Month: November 2018

Jean-Francois Richet’s crime thriller “The Emperor of Paris” has been pre-sold by Gaumont to major territories. The crime thriller stars Vincent Cassel as Francois Vidocq, a real-life ex-convict who became a police detective during Napoleon’s reign. The cast includes Olga Kurylenko, August Diehl, Freya Mavor, Fabrice Luchini and James Thierée. Gaumont, which is hosting screenings
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Berlin-based Flare Film is continuing its focus on international productions with German filmmaker Bastian Günther’s “Avalanche,” which just wrapped principal photography in Louisiana. The timely social drama, which stars Carrie Preston (“Claws”) and British thesp Joe Cole (“A Prayer Before Dawn”), is set in America’s troubled social and cultural environment and explores the caustic repercussions
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Leading French producer Dimitri Rassam (“The Little Prince”) is joining forces with Mike Jackson and John Legend’s banner Get Lifted Film Company to produce the U.S. remake of 2017’s “Le Brio,” the Cesar-nominated comedy/drama. Endeavor Content has come on board to co-finance. Letitia Wright (“Black Panther”) is attached to star in and executive produce the
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November 2, 2018 7:55PM PT Michael J. Facenda has been named Vice President of Marketing at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa and Spa Resort Casino. In his new position, Facenda will oversee all marketing operations for Agua Caliente Casino Resorts properties, including renovations and upgrades to the Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs locations, and future expansions planned for
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November 2, 2018 4:42PM PT Amid the blur of technological change, producers at the American Film Market are seeking to become an all-encompassing destination for storytellers. That was the prevailing sentiment that emerged Friday the panel titled the Producer and Financier Perspective at the Fairmont Hotel that drew an audience of some 500-plus. Variety‘s Asia
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“Outlander” is once again changing locations for its upcoming fourth season — but only in show setting, not shooting location, which is something executive producer Matthew B. Robert says provided the “absolute biggest challenge” the production team has thus far faced on the show. The third season finale of the Starz drama saw Claire (Caitriona
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November 2, 2018 4:04PM PT In Sophie Dupuis’ Quebecois crime drama, two brothers have their relationship tested when one backs away from the illicit family business. The title spells out the theme in the crime drama “Family First,” and if that weren’t enough, the title itself is inked out in cursive on one of the
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In today’s TV news roundup, an exclusive first look at the upcoming Netflix children’s series “Motown Magic” and Anjelika Washington joins “Stargirl.” FIRST LOOKS Variety has obtained an exclusive first look at upcoming Netflix children’s series “Motown Magic,” premiering worldwide on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Each episode’s plot is inspired by the themes and characters of classic Motown songs, featuring newly
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“Bohemian Rhapsody” is bookended with one of Queen’s most iconic performances: a 20-minute set at Wembley Stadium outside of London for 1985’s Live Aid concert. Featuring some of the band’s biggest hits, including “Radio Ga Ga,” “We Are The Champions,” “We Will Rock You” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” recreating the scale of that record-breaking event —
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Incredibly, it’s been nearly 40 years since Marianne Faithfull’s career renaissance began with the harrowing ice funk of 1979’s masterful “Broken English.” That album and its two successors were made with Grace Jones collaborator Barry Reynolds; over the intervening years she’s made three cabaret-esque albums with producer Hal Willner, a classically influenced outing with “Twin
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The final week before the midterms has seen a wave of celebrity-driven get-out-the vote videos: Constance Wu and Jimmy O. Yang from “Crazy Rich Asians” debuted a spot earlier this week; John Leguizamo starred in a Spanish-language ad unveiled on Thursday; and Rosario Dawson and Julianne Moore will headline an immigration-themed PSA to hit on Saturday.
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Pharrell Williams has a lot on his plate right now—from opening his Miami eatery Swan and Bar Bevy (a partnership wit nightlife tycoon David Grutman) to making sure Donald Trump never plays “Happy” at another one of his rallies again. But even in the midst of all this, Pharrell isn’t too busy to lend his
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November 2, 2018 3:04PM PT Freeform has canceled “Alone Together” after two seasons. The series was a half-hour, single-camera comedy starring Esther Povitsky and Benji Aflalo. The pair play platonic best friends who want nothing more than to be accepted by the vain and status-obsessed culture. Despite their sometimes contentious relationship, when push comes to shove,
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Motion Picture Assn. of America chief Charles Rivkin and Independent Film and Television Alliance topper Jean Prewitt presented a united front against piracy Friday in the opening conference at the American Film Market. The piracy issue dominated in a 45-minute-long conversation at the Fairmont Hotel titled the Global Perspective before 500-plus attendees as both execs
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The rough, sometimes druggy genesis of the American independent movie business of the ‘60s and ‘70s was recalled by Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith of the Monkees during a sold-out 50th anniversary American Cinematheque screening of the band’s ill-fated feature film “Head.” Looking out into the Egyptian Theatre before the film unspooled, Dolenz drolly asked
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German actress Sibel Kekilli is best-known to American audiences for her role as Shae, the prostitute-turned-mistress of Tyrion Lannister in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” An outspoken feminist of Turkish descent, Kekiilli spoke to Variety at Italy’s Lucca Comics about the culture clash she’s been contending with since the start of her career, and why she
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Consider “Bohemian Rhapsody” the box office Queen. The Freddie Mercury biopic is set to open with a winning $43 million weekend at 4,000 North American locations, early estimates showed Friday. The film, starring Rami Malek as Mercury, generated a solid $3.9 million in Thursday night previews, with exit polling showing 66% of theatergoers rating “Bohemian Rhapsody”
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