prepon, Rebecca Ferguson, Edgar Ramirez, Allison Janney and Lisa Kudrow also star.
- Variety Staff
Cannes: Juliette Binoche Comedy ‘Slack Bay’ Bought for U.S.
5 hours ago
Kino Lorber has acquired North American rights to period comedy “Slack Bay,” which will premiere in competition next month at the Cannes Film Festival.
Starring Juliette Binoche, Fabrice Luchini and Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, the film will be director Bruno Dumont’s third film to premiere in competition at Cannes, where he previously won the Grand Prix with “Humanité” and “Flanders.”
“Slack Bay” is set in 1910 on the northern French Coast, where several tourists have vanished while relaxing on the beaches. Police inspectors soon realize that the epicenter of these mysterious disappearances must be Slack Bay, where the Slack River and the sea join at high tide and a small community of fishermen and oyster farmers live — among them, the Bréfort ferrymen, led by a patriarch nicknamed “The Eternal.”
The film is produced by 3B Productions and co-produced by Arte French Cinema, Pictanovo and Twenty Twenty Vision in association with Cnc, Canal »
- Dave McNary
Emmy-Nominated Production Designer Doug Kraner Dies at 65
5 hours ago
Production designer Doug Kraner, who designed the famous beach house in “Sleeping with the Enemy” with Julia Roberts, died on April 4 at the age of 65. Kraner had been battling cancer and died in West Hollywood, Calif.
Kraner first met Danny Cannon while working on “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.” He then teamed up with Cannon on the pilots for “The Forgotten,” “Nikita,” “The Tomorrow People” and “Gotham,” for which he received an Emmy nomination and an Art Directors Guild nomination.
Kraner was first nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series or Special for his set decoration on “Little Gloria……Happy at Last.”
He also worked on the films “My Dinner With Andre,” “The Untouchables” and “Working Girl.”
Kraner worked with many well-known directors including Michael Apted, Brian DePalma, Louis Malle, Anthony Minghella, Mike Nichols and Dean Parisot. He also frequently collaborated with »
- Maria Cavassuto
Tribeca Film Review: Tom Hanks in ‘A Hologram for the King’
6 hours ago
In “A Hologram for the King,” Dave Eggers’ seriocomic lament for the American Dream, a sad-sack businessman loses himself amid the shimmering sands and empty skyscrapers of a Saudi Arabian metropolis-in-the-making — an appropriately surreal, mirage-like backdrop for a journey where failure and frustration are very much the point. But a different kind of frustration gradually takes hold in writer-director Tom Tykwer’s intriguingly offbeat film adaptation, which broadens the story’s humorous and romantic elements at the expense of its deeper, more existential qualities: Not unlike the holographic display referenced in the title, the result plays like a striking but somewhat faltering visual projection of its source material. Still, the movie does make the most of another sly, persona-tweaking performance from Tom Hanks, which should do its part to boost commercial interest when Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions releases it April 22, following its Tribeca Film Festival premiere.
You at least know you »
- Justin Chang
Nanni Moretti’s ‘Mia Madre’ Sells to Music Box
7 hours ago
Music Box Films has acquired all U.S. distribution rights to Italian director Nanni Moretti’s comedy-drama “Mia Madre,” starring Margherita Buy, John Turturro, Giulia Lazzarini, Beatrice Mancini and Moretti.
The film won the prize of the ecumenical jury at the Cannes Film Festival in May and was acquired by Alchemy from Paris-based sales company Films Distribution. But Alchemy’s financial problems resulted in the rights reverting to Films Distribution, which re-sold “Mia Madre” to Music Box.
Moretti wrote the semi-autobiographical screenplay along with Francesco Piccolo and Valia Santella and produced the film through his Sacher Film banner along with Domenico Procacci of Fandango and Rai Cinema.
“Mia Madre” centers on a director, played by Buy, who is shooting an Italian film with a famous American actor (Turturro), who’s also a disruptive blowhard and buffoon. Away from the shoot, the director tries to hold her life together, despite her »
- Dave McNary
Film Review: ‘Bastille Day’
7 hours ago
As fans continue their push for Idris Elba to fill Daniel Craig’s 007-sized shoes, they could point to far worse case studies for his suitability than “Bastille Day.” The hulking East Londoner may sport a Generican accent as a rogue CIA agent in James Watkins’ efficiently entertaining terrorist thriller, but in all other respects, he proves himself fighting fit for action-franchise duty: gravelly enough to lend this absurd Paris-set romp some gravitas, though he can wink and kick ass at the same time. While the pic pairs him with an affable partner in “Game of Thrones” alum Richard Madden, the standard-issue script doesn’t give their burgeoning buddy dynamic much kindling; instead, it’s Watkins’ lean, keen instinct for choreographing and cutting action set pieces that keeps “Bastille Day” afloat. Even if auds don’t exactly storm the gates, it’ll march on in ancillary.
Mere months after the tragic events of last November, »
- Guy Lodge
Sumner Redstone’s Granddaughter Wants to Join Mental Competency Suit
8 hours ago
Updated: Sumner Redstone’s granddaughter Keryn Redstone wants to join the media mogul’s former companion Manuela Herzer’s ongoing legal fight to regain control of his healthcare decisions.
In a sign of the familial divisions being opened up in the wake of the Viacom and CBS chief’s declining health, Keryn Redstone is asking to be named a co-petitioner. She is the granddaughter of Sumner Redstone’s estranged son, Brent Redstone. The court will decide whether or not Keryn Redstone has leave to join the suit on Wednesday.
Attorneys for Herzer have previously accused Redstone’s daughter, Shari Redstone, of waging a “campaign of harassment, lies and deceit” to try to exclude his former companion from Redstone’s life. In a legal filing this week, Herzer’s attorneys hit back at a recent health care directive that names Shari Redstone as her father’s health care agent.
In a declaration filed with the court, »
- Brent Lang and James Rainey
Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi Theme Park to Feature Batman, Superman Rides
8 hours ago
Warner Bros. and an Abu Dhabi firm are teaming to build a $1 billion theme park in the emirate with a 2018 opening planned.
Warner Bros. and Miral Asset Management made the announcement Tuesday. The “immersive” theme park will include the first Warner Bros.-branded hotel and rides based on the studio’s characters such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Scooby-Doo and Bugs Bunny.
The theme park will be on Yas Island, which already includes a Formula 1 racetrack, a Ferrari-branded theme park and a water park. The first phase of the project will be dubbed Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.
“Warner Bros. has been entertaining audiences for more than 90 years with the world’s most-loved characters and franchises,” said Kevin Tsujihara, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment. “Working with our partners at Miral, we’ll bring this expertise to Yas Island, one of the world’s leading entertainment destinations, to create a fully-interactive, »
- Dave McNary
Kevin Smith to Appeal R Rating for ‘Yoga Hosers’
10 hours ago
Kevin Smith announced that he will appeal the Motion Picture Association of America’s R rating of his comedy-horror “Yoga Hosers.”
“The #MPAA gave my kids movie @YogaHosers an R rating for a cartoony drawing of testicles on a book cover. So now, for the 4th time in my 22 year career, we will hold an appeals screening with the Motion Picture Association of America’s ratings board and try to get the R overturned for a less severe (and far more appropriate) PG-13,” Smith announced Monday in an Instagram post.
He continued, “The core audience for the flick is tween girls (it’s Clueless meets Gremlins!), so I refrained from salty language to make a totally kid-friendly movie. And while it’s a ‘horror’ movie, there’s no blood on display: when our Bratzi bad guys get killed, concentrated sauerkraut explodes everywhere – not guts or entrails.”
No stranger to rating appeals, »
- Alyssa Sage
Veteran Executive Michael Joe Joins STX Entertainment
10 hours ago
Veteran business, finance and studio executive Michael Joe has joined Stx Entertainment as chief operating officer of the motion picture group.
The hire was announced Tuesday by Adam Fogelson, chairman of the Stx Motion Picture Group. The two-year-old company said Joe’s recruitment to Stx signals the company’s focus on rounding out the motion picture group team while the parent company expands into other lines of business.
Stx is producing and distributing 12-15 major motion pictures a year and is backed by Tpg Growth and China-based Hony Capital. It’s released “The Gift,” its most successful film so far with $43 million in domestic grosses along with “The Boy,” “The Secret in Their Eyes” and “Hardcore Henry”
Joe will be responsible for business operations and strategy for the company’s motion picture group, where he will have oversight of the film studio’s business affairs and film financing activities as »
- Dave McNary
Gerard Guillemot Tapped as CEO of Ubisoft Motion Pictures (Exclusive)
11 hours ago
In a major shakeup, Gerard Guillemot has been named CEO of Ubisoft Motion Pictures, replacing Jean-Julien Baronnet.
Guillemot is the brother of Ubisoft chairman Yves Guillemot.
“We thank Jean-Julien for helping make Ubisoft Motion Pictures the industry leader in bringing video game brands to film, television and amusement parks,” Yves said in a statement. “With the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ movie arriving in theaters on December 21, and multiple other properties in development and production…Gerard will ensure the team continues spearheading our strategy of expanding our popular game brands into new entertainment formats and reaching new audiences.”
Sources say Baronnet’s departure was amicable.
The former CEO of EuropaCorp, Baronnet was named CEO of Ubisoft Motion Pictures when it was created in 2011 with Jean de-Rivieres and Didier Lupfer.
“Ubisoft Motion Pictures is in good hands, and with many of the properties we started,” Baronnet said. “I’m confident that now is »
- Justin Kroll
Watch: Robert De Niro Trains Roberto Duran in ‘Hands of Stone’ Teaser
11 hours ago
The first trailer for Roberto Duran biopic “Hands of Stone” promises plenty of boxing as seen through the eyes of Robert De Niro as trainer Ray Arcel.
“In 66 seconds, Roberto Duran changed my life,” De Niro says in a voiceover. “He came from nothing and changed everything.”
Edgar Ramírez stars as the Panamanian boxer who rose from the slums of Panama to become one of the best boxers within memory. Jonathan Jakubowicz directed from his own script.
His rivalry with Sugar Ray Leonard (portrayed by Usher in the film) is considered one of the fiercest in boxing history.
Duran was nicknamed “hands of stone” because of his punching power. He won 103 of his 119 fights between 1968 and 2002, when he retired at the age of 50.
He’s best remembered for refusing to fight further — declaring “No mas” — in his re-match against Leonard after defeating the popular boxer in 1980.
“You’re Roberto Duran, »
- Dave McNary
Film Review: ‘Ten Years’
11 hours ago
Political assassination. Self-immolation. Cultural annihilation. Children working as secret police. These are just some of the horrors five young helmers envisage for Hong Kong a decade down the line in “Ten Years,” a dystopian omnibus film that provoked the Chinese government’s ire. In the service of each worst-case scenario, the various shorts employ arresting visuals, edgy film language and absorbing storylines to express some citizens’ uncertainty about viability of “One Country, Two Systems” in the former British colony. Bristling with an “if not now, when?” thirst for change, this epic historical document of the city’s political zeitgeist should explode at festivals and online platforms like a Molotov cocktail.
Made on a shoestring budget of around $65,000, the 2025-set anthology has earned an impressive $790,000 despite securing scant domestic screening slots. China’s state paper the Global Times branded it “thought virus,” and the government allegedly ordered a media blackout when »
- Maggie Lee
Los Angeles Location Production Surges 11.4% in First Quarter
11 hours ago
Thanks to gains in films, TV and ad shoots, first-quarter location production in greater Los Angeles jumped 11.4% to 9,703 shoot days, according to the Film L.A. permiting agency.
Gains were due in part to the impact of California’s increased state tax credit, which was boosted last year to $330 million annually from $100 million. Productions shot during the quarter that received the credit included the James Franco-Bryan Cranston comedy “Why Him,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “Veep.”
Local on-location feature production surged 23.7% to 1,145 shoot days, including 155 days generated by four films receiving the credit — “The God Particle,” “Please Stand By,” “Sentence” and “Why Him.”
“We predicted we’d see a boost in Feature production in the first quarter thanks to the state tax credit, and we’re glad to see that happening,” said Film L.A. president Paul Audley. “In addition, as the non-incentivized counts show, Los Angeles remains a popular choice among film, »
- Dave McNary
Tribeca Film Review: ‘All We Had’
11 hours ago
Katie Holmes makes an undistinguished helming debut with “All We Had,” a middlebrow drama with no pretensions but also no depth. Based on Annie Weatherwax’s novel about a zero-income mother-daughter duo hit hard by the economic downturn, the pic is laid low by a banal script that takes the easy path at every turn, resulting in a yet another movie of good intentions and weak delivery. Performances are the strong suit, especially Luke Wilson, whose discreet, fully engaged conception of character makes prosaic dialogue feel real. Holmes and Wilson combined should generate enough interest to see decent VOD traffic.
Thanks to a cliched voice-over and over-explanatory conversation, all background info deemed necessary is spoon-fed within the first five minutes. Rita (Holmes) and her 14-year-old Ruthie (Stefania Owen, “The Carrie Diaries”) are all alone in the world, exiting yet another town where they can’t pay their bills. Rita’s »
- Jay Weissberg
Shade VFX Taps David Van Dyke as President (Exclusive)
12 hours ago
David Van Dyke has been named president of Shade VFX, Variety has learned.
Shade’s credits include “The Wolverine,” “22 Jump Street,” “Chef,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” and the Netflix shows “Daredevil” and “Jessica Jones.” Van Dyke joined the team in 2010 and was previously a vice president and executive producer. He also had stints at Cis Hollywood and CafeFX. Van Dyke won an Emmy for outstanding visual effects for miniseries, movie or a special for HBO’s “John Adams.”
Shade also announced today that it will be promoting Lisa Maher, who is currently serving as their executive producer, to vice president of production. John Riddle, Shade’s current head of technology, will be upped to vice president of technology.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve as Shade’s president and continue our tradition as a premier visual effects vendor in feature films and streaming television both »
- Brent Lang
A24 Boards ‘I Want My MTV’ Movie With James Ponsoldt
12 hours ago
A24 is developing a movie based on Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks’ book “I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution.”
The company will re-team with director James Ponsoldt for the third time following collaborations on “The Spectacular Now” and “The End of the Tour. Ponsoldt will write, produce and direct the narrative feature.
A24, which optioned film rights, will produce alongside frequent collaborator Eva Maria Daniels of VisionChaos Productions.
“I Want My MTV” chronicles the founding and first ten years of the network, which started as a channel showcasing videos from obscure British bands but soon transformed into a cultural sensation.
The book follows the young group that built the company and ushered it into a global phenomenon that influenced everything from movies, music and television to fashion, sports and politics. The film will weave the book’s testimonials into its narrative.
“As a child of the 1980’s, »
- Dave McNary
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