The art of world building is pushing several international films to the forefront this awards season, and Hollywood has sweeping foreign visuals, borderless below-the-line talent and coveted tax breaks to thank for it. From setting the period in “Belfast,” “Spencer” and “House of Gucci,” to high-action romps in “No Time to Die” and “The Matrix
Month: January 2022
Karen Thrussell has joined “A Very British Scandal” producer Blueprint Television as head of television. She will oversee the development and production of all series. Thrussell replaces Dominic Treadwell-Collins, who now runs Happy Prince, a new drama label under ITV Studios. She joins from Mammoth Screen, where she executive produced five seasons of BAFTA winning
The BBC’s Storyville strand, which sets out to showcase the world’s best international documentaries, has picked up a new slate of eight films. They will be screened on BBC Four and iPlayer over eight weeks starting Jan. 26. “We’re excited to offer U.K. audiences this eclectic range of documentaries from around the globe,” Philippa Kowarsky,
French comedy “Call My Agent!” was a domestic hit after it launched on France’s TF1 network in 2015 but it wasn’t until later, when it got picked up by Netflix, that the series about a fictional Parisian talent agency found a global audience. Christian Baute, whose company Headline Pictures has produced a U.K. version of
Sony Pictures Television-owned independent production outfit Stellify Media has created a new spin-off format from “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” titled “Fastest Finger First.” The show will expand on the first round of “Millionaire,” where contestants have to put their answers to a multiple-choice question in a specific order. Five contestants play against each
The outsize personality of U.S. rock singer Meatloaf, who died age 74, was cherished and mourned across Europe where news of his passing dampened many a breakfast table on Friday. TV host Piers Morgan said: “RIP Meat Loaf, 74. One of rock music’s all-time great characters whose seminal iconic album Bat Out Of Hell is
The singer Meat Loaf, whose “Bat Out of Hell” album is among the best-selling and most enduring rock albums of the 1970s, died on January 20 at the age of 74. A consummate performer, he also appeared as an actor in the cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” as well as “Crazy Alabama,” “Fight
Dave, Doja Cat, Ed Sheeran, Holly Humberstone, Liam Gallagher and Little Simz are among the first wave of performers revealed for this year’s Brit awards, one of Britain’s biggest music events. The awards, which are scheduled to take place live at London’s O2 Arena on Feb. 8, will be broadcast on ITV and ITV Hub,
The Christchurch, New Zealand-based University of Canterbury is to build a Digital Screen Campus, developing skills and talents necessary for a more converged media future. The development is expected to be the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be constructed over 14 hectares (35 acres) and involve a $65 million (NZ$97
Carey Williams (“R#J”) hits Sundance with “Emergency,” the feature he and screenwriter KD Dávila developed from their darkly comic short, also titled “Emergency.” The film follows straight-A student Kunle (Donald Elise Watkins) and his best friend Sean (R.J. Cyler) as they set to have an epic night of partying, with the goal of being the
“Emergency” starts out fast, loose, and boisterously nasty, with two buddies at the relatively upscale Buchanan University doing that thing that buddies do best: giving each other shit just for being who they are. Kunle (Donald Elise Watkins), in his button-down shirts, with a quick tongue but a tendency to gawk, is a straight-A straight
We have only just settled into the genial rhythms of Gabriel Martins’ “Mars One,” meeting one by one the loving, yearning family of four at its heart when, like capable, brassy matriarch Tércia (Rejane Faria), we get a shock to the system. Sitting at a lunch counter, Tércia is trying to ignore the ranting of
“The Tiger Rising” spells out its entire plot and overarching theme from the get-go, bluntly articulating its inspirational modus operandi so viewers can remain perpetually ahead of its action. The fact that writer-director Ray Giarratana’s film is based on Kate DiCamillo’s children’s book — and thus intended for young audiences — is hardly an excuse
The same day faded-romance drama “A Love Song” screened for the Sundance Film Festival, I caught an interview with Marilyn Bergman on NPR in which the late lyricist described the time director Richard Brooks came to her and partner Alan with a request: “I want you to write me a song that is to appear
“The Batman” theme has finally been unveiled by composer Michael Giacchino ahead of its March 4 release. The orchestration hints at other iconic Batman themes and is a powerful, emotional and moody cue that starts softly before soaring to a grand majestic finale. The theme aligns with the film’s trailers that reveal an unmistakably dark
Apple has tapped mainland Chinese director Zhang Meng for “The Comeback,” a heartwarming film that is releasing in time for the Lunar New Year holidays. It was shot entirely using the latest iPhone devices. The company’s Chinese New Year movie tradition is now into its fifth edition. Apple’s 2021 film “Nian” was shot by “The
“Boxing is opera to Latins,” we hear in the early moments of “La Guerra Civil,” a comprehensive visual history of one of the most momentous fights in contemporary boxing, directed with verve by powerhouse actor-filmmaker Eva Longoria Bastón. But for the bout in question that took place between Oscar De La Hoya and Julio César
“The Princess” is a perfectly timed, compulsively watchable once-over-lightly documentary. It’s a chronicle of Princess Diana culled entirely from television news footage and other public records. In other words, this isn’t an intimate portrait of the Princess of Wales that ”takes us closer to the subject” through an archival jamboree of home movies, eyebrow-raising long-view
When HBO renewed Bill Simmons’ “Music Box” documentary series for a second season in December, it wasn’t exactly surprising. Critics, film festival programmers and audiences were immediately taken with the series of six docs, which launched in July. But the road to success was a long one. Simmons conceived the series back in 2018. His
What brings documentaries to life? For an increasing number of them, it’s colorful characters — literally. Animation is making docs more accessible to a wider audience, allowing filmmakers to dramatize scenes that can’t be shown with footage and bringing them into once-unimagined awards categories. No film has demonstrated this more clearly than Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s
When Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” screened for industry audiences in late November, Oscar pundits were rapturous but immediately worried: “It’s great, but could a remakewin best picture?” The answer, of course, is yes. (Pundits like to either predict the Oscar outcome five months in advance or else predict dire scenarios, nothing in between.) This
Digital entertainment studio Omnific Blockchain Studios is to take operational control of Marvel Digital Productions, a Hong Kong-based effects and post-production company. The move is intended to accelerate production of non fungible tokens (NFT). NFTs, which are unique, uncopiable versions of digital images, and use blockchain to trace them, have taken the art world by
Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos proudly said “Stranger Things” is “as valuable a franchise as exists today in entertainment around the world” during the company’s Q4 earnings presentation Thursday. During the same pre-recorded Q&A, Netflix COO and chief product officer Greg Peters said while the streamer is very focused on its own
Sundance may have been forced to cancel its plans to host an in-person festival, but the shift to a virtual event isn’t likely to stifle dealmaking. After all, the 2021 edition of Sundance saw films like “Passing,” “Summer of Soul” and “CODA” score record-breaking pacts despite the fact that all-night bidding wars were conducted over
SPOILER ALERT: Do not read unless you have seen the 2022 horror film “Scream,” currently playing in theaters. The “Scream” movies know about rules. Since the series launched with the first film in 1996, inspiring countless homages and parodies, a few things have been constant. One of them is David Arquette, who has appeared as Dwight
Nearly 40 years after it first debuted, the holiday movie classic “A Christmas Story” is finally getting a sequel, with original star Peter Billingsley set to reprise his role and produce. Warner Bros. and Legendary are backing the production. “A Christmas Story Christmas” will be directed by Clay Kaytis (“The Christmas Chronicles”) from a script
A live-action adaptation of the classic animated film “The Aristocats” is in early development at Disney, Variety has confirmed. “Peter Rabbit” director Will Gluck and “Onward” writer Keith Bunin are set to pen the script, with Gluck also producing via his Olive Bridge Entertainment banner. The original 1970 film follows a family of aristocratic cats —
Can Kristen Stewart still win best actress for “Spencer” at the Oscars? That’s the burning question following her shocking snub by the Screen Actors Guild. For her portrayal as Princess Diana in Pablo Larraín’s fable about the tragic royal, the 31-year old actor has led the tally in critics’ prizes. On the circuit, since “Spencer”
HBO’s “Perry Mason” is adding some new suspects to the case. The period drama, based on the popular 1930s detective fiction character created by Eric Stanley Garner, has added four new recurring cast members to its upcoming second season. Joining the cast are Sean Astin (“The Lord of the Rings,” “Stranger Things”), Tommy Dewey (“Casual”),
This week, Daphne Oz launched a new nationally-syndicated daytime show, “The Good Dish.” The television host, writer and chef has been ready for this moment all her life — but when the opportunity came, Oz had to pull it off in record time. Oz, who became a best-selling author as a college student with her
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