Month: September 2020

London-based sales and production company Film Constellation has scored multiple new deals on Natalie Erika James’ all-female Sundance horror hit “Relic.” The movie has now sold out internationally. Lauded by critics, the film opened in the U.S. in July via IFC Films, rapidly grossing $1.2 million at the box office, following a successful drive-in campaign and
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The U.K.’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) has successfully returned to production with some 60 films of varying lengths and genres, including graduation films, being shot since courses resumed in June. The first test project to shoot trialling the U.K.’s COVID-19 production guidelines was the short “Our Love Is Here To Stay,” which looks
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U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 has commissioned six-part crime thriller “Before We Die,” starring Lesley Sharp (“Bob & Rose), Vincent Regan (“300”) and Patrick Gibson (“The OA”), an adaptation of the hit Swedish series of the same name. The Bristol, England-set drama follows a detective who becomes deeply conflicted when she discovers her son is playing
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Tuesday morning’s online pitches at Cartoon Forum may have come without their usual helping of Toulouse croissants, but they did offer a taste of the scripted series currently seeking co-production partnerships. Standout projects included “Belzebubs” – one of the eleven teen/ adult pitches at Cartoon Forum this year –  a thirteen-part family sitcom with a
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The COVID epidemic must be rough for sex addicts — something that lends at least a temporary tinge of nostalgia to “Lost Girls & Love Hotels,” whose promiscuous heroine seems unconcerned even about old-school STD risks. This adaptation of a 2010 semi-autobiographical novel by Canadian Catherine Hanrahan stars Alexandra Daddario as a North American expat
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Valérie Delpierre and Pilar Palomero, producer and director of “Las Niñas,” one of the banner titles of a new – and often women-driven – Catalan cinema, are re-teaming with Madrid-based BTeam Pictures to produce Palomero’s second feature, “La Maternal.” Delpierre, who serves as a member of this year’s San Sebastian Horizontes Latinos, will produce once
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Music publishing giant Kobalt, whose roster includes Paul McCartney, The Weeknd, Dave Grohl, Childish Gambino and Lorde, responded to sale rumors that broke into the open on Wednesday evening with a wordy “maybe.” “We’ve always had great interest in the company,” a rep for Kobalt said in statement. “We’re always evaluating the best capital structure
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It wasn’t an easy decision for Janelle Monáe to take the lead role in “Antebellum.” Despite its compelling script, reenacting America’s history of slavery was challenging for the actor, who, like many, struggles with viewing contemporary instances of police brutality. “I still have not watched what happened to George Floyd. It’s painful to have to
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After being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 55th Academy of Country Music Awards aired on Wednesday night, hosted by Keith Urban. The show was broadcast live from three iconic Nashville locations: Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and the Bluebird Cafe. Taylor Swift performed “Betty” from her “Folklore” album, marking her first performance
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McDonald’s staffers unfamiliar with the slang of “Sicko Mode” got schooled on all things Travis Scott as the rapper’s branded meal continues to sell swiftly coast-to-coast. Driving demand for the meal — which includes a Quarter Pounder with cheese, bacon, lettuce, pickles, ketchup and mustard; medium fries (with BBQ Sauce for dipping); and a Sprite
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Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming musical drama “Elvis” has added several prominent Australian actors to its cast. Richard Roxburgh, Helen Thomson, David Wenham, and Dacre Montgomery have joined an ensemble that includes the previously announced Tom Hanks, Austin Butler and Olivia DeJonge. Roxburgh, who worked with Luhrmann on “Moulin Rouge!,” will portray Elvis’s father, Vernon Presley. Rufus
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Production on HBO’s “The Gilded Age” shut down three days before it was slated to begin back in March, and actor Cynthia Nixon has finally had her first fitting as the industry begins to ramp back up. She was picked up at her New York City apartment by a Teamster driver.  “I showed him my
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Baby Yoda aka The Child is not just a pop culture phenomenon, but now also a major awards winner: “The Mandalorian,” which put its brand-new streamer Disney Plus squarely on the Emmys’ map this year with 15 overall nominations, picked up its first statues at the Creative Arts ceremony on Wednesday night. “The Mandalorian” picked
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Long-time Pulse Films executive Lucas Ochoa (pictured, left) has left the “Gangs of London” producer to join “Normal People” outfit Element Pictures as an executive producer. Also joining the production company is Silverprint Pictures’ Michael Dawson (right). Ochoa’s hire is a major coup for Element Pictures, and comes as a surprise given his years spent
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The 2020 holiday season’s game console showdown is set. The PlayStation 5 next-gen system will roll out starting in North America and Japan on Nov. 12, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced today. That will be followed by Europe and additional regions on Nov. 19. The PS5 Digital Edition will be available for a recommended retail price
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“I Care a Lot’s” director J Blakeson and stars joined Variety’s Virtual TIFF Studio presented by Canada Goose to discuss the crime drama’s complex characters, story and message. Blakeson said his “deliciously Machiavellian” characters were inspired by real news stories about predatory guardians taking advantage of the elderly and other vulnerable populations. He added that
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Amazon Music is now offering millions of episodes of free podcasts and has set a slate of original programming coming to the platform — representing a major new rival to Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The free podcasts are available on all tiers of Amazon Music for no additional cost and have first launched for customers
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ABC is developing a single-cam comedy from two former “Single Parents” writers. The project is titled “Happy for You.” Taylor Cox is attached to write while Kim Rosenstock will serve as executive producer. The network has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached. 20th Television, where Rosenstock is currently under an overall
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