Month: May 2020

Steve Carell is bringing back his character Gru from “Despicable Me” to shed light on proper health and safety etiquette during the coronavirus crisis in a new PSA for the World Health Organization. In the clip, Carell highlights the “lifesaving behaviors” necessary to curb the pandemic, including social distancing, staying active at home and being
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Solstice Studios is developing the futuristic thriller “Mind Fall” with Cedric Jimenez directing and Oscar winner Graham Moore scripting. It’s the second project for two-year-old Solstice under its partnership with Studio 8, which includes Robert Rodriguez’s upcoming action thriller “Hypnotic,” starring Ben Affleck. “Mind Fall” will be produced by Studio 8’s Jeff Robinov, Guy Danella and
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The coronavirus pandemic has caused the world to flip upside down, with businesses continuing to shift operations as companies adapt to the new normal. As stay-at-home restrictions ease up and industries begin to open their doors, Time’s Up has released guidelines for equitable and inclusive practices in the workplace to help leaders respond to the
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Larry Kramer, the writer and influential gay activist who pressed the U.S. government and the medical establishment to respond to the AIDS epidemic, has died. He was 84. Kramer died Wednesday from pneumonia, his husband David Webster told the New York Times. Earlier in his life, Kramer was a screenwriter with credits including “Women in
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It’s no surprise that National Geographic’s new drama “Barksins” looks like it was really shot in the 17th century wilderness — even if there were no cameras in the 1600s. Production designer Isabelle Guay built the set from “scratch,” the show’s star Marcia Gay Harden shared during the “Variety After-Show.” On “Barksins,” Harden portrays Mathilde,
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Walter Murphy’s “A Fifth of Beethoven,” the disco-fied 1976 reinvention of the composer’s most famous symphony, seems like an unusual choice for the theme of “Mrs. America,” FX’s Cate Blanchett-starring series on the history of the 1970s women’s movement as seen from the perspective of its fervent opponent, arch-conservative Phyllis Schlafly. The song dates from
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The BBC has acquired “DNA,” a Danish-french crime thriller series starring Charlotte Rampling, from Newen Distribution. Co-created by Torleif Hoppe (“The Killing”), “DNA” is an eight-part series following Rolf Larsen, a respected detective working for the Copenhagen police whose life is brutally turned upside down when his baby daughter goes missing. Five years after the
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Executive producer Willow Grylls has been appointed as co-chief executive officer of New Pictures, whose output includes “The Missing” and “Catherine the Great,” working alongside existing CEO Charlie Pattinson. Elaine Pyke also takes on a new role as creative director. Grylls joined Pattinson and George Faber’s Company Pictures when it was set up, working initially
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Sony Pictures International Productions and Amazon Prime Video have closed a multi-picture deal with celebrated Spanish cineaste Álex de la Iglesia to produce a new horror feature film anthology, “The Fear Collection.” Put through Pokeepsie Films, De la Iglesia and Carolina Bang’s Madrid-based production company, the deal will see De la Iglesia direct and/or produce
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Japan is considering stepping up its laws against cyberbullying. The moves follow the death on Saturday of Hana Kimura, a pro-wrestler and personality in the “Terrace House” reality TV show. “It’s necessary to properly implement procedures to disclose information on senders in order to curb online abuses and rescue victims,” said communications minister Sanae Takaichi
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Paul Feig has reflected on the vitriolic response to his women-led “Ghostbusters” reboot, claiming it was similar to criticism faced by Hillary Clinton during her 2016 campaign for president. In a discussion with Julia Cunningham on “The Jess Cagle Show” on SiriusXM, Feig discussed the vocal negativity that arose following the casting of Kristen Wiig,
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Japanese police have arrested Shinji Aoba, the man suspected of the arson attack on Kyoyo Animation last July. The arrest came after he was judged sufficiently recovered from his own burn injuries to face scrutiny. The blaze at the animation production studio killed 36 people and injured another 33. Aoba was found near the scene
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