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Watch the Gotham Awards Live Stream
35 minutes ago
Awards season has officially begun.
The 2016 Gotham Awards kick off Monday night, honoring the best of independent film for the year, presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project. “Manchester by the Sea” leads the pack in nominations this year, scoring nods for best actor for Casey Affleck and best picture.
One of its toughest competitors in the best picture category is Barry Jenkins’ critically acclaimed drama “Moonlight.” Affleck could also be challenged by Adam Driver’s performance in Jim Jarmusch’s “Paterson” for best actor.
The other best picture nominees are “Certain Women,” “Everybody Wants Some,” and “Paterson.” “Moonlight,” which is also up for best screenplay, will receive a special Gotham jury award.
Television will be honored as well, with breakthrough TV series nominees including “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “The Girlfriend Experience,” “Horace and Pete,” “Marvel’s Jessica Jones,” and “Master of None.”
Gotham Award Tributes will also be handed out on Monday night. »
- Variety Staff
Adolescent Content, Lotus Partnering for Teen Filmmakers (Exclusive)
55 minutes ago
Adolescent Content, a specialist in repping young filmmakers and content creators, has signed a management deal with film financing-management company Lotus Entertainment, Variety has learned.
The alliance, touted as the first of its kind, plans to produce original TV, web and feature content by nurturing the works of filmmakers under 18. The goal is to provide young people of “extraordinary” ability the resources to make state-of-the-art quality film, TV and web content aimed at an audience of their peers.
Adolescent Content was formed in 2014 by Creative Director Ramaa Mosley and Executive Producer Hope Farley. It recently launched AdolescentTV on YouTube and digital platform www.adolescent.net in addition to producing original web series.
“We will see the next Steven Spielbergs and Lena Dunhams break out of this pack, there is a palpable excitement I haven’t seen on the scene, in years,” Mosley said. “Each shows production value just keeps getting higher, »
- Dave McNary
Lionsgate Developing ‘You + Me = Everything’ With ‘Twilight’ Producers
2 hours ago
Lionsgate has launched development of a movie based on the upcoming novel “You + Me = Everything” and set up the project with “Twilight” producers Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen.
“You + Me” has been written by Liverpool-based Jane Costello, a journalist-turned-author with nine published novels. She is using the pen name Catherine Isaac for her new book, which centers on a single mother who throws out her boyfriend only months after giving birth to their son. Ten years later, she decides to journey with the son to France, where the boy’s father now lives, in order to make the father fall in love with his own son.
Godfrey and Bowen are producing “You + Me” through their Temple Hill company, which has also produced the “Maze Runner” franchise, “The Fault in Our Stars” and the upcoming “Power Rangers.” Temple Hill exec John Fischer brought in the project and Jeyun Munford bought it for Lionsgate. »
- Dave McNary
Ventana Sur: Ignacio Rey Primes Argentina’s First VFX-Packed Live-Action Pic
2 hours ago
Buenos Aires-based producer Ignacio Rey is priming Argentina’s first ever VFX-laden live action fantasy pic “Yanka y el espiritu del Volcan,” a $2.5 million kid-targeted drama based on a Mapuche legend. The coming-of-age pic tracks a young girl called Yanka who in her quest to find her lost mother, comes upon some some otherworldly creatures and a volcano where she discovers that she is among the few who can tame the angry spirit lurking in it.
The feature directorial debut of ad maven Ivan Abello has been in post for some 18 months given its 300 VFX shots rendered by Fernando Sirianni’s Nomad VFX, a co-producer, and is expected to be completed by March for a July 2017 debut.
“We’ve getting a lot of interest from both local and international distributors, but we’re not showing it until January or February,” said Rey, who has been producing a gamut of pics in Argentina, »
- Anna Marie de la Fuente
’10 Cloverfield Lane’ Director Daniel Trachtenberg Eyed for Houdini Movie
3 hours ago
Lionsgate is eyeing “10 Cloverfield Lane” director Daniel Trachtenberg for its Harry Houdini biopic, which had been in development for several years.
Johnny Depp had been in early talks in 2014 to star as Houdini in the movie, based on the biography “The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero.” But Depp’s deal did not go through and no other actors are currently attached.
Frank Marshall and Bruce Cohen have been attached as producers for several years. The project is based on the 2007 biography by William Kalush and Larry Sloman that traces the life of the renowned magician from poverty to wordwide fame, providing details into his increasingly dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy and a plot to subvert his legacy. Houdini died on Halloween in 1926.
Dean Parisot, director of Lionsgate’s “Red 2,” was on board to helm in 2014. The script has been written by Noah Oppenheim, »
- Dave McNary
Tom Holland in Talks to Star Opposite Daisy Ridley in ‘Chaos Walking’
4 hours ago
“Spider-Man” lead Tom Holland is in talks to star opposite Daisy Ridley in Lionsgate’s adaptation of the YA novel “Chaos Walking.”
Doug Liman is directing the project, an adaptation of Patrick Ness’ best-selling book. Sources reveal that the film is still far on the horizon, considering Ridley, Holland, and Liman’s busy schedules. The project has not yet receievd a greenlight or production start date.
The film takes place in a world where all women have been killed by a germ and all living creatures can hear one another’s thoughts in a stream of images, words, and sounds simply called “noise.”
Charlie Kaufman and Jamie Linden worked on previous versions of the script. Doug Davison is producing the movie alongside Allison Shearmur.
Holland has become a hot name in the biz since landing the lead of the new “Spider-Man” franchise at Marvel and Sony. He first appeared as »
- Justin Kroll
‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ Generates Social Media Hype With Latest Trailer
4 hours ago
Disney/Lucasfilm’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” dominated social media buzz last week with more than 148,000 new conversations, according to media-measurement firm comScore and its PreAct service.
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” starring Felicity Jones and Diego Luna, released a new trailer on Nov. 25. The first spinoff of the new Star Wars franchise, which opens Dec. 16, has generated more than 2.18 million cumulative conversations on social media.
The new trailer, entitled “Trust,” dropped a variety of hints of storylines to come. The plot centers on a group of unlikely heroes who band together to steal the plans to the Death Star — the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction.
Disney-Pixar’s animated film “Cars 3” generated more than 55,000 new conversations, thanks to the first teaser trailer being released on Nov. 21. The 45-second teaser consists primarily of eye-level shots of race-cars, followed by McQueen’s No. 95 rolling across the race »
- Dave McNary
Black Film Critics: 2016 the Best Year Ever for African Americans in Cinema
4 hours ago
The African American Film Critics Association released a statement Monday morning, praising 2016 as the best year for the black community in cinema with its diversity in both casting and storylines.
“The studios and major film distributors really gave it to us this year,” stated Aafca co-founder and president Gil Robertson. “By any measurement, it’s been an exceptional year for Blacks in film. From comedies to high-quality dramas and documentaries, 2016 will forever represent a bonanza year for Black cinema and all cinema really.”
The org championed films like Denzel Washington’s “Fences,” “Hidden Figures” and “Moonlight” for paving the way, along with box office hits such as “Ride Along 2” and “Central Intelligence.”
“The amount of quality feature films, documentaries and TV shows released in 2016 about the black experience easily make it the best year ever,” Aafca’s other co-founder Shawn Edwards said. “It has truly been an unapologetically black »
- Arya Roshanian
Emma Stone and Molly Shannon on Facing Rejection in Showbiz: ‘It’s Like a Bunch of First Dates’
4 hours ago
Emma Stone and Molly Shannon sat down for a chat for Variety’s “Actors on Actors.” For more, tune in when the fifth season premieres on PBS SoCal, presented by The Venetian Las Vegas, on Jan. 3.
Molly Shannon: I saw “La La Land” and was blown away by your stellar performance. I thought you were unbelievable — it’s the best thing I’ve seen you in. Your performance was a tour de force. I really related to your character. How long did it take to shoot?
Emma Stone: It was two months, and about three months of rehearsal before we shot. Have you seen “So You Think You Can Dance?” Our choreographer, Mandy Moore, does dance numbers on those shows, and she was used to working with people who were just learning to dance. So it was comforting, because the first six weeks were spent with Ryan and »
- Variety Staff
Paramount Taps Former Sony Exec Andrew Gumpert as COO
4 hours ago
Updated: After fleeing Sony just weeks ago, veteran Hollywood finance authority Andrew Gumpert has landed at Paramount Pictures, where he will become chief operating officer.
Paramount Chairman and CEO Brad Grey announced the hiring of Gumpert, who came to be known as one of Hollywood’s most savvy dealmakers at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he last served as president of worldwide business affairs and operations for the Sony’s Motion Picture Group.
The COO job will put Gumpert in charge of business affairs and home entertainment, and television transactional distribution, while also overseeing the studio’s operations — ranging from strategic planning, to labor relations, to parks and resorts.
Gumpert replaces long-time COO Frederick Huntsberry, who was at Paramount for a decade.
In a statement, Grey called Gumpert “one of the most respected executives in our industry,” who he lauded for his “hard work, integrity, steady hand, and business acumen.” Gumpert, »
- James Rainey
Emma Stone Had a Signed Headshot of Molly Shannon on Her Wall
5 hours ago
For one of her birthdays as a child, Emma Stone was given a signed headshot of Molly Shannon and pinned it up on her wall.
Stone revealed the childhood memento and more to Shannon during an interview for Variety‘s “Actors on Actors,” which will air in full on on PBS SoCal on Jan. 3.
As part of the interview, Shannon told Stone that she felt familiar with the actress from the first time she saw her on the big screen. But, Stone responded that the potential reason behind that feeling was the black-and-white photo she had of the former “SNL” cast member on her bedroom wall.
“I grew up with you in my bedroom and the best of and watching you all the time, and so maybe we just have a little connection to each other,” Stone said.
She went on to describe the poster further while Shannon laughed and clapped her hands in disbelief. »
- Will Thorne
Emma Stone and Molly Shannon Share Their Worst On-Stage Nightmares
5 hours ago
Emma Stone and Molly Shannon are well-known on the screen, but both have stage experience as well. And as any theater-goer or actor knows, that can often lead to live mishaps.
Stone shared her worst on-stage nightmare with Shannon for the duo’s interview for Variety‘s “Actors on Actors,” which debuts on PBS SoCal in January. Stone told Shannon about her own “terrible” eyesight, and how this came to play a role in one of her performances in Broadway’s “Cabaret.”
“I was singing and I got really kind of overwhelmed and I blinked, and both of my contacts came out at once, which has never happened to me in my entire life,” Stone told a laughing Shannon. She added that she couldn’t “see a thing” after the mishap, and none of her castmates knew what happened.
“It was a nightmare,” Stone said. “But my biggest nightmare, which has never happened yet, »
- Variety Staff
Molly Shannon Reveals Origin of Iconic ‘SNL’ Character Mary Katherine Gallagher
5 hours ago
Molly Shannon created her iconic nerdy, Catholic school girl character Mary Katherine Gallagher in a rehearsal for a comedy performance while she was at Nyu drama school.
In her Variety “Actors on Actors” sit-down with Emma Stone, Shannon discussed her drama school days, where she performed with future fellow “SNL” cast member Adam Sandler.
“It was in the Black Box Theater at like 10 o’clock at night and it was like the comedy show, and I created Mary Katherine Gallagher in an exercise for rehearsals for that show,” Shannon said. “So we walk through the door and make up a character, [we] don’t think about it, so I walked through the door and was like, ‘Hi, I’m Mary Katherine Gallagher,’ and then you just improvise.”
After school, Shannon went on to create a popular comedy show with a friend of hers and took it to the West Coast.
“My »
- Will Thorne
Taraji P. Henson and Ryan Reynolds Talk Bad Auditions, Social Media, Cookie and Deadpool
5 hours ago
Taraji P. Henson and Ryan Reynolds sat down for a chat for Variety’s “Actors on Actors.” For more, tune in when the fifth season of the series, presented by The Venetian Las Vegas, debuts on PBS SoCal on Jan. 3.
Taraji P. Henson: When did you last audition?
Ryan Reynolds: I’m auditioning right now. I’m going to be on “Empire” this season, I’m hoping!
Henson: Yes, please!
Reynolds: No, my last was … I auditioned and failed for the Coen brothers. “Hail, Caesar!” was it? No, it was the one before that. It wasn’t the right fit, mostly because they’re very high class. They were just quietly shaking their heads, like, “What are you doing here? Do you have a SAG card?”
Henson: I don’t believe that!
Reynolds: When was your last audition?
Henson: I auditioned for Shonda Rhimes for “Scandal.” Thank God Kerry got it. »
- Variety Staff
Leslie Mann, John Cena, Ike Barinholtz to Star in Comedy ‘The Pact’ (Exclusive)
6 hours ago
Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz, and John Cena are set to star in Kay Cannon’s directorial debut, “The Pact.”
Eben Russell, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, and brothers Brian and Jim Kehoe penned the script for Point Grey, Good Universe, Hurwitz & Schlossberg Productions, and Dmg.
The film follows three parents who, upon discovering that their daughters have made a pact to lose their virginities on prom night, go out and try and stop them before it’s too late.
Point Grey’s Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver will produce alongside Hurwitz and Schlossberg, and Dmg Entertainment’s Chris Fenton. Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake of Good Universe will executive produce with Chris Cowles of Dmg. John Fagen will oversee for Point Grey.
Mann most recently starred in New Line’s “How to Be Single” and Sony Classics’ “The Comedian,” which should be a contender at the upcoming Golden Globes. »
- Justin Kroll
Milo Gibson to Star in Action-Thriller ‘All the Devil’s Men’ (Exclusive)
6 hours ago
Milo Gibson and Gbenga Akinnagbe are starring in the action-thriller “All the Devil’s Men” for Gfm Films and producer Hannah Leader.
Gibson, who recently starred in father Mel Gibson’s “Hacksaw Ridge” as the Lucky Ford character, will play an American war on terror bounty hunter forced to go to London on a manhunt for a disavowed CIA operative. Akinnagbe will play one of his team, who find themselves locked in deadly urban tactical combat with their former military comrade and his private army, who are protecting the operative.
Shooting will take place in Brussels and the U.K. in February. Matthew Hope (“The Veteran”) is directing from his own script. Producers are Hannah Leader (“Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead,” “Gosford Park”) and Amory Leader. Elizabeth Fowler (“Devil’s Knot”) is exec producing.
It’s the first lead role for Milo Gibson, who will be seen next »
- Dave McNary
Ryan Reynolds Tells Taraji P. Henson About His ‘Failed’ Audition for a Coen Brothers Movie
6 hours ago
Even Ryan Reynolds has bad auditions.
The actor revealed the fact to Taraji P. Henson during the duo’s interview for Variety‘s fifth season of “Actors on Actors,” which will premiere on PBS SoCal in January. Henson asked the “Deadpool” star what his most recent audition was like, and according to Reynolds, it was for a Coen brothers movie… and it didn’t go very well.
“I auditioned and failed for the Coen brothers,” he replied. “It wasn’t the right fit, mostly because they’re very high class. They were just quietly shaking their heads, like, ‘What are you doing here? Do you have a SAG card?'”
Henson also touched on the fact that she auditioned for Olivia Pope in Shonda Rhimes’ ABC hit “Scandal,” a role that eventually went to Kerry Washington. “Thank God Kerry got it,” the “Empire” and “Hidden Figures” star said. “It was her job. »
- Variety Staff
From ‘La La Land’ to ‘Jackie,’ Celluloid Thrives in Cinematography Oscar Race
6 hours ago
The first note of interest when looking at this year’s contenders for the cinematography Oscar is that the victor in this category three years running, Emmanuel Lubezki, looks to be sitting the race out for a change. The second is that there are, notably, a number of celluloid productions in the hunt. Last year’s race saw 70mm (“The Hateful Eight”), 35mm (“Bridge of Spies”) and even some 16mm (“Carol”). This year has some of that variety, too.
At the top, Dp Linus Sandgren’s lensing of “La La Land” is special not just because it was a film production, but because it was captured in the 2.55:1 CinemaScope aspect ratio. The effect isn’t as eye-poppingly wide as Robert Richardson’s “Hateful Eight” work, of course, but it provides a vast canvas for Damien Chazelle’s musical to play out with gorgeous lighting and blocking throughout.
- Kristopher Tapley
How the Gotham Awards Became the Iowa Caucus of Oscar Season
6 hours ago
Two years ago, Matthew McConaughey made a rather dubious cameo at the Gotham Independent Film Awards. When announced as the best actor winner, his co-star Jared Leto took the stage to accept on his behalf, before dialing up McConaughey on an iPhone and putting him on speaker. But there was a bad connection. “This is terrible,” Leto said, as he read some words from McConaughey, who could be heard laughing on the other end of the line.
It was enough. The Gotham Awards were the first stop in a series of wins, culminating with the Oscar, for McConaughey’s performance as a man living with AIDS in “Dallas Buyers Club.” Before the New York event, the blogosphere was divided on that year’s best actor category — maybe Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street” or Bruce Dern in “Nebraska” would emerge with the top prize in February. But post-Gothams, »
- Ramin Setoodeh
Winona Ryder Praises Ethan Hawke in ‘Born to Be Blue’: ‘He Is Unparalleled’
8 hours ago
“I’m so proud of him,” gushed Winona Ryder about her longtime friend and colleague Ethan Hawke at a special screening of IFC Films’ “Born to Be Blue,” held at the Roxy Hotel in New York on Sunday night.
“He is unparalleled in his vulnerability and intimacy as an actor, and it’s his performance in this film that is honestly, truly mind-blowing,” Ryder told Variety.
The movie, released earlier this year, is a biopic that blurs the lines between fact and fiction about the iconic jazz musician Chet Baker. Directed by Robert Budreau, the drama takes a closer look at his love of the trumpet, complicated romances, and struggle with a heroin addiction.
“When you’re playing a person who really lived and breathed on this Earth, there’s a part of you that has to just love them,” Hawke said. “You’re not telling the truth in regards »
- Christina Dun
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