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'A Dog's Purpose' Box Office: Controversy Clouds Movie's Prospects
15 hours ago | The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News | See recent The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News news »
The controversy over the treatment of a German shepherd on the set of Lasse Hallstrom's A Dog's Purpose could ding the movie's box-office prospects this weekend.
On Monday, tracking services lowered their projections for the film's opening by several million dollars. A week ago, industry leader NRG had put the movie's debut at $24 million. Now, NRG is forecasting $21 million, according to sources with access to the survey. Box-office analysts are divided as to whether the controversy will hurt the movie.
Any opening north of $20 million should be enough to beat the weekend's other two new »
- Pamela McClintock
Universal Nabs Rights to Michael Bay’s Post-Trump Dystopian Thriller ‘Little America’
12 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Universal has won the bidding war for Michael Bay’s “Little America,” an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap. Rowan Athale wrote the spec and is attached to direct. Bay is a producer on the project along with partners Andrew Form and Brad Fuller. The film is reminiscent of “Escape from New York.” It’s set in a time where America has been so bankrupt that China must call all the shots. Also Read: Here's Why Michael Bay Doesn't Want to Direct a Superhero Movie This won’t be the first dystopian-like movie from Bay, who along with »
- Beatrice Verhoeven
Coppola-Backed ‘Apocalypse Now’ Video Game Looks for Funding on Kickstarter
12 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
American Zoetrope is working with video game industry veterans to create a game adaptation of the 1979 film “Apocalypse Now,” the privately run film studio announced on Wednesday. The game, set for release in 2020, is starting with a Kickstarter campaign that’s asking gamers to pledge some $900,000. The announcement describes the “Apocalypse Now” adaptation as a “psychological horror RPG,” or “role-playing game,” that “accurately captures the tone, themes, and characters of the original motion picture.” It’s an intriguing choice for a game — and one that almost seems at odds with the medium. Most games put players in the roles »
- Phil Hornshaw
Sundance: Netflix Buys Global Rights for ‘To The Bone’
24 January 2017 9:36 PM, PST | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
As the first week of the Sundance Film Festival comes to a close, Netflix continued its buying spree, picking up worldwide rights to the drama “To The Bone,” starring Keanu Reeves and Lily Collins, Variety has confirmed.
The movie, directed and written by Marti Noxon, follows a 20-year-old anorexic girl (Collins) who tries to get the medical help she needs at a group home. Reeves plays her doctor. The rest of the cast includes Carrie Preston, Lili Taylor and Alex Sharp.
The deal, estimated to be around $8 million, will allow the streaming giant to show the movie in regions around the world.
“To the Bone,” which debuted in the festival’s U.S. dramatic competition, was produced by Julie Lynn, Bonnie Curtis, Karina Miller, Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi. It was executive produced by Talal Al Abbar, Matthew J. Malek and Anita Gou.
Netflix has had a very active Sundance, »
- Ramin Setoodeh
IFC Midnight to Acquire Sundance Movie ‘The Killing Ground’ (Exclusive)
10 hours ago | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
IFC Midnight has acquired North American rights to Sundance survival thriller film ‘The Killing Ground,” TheWrap has exclusively learned. “The Killing Ground” from first-time writer and director Damien Power is a taut thriller reminiscent of the ’70s survival thrillers such as “Deliverance” and “Straw Dogs” and more recent chillers “The Vanishing” and “Funny Games.” The film stars Aaron Pedersen, Ian Meadows, Harriet Dyer, Aaron Glenane. Also Read: Fox Searchlight Acquires Sundance Doc 'Step' The story takes place in Australia, Ian (Meadows) and Samantha (Dyer) head to a national park, hoping that nature will give them space for some quiet time together. »
- Umberto Gonzalez
Armie Hammer’s ‘Call Me by Your Name’ Joins Berlinale’s Panorama Lineup
16 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
The Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama section has completed its lineup with the addition of 24 feature films, including “Call Me by Your Name,” an extremely well-reviewed gay love story featuring actor Armie Hammer.
The full Panorama program includes 36 world, six international and nine European premieres. Thirteen European films have been added. Among those is “Call Me by Your Name,” directed by Luca Guadagnino (“A Bigger Splash”) from an adaptation, co-written with James Ivory, of a novel by André Aciman.
There are five films from Brazil, including “Como Nossos Pais” (Just Like Our Parents), directed by Lais Bodanzky, who depicts the everyday lives of three generations in Sao Paulo as “a pyrotechnic display of individual passions and existential delusions staged with a sublime naturalness,” according to the festival.
Also in the program are Spanish debut feature “Pieles” (Skins) by Eduardo Casanova, “Rekvijem za gospodju J.” (Requiem for Mrs. J.) by Serbia’s Bojan Vuletić, »
- Leo Barraclough
‘Girl on the Train’ Rides to No. 1 on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Charts
1 hour ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
The Universal Pictures suspense thriller “The Girl on the Train” debuted at No. 1 on both national home video sales charts the week ended Jan. 22, while Warner’s “The Accountant” remains in second place.
“The Girl on the Train,” with a domestic box office gross of just over $75 million, stars Emily Blunt as an alcoholic divorcee who becomes embroiled in a missing person (and then murder) investigation,
Lionsgate’s “Deepwater Horizon,” the dramatization of the April 2010 explosion of the offshore drilling rig of the same name, slipped to No. 3 on both the Npd VideoScan overall disc sales chart, which tracks combined DVD and Blu-ray Disc sales, and the dedicated Blu-ray Disc sales chart.
Warner’s “Suicide Squad” slipped to No. 4 from No. 3, also on both charts.
Rounding out the top five on the overall disc sales chart was the newly released 20th Century Fox comedy “Keeping Up with the Joneses,” a »
- Thomas K. Arnold
Disney Picks Up ‘Yes, Family’ for Korea Release
1 hour ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Walt Disney has picked up comedy “Yes, Family” as its first Korean title for distribution.
Directed by script editor-turned-director Ma Dae-yun, the story revolves around three siblings who encounter their previously unknown youngest brother. Starring Lee Yo-won (“Perfect Number”,) Jung Man-sik (“Asura: The City of Madness”,) E Som (“Scarlet Innocence”) and Jeong Jun-won (“A Melody to Remember”,) the film is set for a February 15 release.
“Disney picked up this film because the company thought its family theme would fit their motto (in selecting titles),” said Ma at a press event on Wednesday (Jan 25.)
With Korean films consistently dominating the local market, Hollywood studios Fox and Warner have sought to become more involved in the local production and distribution scene. Warner was last year a producer on Korea’s Oscar contender “Age of Shadows.”
Disney was the third biggest distributor in South Korea in 2016. The company’s “Captain America: Civil War »
- Sonia Kil
Cate Blanchett on Donald Trump's presidency: It's 'absurd and ridiculous'
1 hour ago | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »
Australian actor pulls no punches when appearing on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show to promote Broadway play The Present
The Australian actor Cate Blanchett has described Donald Trump’s ascendancy as “absurd and ridiculous” during a spot on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she was promoting her Broadway debut in The Present.
After sitting down for the interview, the actor took gum out of her mouth, placed it on the desk in front of her, and began moulding it into a penis. “The phallus seems an appropriate symbol for this country right now – with tiny little balls,” she said.
Continue reading »
- Steph Harmon
Nicholas Hoult Is J.D. Salinger In The By The Numbers Biopic ‘Rebel in the Rye’ [Sundance Review]
2 hours ago | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Park City – Danny Strong is a two-time Emmy winning screenwriter who wrote “Game Change,” “Recount” and “Lee Daniels’ The Butler.” He also co-created a little series you might have heard of called “Empire.” Tackling the life of one of America’s greatest literary voices might have been a bit much for his directorial debut. That’s the thought that starts to percolate through your mind as you sit through the J.D.
Continue reading Nicholas Hoult Is J.D. Salinger In The By The Numbers Biopic ‘Rebel in the Rye’ [Sundance Review] at The Playlist. »
- Gregory Ellwood
Writers Guild Leaders Seek Member Donations to Battle Trump Policies
2 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Leaders of the Writers Guild of America West have asked members to contribute to the guild’s political action committee to battle President Donald Trump’s policies.
The letter was sent to the WGA West’s 8,000 members and signed by 12 members of the Pac’s board, including WGA West President Howard A. Rodman, VP David Goodman, Secretary-Treasurer Aaron Mendelsohn and Executive Director David Young.
“We can’t stand idly by,” the pitch letter said. “Donate today to the Writers Guild Pac. Your donation allows us to support candidates who will protect our rights. We will work with receptive members of Congress to fight for our issues, whether it’s advocating for healthcare and pension reform, protecting net neutrality, resisting media consolidation or working to ensure our right to collectively bargain.”
The missive, titled “Our Work Begins Now,” began arriving on Wednesday — the sixth day of Trump’s administration. Here’s »
- Dave McNary
Sundance Film Review: ‘Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower’
2 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Leadership can be acquired or be innate, but sometimes it emerges as a phenomenon that could hardly be stopped if the individual tried — although displeased authorities may try hard to. “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower” charts the public career to date of a Hong Kong student who, at age 13, started agitating against the intrusion of policies from mainland China, and has turned into an iconic advocate for democracy. The rare protest documentary that’s genuinely exciting as well as inspiring, Joe Piscatella’s sophomore feature should appeal to distributors and viewers around the globe (albeit not in China). Netflix picked up the doc at Sundance.
The director’s prior feature, 2013’s “#chicagoGirl: The Social Network Takes on a Dictator,” was also about an outwardly ordinary teenager assuming an extraordinary role in political action — in that case a U.S. college freshman coordinating revolutionaries in Syria online. By contrast, rail-thin, bespectacled Joshua Wong »
- Dennis Harvey
“Our Intent Was Never to Make Viewers Laugh”: Directors Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion | Bushwick
3 hours ago | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
During its development, production or eventual distribution, what specific challenge of communication did, or will your film, face? How did you deal with it, or how are you planning to deal with it? One challenge of communication we originally faced was when we started pitching the idea over seven years ago. We presented the idea of Texas seceding from the U.S. and starting a civil war. At the time it sounded like a ridiculous satire and some people thought we wanted to make a comedy. Our intent was never to make viewers laugh though. The seeds of political animosity have […] »
- Filmmaker Staff
Laura Vandervoort, Hannah Anderson Join ‘Saw: Legacy’ (Exclusive)
3 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Laura Vandervoort and Hannah Anderson have become the first actors signed on for Lionsgate’s “Saw: Legacy,” the eighth film in the horror franchise.
The film — the first “Saw” title in seven years — is directed by the sibling team of Peter and Michael Spierig from a script by Pete Goldfinger, Josh Stolberg, James Wan, and Leigh Whannell. Producers are Mark Burg, Gregg Hoffman, and Oren Koules, the trio that has produced all eight films.
Lionsgate has long specialized in genre fare such as the “Saw” franchise, produced by Twisted Pictures. The original “Saw” cost $1.2 million in 2004 and was Wan’s feature film directorial debut from a screenplay by Whannell with Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, Ken Leung, Tobin Bell, and Whannell starring.
The seven “Saw” films grossed more than $870 million worldwide combined.
The franchise revolves around the fictional character John Kramer, also called the “Jigsaw Killer” or “Jigsaw, »
- Dave McNary
DGA Members Ratify New Film & TV Contract
3 hours ago | Deadline | See recent Deadline news »
Members of the Directors Guild have voted by an overwhelming margin to ratify a new three-year film and TV contract that includes big gains in residuals for members working on top-tier subscription video-on-demand shows. The new deal was approved unanimously last month by the DGA’s national board of directors, but the guild’s didn’t release the vote of the membership, other than to say it was approved “overwhelmingly.” The contract establishes a new residuals formula that… »
Directors Guild of America Members Ratify New Contract
3 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Members of the Directors Guild of America have approved a three-year successor deal on the master contract with a major gain in streaming residuals.
The DGA made the announcement Wednesday night, saying approval was by an overwhelming margin. The national board approved the deal in late December and that triggered the ratification vote by its membership, which numbers more than 16,000. The new deal goes into effect on July 1.
“I am happy to report that the DGA membership overwhelmingly voted to ratify the new contract,” said DGA president Paris Barclay.
“Our major gains in Svod residuals, together with our improvements in wages and pensions, were the result of our forward-thinking preparation. With the groundwork already laid in previous negotiations, this new contract embodies what we knew was possible when we established our first New Media agreement nearly a decade ago. All our thanks go to our Negotiating Committee, led by Co-Chairs Michael Apted and Thomas Schlamme, »
- Dave McNary
“As Crazy and Unpredictable as Real Life”: Director Matt Spicer | Ingrid Goes West
4 hours ago | Filmmaker Magazine - Blog | See recent Filmmaker Magazine news »
During its development, production or eventual distribution, what specific challenge of communication did, or will your film, face? How did you deal with it, or how are you planning to deal with it? I think the biggest challenge of communicating nowadays is figuring out how to make your voice heard amidst all the noise. There is so much out there vying for people’s attention, and it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. This applies to indie filmmakers as well. We don’t have massive marketing budgets to buy ad space or air time, and oftentimes we’re lucky to even find […] »
- Filmmaker Staff
‘Sing 2’ Set for Christmas Day 2020 Release
4 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »
Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment have announced the release of a “Sing” sequel for Dec. 25, 2020.
The studio also announced that “Secret Life of Pets 2” will be pushed back a year from July 3, 2018 to July 3, 2019. “Minions 2” has moved up a week, from July 10, 2020 to July 3, 2020.
Related
Illumination’s ‘The Grinch’ Pushed Back to 2018
“Sing” has been a smash hit for Illumination having already grossed $429 million worldwide including $250 million domestically. The pic features the voices of Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon as animals competing in an “American Idol”-like singing competition.
“Sing” even earned a best animated movie nomination at the 2017 Golden Globes, losing out to “Zootopia.”
“The Secret Life of Pets” was also another big hit for Uni and Illumination in 2016, grossing $875 million worldwide.
“Minions,” released in June 2015, has grossed a whopping $1.16 billion worldwide.
Related stories'A Dog's Purpose' Premiere Canceled Amid Disturbing Video Controversy'Arrival,' 'xXx,' 'Sing' Get China Release Dates, »
- Justin Kroll
Universal Dates ‘Sing 2’ & ‘Minions 2,’ Moves ‘Secret Life of Pets 2’ Back A Year
4 hours ago | Deadline | See recent Deadline news »
So many successful franchises, so much time. Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment are mixing it up with the sequels of three of their most successful animated IPs. First, The Secret Life of Pets 2 is being pushed by a year from July 13, 2018, to Fourth of July weekend a year later. In addition, Minions 2 is moving up a weekend from July 10, 2020, to a week earlier — Fourth of July weekend (yet again). And not to be upstaged, Sing 2 will get the spotlight on… »
Oscars 2017 Animated Shorts: Will ‘Piper’ End Pixar’s 16-Year Drought?
4 hours ago | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »
It’s been 16 years since Pixar won the Oscar for best animated short (Ralph Eggleston’s “For the Birds”). Wouldn’t it be fitting if Alan Barillaro’s fine-feathered “Piper” ended the drought? That would give Pixar four Oscars (alongside Geri’s Game” and “Tin Toy”).
However, “Piper” faces stiff competition, particularly from Theodore Ushev’s much darker “Blind Vaysha” from the National Film Board of Canada, which has earned a dozen Oscars.
The other three contenders range from Robert Valley’s bleak “Pear Cider and Cigarettes” (Vimeo’s first Oscar nom), the melancholy Western, “Borrowed Time” (made independently by Pixar’s Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj), and the introspective “Pearl” from Oscar winner Patrick Osborne (Disney’s “Feast”), the first Vr nominee from Google Spotlight Stories.
“Piper”
The rite of passage for the adorable sand piper continues a long Pixar tradition of incubating innovative tech in its shorts program. »
- Bill Desowitz
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