Reflecting on her career, Lena Waithe says, “I think about legacy a lot.” The writer-producer-actor, whose body of work includes creating Showtime drama The Chi and BET’s Twenties, has been on a steady upward trajectory since winning a primetime Emmy Award in 2017 for outstanding writing on Netflix’s Master of None. But for Waithe, success raised questions about where she was headed. “I didn’t know what I was actually trying to build. I wanted to have real agency over my career, but it was also not just about me, it’s about who I can work with.”
Together with Rishi Rajani, a studio exec who honed his skills at 20th Century Fox, UTA, Paradigm, and Studio 8, Waithe has created a multi-platform entertainment company that accomplishes both. At Hillman Grad Productions, Waithe and Rishi develop projects that often go against the industry grain, while also hiring up-and-coming talent...
Together with Rishi Rajani, a studio exec who honed his skills at 20th Century Fox, UTA, Paradigm, and Studio 8, Waithe has created a multi-platform entertainment company that accomplishes both. At Hillman Grad Productions, Waithe and Rishi develop projects that often go against the industry grain, while also hiring up-and-coming talent...
- 5/19/2024
- by Carita Rizzo
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Eric Anthony Lopez has signed with Sovereign Talent Group’s theatrical division.
Lopez is best known for playing school jock bully Syd in Disney Studios pic Chang Can Dunk, produced by Lena Waithe and written and directed by first-time director Jingyi Shao.
Lopez is also known for his work on the stage. He made his Broadway debut as Passarino in Broadway’s The Phantom of The Opera, directed by Harold Prince with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Lopez’s television credits include the season of I Can See Your Voice on Fox , The Show Must Go On on AppleTV+ and City of Mercy.
LA-based Sovereign Talent Group represents the likes of Oscar nominee Eric Roberts, Valeria Lamm and Chris Doubek.
Lopez continues to be repped by Rcg (Rebel Creative Group) & Kapr.
Lopez is best known for playing school jock bully Syd in Disney Studios pic Chang Can Dunk, produced by Lena Waithe and written and directed by first-time director Jingyi Shao.
Lopez is also known for his work on the stage. He made his Broadway debut as Passarino in Broadway’s The Phantom of The Opera, directed by Harold Prince with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Lopez’s television credits include the season of I Can See Your Voice on Fox , The Show Must Go On on AppleTV+ and City of Mercy.
LA-based Sovereign Talent Group represents the likes of Oscar nominee Eric Roberts, Valeria Lamm and Chris Doubek.
Lopez continues to be repped by Rcg (Rebel Creative Group) & Kapr.
- 2/15/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Rtg Features, the sister studio to basketball media company Slam, is partnering with arts organization Heartland Film to launch the first annual Slam Film Festival dedicated to basketball-themed movies.
The festival, which will take place February 16-18, 2024, at Living Room Theaters in Indianapolis, will be a mix of world premiere titles, recent festival circuit movies and iconic films. The event will be the first-ever film festival exclusively focused on basketball, and is launched in celebration of Slam’s 30th anniversary in 2024. Scroll down for the lineup.
There will be 30th anniversary screenings of Steve James’ classic doc Hoop Dreams, William Friedkin’s Nick Nolte and Shaquille O’Neal film Blue Chips and Jeff Pollack’s Above The Rim. Newer films set to screen will include Palm Springs 2024 title Amongst The Trees, exec-produced by NBA star Paul George, and recent doc biopic Stephen Curry: Underrated (2023).
In addition to screenings and post-screening Q&As,...
The festival, which will take place February 16-18, 2024, at Living Room Theaters in Indianapolis, will be a mix of world premiere titles, recent festival circuit movies and iconic films. The event will be the first-ever film festival exclusively focused on basketball, and is launched in celebration of Slam’s 30th anniversary in 2024. Scroll down for the lineup.
There will be 30th anniversary screenings of Steve James’ classic doc Hoop Dreams, William Friedkin’s Nick Nolte and Shaquille O’Neal film Blue Chips and Jeff Pollack’s Above The Rim. Newer films set to screen will include Palm Springs 2024 title Amongst The Trees, exec-produced by NBA star Paul George, and recent doc biopic Stephen Curry: Underrated (2023).
In addition to screenings and post-screening Q&As,...
- 1/24/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Lubna Hanna has been promoted to Manager by Redefine Entertainment.
Hanna works with clients Njeri Brown, Alyssa Lerner (Diary of a Future President), Amber Dupre, Madeline Hendricks, Kimiko Matsuda Lawrence and Suzy Esposito (Neon).
A native of Los Angeles, Hanna started her career in the music department at CAA, then moved to the nonprofit space before joining Redefine Entertainment as Jairo Alvarado’s assistant in 2021.
“Lubna exemplifies everything we value as we build our company. Over the past years working with us, she has shown her exceptional ability to curate and support new talent and has shown time and time again that her commitment to her clients & work ethic is unparalleled. We are excited to support her in this next exciting phase of her career,” said company founders Jairo Alvarado, Tony Gil and Max Goldfarb...
Hanna works with clients Njeri Brown, Alyssa Lerner (Diary of a Future President), Amber Dupre, Madeline Hendricks, Kimiko Matsuda Lawrence and Suzy Esposito (Neon).
A native of Los Angeles, Hanna started her career in the music department at CAA, then moved to the nonprofit space before joining Redefine Entertainment as Jairo Alvarado’s assistant in 2021.
“Lubna exemplifies everything we value as we build our company. Over the past years working with us, she has shown her exceptional ability to curate and support new talent and has shown time and time again that her commitment to her clients & work ethic is unparalleled. We are excited to support her in this next exciting phase of her career,” said company founders Jairo Alvarado, Tony Gil and Max Goldfarb...
- 12/8/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Photo credit: ©BAFTA/Vivek Vadoliya, 2023
BAFTA Breakthrough is a wonderful Netflix-supported initiative that celebrates the very best of young talent. In its 10th year, the alumni boasts the likes of Florence Pugh, Tom Holland and Letitia Wright – and this year comes a whole host of exciting new names. One of which caught our eye especially, which is Vivian Oparah, who shone in Peckham-set rom-com Rye Lane, which enamoured viewers with its spring-time release. We discuss what it means to her to be named as a BAFTA Breakthrough artist, and naturally we look back to Rye Lane, to talk about shooting the film, and the lasting, indelible impact it has left. She also looks ahead to a future that we’re gonna consider pretty damn bright.
Watch the full interview with Vivian Oparah here:
See below for the full list of this year’s stars:
UK Breakthroughs (20):
Adjani Salmon,...
BAFTA Breakthrough is a wonderful Netflix-supported initiative that celebrates the very best of young talent. In its 10th year, the alumni boasts the likes of Florence Pugh, Tom Holland and Letitia Wright – and this year comes a whole host of exciting new names. One of which caught our eye especially, which is Vivian Oparah, who shone in Peckham-set rom-com Rye Lane, which enamoured viewers with its spring-time release. We discuss what it means to her to be named as a BAFTA Breakthrough artist, and naturally we look back to Rye Lane, to talk about shooting the film, and the lasting, indelible impact it has left. She also looks ahead to a future that we’re gonna consider pretty damn bright.
Watch the full interview with Vivian Oparah here:
See below for the full list of this year’s stars:
UK Breakthroughs (20):
Adjani Salmon,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
A galaxy of 42 emerging creative talents from across the U.S., U.K. and India have been unveiled as the 2023 BAFTA Breakthrough cohort.
The selected talents have worked on some of the most lauded projects over the last several months including “The Last of Us,” “1923,” “Blue Jean,” “Rye Lane,” “Rocket Boys” and “Joyland.”
Breakthrough is BAFTA’s flagship new talent initiative in partnership with Netflix, drawn from creatives working in film, games and television. Awarded to those in the midst of, or on the cusp of their breakthrough moment, the year-long initiative includes one-to-one meetings and career guidance, full voting membership, access to BAFTA events and screenings, as well as networking events, both in the U.K. and internationally.
This year’s cohort comprises creatives spanning craft specialisms from hair and make up, production, editing and games design, to performance, directing and cinematography and is from diverse ethnic backgrounds and abilities.
The selected talents have worked on some of the most lauded projects over the last several months including “The Last of Us,” “1923,” “Blue Jean,” “Rye Lane,” “Rocket Boys” and “Joyland.”
Breakthrough is BAFTA’s flagship new talent initiative in partnership with Netflix, drawn from creatives working in film, games and television. Awarded to those in the midst of, or on the cusp of their breakthrough moment, the year-long initiative includes one-to-one meetings and career guidance, full voting membership, access to BAFTA events and screenings, as well as networking events, both in the U.K. and internationally.
This year’s cohort comprises creatives spanning craft specialisms from hair and make up, production, editing and games design, to performance, directing and cinematography and is from diverse ethnic backgrounds and abilities.
- 11/29/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Six of the 20 UK talents have previously been named Screen Stars of Tomorrow.
Actors Bella Ramsey and Vivian Oparah, and filmmakers Adjani Salmon and Raine Allen-Miller are among 32 talents selected for the 10th anniversary edition of the Bafta Breakthrough programme.
The 2023 edition of the talent-spotting scheme includes 20 UK names, and 12 individuals from the US.
Scroll down for the full 2023 Breakthrough list
Those selected from the UK include Game Of Thrones and The Last Of Us star Ramsey, Dreaming Whilst Black creator Salmon, and Allen-Miller and Oparah, director and star of Rye Lane.
Also included are Blue Jean writer-director Georgia Oakley...
Actors Bella Ramsey and Vivian Oparah, and filmmakers Adjani Salmon and Raine Allen-Miller are among 32 talents selected for the 10th anniversary edition of the Bafta Breakthrough programme.
The 2023 edition of the talent-spotting scheme includes 20 UK names, and 12 individuals from the US.
Scroll down for the full 2023 Breakthrough list
Those selected from the UK include Game Of Thrones and The Last Of Us star Ramsey, Dreaming Whilst Black creator Salmon, and Allen-Miller and Oparah, director and star of Rye Lane.
Also included are Blue Jean writer-director Georgia Oakley...
- 11/29/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
At Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch panel, held March 31 at the Sun Valley Film Festival, the first order of business was defining what it means to be a producer, a title — and a role — that encapsulates a number of responsibilities on a film.
“The way that I describe it is you’ve got to know a little bit about a lot of things in filmmaking,” said Rachael Fung, whose film “Fremont” later won best narrative film in the festival’s One in a Million category, recognizing features made for less than $1 million. “You’ve got to be able to understand and talk to every single person that touches the film at every single stage. And also it’s about finding those directors and filmmakers and understanding their vision and figuring out the best way to get that to screen.”
“There are practical things like getting money for the movie, casting,...
“The way that I describe it is you’ve got to know a little bit about a lot of things in filmmaking,” said Rachael Fung, whose film “Fremont” later won best narrative film in the festival’s One in a Million category, recognizing features made for less than $1 million. “You’ve got to be able to understand and talk to every single person that touches the film at every single stage. And also it’s about finding those directors and filmmakers and understanding their vision and figuring out the best way to get that to screen.”
“There are practical things like getting money for the movie, casting,...
- 4/5/2023
- by Todd Gilchrist
- Variety Film + TV
Plot: Follows Chang, a 16-year-old, Asian American high school student in the marching band, who bets the school basketball star that he can dunk by Homecoming. The bet leads the 5’ 8″ Chang on a quest to find the hops he needs to dunk in order to impress his crush, Kristy, and finally gain the attention and respect of his high school peers. But before he can rise up and truly throw one down, he’ll have to reexamine everything he knows about himself, his friendships and his family.
Review: The tried and true formula of sports underdog stories has been a staple of movies for decades. From Rocky to Hoosiers, The Mighty Ducks to Remember the Titans, every sport has had a cinematic showcase allowing audiences to believe that even the average can do the incredible. With training montages, adversity overcome, and some inspirational music to liven the mood, sports movies...
Review: The tried and true formula of sports underdog stories has been a staple of movies for decades. From Rocky to Hoosiers, The Mighty Ducks to Remember the Titans, every sport has had a cinematic showcase allowing audiences to believe that even the average can do the incredible. With training montages, adversity overcome, and some inspirational music to liven the mood, sports movies...
- 3/14/2023
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
March is a big month for Lena Waithe and her Hillman Grad production banner. Yet, Waithe’s four films, all debuting within weeks of one another — “A Thousand and One,” “Kokomo City,” “Being Mary Tyler Moore,” and “Chang Can Dunk” — have virtually nothing in common. They range from a Sundance drama to an experimental documentary to a biographical HBO doc to a Disney+ teen movie, wavering widely in genre, tone, studio, and subject matter.
Well, almost nothing in common. All four films are the feature debuts of their directors. Incubating talent and giving them a shot has become an ethos for Waithe and Hillman Grad, something that has allowed the company and Waithe’s brand to blossom since launching in 2015.
Waithe’s producing success dates back to 2014, when her first project as a producer on 2014’s “Dear White People” also happened to be the debut film of Justin Simien and...
Well, almost nothing in common. All four films are the feature debuts of their directors. Incubating talent and giving them a shot has become an ethos for Waithe and Hillman Grad, something that has allowed the company and Waithe’s brand to blossom since launching in 2015.
Waithe’s producing success dates back to 2014, when her first project as a producer on 2014’s “Dear White People” also happened to be the debut film of Justin Simien and...
- 3/10/2023
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
There’s a brand new original film coming to Disney+ on Friday, March 10! “Chang Can Dunk” centers on a young Asian-American teen and basketball fanatic who just wants to dunk and get the girl ends up learning much more about himself, his best friends, and his mother. Will he be able to make the leap, despite a stature that is built more for layups than for stuffing the rock home? You can watch Chang Can Dunk with a subscription to Disney+.
How to Watch ‘Chang Can Dunk’ When: Friday, March 10, 2023 Where: Disney+ Stream: Watch with a subscription to Disney+. Sign Up Now$7.99+ / month disneyplus.com
Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $12.99 a month ($13 savings).
About ‘Chang Can Dunk’
“Chang Can Dunk” follows Chang, a 16-year-old, Asian American high school student in the marching band, who bets the school basketball star that he can dunk by Homecoming.
The bet leads...
How to Watch ‘Chang Can Dunk’ When: Friday, March 10, 2023 Where: Disney+ Stream: Watch with a subscription to Disney+. Sign Up Now$7.99+ / month disneyplus.com
Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $12.99 a month ($13 savings).
About ‘Chang Can Dunk’
“Chang Can Dunk” follows Chang, a 16-year-old, Asian American high school student in the marching band, who bets the school basketball star that he can dunk by Homecoming.
The bet leads...
- 3/10/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
It’s easy to think that the latest offering on Disney+ will be yet another inspirational, underdog sports movie. After all, the film concerns a 16-year-old Asian-American high-school student who sets out to prove that he can perform a slam dunk despite his underwhelming 5’8” height. So you can expect that by the end of Chang Can Dunk the titular hero will defy the odds, defeat his foe and win the hearts of everyone concerned. Right?
Well, yes and no. Writer-director Jingyi Shao covers all those bases (wrong sport, I know), including the obligatory training montage and the introduction of a wholesome romantic interest. But the filmmaker, making his feature debut, also has more interesting things in mind, delivering a darker, more complex story that nonetheless proves utterly heartwarming by the end.
At the story’s beginning, Chang (Bloom Li, making a terrific feature debut, in which he’s onscreen nearly...
Well, yes and no. Writer-director Jingyi Shao covers all those bases (wrong sport, I know), including the obligatory training montage and the introduction of a wholesome romantic interest. But the filmmaker, making his feature debut, also has more interesting things in mind, delivering a darker, more complex story that nonetheless proves utterly heartwarming by the end.
At the story’s beginning, Chang (Bloom Li, making a terrific feature debut, in which he’s onscreen nearly...
- 3/10/2023
- by Frank Scheck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Chang Can Dunk” doesn’t go the way you’d expect, and that’s a good thing. Here’s a Disney movie about a 5-foot-8-inch Chinese American high school basketball player who bets his rival that he can dunk by the end of the season. He gets his wish about an hour in, but there’s still a long way for the character to go — and grow — in a film that believes maturity isn’t achieved by shortcuts.
The result marks the attention-worthy debut of writer-director Jingyi Shao, and exemplifies the sort of movies Disney should be making: It has its values in the right place, but doesn’t pretend its hero is perfect. If there’s a villain in “Chang Can Dunk,” that role is arguably filled by the title character. In time, the obsessive teen’s ultra-competitive personality winds up alienating practically everyone in his life, except...
The result marks the attention-worthy debut of writer-director Jingyi Shao, and exemplifies the sort of movies Disney should be making: It has its values in the right place, but doesn’t pretend its hero is perfect. If there’s a villain in “Chang Can Dunk,” that role is arguably filled by the title character. In time, the obsessive teen’s ultra-competitive personality winds up alienating practically everyone in his life, except...
- 3/10/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
"Everybody's talking about you, dude!" Disney has revealed an official trailer for a new high school sports movie called Chang Dan Dunk, the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Jing Yi Shao. The movie will be streaming on Disney+ starting in early March, which is really the ideal place for something like this to premiere." Freshman Chang is no more. Chang 2.0 is here!" Bloom Li stars as 16-year-old Asian-American Chang, who is an unpopular high schooler who loves basketball, but is always underestimated. Though his peers treat him as though he is insignificant, he becomes obsessed with learning how to slam dunk. Chang is determined to best the high school's all-star named Matt, all while hopefully winning the adoration of his romantic interest, Kristy. Also starring Ben Wang, Chase Liefeld, Eric Anthony Lopez, Nile Bullock, Zoe Renee, Mardy Ma, and Angel Oquendo as "Coach". This actually looks pretty good! Worth a watch.
- 2/21/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Disney+ has unveiled the trailer for “Chang Can Dunk” from filmmaker Jingyi Shao, one of Variety’s “10 Directors to Watch” for 2023.
The coming-of-age sports film — which begins streaming March 10 — follows Chang (Bloom Li), an unpopular high schooler who loves basketball and Pokémon. Chang finds himself wagering a bet with the school’s all-star player, Matt (Chase Liefeld), that he will be able to make a slam dunk — in 12 weeks time.
The film also stars Zoe Renee, Ben Wang, Dexter Darden, Anthony Lopez, Nile Bullock, Mardy Ma and Angel Oquendo.
“I was really inspired by early ’90s coming-of-age films, but specifically sports-coming-of-age films like ‘Mighty Ducks,’” Shao tells Variety of his feature directorial debut.
The film examines teenage social hierarchies and family dynamics from the perspective of people of color living in communities where they’re a minority population.
“In a town where there aren’t a lot of other Asian American families,...
The coming-of-age sports film — which begins streaming March 10 — follows Chang (Bloom Li), an unpopular high schooler who loves basketball and Pokémon. Chang finds himself wagering a bet with the school’s all-star player, Matt (Chase Liefeld), that he will be able to make a slam dunk — in 12 weeks time.
The film also stars Zoe Renee, Ben Wang, Dexter Darden, Anthony Lopez, Nile Bullock, Mardy Ma and Angel Oquendo.
“I was really inspired by early ’90s coming-of-age films, but specifically sports-coming-of-age films like ‘Mighty Ducks,’” Shao tells Variety of his feature directorial debut.
The film examines teenage social hierarchies and family dynamics from the perspective of people of color living in communities where they’re a minority population.
“In a town where there aren’t a lot of other Asian American families,...
- 2/21/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
For the first time since 2020, the Palm Springs Film Festival returned to an in-person event this year, with events including Thursday evening’s starry awards gala and Variety’s annual 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch.
The Friday brunch at the Parker Palm Springs honored “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” actor Angela Bassett with the Creative Impact in Acting award; “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” writer-director Rian Johnson with the Creative Impact in Screenwriting award; “Elvis” director Baz Luhrmann with the Creative Impact in Directing award and “Causeway” actor Brian Tyree Henry with the Breakthrough Performance honor.
Luhrmann’s award was presented by Austin Butler, who introduced Luhrmann as “a filmmaker who knows how to create a spectacle like no other.”
Accepting his award, Luhrmann said that like children, he loves all his films equally but differently. But “Elvis,” he said, was different because “We almost lost that child.
The Friday brunch at the Parker Palm Springs honored “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” actor Angela Bassett with the Creative Impact in Acting award; “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” writer-director Rian Johnson with the Creative Impact in Screenwriting award; “Elvis” director Baz Luhrmann with the Creative Impact in Directing award and “Causeway” actor Brian Tyree Henry with the Breakthrough Performance honor.
Luhrmann’s award was presented by Austin Butler, who introduced Luhrmann as “a filmmaker who knows how to create a spectacle like no other.”
Accepting his award, Luhrmann said that like children, he loves all his films equally but differently. But “Elvis,” he said, was different because “We almost lost that child.
- 1/6/2023
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
With the film industry as a whole taking a significant hit during the early years of the pandemic, one progressive change that has been stifled for the past couple years is studios hiring more directors from underrepresented backgrounds.
There are all sorts of data points repeated over the years by annual studies, like USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, which has repeatedly revealed how increasing diversity within filmmaking helps, not harms, business prospects. For example, the latest USC study shared that films by underrepresented directors earned marginally higher Metacritic scores than movies from white directors, and yet 2022 had a 6.6 percent decline in the number of the directors from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups who helmed the top 100 films of the year.
Though the upcoming slate of studio films does not seem like it will move the needle even back to 2021 numbers, where the percentage of directors from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups reached a 15-year high,...
There are all sorts of data points repeated over the years by annual studies, like USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, which has repeatedly revealed how increasing diversity within filmmaking helps, not harms, business prospects. For example, the latest USC study shared that films by underrepresented directors earned marginally higher Metacritic scores than movies from white directors, and yet 2022 had a 6.6 percent decline in the number of the directors from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups who helmed the top 100 films of the year.
Though the upcoming slate of studio films does not seem like it will move the needle even back to 2021 numbers, where the percentage of directors from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups reached a 15-year high,...
- 1/4/2023
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Pop quiz: What do the filmmakers who won this year’s top Sundance prize, Cannes’ Palme d’Or and Oscar’s best picture trophy have in common? They’re all veterans of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch list — which also counts Taika Waititi, Chloé Zhao and Andrew Dominik among its alums.
Now it’s time to unveil the class of 2023, featuring 10 helmers with current and near-future projects set to launch their careers to the next level. The directors will be profiled in the first print edition of the new year, timed to an event in their honor at the Palm Springs Int’l Film Festival in early January.
The lineup represents a diverse mix of up-and-coming directors whose films — all first or second narrative features — distinguished themselves earlier this year on the festival circuit or else are set to premiere in 2023.
Two of the films, Alice Diop’s “Saint Omer...
Now it’s time to unveil the class of 2023, featuring 10 helmers with current and near-future projects set to launch their careers to the next level. The directors will be profiled in the first print edition of the new year, timed to an event in their honor at the Palm Springs Int’l Film Festival in early January.
The lineup represents a diverse mix of up-and-coming directors whose films — all first or second narrative features — distinguished themselves earlier this year on the festival circuit or else are set to premiere in 2023.
Two of the films, Alice Diop’s “Saint Omer...
- 11/28/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Sight Unseen, Makeready and Hillman Grad Productions’ A Thousand and One will be released in theaters on March 31, 2023 from Focus Features.
The pic reps the feature directorial debut of A.V. Rockwell, off a script the filmmaker wrote, which follows unapologetic and free-spirited Inez (Teyana Taylor), who kidnaps six-year-old Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability, in a rapidly changing New York City.
A Thousand and One is produced by Sight Unseen’s Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev, Hillman Grad’s Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani and Makeready’s Brad Weston. Sight Unseen’s Oren Moverman is executive producing alongside Rachel Jacobs.
Sight Unseen’s recent projects include The Listener from Steve Buscemi and starring Tessa Thompson, and the Emmy Award-winning HBO film Bad Education starring Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney.
The pic reps the feature directorial debut of A.V. Rockwell, off a script the filmmaker wrote, which follows unapologetic and free-spirited Inez (Teyana Taylor), who kidnaps six-year-old Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability, in a rapidly changing New York City.
A Thousand and One is produced by Sight Unseen’s Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev, Hillman Grad’s Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani and Makeready’s Brad Weston. Sight Unseen’s Oren Moverman is executive producing alongside Rachel Jacobs.
Sight Unseen’s recent projects include The Listener from Steve Buscemi and starring Tessa Thompson, and the Emmy Award-winning HBO film Bad Education starring Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney.
- 10/17/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Disney Studios feature Chang Can Dunk has added Dexter Darden and Ben Wang to the cast of the high school basketball movie, which is intended for Disney+.
In the Jingyi Shao directed and written movie, a 16 year-old 5’6” Asian-American student (Bloom Li) bets the school jock he can dunk a basketball at Homecoming, leading him on a quest to find the hops he needs to dunk and finally impress his crush. Chase Liefeld also stars.
Darden will play DeAndre, a former pro basketball player and two-time Estonia League Mvp. Deandre is a millennial hustler trying to grow his social media following, and he agrees to coach Chang. Wang will play Bo, Chang’s best friend.
Producers are Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani through their Hillman Grad Productions banner, Brad Weston and Makeready.
Darden will reprise his starring role in Peacock/NBC hit series reboot of Saved By The Bell returning for season 2 Nov.
In the Jingyi Shao directed and written movie, a 16 year-old 5’6” Asian-American student (Bloom Li) bets the school jock he can dunk a basketball at Homecoming, leading him on a quest to find the hops he needs to dunk and finally impress his crush. Chase Liefeld also stars.
Darden will play DeAndre, a former pro basketball player and two-time Estonia League Mvp. Deandre is a millennial hustler trying to grow his social media following, and he agrees to coach Chang. Wang will play Bo, Chang’s best friend.
Producers are Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani through their Hillman Grad Productions banner, Brad Weston and Makeready.
Darden will reprise his starring role in Peacock/NBC hit series reboot of Saved By The Bell returning for season 2 Nov.
- 11/4/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Chase Liefeld has joined the cast of Disney Studios’ high school basketball movie Chang Can Dunk which is intended for debut on Disney+.
The Yorba Linda, CA native will play Matt, the high school’s star basketball player, who becomes an obsession of 16-year old Chang, who we told you Bloom Li is set to play. Chang is a constantly marginalized, not-popular kid who wants to learn how to dunk so bad, he wants to best Matt at his game and win the adoration of Kristy.
Jingyi Shao is writing and directing the feature from Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani’s Hillman Grad Productions. They’re producing with Brad Weston and Negin Salmasi.
Liefeld’s credits include the indie feature Honor Student from director Tamika Miller and the YouTube series Sunnyside Up. He is repped by Robert Stein Management and Gersh.
The Yorba Linda, CA native will play Matt, the high school’s star basketball player, who becomes an obsession of 16-year old Chang, who we told you Bloom Li is set to play. Chang is a constantly marginalized, not-popular kid who wants to learn how to dunk so bad, he wants to best Matt at his game and win the adoration of Kristy.
Jingyi Shao is writing and directing the feature from Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani’s Hillman Grad Productions. They’re producing with Brad Weston and Negin Salmasi.
Liefeld’s credits include the indie feature Honor Student from director Tamika Miller and the YouTube series Sunnyside Up. He is repped by Robert Stein Management and Gersh.
- 9/29/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Bloom Li has landed the lead role in Disney Studios’ high school basketball feature Chang Can Dunk, which Jingyi Shao will direct and write.
In Chang Can Dunk, a 16-year old, constantly marginalized, not-popular high school kid and wannabe basketball player becomes obsessed with the idea of learning to dunk, all in an effort to best the school’s basketball star, Matt — and hopefully win the adoration of the very pretty Kristy.
Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani are producing through their Hillman Grad Productions. Brad Weston and Negin Salmasi are also producing the movie, which is intended for Disney+.
Li has had a recurring role on Awesomeness TV’s My Dead Ex and appearances on CBS’ S.W.A.T. and Hulu’s Into the Dark. Some of the numerous short films in which Bloom appeared went on to play at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest and South by Southwest.
In Chang Can Dunk, a 16-year old, constantly marginalized, not-popular high school kid and wannabe basketball player becomes obsessed with the idea of learning to dunk, all in an effort to best the school’s basketball star, Matt — and hopefully win the adoration of the very pretty Kristy.
Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani are producing through their Hillman Grad Productions. Brad Weston and Negin Salmasi are also producing the movie, which is intended for Disney+.
Li has had a recurring role on Awesomeness TV’s My Dead Ex and appearances on CBS’ S.W.A.T. and Hulu’s Into the Dark. Some of the numerous short films in which Bloom appeared went on to play at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest and South by Southwest.
- 9/22/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Managers Jairo Alvarado, Tony Gil, and Max Goldfarb have partnered to form Redefine Entertainment, a new literary management and production company. They most recently were managers at Circle of Confusion and The Gotham Group. Imani Beal-Ampah joins them as a coordinator.
The partners said: “Redefine Entertainment will be a home for a new generation of creatives. We will cultivate a culture of transparency and empower our clients to better learn the business side of their decisions. We intend to foster community among our clientele, and we are excited to usher in and mentor a new generation of representatives to help us tackle the challenges of our evolving business.”
The company launches with around 60 clients, a list that includes The Farewell director Lulu Wang who is the creator of the upcoming series Ex-Pats for Amazon starring Nicole Kidman; Angel Soto, director of Charmed City Kings for HBO Max and recently tapped...
The partners said: “Redefine Entertainment will be a home for a new generation of creatives. We will cultivate a culture of transparency and empower our clients to better learn the business side of their decisions. We intend to foster community among our clientele, and we are excited to usher in and mentor a new generation of representatives to help us tackle the challenges of our evolving business.”
The company launches with around 60 clients, a list that includes The Farewell director Lulu Wang who is the creator of the upcoming series Ex-Pats for Amazon starring Nicole Kidman; Angel Soto, director of Charmed City Kings for HBO Max and recently tapped...
- 3/3/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Rounding up the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood, as voted on by hundreds of film executives, The Black List has been a strong resource to clue one in on projects to potentially anticipate, but first, to kickstart Hollywood on bringing them to screen. Today we have this year’s edition.
Topping the 2020 list is Sophie Dawson’s social media satire cannibal film Headhunter, while others include Cat Wilkins’ comedy Two-Faced, which Taraji P. Henson is set to make as her directorial debut, as well as the sci-fi scripts If You Were the Last and Bring Me Back, and much more.
As an early look for some potential upcoming films to keep on your radar, take a look at the top scripts below, and the full list here.
Headhunter (29 votes)
Sophie Dawson
A high-functioning cannibal selects his victims based on their Instagram popularity, but finds his habits shaken by a man who wants to be eaten.
Topping the 2020 list is Sophie Dawson’s social media satire cannibal film Headhunter, while others include Cat Wilkins’ comedy Two-Faced, which Taraji P. Henson is set to make as her directorial debut, as well as the sci-fi scripts If You Were the Last and Bring Me Back, and much more.
As an early look for some potential upcoming films to keep on your radar, take a look at the top scripts below, and the full list here.
Headhunter (29 votes)
Sophie Dawson
A high-functioning cannibal selects his victims based on their Instagram popularity, but finds his habits shaken by a man who wants to be eaten.
- 12/14/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The 16th annual Black List survey was released on Monday, showcasing 80 of the most popular un-produced scripts from up-and-coming screenwriters.
This year’s list was compiled from suggestions of over 375 film executives, who contributed up to 10 feature screenplays that were written in, or somehow uniquely associated with 2020 and will not begin principal photography during the year. Scripts had to receive mentions from at least seven of those executives to be included on this year’s Black List.
The first survey was released in 2005. Since then many of the included scripts have gone on to be produced, often to great acclaim. Among the most notable entries are “Argo,” “Spotlight,” “Juno,” “American Hustle,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “The Revenant.” Recent Black List-appearing films include Melina Matsoukas’s 2019 movie “Queen & Slim,” written by Lena Waithe with a story co-authored by James Frey, which was featured on the 2018 Black List; and Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman,...
This year’s list was compiled from suggestions of over 375 film executives, who contributed up to 10 feature screenplays that were written in, or somehow uniquely associated with 2020 and will not begin principal photography during the year. Scripts had to receive mentions from at least seven of those executives to be included on this year’s Black List.
The first survey was released in 2005. Since then many of the included scripts have gone on to be produced, often to great acclaim. Among the most notable entries are “Argo,” “Spotlight,” “Juno,” “American Hustle,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “The Revenant.” Recent Black List-appearing films include Melina Matsoukas’s 2019 movie “Queen & Slim,” written by Lena Waithe with a story co-authored by James Frey, which was featured on the 2018 Black List; and Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman,...
- 12/14/2020
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Scripts about a cannibal who devours people with the most Instagram followers, a Cold War submarine thriller and a coming-of-age story about an Asian basketball player have topped the list of the annual Black List for 2020.
The 16th edition of the Black List featured 80 different scripts from 80 different screenwriters, with each screenplay getting at least seven mentions from a poll of 375 film industry executives, up from last year when just 66 made the list. The list is not a “best of” but a list of the most “liked” scripts by executives, and some already have financing.
Topping the Black List with 29 mentions is “Headhunter” by Sophie Dawson, which is described as a movie about a cannibal, who hunts Instagram influencers and determines who to eat based on how many followers they have, only to have his habits shaken when he meets someone who actually wants to be eaten.
The next two...
The 16th edition of the Black List featured 80 different scripts from 80 different screenwriters, with each screenplay getting at least seven mentions from a poll of 375 film industry executives, up from last year when just 66 made the list. The list is not a “best of” but a list of the most “liked” scripts by executives, and some already have financing.
Topping the Black List with 29 mentions is “Headhunter” by Sophie Dawson, which is described as a movie about a cannibal, who hunts Instagram influencers and determines who to eat based on how many followers they have, only to have his habits shaken when he meets someone who actually wants to be eaten.
The next two...
- 12/14/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Sophie Dawson’s cannibal drama “Headhunter” and Jingyi Shao’s basketball story “Chang Can Dunk” earned the top spots on the 2020 edition of The Black List.
“Headhunter” follows a cannibal who chooses his victims based on their Instagram clout, but he finds his routine shaken by a man who wants to be eaten. “Chang Can Dunk” centers on an Asian American teen and basketball fan who wants to be able to dunk. He soon learns much more about himself, his friends and his family.
Cat Wilkins’ high-school comedy script “Two-Faced” was fourth on the list. Taraji P. Henson will make her feature directorial debut on the Bron Studios pic, in addition to producing and starring in the movie. “Two-Faced” follows Joy, a Black high school senior whose chance of attending the college of her dreams is threatened by her wildly popular and charismatic school principal after she confronts him with evidence of his racist past.
“Headhunter” follows a cannibal who chooses his victims based on their Instagram clout, but he finds his routine shaken by a man who wants to be eaten. “Chang Can Dunk” centers on an Asian American teen and basketball fan who wants to be able to dunk. He soon learns much more about himself, his friends and his family.
Cat Wilkins’ high-school comedy script “Two-Faced” was fourth on the list. Taraji P. Henson will make her feature directorial debut on the Bron Studios pic, in addition to producing and starring in the movie. “Two-Faced” follows Joy, a Black high school senior whose chance of attending the college of her dreams is threatened by her wildly popular and charismatic school principal after she confronts him with evidence of his racist past.
- 12/14/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The 16th annual The Black List was announced this morning by Desus Nice and The Kid Mero, and below are the rankings of the year’s hot unproduced (or on the verge of being produced) screenplays. Leading this year’s list with 29 votes is Sophie Dawson’s Headhunter, which follows a high-functioning cannibal who selects his victims based on their Instagram popularity. However, he finds his habits shaken by a man who wants to be eaten.
Many of the scripts on the list have moved forward and are in the works including Randall Green’s coming-of-age comedy The Black Belt (15 votes), which has Chris Pratt starring and producing, for Monarch Media. Meanwhile, Taraji P. Henson is set to star in and direct Cat Wilkins’ Two-Faced (25 votes) for Bron Studios. This will mark the Oscar nominee’s first time in the director’s chair for a feature.
Apple landed Brian Gatewood...
Many of the scripts on the list have moved forward and are in the works including Randall Green’s coming-of-age comedy The Black Belt (15 votes), which has Chris Pratt starring and producing, for Monarch Media. Meanwhile, Taraji P. Henson is set to star in and direct Cat Wilkins’ Two-Faced (25 votes) for Bron Studios. This will mark the Oscar nominee’s first time in the director’s chair for a feature.
Apple landed Brian Gatewood...
- 12/14/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.