Kathleen Kennedy has been regarded as one of the most hated people to be a part of the Star Wars franchise. Working as the president of Lucasfilm, it is as though every failure the franchise faces has been put on her back. Regardless of who is responsible for a project’s unfortunate performance, she is subjected to the brunt of the criticism from fans and critics alike.
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy (via Wikipedia Commons)
Despite all of the hate that she gets, there is absolutely no doubt that she is good at what she does. Having started as a producer, she worked on an impressive number of highly successful projects, ultimately joining George Lucas’ side as co-chairman of Lucasfilm until she became president. Their dynamic took them to many places, making the Mark Hamill franchise as successful as it is today.
However, many might not know that Kennedy and Lucas...
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy (via Wikipedia Commons)
Despite all of the hate that she gets, there is absolutely no doubt that she is good at what she does. Having started as a producer, she worked on an impressive number of highly successful projects, ultimately joining George Lucas’ side as co-chairman of Lucasfilm until she became president. Their dynamic took them to many places, making the Mark Hamill franchise as successful as it is today.
However, many might not know that Kennedy and Lucas...
- 4/28/2024
- by Ananya Godboley
- FandomWire
Schindler’s List (1993) is undoubtedly one of Steven Spielberg’s best and most raw works out there. The film was well-received by both critics and fans and to this day, it is enough to make viewers cry. Of course, the true story of Oskar Schindler couldn’t have been translated this perfectly on screen without the help of the renowned filmmaker. However, Steven Spielberg had to face many obstacles while working on Schindler’s List.
A still from Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993)
One of these obstacles was yet another classic film by the filmmaker, Jurassic Park (1993). After finishing the principal photography of the film, Steven Spielberg decided it would be best to begin working on Schindler’s List immediately. However, to his disappointment, Tom Pollock was not on board. After finally getting him to agree, Steven Spielberg faced another hiccup and that’s where his friend and collaborator, George Lucas,...
A still from Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993)
One of these obstacles was yet another classic film by the filmmaker, Jurassic Park (1993). After finishing the principal photography of the film, Steven Spielberg decided it would be best to begin working on Schindler’s List immediately. However, to his disappointment, Tom Pollock was not on board. After finally getting him to agree, Steven Spielberg faced another hiccup and that’s where his friend and collaborator, George Lucas,...
- 3/31/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
1993 was a year of change for filmmaker Steven Spielberg. On June 11, the director's dinosaur thriller "Jurassic Park" was released, making huge amounts of money and, eventually, becoming one of the biggest blockbusters of the decade. On December 15, the director's soul-rattling Holocaust drama "Schindler's List" was released, inviting a wave of praise and astonishment from audiences. It went on to win seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Up until June of 1993, Spielberg was perhaps best known for his action blockbusters and adventure films ("The Color Purple" and "Empire of the Sun" notwithstanding). After December 1993, Spielberg would become seemingly less interested in genre films and far more interested in movies aimed squarely at adults. He didn't seem terribly invested in his 1997 sequel to "Jurassic Park," titled "The Lost World," and, indeed, Spielberg's adventure films released since then have all felt distant and automatic, especially when compared to his more politically-bent historical dramas like "Munich,...
Up until June of 1993, Spielberg was perhaps best known for his action blockbusters and adventure films ("The Color Purple" and "Empire of the Sun" notwithstanding). After December 1993, Spielberg would become seemingly less interested in genre films and far more interested in movies aimed squarely at adults. He didn't seem terribly invested in his 1997 sequel to "Jurassic Park," titled "The Lost World," and, indeed, Spielberg's adventure films released since then have all felt distant and automatic, especially when compared to his more politically-bent historical dramas like "Munich,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Kevin Smith has apologized to Shannen Doherty after she revealed to him his 1995 cult movie “Mallrats” killed her film career.
Doherty was reminiscing about the movie with Smith, a guest on her “Let’s Be Clear” podcast, when she pointed out that despite becoming a fan favorite, it had fared poorly at the box office when it was originally released.
“That’s kind of the interesting thing about ‘Mallrats,’ right, is that it wasn’t a box office success,” she told Smith, who replied “Oh, it died.”
“It died,” Doherty agreed. “So did my film career. That was it.”
Doherty was the most famous member of “Mallrats” when the movie came out, having already starred in “Heathers” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Smith even admitted during the podcast that it was largely because of Doherty’s involvement the film got greenlit.
When he asked Doherty during the podcast if she really...
Doherty was reminiscing about the movie with Smith, a guest on her “Let’s Be Clear” podcast, when she pointed out that despite becoming a fan favorite, it had fared poorly at the box office when it was originally released.
“That’s kind of the interesting thing about ‘Mallrats,’ right, is that it wasn’t a box office success,” she told Smith, who replied “Oh, it died.”
“It died,” Doherty agreed. “So did my film career. That was it.”
Doherty was the most famous member of “Mallrats” when the movie came out, having already starred in “Heathers” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Smith even admitted during the podcast that it was largely because of Doherty’s involvement the film got greenlit.
When he asked Doherty during the podcast if she really...
- 1/9/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
For those of a certain age who like to think that they’re still young — and who doesn’t? — it is sobering to realize that when Michael Ovitz bowed out of the agency business in 1995, neither Tom Holland nor Zendaya had even been born.
People who weren’t around in those days can’t begin to appreciate the fear that Ovitz inspired in Hollywood. He wielded the kind of power that no agent has mustered since and no agent ever will again. How the times and the town have changed.
One thing has remained constant in all the years since Ovitz left the building: Three then-young men who had emerged as future leaders of CAA well before Ovitz departed are still at the helm. Perhaps in spite of himself, Ovitz nailed the succession question that has led to so much drama at Disney and Paramount. But those three men — now...
People who weren’t around in those days can’t begin to appreciate the fear that Ovitz inspired in Hollywood. He wielded the kind of power that no agent has mustered since and no agent ever will again. How the times and the town have changed.
One thing has remained constant in all the years since Ovitz left the building: Three then-young men who had emerged as future leaders of CAA well before Ovitz departed are still at the helm. Perhaps in spite of himself, Ovitz nailed the succession question that has led to so much drama at Disney and Paramount. But those three men — now...
- 9/20/2023
- by Kim Masters
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For aspiring entertainment lawyers, there’s no foolproof way to break into Hollywood — but studying at a school with a specialized program and well-connected alumni certainly doesn’t hurt.
Each year, The Hollywood Reporter spotlights the top programs — factoring in their alumni on the Power Lawyers list as well as new and novel courses, externship programs and other offerings — that could give students an edge in the industry.
1. UCLA
Nestled in the heart of Westwood, UCLA returns to the top of the list with a splashy offering through the Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology and Sports Law that includes two seminars taught by Ken Ziffren himself and a TV law course taught by Lionsgate’s Sandra Stern. There’s also a program that guarantees internships at CAA, WME and Ziffren Brittenham to promising students as part of their admission.
2. Harvard
Grads from the iconic Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ivy have no trouble landing jobs in Hollywood,...
Each year, The Hollywood Reporter spotlights the top programs — factoring in their alumni on the Power Lawyers list as well as new and novel courses, externship programs and other offerings — that could give students an edge in the industry.
1. UCLA
Nestled in the heart of Westwood, UCLA returns to the top of the list with a splashy offering through the Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology and Sports Law that includes two seminars taught by Ken Ziffren himself and a TV law course taught by Lionsgate’s Sandra Stern. There’s also a program that guarantees internships at CAA, WME and Ziffren Brittenham to promising students as part of their admission.
2. Harvard
Grads from the iconic Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ivy have no trouble landing jobs in Hollywood,...
- 4/18/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Julia Roberts may be America’s sweetheart, but that allegedly wasn’t so in Britain on the making of “Shakespeare in Love.”
“Shakespeare in Love” producer Edward Zwick penned an essay for Air Mail revisiting Roberts’ demands during the casting process for the Oscar-winning film. Roberts was up for the lead role of Viola de Lesseps, which eventually went to Gwyneth Paltrow who won Best Actress for her performance. However, Roberts’ unique approach to chemistry reads in part cost Universal upwards of $6 million at the time, Zwick claimed, before Miramax took over the film.
“The mere possibility of having the ‘Pretty Woman’ wearing a corseted gown got the studio excited enough to cough up the dough,” Zwick wrote, adding that Roberts was determined to star opposite Daniel Day-Lewis despite Day-Lewis already being committed to “In the Name of the Father” at the time.
“He’s brilliant — he’s handsome and intense.
“Shakespeare in Love” producer Edward Zwick penned an essay for Air Mail revisiting Roberts’ demands during the casting process for the Oscar-winning film. Roberts was up for the lead role of Viola de Lesseps, which eventually went to Gwyneth Paltrow who won Best Actress for her performance. However, Roberts’ unique approach to chemistry reads in part cost Universal upwards of $6 million at the time, Zwick claimed, before Miramax took over the film.
“The mere possibility of having the ‘Pretty Woman’ wearing a corseted gown got the studio excited enough to cough up the dough,” Zwick wrote, adding that Roberts was determined to star opposite Daniel Day-Lewis despite Day-Lewis already being committed to “In the Name of the Father” at the time.
“He’s brilliant — he’s handsome and intense.
- 3/7/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Gwyneth Paltrow won the Oscar for best actress thanks to her role in “Shakespeare in Love,” but it was Julia Roberts who was originally courted for the role of Viola de Lesseps. Producer Edward Zwick recently published a first-person essay for Air Mail about the the making of “Shakespeare in Love.” The director behind “Glory” and “Legends of the Fall” championed the film from the beginning, coordinating with Marc Norman on the original script and getting famed playwright Tom Stoppard to come onboard to do a re-write. Zwick also bore witness to Julia Roberts joining and abandoning the project in spectacular fashion.
According to Zwick, Universal Pictures only agreed to put down money for the film when Julia Roberts expressed interest in starring in the lead role. As Zwick wrote, “The mere possibility of having the ‘Pretty Woman’ wearing a corseted gown got the studio excited enough to cough up the dough.
According to Zwick, Universal Pictures only agreed to put down money for the film when Julia Roberts expressed interest in starring in the lead role. As Zwick wrote, “The mere possibility of having the ‘Pretty Woman’ wearing a corseted gown got the studio excited enough to cough up the dough.
- 3/6/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Don’t mess with success. That’s the G-rated version of an old showbiz mantra, and it applies to the AFI Awards, which on Jan. 13 will continue with the same format that has worked for two decades.
While the Oscars struggle with TV ratings and other issues, and the Golden Globes are working to restore their luster, the AFI Awards, again at the Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills, holds onto a formula that was devised for the org’s third annual kudos handouts in 2003.
Every year, the team addresses whether changes are needed, AFI president-ceo Bob Gazzale tells Variety. “And we keep coming back to the same format, because it celebrates everyone equally.”
Winners are announced in advance, so there’s no suspense, and there’s no pressure to make acceptance speeches.
During awards season, filmmakers and execs drag themselves to various events, but people actually want to go to the AFI Awards.
While the Oscars struggle with TV ratings and other issues, and the Golden Globes are working to restore their luster, the AFI Awards, again at the Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills, holds onto a formula that was devised for the org’s third annual kudos handouts in 2003.
Every year, the team addresses whether changes are needed, AFI president-ceo Bob Gazzale tells Variety. “And we keep coming back to the same format, because it celebrates everyone equally.”
Winners are announced in advance, so there’s no suspense, and there’s no pressure to make acceptance speeches.
During awards season, filmmakers and execs drag themselves to various events, but people actually want to go to the AFI Awards.
- 1/12/2023
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
Hollywood has always shown a preference for films that offer reconciliation between their Black and white subjects. And as a result, the industry is notoriously skittish with the work of Spike Lee. There's been a pattern, especially at the Academy Awards, where Lee's films are concerned: the director is consistently snubbed in favor of films that comfort white audiences — films like "Driving Miss Daisy," which took home the Oscar for Best Picture in 1990 while "Do The Right Thing" was shut out from the category altogether.
Lee's incendiary third feature bred a fair amount of controversy. Set over one sweltering summer day in New York neighborhood Bed-Stuy, "Do The Right Thing" is a pressure cooker for interracial tension. The film follows the patrons and employees at a pizza joint owned by Sal (Danny Aiello) and operated by his two sons. It's the site of a particularly gruesome instance of police brutality,...
Lee's incendiary third feature bred a fair amount of controversy. Set over one sweltering summer day in New York neighborhood Bed-Stuy, "Do The Right Thing" is a pressure cooker for interracial tension. The film follows the patrons and employees at a pizza joint owned by Sal (Danny Aiello) and operated by his two sons. It's the site of a particularly gruesome instance of police brutality,...
- 12/12/2022
- by Lyvie Scott
- Slash Film
“Dazed and Confused” is one of the defining American independent films of the 1990s and one of the most beloved cult classics of all time, but it turns out the film’s enduring legacy has never resulted in money for writer-director Richard Linklater. The filmmaker was recently asked by The Daily Beast if he made money off “Dazed and Confused,” to which he responded, “Fuck no!”
“It’s like… where’s my money?” Linklater asked. “How come a movie that cost less than 7 million has 12 million in interest against it?”
When asked how “Dazed and Confused” can be a cult hit for nearly three decades and counting and not make money for him, Linklater responded, “I don’t know. Ask Universal! Hollywood accounting. I remember really asking for a piece of the soundtrack, because I picked all the songs, and they were like, ‘Oh no…First film, you know?’ N.
“It’s like… where’s my money?” Linklater asked. “How come a movie that cost less than 7 million has 12 million in interest against it?”
When asked how “Dazed and Confused” can be a cult hit for nearly three decades and counting and not make money for him, Linklater responded, “I don’t know. Ask Universal! Hollywood accounting. I remember really asking for a piece of the soundtrack, because I picked all the songs, and they were like, ‘Oh no…First film, you know?’ N.
- 4/5/2022
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: It only took 33 years, but director/producer Ivan Reitman, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito have found a way to sequelize Twins.. They’ve enlisted Tracy Morgan to play a third and long lost sibling. Triplets will shoot January in Boston, as the two unlikely brothers Julian (Schwarzenegger) and Vincent (DeVito) find they are part of a trio. This immediately becomes a hot project in the Toronto Film Festival market, which like last year is mostly playing out in virtual fashion. Script is by Dylan Dawson & Lucas Kavner. CAA Media Finance will rep North America and Rocket Science is handling international sales. They are about to send out a sizzle reel with the trio to potential buyers.
“Twins was quite successful, and some years after, this whole thing started with Arnold meeting Eddie Murphy, and the suggestion came from one of them,” Reitman told Deadline. “It was, ‘I should be a triplet,...
“Twins was quite successful, and some years after, this whole thing started with Arnold meeting Eddie Murphy, and the suggestion came from one of them,” Reitman told Deadline. “It was, ‘I should be a triplet,...
- 9/14/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
When the pregnancy rumors become too tedious or selecting those 10 wedding dresses for her upcoming nuptials becomes too stressful, Paris Hilton can now escape from her longtime Beverly Hills stronghold to the more laidback beach community of Malibu. Records reveal America’s favorite hotel heiress-turned-socialite-turned-business mogul and her fiancée Carter Reum — a venture capitalist and son of the late tycoon Robert Reum — have plunked down $8.4 million for an oceanfront house on desirable La Costa Beach.
Hilton, ever the crafty entrepreneur, has already filmed a promo video for her new Netflix show “Cooking With Paris” in the Malibu home’s kitchen. But when the cameras are off and she doesn’t feel like whipping up a plate of her famous lasagna, she can rest assured the house lies only a five minute drive to longtime celebrity hotspot Nobu Malibu.
Tax records say the roughly 3,000-square-foot house was built in 1955, but the...
Hilton, ever the crafty entrepreneur, has already filmed a promo video for her new Netflix show “Cooking With Paris” in the Malibu home’s kitchen. But when the cameras are off and she doesn’t feel like whipping up a plate of her famous lasagna, she can rest assured the house lies only a five minute drive to longtime celebrity hotspot Nobu Malibu.
Tax records say the roughly 3,000-square-foot house was built in 1955, but the...
- 8/20/2021
- by James McClain, Dirt.com
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Who will be included for the special “In Memoriam” segment for Sunday night’s Oscars 2021 ceremony? With last year’s Academy Awards happening over 14 months ago, it means an even larger number of film veterans have died. Producers will hopefully be offering a longer remembrance and not leaving out people for the sake of time.
Superstar actor Chadwick Boseman died late last summer and is a nominee as Best Actor for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Previous Oscar winners from acting categories show who will likely be honored include Sean Connery, Olivia de Havilland, Cloris Leachman and Christopher Plummer. Past acting nominees include Hal Holbrook, Ian Holm, Shirley Knight, George Segal, Cicely Tyson, Max von Sydow and Stuart Whitman.
SEE2021 Oscars presenters: Last year’s winners Renee Zellweger, Joaquin Phoenix, Laura Dern, Brad Pitt returning
Almost all of the near 100 people on the list below were Academy members.
Superstar actor Chadwick Boseman died late last summer and is a nominee as Best Actor for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Previous Oscar winners from acting categories show who will likely be honored include Sean Connery, Olivia de Havilland, Cloris Leachman and Christopher Plummer. Past acting nominees include Hal Holbrook, Ian Holm, Shirley Knight, George Segal, Cicely Tyson, Max von Sydow and Stuart Whitman.
SEE2021 Oscars presenters: Last year’s winners Renee Zellweger, Joaquin Phoenix, Laura Dern, Brad Pitt returning
Almost all of the near 100 people on the list below were Academy members.
- 4/23/2021
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Every year Hollywood looks to the Producers Guild Awards winner to forecast the Best Picture Oscar. That’s because in the 12 years since both groups expanded their top award list and adopted the preferential ballot, only three times have the winners not aligned — PGA winners “1917,” “La La Land” and “The Big Short” did not land Best Picture.
Those differences made sense, as in each case a smaller, lower-budget movie took home the Oscar over a movie of scale and scope. And as expected, this year’s Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of a Motion Picture went to Chloé Zhao’s magic-hour road trip “Nomadland,” as voted on by the guild’s 8,000 members. Searchlight’s frontrunner looms large in a field of small movies, as it keeps racking up wins on its way to multiple Oscars come April 25.
“We’re proud to have produced a film about community and what connects us,...
Those differences made sense, as in each case a smaller, lower-budget movie took home the Oscar over a movie of scale and scope. And as expected, this year’s Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of a Motion Picture went to Chloé Zhao’s magic-hour road trip “Nomadland,” as voted on by the guild’s 8,000 members. Searchlight’s frontrunner looms large in a field of small movies, as it keeps racking up wins on its way to multiple Oscars come April 25.
“We’re proud to have produced a film about community and what connects us,...
- 3/25/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Every year Hollywood looks to the Producers Guild Awards winner to forecast the Best Picture Oscar. That’s because in the 12 years since both groups expanded their top award list and adopted the preferential ballot, only three times have the winners not aligned — PGA winners “1917,” “La La Land” and “The Big Short” did not land Best Picture.
Those differences made sense, as in each case a smaller, lower-budget movie took home the Oscar over a movie of scale and scope. And as expected, this year’s Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of a Motion Picture went to Chloé Zhao’s magic-hour road trip “Nomadland,” as voted on by the guild’s 8,000 members. Searchlight’s frontrunner looms large in a field of small movies, as it keeps racking up wins on its way to multiple Oscars come April 25.
“We’re proud to have produced a film about community and what connects us,...
Those differences made sense, as in each case a smaller, lower-budget movie took home the Oscar over a movie of scale and scope. And as expected, this year’s Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of a Motion Picture went to Chloé Zhao’s magic-hour road trip “Nomadland,” as voted on by the guild’s 8,000 members. Searchlight’s frontrunner looms large in a field of small movies, as it keeps racking up wins on its way to multiple Oscars come April 25.
“We’re proud to have produced a film about community and what connects us,...
- 3/25/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The Producers Guild of America Awards awarded Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” with their top prize, one of the key indicators for the Academy Awards, particularly the best picture category. Edging out its closest competitors including Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman,” Lee Isaac Chung’s “Minari” and Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” this might just end any questions about whether or not the moving drama is running away with the Oscars’ big prize.
All the acceptance speeches were pre-recorded with “Nomadland” giving a more produced, glitzier presentation than what we’ve seen at other award shows.
It should be noted that last year’s “1917” from Sam Mendes lost the Oscar after wins from PGA and DGA to “Parasite,” which only had the coveted SAG cast ensemble prize under its belt. Coincidentally, “Nomadland” is not nominated at SAG in their top category, leaving an opening for...
All the acceptance speeches were pre-recorded with “Nomadland” giving a more produced, glitzier presentation than what we’ve seen at other award shows.
It should be noted that last year’s “1917” from Sam Mendes lost the Oscar after wins from PGA and DGA to “Parasite,” which only had the coveted SAG cast ensemble prize under its belt. Coincidentally, “Nomadland” is not nominated at SAG in their top category, leaving an opening for...
- 3/25/2021
- by Clayton Davis and Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
The American Film Institute’s annual lists showcasing the top 10 movies and TV shows of the year always include multiple awards frontrunners and this year is no exception. The two juries — which are a mix of critics, academics, and film professionals — always celebrate the best of American cinema and television. Given its Broadway provenance, “Hamilton” landed a Special Award from the American Film Institute juries, as internationally-flavored Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag” did last year.
This year’s crop is diverse, with films from lauded veterans Spike Lee, David Fincher, and Pete Docter alongside relative newcomers to the awards conversation like Shaka King, Chloe Zhao, and Lee Isaac Chung.
Like last year, eight of the ten films were directed by men, with two women, Zhao (“Nomadland”) and Regina King (“One Night in Miami”), also on deck for the honor. On the TV side, newcomers “Bridgerton,...
This year’s crop is diverse, with films from lauded veterans Spike Lee, David Fincher, and Pete Docter alongside relative newcomers to the awards conversation like Shaka King, Chloe Zhao, and Lee Isaac Chung.
Like last year, eight of the ten films were directed by men, with two women, Zhao (“Nomadland”) and Regina King (“One Night in Miami”), also on deck for the honor. On the TV side, newcomers “Bridgerton,...
- 1/25/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The American Film Institute’s annual lists showcasing the top 10 movies and TV shows of the year always include multiple awards frontrunners and this year is no exception. The two juries — which are a mix of critics, academics, and film professionals — always celebrate the best of American cinema and television. Given its Broadway provenance, “Hamilton” landed a Special Award from the American Film Institute juries, as internationally-flavored Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag” did last year.
This year’s crop is diverse, with films from lauded veterans Spike Lee, David Fincher, and Pete Docter alongside relative newcomers to the awards conversation like Shaka King, Chloe Zhao, and Lee Isaac Chung.
Like last year, eight of the ten films were directed by men, with two women, Zhao (“Nomadland”) and Regina King (“One Night in Miami”), also on deck for the honor. On the TV side, newcomers “Bridgerton,...
This year’s crop is diverse, with films from lauded veterans Spike Lee, David Fincher, and Pete Docter alongside relative newcomers to the awards conversation like Shaka King, Chloe Zhao, and Lee Isaac Chung.
Like last year, eight of the ten films were directed by men, with two women, Zhao (“Nomadland”) and Regina King (“One Night in Miami”), also on deck for the honor. On the TV side, newcomers “Bridgerton,...
- 1/25/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
It’s been a setting-of-the-sun time for Hollywood power players of a certain age lately. Ron Meyer, 76, was ousted as vice chairman of NBCUniversal due to scandal. In August, former Universal chairman Tom Pollock died suddenly of a heart attack at 77. Now Jeffrey Katzenberg, who will turn 70 in December, finds himself contending with the high-profile failure of Quibi only six months after the premium streaming service launched. While some say they think he has the resilience to fight another day, others question what future awaits him.
What he has accomplished in the entertainment industry has been more than ...
What he has accomplished in the entertainment industry has been more than ...
- 10/28/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
It’s been a setting-of-the-sun time for Hollywood power players of a certain age lately. Ron Meyer, 76, was ousted as vice chairman of NBCUniversal due to scandal. In August, former Universal chairman Tom Pollock died suddenly of a heart attack at 77. Now Jeffrey Katzenberg, who will turn 70 in December, finds himself contending with the high-profile failure of Quibi only six months after the premium streaming service launched. While some say they think he has the resilience to fight another day, others question what future awaits him.
What he has accomplished in the entertainment industry has been more than ...
What he has accomplished in the entertainment industry has been more than ...
- 10/28/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The American Film Institute said Friday that it has established the Thomas P. Pollock Endowed Scholarship Fund in memory of Tom Pollock, the famed Hollywood attorney, Universal Pictures chairman and producer who died last month at age 77. The scholarship, which is being supported by a who’s who of Hollywood, will be awarded annually to promising producers from underrepresented communities.
This year’s first recipients are Haley Beasley and Nagee Brown, both in the Producing track and in the class of 2022.
“Tom championed AFI and the power of great stories – and he believed in the mission of the Conservatory to inspire and educate diverse voices,” Kathleen Kennedy, chair of the AFI Board of Trustees, said today in announcing the scholarship. “Through this endowed scholarship fund, made possible by the goodwill and admiration he created during his lifetime, his legacy will live on in the next generation of storytellers.”
The scholarship...
This year’s first recipients are Haley Beasley and Nagee Brown, both in the Producing track and in the class of 2022.
“Tom championed AFI and the power of great stories – and he believed in the mission of the Conservatory to inspire and educate diverse voices,” Kathleen Kennedy, chair of the AFI Board of Trustees, said today in announcing the scholarship. “Through this endowed scholarship fund, made possible by the goodwill and admiration he created during his lifetime, his legacy will live on in the next generation of storytellers.”
The scholarship...
- 9/25/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
We've been excited for A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting ever since we spoke with writer Joe Ballarini (who also wrote the killer zombie prom movie Dance of the Dead) about the film adaptation of his book trilogy back in 2017, and now the wait is nearly over, as the official trailer for the film has been unveiled ahead of its October 14th release on Netflix.
Directed by Rachel Talalay from a screenplay by Ballarini, A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting stars Tamara Smart, Oona Laurence, Alessio Scalzotto, Ian Ho, Tamsen McDonough, Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson, Lynn Masako Cheng, Ty Consiglio, Ashton Arbab, Crystal Balint, Ricky He, with Indya Moore, and Tom Felton.
"When high school freshman Kelly Ferguson (Tamara Smart) reluctantly agrees to babysit Jacob Zellman (Ian Ho) on Halloween, the last thing she expects is to be recruited into an international secret society of babysitters who protect kids with special powers from monsters.
Directed by Rachel Talalay from a screenplay by Ballarini, A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting stars Tamara Smart, Oona Laurence, Alessio Scalzotto, Ian Ho, Tamsen McDonough, Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson, Lynn Masako Cheng, Ty Consiglio, Ashton Arbab, Crystal Balint, Ricky He, with Indya Moore, and Tom Felton.
"When high school freshman Kelly Ferguson (Tamara Smart) reluctantly agrees to babysit Jacob Zellman (Ian Ho) on Halloween, the last thing she expects is to be recruited into an international secret society of babysitters who protect kids with special powers from monsters.
- 9/25/2020
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
A groundbreaking entry in the superhero cinema genre, 1990’s Darkman is celebrating its 30th anniversary. While the dark horse hit of a film served as a mainstream breakthrough for Evil Dead horror maestro Sam Raimi and a key headlining gig for star Liam Neeson, it was also the culmination of much behind-the-scenes friction between studio Universal and the filmmakers, who, on this occasion, shed some intriguing light on the experience.
Members of the cast and crew of Darkman participated in an oral history interview with THR commemorating the film’s big 3-0; a conversation that proved revelatory regarding a fateful act of subterfuge perpetrated by eventual Spider-Man director Raimi and company against the wishes of studio Universal to secretly re-edit the film a mere 48 hours before it screened to critics. The film, which hit theaters on August 24, 1990, was a surprise hit (with no bankable filmmaker or stars to tout), topping...
Members of the cast and crew of Darkman participated in an oral history interview with THR commemorating the film’s big 3-0; a conversation that proved revelatory regarding a fateful act of subterfuge perpetrated by eventual Spider-Man director Raimi and company against the wishes of studio Universal to secretly re-edit the film a mere 48 hours before it screened to critics. The film, which hit theaters on August 24, 1990, was a surprise hit (with no bankable filmmaker or stars to tout), topping...
- 8/20/2020
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
Former entertainment attorney, studio executive and film producer Tom Pollock passed away on August 1 at the age of 77. His extensive resume includes being the former chairman of Universal Pictures and Chairman of the American Film Institute. He was instrumental to the release of films such as Do the Right Thing and Star Wars. More importantly, he was greatly appreciated by his colleagues, which included some prolific film directors.
- 8/17/2020
- by Joshua Valdez
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Editor’s note: When he ran Universal Pictures and after he left to partner with Ivan Reitman in Montecito, Tom Pollock was a favorite call for journalists. He was not only a humorous truth teller with a spine, but one of those rare people who left us walking away from a call always feeling smarter for it. Deadline’s former film editor Anita Busch remembers those experiences and what Pollock, who died Saturday, meant to her and those who worked for him.
It’s an odd feeling when you read obituaries printed about a man, and none of them actually captures the true nature of who that dynamic person was. So was the case with former Universal Pictures chairman Tom Pollock, who I came to know as a journalist covering the business for 30 years.
I honestly don’t remember what story we first met over, but I knew pretty quickly...
It’s an odd feeling when you read obituaries printed about a man, and none of them actually captures the true nature of who that dynamic person was. So was the case with former Universal Pictures chairman Tom Pollock, who I came to know as a journalist covering the business for 30 years.
I honestly don’t remember what story we first met over, but I knew pretty quickly...
- 8/4/2020
- by Anita Busch
- Deadline Film + TV
Spike Lee, George Lucas, Frank Marshall, Martin Scorsese and AFI chief Bob Gazzale pay tribute to Tom Pollock, the former chairman of Universal Pictures, who died Saturday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles following a heart attack. Pollock, who was 77, also served as chairman of the American Film Institute and co-founded the Montecito Picture Co.
Spike Lee:
My deep condolences to Mr. Tom Pollock's family. He was a key figure in my development as a young filmmaker while he was head of Universal Pictures. He let me make and supported my films. He was the unsung hero of ...
Spike Lee:
My deep condolences to Mr. Tom Pollock's family. He was a key figure in my development as a young filmmaker while he was head of Universal Pictures. He let me make and supported my films. He was the unsung hero of ...
Spike Lee, George Lucas, Frank Marshall, Martin Scorsese and AFI chief Bob Gazzale pay tribute to Tom Pollock, the former chairman of Universal Pictures, who died Saturday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles following a heart attack. Pollock, who was 77, also served as chairman of the American Film Institute and co-founded the Montecito Picture Co.
Spike Lee:
My deep condolences to Mr. Tom Pollock's family. He was a key figure in my development as a young filmmaker while he was head of Universal Pictures. He let me make and supported my films. He was the unsung hero of ...
Spike Lee:
My deep condolences to Mr. Tom Pollock's family. He was a key figure in my development as a young filmmaker while he was head of Universal Pictures. He let me make and supported my films. He was the unsung hero of ...
Tom Pollock, the former Universal Pictures chairman who died Aug. 1 at the age of 77, had a shrewd eye for business. Even before he took the reins at the studio in 1986 to embark on a decade-long run, Pollock had established himself as one of the savviest dealmakers in the entertainment industry. As a lawyer, he had negotiated deals for the “Superman,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Star Wars” franchises. In the latter case, Pollock made George Lucas not simply rich, but Midas-level wealthy by giving him the rights to make sequels and profit off of merchandising related to a galaxy far, far away.
“From a studio standpoint, it was one of the major mistakes of all time,” Pollock said in a 1997 interview with the Los Angeles Times. “It essentially took a billion dollars away from the studio and transferred it to George.”
And yet, friends and colleagues say, what really drove Pollock was...
“From a studio standpoint, it was one of the major mistakes of all time,” Pollock said in a 1997 interview with the Los Angeles Times. “It essentially took a billion dollars away from the studio and transferred it to George.”
And yet, friends and colleagues say, what really drove Pollock was...
- 8/4/2020
- by Brent Lang and Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Updated with George Lucas statement: George Lucas honored Tom Pollock, who brokered the deal granting the Star Wars boss rights to the iconic Hollywood franchise, on Monday with a tribute:
“Tom Pollock was pivotal in my development as both a filmmaker and businessman from the get-go. He was there at the very beginning when I was fresh out of USC film school and throughout the unexpected successes that transformed our lives and careers. He helped in the creation of Lucasfilm along with American Graffiti and Star Wars, and stood firm and unrelenting by those he believed in. A champion of creativity, Tom was a good friend and will be missed by all of us who were lucky to know him.”
Updated Monday, August 3, 8:49 Am : Spike Lee sent this tribute to Tom Pollock, who presided over and stood firm during the launch of Lee’s provocative 1989 film Do The Right Thing...
“Tom Pollock was pivotal in my development as both a filmmaker and businessman from the get-go. He was there at the very beginning when I was fresh out of USC film school and throughout the unexpected successes that transformed our lives and careers. He helped in the creation of Lucasfilm along with American Graffiti and Star Wars, and stood firm and unrelenting by those he believed in. A champion of creativity, Tom was a good friend and will be missed by all of us who were lucky to know him.”
Updated Monday, August 3, 8:49 Am : Spike Lee sent this tribute to Tom Pollock, who presided over and stood firm during the launch of Lee’s provocative 1989 film Do The Right Thing...
- 8/4/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Reni Santoni, who starred alongside Clint Eastwood in “Dirty Harry,” died this past weekend at the age of 81, TheWrap has learned.
Santoni passed away in hospice care after years of health problems, including cancer.
The New York native starred in Eastwood’s 1971 classic film as Chico Martinez, a rookie detective with a sociology degree, who gets paired up with “Dirty” Harry Callahan despite the surly cop’s resistance to working with inexperienced partners. Chico survives being shot by the amoral killer Scorpio during the film and ends up leaving the force, but not before giving a famous line in the film after Callahan gets the job of delivering ransom money to Scorpio: “No wonder they call him Dirty Harry; [he] always gets the s— end of the stick.”
Prior to “Dirty Harry,” Santoni got his start in acting via off-Broadway theater with his own play, “Raisin’ Hell in the Son” before...
Santoni passed away in hospice care after years of health problems, including cancer.
The New York native starred in Eastwood’s 1971 classic film as Chico Martinez, a rookie detective with a sociology degree, who gets paired up with “Dirty” Harry Callahan despite the surly cop’s resistance to working with inexperienced partners. Chico survives being shot by the amoral killer Scorpio during the film and ends up leaving the force, but not before giving a famous line in the film after Callahan gets the job of delivering ransom money to Scorpio: “No wonder they call him Dirty Harry; [he] always gets the s— end of the stick.”
Prior to “Dirty Harry,” Santoni got his start in acting via off-Broadway theater with his own play, “Raisin’ Hell in the Son” before...
- 8/4/2020
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Tom Pollock, the former chairman of Universal Pictures and the American Film Institute, died Saturday of natural causes at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 77.
“We are incredibly saddened by the loss of Tom Pollock,” said NBCUniversal vice chairman Ron Meyer in a statement. “He played a critical role in securing our studio’s legacy, and was an extraordinary executive, influential attorney, and a dear friend to so many of us. We will forever feel his impact on our company and within our industry. On behalf of everyone at Universal, we send our deepest condolences to his family and honor his extraordinary accomplishments.”
Pollock, a Los Angeles native, received a law degree from Columbia University and began his career in the entertainment business by working for George Stevens, founding director of the AFI, in 1968. He became manager of business affairs for AFI’s new film school, the Center for Advanced Film Studies.
“We are incredibly saddened by the loss of Tom Pollock,” said NBCUniversal vice chairman Ron Meyer in a statement. “He played a critical role in securing our studio’s legacy, and was an extraordinary executive, influential attorney, and a dear friend to so many of us. We will forever feel his impact on our company and within our industry. On behalf of everyone at Universal, we send our deepest condolences to his family and honor his extraordinary accomplishments.”
Pollock, a Los Angeles native, received a law degree from Columbia University and began his career in the entertainment business by working for George Stevens, founding director of the AFI, in 1968. He became manager of business affairs for AFI’s new film school, the Center for Advanced Film Studies.
- 8/3/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Tom Pollock was not your ordinary studio chief. Trained as a lawyer, Pollock chaired Universal Pictures for nine years (1986 to 1996) and went on to partner with Ivan Reitman’s Montecito Picture Company, chair the Board of Trustees at the American Film Institute, and teach at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Pollock steered Universal through a rich and storied period, and took risks that many studio chiefs would not. He died of a heart attack on August 1.
At the studio, Pollock worked with many of the top directors in Hollywood: Steven Spielberg (“Jurassic Park”), Robert Zemeckis (the “Back to the Future” trilogy), Ron Howard, Ivan Reitman, Martin Scorsese, and George Miller (“Lorenzo’s Oil”).
During Pollock’s Universal tenure, the studio garnered seven Academy Award Best Picture nominations, including winner Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List,” Miller’s “Babe,” Howard’s “Apollo 13,” Phil Alden Robinson’s “Field of Dreams,” Oliver Stone’s...
At the studio, Pollock worked with many of the top directors in Hollywood: Steven Spielberg (“Jurassic Park”), Robert Zemeckis (the “Back to the Future” trilogy), Ron Howard, Ivan Reitman, Martin Scorsese, and George Miller (“Lorenzo’s Oil”).
During Pollock’s Universal tenure, the studio garnered seven Academy Award Best Picture nominations, including winner Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List,” Miller’s “Babe,” Howard’s “Apollo 13,” Phil Alden Robinson’s “Field of Dreams,” Oliver Stone’s...
- 8/3/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Tom Pollock was not your ordinary studio chief. Trained as a lawyer, Pollock chaired Universal Pictures for nine years (1986 to 1996) and went on to partner with Ivan Reitman’s Montecito Picture Company, chair the Board of Trustees at the American Film Institute, and teach at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Pollock steered Universal through a rich and storied period, and took risks that many studio chiefs would not. He died of a heart attack on August 1.
At the studio, Pollock worked with many of the top directors in Hollywood: Steven Spielberg (“Jurassic Park”), Robert Zemeckis (the “Back to the Future” trilogy), Ron Howard, Ivan Reitman, Martin Scorsese, and George Miller (“Lorenzo’s Oil”).
During Pollock’s Universal tenure, the studio garnered seven Academy Award Best Picture nominations, including winner Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List,” Miller’s “Babe,” Howard’s “Apollo 13,” Phil Alden Robinson’s “Field of Dreams,” Oliver Stone’s...
At the studio, Pollock worked with many of the top directors in Hollywood: Steven Spielberg (“Jurassic Park”), Robert Zemeckis (the “Back to the Future” trilogy), Ron Howard, Ivan Reitman, Martin Scorsese, and George Miller (“Lorenzo’s Oil”).
During Pollock’s Universal tenure, the studio garnered seven Academy Award Best Picture nominations, including winner Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List,” Miller’s “Babe,” Howard’s “Apollo 13,” Phil Alden Robinson’s “Field of Dreams,” Oliver Stone’s...
- 8/3/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Much will be said about the memory and accomplishments of Tom Pollock, who passed away at age 77. He presided over Universal Pictures in a strong period in the ’80s and early ’90s when the studio released 200 pictures that globally grossed $10 billion and released Steven Spielberg’s then all time box office champ Jurassic Park and Best Picture Oscar winner Schindler’s List back to back. He and Ivan Reitman built a successful company in The Montecito Picture Company. But Pollock’s singular accomplishment is being the lawyer who made the greatest deal ever for a filmmaker, his first client George Lucas when Pollock started the firm Pollock, Rigrod, and Bloom, which later became Pollock, Bloom and Dekom, and then Bloom Hergott. Back when Star Wars was being relaunched by LucasFilm and JJ Abrams, Deadline got Pollock to explain how it all happened. Here is the interview from 2015:
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Behind many a...
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Behind many a...
- 8/3/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Tom Pollock, the former chairman of Universal Pictures and the American Film Institute, died Saturday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles following a heart attack. He was 77.
Director-producer Rob Cohen, Pollock's close friend and former client, confirmed the news of Pollock's death. "He was an amazing man," Cohen said.
Pollock began his career as an entertainment lawyer, ultimately becoming senior partner at Pollock, Bloom and Dekom. As an attorney, he worked with filmmakers such as George Lucas, who was one of Pollock's first clients. Pollock worked alongside Lucas while he worked ...
Director-producer Rob Cohen, Pollock's close friend and former client, confirmed the news of Pollock's death. "He was an amazing man," Cohen said.
Pollock began his career as an entertainment lawyer, ultimately becoming senior partner at Pollock, Bloom and Dekom. As an attorney, he worked with filmmakers such as George Lucas, who was one of Pollock's first clients. Pollock worked alongside Lucas while he worked ...
Tom Pollock, the former chairman of Universal Pictures and the American Film Institute, died Saturday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles following a heart attack. He was 77.
Director-producer Rob Cohen, Pollock's close friend and former client, confirmed the news of Pollock's death. "He was an amazing man," Cohen said.
Pollock began his career as an entertainment lawyer, ultimately becoming senior partner at Pollock, Bloom and Dekom. As an attorney, he worked with filmmakers such as George Lucas, who was one of Pollock's first clients. Pollock worked alongside Lucas while he worked ...
Director-producer Rob Cohen, Pollock's close friend and former client, confirmed the news of Pollock's death. "He was an amazing man," Cohen said.
Pollock began his career as an entertainment lawyer, ultimately becoming senior partner at Pollock, Bloom and Dekom. As an attorney, he worked with filmmakers such as George Lucas, who was one of Pollock's first clients. Pollock worked alongside Lucas while he worked ...
Tom Pollock, the former chairman of Universal Pictures and the American Film Institute, has died, TheWrap has learned from longtime law partner Alan Hergott and screenwriter Nicholas Meyer. Pollock was 77.
As an entertainment lawyer and later a producer and studio head, Pollock helped several iconic filmmakers get their start and oversaw the release of some of the most famous blockbusters ever released. As a lawyer starting his own firm in 1970, one of his first clients was George Lucas, who he took on as he was working on his debut film “Thx-1138.” Pollock later helped Lucas secure a fortune by negotiating the merchandising and sequel rights to “Star Wars.”
He went on to be instrumental in initiating production of the “Indiana Jones” and “Superman” film franchises.
In 1986, he became EVP of McA and Chairman of Universal Pictures, overseeing the release of multiple record-breaking box office hits and Oscar winners, including “Jurassic Park,...
As an entertainment lawyer and later a producer and studio head, Pollock helped several iconic filmmakers get their start and oversaw the release of some of the most famous blockbusters ever released. As a lawyer starting his own firm in 1970, one of his first clients was George Lucas, who he took on as he was working on his debut film “Thx-1138.” Pollock later helped Lucas secure a fortune by negotiating the merchandising and sequel rights to “Star Wars.”
He went on to be instrumental in initiating production of the “Indiana Jones” and “Superman” film franchises.
In 1986, he became EVP of McA and Chairman of Universal Pictures, overseeing the release of multiple record-breaking box office hits and Oscar winners, including “Jurassic Park,...
- 8/2/2020
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Paramount Players creative executives Matt Dines and Ali Bell are exiting the company that they joined in August 2017, an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.
According to Deadline, Dines, who served as Evp of Development alongside Bell, will be joining Jonah Hill’s production company, which most recently produced “Richard Jewell.”
During Dines’ tenure at Paramount Players, he oversaw features like “Nobody’s Fool” and “Playing With Fire,” while Bell oversaw “What Men Want” and “Dora and the Lost City of Gold,” as well as the upcoming “Monster Problems.”
Also Read: Mary J Blige to Star in Paramount Players Horror Thriller 'Body Cam'
Before joining Paramount Players, Dines served as a production VP at MGM where he developed projects like “Everything, Everything,” the “Valley Girl” remake and the upcoming Bradley Cooper film “Deeper.” Before that, he worked at Spyglass Entertainment.
Bell was president of production and development...
According to Deadline, Dines, who served as Evp of Development alongside Bell, will be joining Jonah Hill’s production company, which most recently produced “Richard Jewell.”
During Dines’ tenure at Paramount Players, he oversaw features like “Nobody’s Fool” and “Playing With Fire,” while Bell oversaw “What Men Want” and “Dora and the Lost City of Gold,” as well as the upcoming “Monster Problems.”
Also Read: Mary J Blige to Star in Paramount Players Horror Thriller 'Body Cam'
Before joining Paramount Players, Dines served as a production VP at MGM where he developed projects like “Everything, Everything,” the “Valley Girl” remake and the upcoming Bradley Cooper film “Deeper.” Before that, he worked at Spyglass Entertainment.
Bell was president of production and development...
- 2/19/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Exclusive….Developing…We’re hearing that Paramount Players creative executives Matt Dines and Ali Bell are departing the label that they arrived to in late August 2017. While these two key execs are leaving, the Paramount Players will remain in operation under the oversight of Paramount Motion Pictures Group president Wyck Godfrey.
Word is that Dines is heading to Jonah Hill’s production company and will become a producing partner there. Hill recently produced Richard Jewell; executive produced and starred in the Netflix limited series Maniac; and directed, wrote and produced the 2018 A24 movie Mid90s. At the same time, I understand Bell is heading to Andy Samberg’s label Party Over Here.
While at Paramount Players, Dines worked on such features as Nobody’s Fool and Playing With Fire. Bell during her tenure oversaw What Men Want, Dora and the Lost City of Gold and the upcoming Monster Problems which has a February 12, 2021 release date.
Word is that Dines is heading to Jonah Hill’s production company and will become a producing partner there. Hill recently produced Richard Jewell; executive produced and starred in the Netflix limited series Maniac; and directed, wrote and produced the 2018 A24 movie Mid90s. At the same time, I understand Bell is heading to Andy Samberg’s label Party Over Here.
While at Paramount Players, Dines worked on such features as Nobody’s Fool and Playing With Fire. Bell during her tenure oversaw What Men Want, Dora and the Lost City of Gold and the upcoming Monster Problems which has a February 12, 2021 release date.
- 2/19/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The American Film Institute’s annual lists highlighting the top 10 movies and TV shows of the year include multiple awards frontrunners. The two juries — which are a mix of critics, academics, and film professionals — always celebrate the best of American cinema and television. Given their international provenance, Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag” landed Special Awards from the American Film Institute film juries, as “Roma” did last year.
This year’s crop is diverse, with films from lauded veterans Clint Eastwood, Sam Mendes, Martin Scorsese, Noah Baumbach, and Quentin Tarantino alongside relative newcomers to the awards conversation like Todd Phillips, Taika Waititi, and Rian Johnson.
Eight of the ten films were directed by men, with two women, Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”) and Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”), also on deck for the honor. On the TV side, newcomers “Watchmen,” “Fosse/Verdon,” and “Chernobyl” joined returning shows like “The Crown.
This year’s crop is diverse, with films from lauded veterans Clint Eastwood, Sam Mendes, Martin Scorsese, Noah Baumbach, and Quentin Tarantino alongside relative newcomers to the awards conversation like Todd Phillips, Taika Waititi, and Rian Johnson.
Eight of the ten films were directed by men, with two women, Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”) and Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”), also on deck for the honor. On the TV side, newcomers “Watchmen,” “Fosse/Verdon,” and “Chernobyl” joined returning shows like “The Crown.
- 12/4/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The American Film Institute’s annual lists highlighting the top 10 movies and TV shows of the year include multiple awards frontrunners. The two juries — which are a mix of critics, academics, and film professionals — always celebrate the best of American cinema and television. Given their international provenance, Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag” landed Special Awards from the American Film Institute film juries, as “Roma” did last year.
This year’s crop is diverse, with films from lauded veterans Clint Eastwood, Sam Mendes, Martin Scorsese, Noah Baumbach, and Quentin Tarantino alongside relative newcomers to the awards conversation like Todd Phillips, Taika Waititi, and Rian Johnson.
Eight of the ten films were directed by men, with two women, Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”) and Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”), also on deck for the honor. On the TV side, newcomers “Watchmen,” “Fosse/Verdon,” and “Chernobyl” joined returning shows like “The Crown,...
This year’s crop is diverse, with films from lauded veterans Clint Eastwood, Sam Mendes, Martin Scorsese, Noah Baumbach, and Quentin Tarantino alongside relative newcomers to the awards conversation like Todd Phillips, Taika Waititi, and Rian Johnson.
Eight of the ten films were directed by men, with two women, Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”) and Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”), also on deck for the honor. On the TV side, newcomers “Watchmen,” “Fosse/Verdon,” and “Chernobyl” joined returning shows like “The Crown,...
- 12/4/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The American Film Institute’s list of the top 10 films of 2019 ranges from Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman,” Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” and Sam Mendes’ “1917” to “Joker,” “The Farewell” and “Knives Out,” the AFI announced on Wednesday.
Also on the list are “Jojo Rabbit,” “Little Women,” “Marriage Story” and “Richard Jewell.”
Among the awards hopefuls not listed by the AFI are “Ford v Ferrari,” “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” “Dolemite Is My Name,” “Waves” and “The Two Popes.”
Also Read: New York Film Critics Circle Awards: 'The Irishman' Named Best Picture of 2019
Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” which was not eligible for the main list because it is not an American film, was given a special award.
On the television side, the AFI jury singled out the final seasons of “Game of Thrones” and “Veep,” as well as “Chernobyl,” “The Crown,...
Also on the list are “Jojo Rabbit,” “Little Women,” “Marriage Story” and “Richard Jewell.”
Among the awards hopefuls not listed by the AFI are “Ford v Ferrari,” “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” “Dolemite Is My Name,” “Waves” and “The Two Popes.”
Also Read: New York Film Critics Circle Awards: 'The Irishman' Named Best Picture of 2019
Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” which was not eligible for the main list because it is not an American film, was given a special award.
On the television side, the AFI jury singled out the final seasons of “Game of Thrones” and “Veep,” as well as “Chernobyl,” “The Crown,...
- 12/4/2019
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Universal is pulling out all the stops for the 30th anniversary of the release of Spike Lee’s masterpiece Do the Right Thing, bringing the new 4K restoration of the lauded racial drama to theaters on Friday and to select one-day only showings on Sunday, June 30, the actual day of its limited release in 1989.
But 30 years ago this month, Universal was being pressured not to release the film, or at least push the pic back out of the summer months for fear of racial unrest. “Tom Pollock, the president of Universal Pictures, was 100 percent behind the ...
But 30 years ago this month, Universal was being pressured not to release the film, or at least push the pic back out of the summer months for fear of racial unrest. “Tom Pollock, the president of Universal Pictures, was 100 percent behind the ...
- 6/28/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Universal is pulling out all the stops for the 30th anniversary of the release of Spike Lee’s masterpiece Do the Right Thing, bringing the new 4K restoration of the lauded racial drama to theaters on Friday and to select one-day only showings on Sunday, June 30, the actual day of its limited release in 1989.
But 30 years ago this month, Universal was being pressured not to release the film, or at least push the pic back out of the summer months for fear of racial unrest. “Tom Pollock, the president of Universal Pictures, was 100 percent behind the ...
But 30 years ago this month, Universal was being pressured not to release the film, or at least push the pic back out of the summer months for fear of racial unrest. “Tom Pollock, the president of Universal Pictures, was 100 percent behind the ...
- 6/28/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In January 2013, Martin Scorsese assembled the cast of his projected next movie, titled The Irishman, for a read-through of the shooting script. Their names — De Niro, Pacino and Pesci – did not resonate as “Irish.” Moreover, the actors, all in their 70s, would play ages 30 to 80 with the help of newly developed technology. The movie would likely be the most expensive non-superhero movie of the year — that is, if it found financing.
And that, the cast knew, was largely in the hands of producer Irwin Winkler, whose recent adventures in funding pictures had been more suspenseful than the plots of his films. Since Winkler has been defying the odds for some 50 years, it’s no surprise that The Irishman will finally get its release this fall, albeit seven years after the reading. The final cost is rumored to approach $140 million, due to its multiple locations set in different periods – a total...
And that, the cast knew, was largely in the hands of producer Irwin Winkler, whose recent adventures in funding pictures had been more suspenseful than the plots of his films. Since Winkler has been defying the odds for some 50 years, it’s no surprise that The Irishman will finally get its release this fall, albeit seven years after the reading. The final cost is rumored to approach $140 million, due to its multiple locations set in different periods – a total...
- 4/25/2019
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
After crashing the prom with zombies in his screenplay for Gregg Bishop's must-see horror comedy Dance of the Dead (which Daily Dead and friends celebrated in style last year for its 10th anniversary), Joe Ballarini brought the boogeyman (and a whole host of creepy creatures) to life in A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting book series, and the first novel is now being developed as a film at Netflix.
Deadline reports that Rachel Talalay will direct A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting from a screenplay by Ballarini. Like the book, the family friendly film will focus on teenager Kelly Ferguson, who teams up with a secret and highly skilled group of babysitters who moonlight as monster slayers after the child she's watching is abducted by sinister forces.
Tom Pollock, Ilona Herzberg, and Walden Media's Naia Cucukov will executive produce the film, with Walden Media, Montecito Pictures Company, Ivan Reitman,...
Deadline reports that Rachel Talalay will direct A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting from a screenplay by Ballarini. Like the book, the family friendly film will focus on teenager Kelly Ferguson, who teams up with a secret and highly skilled group of babysitters who moonlight as monster slayers after the child she's watching is abducted by sinister forces.
Tom Pollock, Ilona Herzberg, and Walden Media's Naia Cucukov will executive produce the film, with Walden Media, Montecito Pictures Company, Ivan Reitman,...
- 4/18/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Netflix Turning ‘A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting’ Into Family Film; Rachel Talalay To Direct
Exclusive: Netflix will turn the Joe Ballarini children’s three-book series A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting into a family film, setting Rachel Talalay to direct it. The author is writing the script. Book was published under the HarperCollins imprint Katherine Tegen Books.
Walden Media and Montecito Pictures Company are producing and have been developing the series for several years. Ivan Reitman and Amie Karp will produce, with Naia Cucukov of Walden Media, Tom Pollock, and Ilona Herzberg executive producing.
Talalay’s credits include most recently directing episodes of American Gods, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Riverdale, Supergirl and The Flash;; she’s directed Sherlock and Doctor Who episodes in the UK and has feature credits that include Tank Girl and Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare.
When babysitter Kelly Ferguson’s charge is kidnapped by monsters, Kelly is recruited by a secret society of badass babysitters, who protect...
Walden Media and Montecito Pictures Company are producing and have been developing the series for several years. Ivan Reitman and Amie Karp will produce, with Naia Cucukov of Walden Media, Tom Pollock, and Ilona Herzberg executive producing.
Talalay’s credits include most recently directing episodes of American Gods, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Riverdale, Supergirl and The Flash;; she’s directed Sherlock and Doctor Who episodes in the UK and has feature credits that include Tank Girl and Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare.
When babysitter Kelly Ferguson’s charge is kidnapped by monsters, Kelly is recruited by a secret society of badass babysitters, who protect...
- 4/15/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Sid has always been misunderstood. People thought he was the black hat, the one who yelled, and [McA chairman] Lew Wasserman was the good guy. It was the other way around. I saw Sid get angry, but I never saw him tear somebody down in front of other people, which Lew did often, even though he was an amazing man. I never had a fight with Sid, never had an argument. We traveled together all over the world, whether visiting Steven Spielberg in Auschwitz or the many trips to Osaka trying to deal with our Japanese overlords [at Matsushita]. Sid ...
- 3/12/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Exclusive: Sony’s TriStar Pictures has snatched up The Best Friends, a spec script by Chad Kultgen and Amy Rhodes with The Montecito Picture Company producing.
Kultgen and Rhodes previously worked together on NBC’s short-lived comedy, Bad Judge, which was co-created by Kultgen and Anne Heche. This is the first screenplay they’ve sold as a duo.
Plot details on The Best Friends are being kept under wraps though it is described as a high concept, slightly meta take on romantic comedies.
Producers are Montecito’s Ivan Reitman, Tom Pollock, and Amie Karp. Hannah Minghella, Nicole Brown, and Shary Shirazi will oversee the project for TriStar.
Kultgen wrote the novel, Men, Women & Children, which was was made into a 2014 feature directed by Jason Reitman and starred Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner, Timothée Chalamet, and Ansel Elgort. Rhodes served as a writer and correspondent on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and...
Kultgen and Rhodes previously worked together on NBC’s short-lived comedy, Bad Judge, which was co-created by Kultgen and Anne Heche. This is the first screenplay they’ve sold as a duo.
Plot details on The Best Friends are being kept under wraps though it is described as a high concept, slightly meta take on romantic comedies.
Producers are Montecito’s Ivan Reitman, Tom Pollock, and Amie Karp. Hannah Minghella, Nicole Brown, and Shary Shirazi will oversee the project for TriStar.
Kultgen wrote the novel, Men, Women & Children, which was was made into a 2014 feature directed by Jason Reitman and starred Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner, Timothée Chalamet, and Ansel Elgort. Rhodes served as a writer and correspondent on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and...
- 12/7/2018
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
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