Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 1st to 6th, 2023 - Update #17

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

STRIKE - From Deadline:  The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is on strike.

From Deadline:  Disney, HBO/HBO Max, and CBS have sent letters to showrunners (the TV equivalent of film directors) instructing them to return to work, inspite of the writer's strike.

From Deadline:  The WGA's chief negotiator, Ellen Stutzman, talks about the state of the writers' strike, including the lack of engagement on the part of the strike's other party, AMPTP.

From Deadline:  What went wrong between the WGA and AMPTP? What could they not agree on that led to a strike?

From Deadline:  The site explains the WGA strike: the issues, the stakes, movies and TV shows affected, and how long it might last.

SCANDAL - From the AP:  The Labor Department has fined McDonald's restaurant franchisees in Louisville, Kentucky, a total $212,000 for illegally employing children.  That includes two 10-year-olds who were not paid for their labor.

CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  Oscar-winning actor and performer, Jamie Foxx, breaks silence for the first time since his hospitalization after a "medical emergency."

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Paramount Network's drama, "Yellowstone," will end after its upcoming fifth season.  It will be replaced by a follow-up series starring Matthew McConaughey.

From ETOnline:  Star Kevin Costner will not return to Paramount Network's television series, "Yellowstone," past this currently filming fifth season.

TONY AWARDS - From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 76th Annual Tony Awards have been announced.  The musical "Some Like It Hot" leads with 13 nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, June 11th at 8pm Eastern on CBS.

ANIMATION - From Deadline:  J. Michael Straczynski, the creator of the TV series, "Babylon 5," has announced that more information about the release date of the "Babylon 5" animated film is coming in a week.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  In a first look, Oscar-nominated actor, Austin Butler ("Elvis") is bald and without eyebrows as the villain, Reyd-Rautha, in "Dune: Part Two."

OSCARS - From Deadline:  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday its “most significant overhaul” of the campaign promotional regulation and awards rules for the upcoming 96th Oscars.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Fox had opted not to renew its highest-rated scripted drama, "9-1-1," after its current sixth season, which has its season finale May 15th.  However, the series will move to ABC for the 2023-24 season, its seventh season.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 4/28 to 4/30/2023 weekend box office is Universal/Illumination Entertainment's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" with an estimated take of 40 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Actor Ioan Gruffudd (2005's "Fantastic Four," and "San Andreas") has been added to Sony Pictures' "Bad Boys 4."

OBITS:

From Variety:  Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and folk singer, Gordon Lightfoot, has died at the age of 84, May 1, 2023.  He had a number one hit in the U.S. with the 1974 single, "Sundown."  He also had huge success on the U.S. "Adult Contemporary" charts with such songs as "If You Could Read My Mind" (1970), "Carefree" (1974), and "Rainy Day People" (1975), among others.  His songs were covered by such artists as Elvis Presley, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young, to name a few.

From Variety:  Film and television editor, John Gordon Wright, has died at the age of 79, Thursday, April 20, 2023.  Wright was nominated for the "Best Editing" Oscar twice, for "The Hunt for Red October" (1990) and "Speed" (1994).  He won a Primetime Emmy Award for editing the 1991 CBS television film, "Sarah, Plain and Tall."  He edited two films for director Mel Gibson, "The Passion of the Christ" (2004) and "Apocalypto" (2006).  He also edited "X-Men" (2000) and Marvel Studios' "The Incredible Hulk" (2008).

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 12th to 18th, 2023 - Update #10

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

TV/SCANDAL - From Deadline:  Actor Ingo Rademacher says that ABC fired him from "General Hospital" because he likes Donald Trump.  His lawsuit against the network faces a March 30th summary judgment hearing.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  16 years after the union on the crime drama, American Gangster, star Denzel Washington and director Ridley Scott are reuniting for a sequel to Scott's Oscar-winning flick, "Gladiator" (2000).  Recent Oscar-nominee, Paul Mescal, will star opposite Washington.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Director Nancy Meyers' next film, a pricey romantic comedy, was dropped by Netflix, reportedly over its budget. Warner Bros is in talks to pick up the film.

MOVIES - From THR:  Sources say Oscar-nominated director and Oscar-winning screenwriter, Quentin Tarantino, has written a script entitled, "The Movie Critic," and that he will begin directing it this Fall with a female lead.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  The Disney+ series, "Willow," a sequel to the 1988 fantasy film of the same name, will not get a second season.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 3/10 to 3/12/2023 weekend box office is Paramount Pictures' "Scream IV" with an estimated take of 44.5 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Actress Jenna Ortega is in talks to star in director Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice 2." Orgeta headlines' Burton's "Wednesday" series for Netflix.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  The actor, Lance Reddick, has died at the age of 60, Friday, March 17, 2023.  Reddick was best known for his work in HBO'S "The Wire" (2002-08), Fox's "Fringe" (2008-13), and Amazon's "Bosch" (2014-20).  In film, he was best known for the role of "Charon" in the "John Wick" film franchise.

From Deadline:  The author and novelist, John Jakes, has died at the age of 90, Saturday, March 11, 2023.  Jakes was best known for his book series, the "North and South" trilogy: "North and South" (1982), "Love and War" (1984), and "Heaven and Hell" (1984).  All three books were adapted into television miniseries for ABC.  Jakes was also known for the eight book series, "The Kent Family Chronicles," the first three of which were adapted into TV movies.

OSCARS:

From Deadline:   In a heartwarming image, "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" stars Harrison Ford and newly-minted Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan reunited again on stage at the 95th Academy Awards at the culmination of the ceremony when Ford presented the "Best Picture" award to "Everything Everywhere All At Once," in which Quan starred.

From Variety:  Ruth E. Carter has won the Oscar for "Best Costume Design" for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" at the 95th Academy Awards. That makes her the FIRST black woman to win two Oscars. She also won "Best Costume Design" for her work on "Black Panther."

From EW:  EW.com interviews four anonymous assholes who also happen to be Oscars voters about their "brutally honest ballots" - how and why they made the choices they did.  What they say reflects why the Oscar have always been overrated and why they are becoming trashier.

From Oscar:  The nominations for the 2023 / 95th Academy Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced Sunday, March 12, 2023.

AWARDS:

From THR:  The winners at the 2023 Writers Guild Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" (original screenplay) and "Women Talking" (adapted screenplay) were the top winners.

From Deadline:  The winners at the 2023 / 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" won six trophies, including "Best Feature."

From Deadline:  The winners at the 2023 / 29th annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins the big prize, "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture," one of four awards the film won.

From Deadline:  The winners at the 2023 / 34th annual Producers Guild Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins the top prize, "Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding  Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures."

From Deadline:  At the 2023 / 50th annual Annie Awards (for animated productions), "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" wins the "Best Feature" award, one of its four wins.  "Best Indie Feature" goes to "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On."

From Variety:  The winners of the 2023 EE BAFTA Film Awards have been announced.  The French film, "All Quiet on the Western Front" wins a record seven awards including "Best Film."  "The Banshees of Inisherin" won four, including "Best British Film."

From Deadline:  The winners of the 75th annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced.  The top honor, "Outstanding Directorial Achievment in a Theatrical Feature Film," went to Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

From Deadline:   The winners at the 2023 / 21st annual VES Awards, handed out by the Visual Effects Society, have been announced.  "Avatar: The Way of Water" topped the night with 9 wins.

From Deadline:  "Top Gun: Maverick" wins "Best Picture" at the "AARP Movies for Grownups Awards" held Saturday night in Beverly Hills.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2023 Writers Guild Awards have been announced.  Winners will be announced Sunday, March 5, 2023.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2023 EE BAFTA Awards have been announced. The Netflix World War I drama, "All Quiet on the Western Front," leads with 14 nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, February 19, 2023.

From Deadline:  The winners were announced at the 2023 / 28th annual Critics Choice Awards.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" was named "Best Picture."

From Deadline:  The nominees for the 2023 / 34th Producers Guild of America Awards have been announced in both film and TV categories.  The winners will be announced Sat. Feb. 25th, 2023.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced Sun., Feb. 26th, 2023.

From Deadline:  The National Society of Film Critics has named "Tar" its "Best Picture" of 2023 and its star, Cate Blanchette, as "Best Actress."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 23rd Annual Black Reel Awards have been announced.  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "The Woman King" have tied for the lead in nominations with 14 apiece.  The winners will be announced February 6, 2023.

From Deadline:  The Black Film Critics Circle named "The Woman King" the "Best Film" of 2022.

From Deadline:  The winners of the 2022 Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "Tar" tie for "Best Picture" award.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 80th annual Golden Globes Awards were announced today (Mon., Dec. 12th).  "The Banshees of Inisherin" led the film field with eight nominations. ABC's "Abbot Elementary" lead the TV side with five nominations.  The winners will be announced January 10, 2023.

From Deadline:  The American Film Institute (AFI) has named its "AFI Awards Film" list of "Top 10 Films of 2022."  The list includes "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Top Gun: Maverick," and "The Woman King."

From THR:  The African-American Film Critics Association name "The Woman King" the "Best Film of 2022."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the "2023 Critics Choice Awards" in the television categories have been announced.  ABC's sitcom, "Abbot Elementary" leads the nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, January 15, 2023 and broadcast on The CW.

From Variety:  The 2022 / 88th Annual New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) Awards have been announced.  Todd Field's "Tar" wins "Best Film" and "Best Actress" (Cate Blanchett).  Keke Palmer wins "Best Supporting Actress" for her performance in "Nope."

From Deadline:  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins the "Best Feature" award at the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards, one of two wins for the film.

From IndieWire:  The nominations for the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced.   "Everything Everywhere All at Once" leads with eight nominations.  The winners will be announced March 4th, 2023.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards were announced a month ago.  Todd Field's "Tar" leads with five nominations.  The winners will be announced Monday, November 28th.

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BRITTNEY GRINER:

From CBSNews:  WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from her Russian imprisonment in a one-for-one prisoner swap for notorious international arms dealer, Viktor Bout.

From NBCNews:   Brittney Griner will enter a system of isolation, grueling labor and psychological torment when she is transferred to a penal colony, the successor to the infamous Russian gulag, to fulfill a nine-year sentence handed down Tuesday in Moscow, former prisoners and advocates said.

From NBCNews:  A Russian court has rejected Brittney Griner's appeal of her nine-year prison sentence on (fake) drug charges.

From Reuters:  Russia says that it is ready to talk prisoner swamp for Brittney Griner and U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, but also scolds the U.S. Embassy.

From TheDailyBeast:   Legendary NBA bad boy and champion (Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls), Dennis Rodman claims that he has been given permission to go to Russia and help free imprisoned hostage, WNBA star, Brittney Griner.

From Vox:  Vox's Jonathan Guyer talks the Brittney Griner case with Danielle Gilbert, a Dartmouth professor who is writing a book about states and rogue actors that take hostages.

From ESPN:   A Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison Thursday, Aug. 4th.  Griner was arrested Feb. 17 for bringing cannabis into the country and pleaded guilty July 7, though the case continued under Russian law.

From ESPN:  The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

From RSN:  "Will Support From LeBron James, Joe Rogan, Kim Kardashian, and Other Celebrities Help Free Brittney Griner From a Russian Prison?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar via Substack

From ESPN:  Detained WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty on Thursday to bringing hashish oil into Russia, telling a judge that she had done so "inadvertently" while asking the court for mercy.

From CBSSports:  The Brittney Griner situation explained.

From RSN:  According to The Washington Post Editorial Board: "Brittney Griner is a hostage, plain and simple."

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 12th to 18th, 2023 - Update #12

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MOVIES - From Deadline:  The upcoming "Scream VI" is on track to have a franchise record opening weekend at the domestic box.  The film opens March 10th.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  When Paramount+ and Showtime merge into a single service, there will be a price increase.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Director M. Night Shyamalan has signed a multi-year, first-look deal with Warner Bros.  Upcoming projects include 2024's "Trap" and his daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan's "The Watchers," which is slated for June 2024.

CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  The family of Bruce Willis ("Die Hard") have announced that the now retired actor has "prefrontotemporal dementia."

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  LaToya Morgan and J.J. Abrams' television series, "Duster," has received an official series order from HBO Max.  Rachel Hilson will star alongside previously announced lead, Josh Holloway.

OSCARS - From EW:  2023 Oscar nominees meet at the 95th Academy Awards luncheon and posed for a 2023 class photo.

TRAILERS - From Deadline:  Warner Bros. Pictures debuts the first official trailer for its big summer superhero flick, "The Flash."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 2/10 to 2/12/2023 weekend box office is "Magic Mike's Last Dance" with an estimated take of 8.2 million dollars.

CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  California county sheriff updates on missing British actor Julian Sands, who has been missing for a month in the Mount Baldy region of the San Gabriel region. "... the outcome may not be what we would like," the sheriff says.  Sands is known for such films as "Room with a View," "Warlock," and "Leaving Las Vegas," to name a few.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Vin Diesel says that he'd like Oscar-nominated actor, Robert Downey, Jr., to appear in a "Fast & Furious" film.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  Former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and television sports commentator, Tim McCarver, has died at the age of 81, Thursday, February 16, 2023.  McCarver was a catcher and played in the MLB from 1959 to 1980.  He was two World Series as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals (1964, 1967) and appeared in a third (1968), which the Cardinals lost.  Although he played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980, he was apparently not on the playoff roster of their World Series winning team that year.  His career as a local and national television sports broadcaster ran from 1980 to 2020, including work for ABC, CBS, and Fox.  For his work, he won three Emmy Awards.

From Variety:  Actress and international sex symbol, Raquel Welch, has died at the age of 82, Wednesday, February 15, 2023.  She first made her mark in film with the 1966 sci-fi flick, "Fantastic Voyage."  Her turn in the 1966 British adventure fantasy, "One Million Years B.C.," wearing a fur bikini, made her an international sensation.  Her other star turns included the 1967 films, "Fathom," and "Bedazzled."  She also starred in 1973's "The Three Musketeers" and its 1974 sequel, "The Four Musketeers."  Among her numerous television appearances was playing herself in the 1997 episode of "Seinfeld," entitled "The Summer of George."

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AWARDS:

From Oscar:  The nominations for the 2023 / 95th Academy Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced Sunday, March 12, 2023.

From Deadline:   The winners at the 2023 / 21st annual VES Awards, handed out by the Visual Effects Society, have been announced.  "Avatar: The Way of Water" topped the night with 9 wins.

From Deadline:  "Top Gun: Maverick" wins "Best Picture" at the "AARP Movies for Grownups Awards" held Saturday night in Beverly Hills.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2023 Writers Guild Awards have been announced.  Winners will be announced Sunday, March 5, 2023.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2023 EE BAFTA Awards have been announced. The Netflix World War I drama, "All Quiet on the Western Front," leads with 14 nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, February 19, 2023.

From Deadline:  The winners were announced at the 2023 / 28th annual Critics Choice Awards.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" was named "Best Picture."

From Deadline:  The nominees for the 2023 / 34th Producers Guild of America Awards have been announced in both film and TV categories.  The winners will be announced Sat. Feb. 25th, 2023.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced Sun., Feb. 26th, 2023.

From Deadline:  The National Society of Film Critics has named "Tar" its "Best Picture" of 2023 and its star, Cate Blanchette, as "Best Actress."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 23rd Annual Black Reel Awards have been announced.  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "The Woman King" have tied for the lead in nominations with 14 apiece.  The winners will be announced February 6, 2023.

From Deadline:  The Black Film Critics Circle named "The Woman King" the "Best Film" of 2022.

From Deadline:  The winners of the 2022 Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "Tar" tie for "Best Picture" award.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 80th annual Golden Globes Awards were announced today (Mon., Dec. 12th).  "The Banshees of Inisherin" led the film field with eight nominations. ABC's "Abbot Elementary" lead the TV side with five nominations.  The winners will be announced January 10, 2023.

From Deadline:  The American Film Institute (AFI) has named its "AFI Awards Film" list of "Top 10 Films of 2022."  The list includes "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Top Gun: Maverick," and "The Woman King."

From THR:  The African-American Film Critics Association name "The Woman King" the "Best Film of 2022."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the "2023 Critics Choice Awards" in the television categories have been announced.  ABC's sitcom, "Abbot Elementary" leads the nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, January 15, 2023 and broadcast on The CW.

From Variety:  The 2022 / 88th Annual New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) Awards have been announced.  Todd Field's "Tar" wins "Best Film" and "Best Actress" (Cate Blanchett).  Keke Palmer wins "Best Supporting Actress" for her performance in "Nope."

From Deadline:  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins the "Best Feature" award at the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards, one of two wins for the film.

From IndieWire:  The nominations for the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced.   "Everything Everywhere All at Once" leads with eight nominations.  The winners will be announced March 4th, 2023.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards were announced a month ago.  Todd Field's "Tar" leads with five nominations.  The winners will be announced Monday, November 28th.

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TYRE NICHOLS:

From NBCNews:  Tyre Nichols' death: A summary and timeline of his encounter with Memphis police officers

From YahooNews:  In the 67 minutes of the Tyre Nichols video, brutality followed by nonchalance.

---------------

BRITTNEY GRINER:

From CBSNews:  WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from her Russian imprisonment in a one-for-one prisoner swap for notorious international arms dealer, Viktor Bout.

From NBCNews:   Brittney Griner will enter a system of isolation, grueling labor and psychological torment when she is transferred to a penal colony, the successor to the infamous Russian gulag, to fulfill a nine-year sentence handed down Tuesday in Moscow, former prisoners and advocates said.

From NBCNews:  A Russian court has rejected Brittney Griner's appeal of her nine-year prison sentence on (fake) drug charges.

From Reuters:  Russia says that it is ready to talk prisoner swamp for Brittney Griner and U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, but also scolds the U.S. Embassy.

From TheDailyBeast:   Legendary NBA bad boy and champion (Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls), Dennis Rodman claims that he has been given permission to go to Russia and help free imprisoned hostage, WNBA star, Brittney Griner.

From Vox:  Vox's Jonathan Guyer talks the Brittney Griner case with Danielle Gilbert, a Dartmouth professor who is writing a book about states and rogue actors that take hostages.

From ESPN:   A Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison Thursday, Aug. 4th.  Griner was arrested Feb. 17 for bringing cannabis into the country and pleaded guilty July 7, though the case continued under Russian law.

From ESPN:  The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

From RSN:  "Will Support From LeBron James, Joe Rogan, Kim Kardashian, and Other Celebrities Help Free Brittney Griner From a Russian Prison?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar via Substack

From ESPN:  Detained WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty on Thursday to bringing hashish oil into Russia, telling a judge that she had done so "inadvertently" while asking the court for mercy.

From CBSSports:  The Brittney Griner situation explained.

From RSN:  According to The Washington Post Editorial Board: "Brittney Griner is a hostage, plain and simple."

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 27th to 31st, 2022 - Update #37

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Bruce Willis' family have announced that the two-time Emmy Award-winning actor is retiring due to health related issues.

WILL SMITH/CHRIS ROCK - From Variety:  Will Smith walks onstage at the 94th Academy Awards and slaps Chris Rock in the face for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

From Variety:  The Academy has said that Will Smith was asked to leave the 94th Academy Awards ceremony after slapping presenter Chris Rock, but he refused.  The Academy has started disciplinary proceedings against Smith.

From Deadline:  Oscar-winner Will Smith formally apologizes to comedian Chris Rock for slapping him during the 94th Academy Awards show.

From Variety:  Chris Rock says that he is "still kind of processing what happened."

From Variety:   "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe says that he is "dramatically bored" with hearing people's opinion about "THE SLAP."

From Variety:  Will Smith won the "Best Actor" Oscar for portraying the father of tennis stars, Venus and Serena Willaims, Richard Williams, in the biopic, "King Richard."  In regards to Smith slapping Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Academy Awards, Richard says, "We don't condone anyone hitting anyone else."

From Variety:  The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has confirmed that Chris Rock has declined to file a police report regarding Oscar-winner Will Smith slapping him during the 94th Academy Awards.

From THR:  The actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, calls Will Smith's slap of Chris Rock to be "unacceptable."

From People:  Of the Oscar slap, "Aquaman" Jason Momoa says that he is shocked that Will Smith slapped Chris Rock and that "There's a tipping point for everyone."

From Variety:  Celebrities react to the Oscar bitch slap heard around the world.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 3/25 to 3/27/2022 weekend box office is "The Lost City" with an estimated take of 31 million dollars.

From Deadline:  The film, "RRR," sets opening day records in its home country of India.  Directed by S.S. Rajamouli, the film also makes an impact at the international box office.

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OSCARS - From ABC7:  A list of nominees for the 2022 / 94th Academy Awards.

From CNN:  A complete winners list from the 2022 / 94th Academy Awards.

WINNERS:

Best Picture

CODA

Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi and Patrick Wachsberger, Producers

Directing

The Power of the Dog

Jane Campion

Actress in a Leading Role

Jessica Chastain

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Actor in a Leading Role

Will Smith

King Richard

Actress in a Supporting Role

Ariana DeBose

West Side Story

Actor in a Supporting Role

Troy Kotsur

CODA

Animated Feature Film

Encanto

Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

CODA

Screenplay by Siân Heder

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Belfast

Written by Kenneth Branagh

Documentary Feature

Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein

International Feature Film

Drive My Car (Japan)

A C&I Entertainment/Culture Entertainment/Bitters End Production

Makeup and Hairstyling

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh

Costume Design

Cruella

Jenny Beavan

Cinematography

Dune

Greig Fraser

Production Design

Dune

Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Zsuzsanna Sipos

Film Editing

Dune

Joe Walker

Music (Original Score)

Dune

Hans Zimmer

Best Sound

Dune

Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett

Best Sound

Dune

Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett

Visual Effects

Dune

Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor and Gerd Nefzer

Music (Original Song)

“No Time To Die” from No Time to Die

Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell

Live Action Short Film

The Long Goodbye

Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed

Animated Short Film

The Windshield Wiper

Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sanchez

Documentary Short Subject

The Queen of Basketball

Ben Proudfoot

From Deadline:  How to watch the Oscars on TV (ABC) and online (in some markets - abc.com and the ABC app.

MOVIES - From Deadline:   Michael Bay criticizes some of the CGI in his upcoming action film, "Ambulance."

TELEVISION/BUSINESS - From Deadline:  Tammy Williams is the owner of a new television studio in Atlanta, making her the first Black woman to own a $135 million studio and post-production facility

OBIT:

TAYLOR HAWKINS:

From RollingStone:  Singer-songwriter and rock musician, Taylor Hawkins, has died at the age of 50, Friday, March 25, 2022 in a hotel in the town of Chapinero in Bogota, Columbia.  Hawkins was best known as the drummer of the band, "Foo Fighters." The band announced Hawkins as its new drummer in March 1997, and in addition to being the drummer, Hawkins wrote songs, provided vocals, and played piano and guitar.  He first appeared on the Foo Fighters third album "There is Nothing Left to Lose" (1999).  His side-projects included the bands, "Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders" and "The Birds of Satan."

From Deadline:  This link leads to the entertainment "breaking news" site's "Taylor Hawkins page."

From CNN:  The Attorney General’s Office of the South American nation of Columbia released a preliminary “forensic medical study” Saturday following the death of Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins.  The report said a urine toxicology test was carried out on Hawkins and 10 substances were found, including THC, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids.  Hawkins died Friday, March 25th at a hotel in the town of Chapinero in the Columbian capital of Bogota.

From EW:  Fellow drummers: Sheila E., Travis Barker (Blink 182), and Lars Ulrich (Metallica) pay tribute to Foo Fighters drummer, Taylor Hawkins.

From YahooEntertainment:  Music industry legends such as Mick Jagger, Ozzy Osbourne, and Axl Rose react to the death of Taylor Hawkins, the drummer of the Foo Fighters.

From Deadline:   Shocked fans and music industry mourn the death of Foo Fighters drummer, Taylor Hawkins, at the age of 50 on Fri., March 25th.

From Deadline:  Watch a video of Foo Fighters drummer, Taylor Hawkins, last ever performance with the Foo Fighters.  At the Lollapalooza Festival in Argentina on March 20th, Hawkins sang a cover version of the song, "Somebody to Love," by "Queen," a band Hawkins loved.

From Deadline:  Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins had 10 substances in his system at the time of his death...

From CBSBoston:  The organizers of the music festival, Boston Calling, said they will keep fans updated following the death of Foo Fighters drummer, Taylor Hawkins.  The band was among the headliners scheduled for the festival which is to be held May 27th-29th at the Harvard athletic complex.

Walt Disney Celebrates Six Oscar Wins at the 94th Academy Awards

The Walt Disney Company Earns 6 Academy Awards® Including Best Animated Feature Film and Best Documentary

The Walt Disney Company received six Academy Awards® at the 94th annual ceremony, broadcast live on ABC from the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 27, 2022.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto was recognized as Best Animated Feature Film. This is the second Oscar® win for director Byron Howard and producer Clark Spencer, and the first Oscar win for director Jared Bush and producer Yvett Merino. The win adds to a list of accolades for the film following recognitions from the Annie Awards, Art Directors Guild Awards, BAFTA Awards, Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globe® Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Producers Guild Awards. Encanto is also the first Disney movie to claim a No. 1 album and a No. 1 single.

Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), from Searchlight Pictures, Disney’s Onyx Collective, and Hulu, received the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. This marked the first Oscar wins for first-time director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and producers Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent, and David Dinerstein. It is also Disney’s Onyx Collective and Hulu’s first Academy Award, and Searchlight Pictures’ first Best Documentary Feature award. To date, the film has won 55 awards across critics’ groups and guilds, including the BAFTA Award, Spirit Award, DOC NYC Award, American Film Institute Award, Producers Guild Award, Cinema Eye Honors, International Documentary Association Award, American Cinema Editors Award, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award, African-American Film Critics Association Award, and National Board of Review Award.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye was honored with two awards, including Best Actress in a Leading Role for Jessica Chastain’s portrayal of Tammy Faye Bakker. This marks Chastain’s first win and Searchlight Pictures’ sixth win in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category. The Eyes of Tammy Faye also won for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, which is Searchlight Pictures’ first Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar.

Ariana DeBose was awarded Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Anita in West Side Story, marking a historic moment as the first Afro-Latina and openly queer woman of color to receive the honor. The first-time Oscar winner and Rita Moreno also made history as the first pair of women to win Academy Awards for playing the same character; their wins come 60 years apart.

Legendary costume designer Jenny Beavan won the award for Best Costume Design for Disney’s Cruella. Beavan’s work on Cruella previously resulted in a BAFTA Award, a Costume Designers Guild Award, and a Critics Choice Award.

See below for a complete list of Academy Awards won by The Walt Disney Company:

The Eyes of Tammy Faye | Searchlight Pictures

2 Academy Awards

-Best Actress in a Leading Role – Jessica Chastain

-Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Encanto | Walt Disney Animation Studios | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Streaming on Disney+

1 Academy Award

-Best Animated Feature Film

Summer of Soul(…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) | Searchlight Pictures | Onyx Collective | Hulu | Streaming on Hulu and Disney+

1 Academy Award

-Best Documentary (Feature)

West Side Story | 20th Century Studios | Streaming on Disney+

1 Academy Award

-Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Ariana DeBose

Cruella | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Streaming on Disney+  

1 Academy Award

-Best Costume Design

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 20th to 26th, 2022 - Update #22

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MOVIES - From Deadline:  A24's recent horror film, "X," could be a budding horror movie franchise.  A prequel film is apparently already close to being finished and preparations are being made for a sequel.

STAR TREK - From Variety:  Actress Ito Aghayere talks about playing "Young Guinan" on the Paramount+ series, "Star Trek: Picard." "Guinan" is the classic "Star Trek: The Next Generation" character originally played by Oscar-winner, Whoopi Goldberg.

MOVIES - From People:  Here are the first look photos of Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage as "Dracula" in Universal Pictures' horror-comedy, "Renfield," in which Nicholas Hoult plays the title role.

BROADWAY - From Deadline:  A Broadway musical is being developed based on the 1983 film, "Trading Places."  Aneesa Folds will play Eddie Murphy's role, and Bryce Pinkham will play Dan Aykroyd's role.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The CW has given early renewals to 7 of its 19 scripted dramas.  Owners Warner Media and ViacomCBS has put The CW up for sale, with Nexstar being among the suitors.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  HBO Max's "Sex in the City" sequel, "And Just Like That..." has been renewed for a second season.

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  Actress Christina Ricci, who played "Wednesday Addams," in two 1990s "Addams Family" films directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, will play a major role in Netflix's series, "Wednesday."  The nature of her role is still a secret.  Jenna Ortega will play Wednesday in the series.

OSCARS - From Deadline:  At the 94th Academy Awards, Beyonce will indeed perform her Oscar-nominated song, "Be Alive" (from "King Richard" and co-written with DIXSON) via satellite from a Compton tennis court.

From Variety:   Beyonce is in talks to perform her Oscar-nominated song, "Be Alive" (from "King Richard") live from the tennis courts in Compton, California during the 94th Academy Awards.  The film focuses on Richard Williams, the father of tennis legends, Venus and Serena Williams, who learned to play tennis on those courts with Richard as their coach.

MOVIES - From Variety:  The sequel to the 2021 hit, "Godzilla vs. Kong," will start filming in Australia later this year.

OSCARS - From BBC:  The BBC's website has produced a video that presents all the "Best Picture" nominees for the 94th Academy Awards in 59 seconds.

CELEBRITY - From Variety:  This year's "Rase to Erase MS" gala will return to Fairmont Century Plaza hotel on May 20th and will feature music by "Nile Rogers & Chic" and a Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive fashion show.

MOVIES - From ShadowandAct:   Marvel Cinematic Universe star and New Orleans native Anthony Mackie has reportedly bought 20 acres in New Orleans East where he plans to start a movie studio.  However, Mackie has reportedly officially said that it was too premature to discuss specifics of the deal.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 3/18 to 3/20/2022 weekend box office is "The Batman" with an estimated 36.8 million dollars.

From Here:  Negromancer's review of "The Batman."

STAR TREK - From TheGuardian:  Georgia gubernatorial candidate and voting rights champion, Stacey Abrams, made a cameo as "President of United Earth" on the Season 4 finale of "Star Trek: Discovery" (Paramount+).  Some people were mad...

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The daytime syndicated talk show "Maury" will be ending after the current season, apparently a mutual decision between the host, Maury Povich, and NBCUniversal Syndication Studios.  Povich is reportedly retiring.  The last original episodes will air through September 2022, after which repeats of the show will continue to air in syndication

AWARDS - From Deadline: "CODA" wins the top award, "Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures," at the 2022 / 33rd Producers Guild Awards.

AVATAR - From Variety:  "Avatar 2" star Zoe Saldana said that after watching 20 minutes of the film, she cried.

CANNES - From Deadline:  Not only will "Top Gun: Maverick" make its premiere at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, but its star Tom Cruise will also feted with a "career retrospective" special tribute.

OBITS:

From RollingStone:  Singer-songwriter and rock musician, Taylor Hawkins, has died at the age of 50, Friday, March 25, 2022 in a hotel in Bogota, Columbia.  Hawkins was best known as the drummer of the band, "Foo Fighters." The band announced Hawkins as its new drummer in March 1997, and in addition to being the drummer, Hawkins wrote songs, provided vocals, and played piano and guitar.  He first appeared on the Foo Fighters third album "There is Nothing Left to Lose" (1999).  His side-projects included the bands, "Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders" and "The Birds of Satan."

From CNN:  American diplomat and former U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, has died at the age of 84, Wednesday, March 23, 2022.  Albright was the first female U.S. Secretary of State, serving from 1997 to 2001, during President Bill Clinton's second term, the 64th Secretary of State. She was also the 20th United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1993-97).  Albright was born in Czechoslovakia and immigrated to the U.S. with her parents in 1948.

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94TH ACADEMY AWARDS:

OSCARS - From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 94th Academy Awards have been announced.  "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 nominations.  The winners will be revealed March 27th.

From Deadline:    With his "Best Actor" nomination for "The Tragedy of Macbeth," Denzel Washington is the most nominated Black actor is Oscar history.  He has been nominated in two acting categories a total of 10 times with two wins total.

From Variety:   With her "Best Director" Oscar nomination for "The Power of the Dog," Jane Campion becomes the first woman nominated twice in that category. She was previously nominated in that category for "The Piano" (1993).

From Variety:  With his three nominations today, Kenneth Branagh of "Belfast" becomes the first person to have been nominated in seven individual categories over his career.

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MOVIE AWARDS:

From Variety:  The American Society of Cinematographers held the 2022 / 36th Annual ASC Awards.  Greig Fraser won the top award, "Feature Film," for his work on "Dune."

From Deadline:  At the 58th annual Cinema Audio Society (CAS) Awards, "Dune" the "Live Action Motion Picture" prize.

From Deadline:  The 2022 / 75th EE British Academy Film Awards ceremony was held in Lond, Sun., March 13th.  "The Power of the Dog" was named "Best Film" and Jane Campion won "Best Director" for the film.  Will Smith was named "Best Actor."  "Dune" won five awards, dominated the "craft categories."

From Variety:  The Directors Guild of America's 2022 74th annual DGA Awards were held on Sat., March 12th.  Jane Campion won the top prize "Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Film" for directing "The Power of the Dog."  She is the third woman to win the award and the second to have been nominated twice.

From Variety:  The winners at the 2022 / 49th annual Annie Awards were announced, Sat. Mar. 12th.  Netflix's "The Mitchells vs. the Machines" was named "Best Feature."

From Variety:  At the 2022 / 27th annual Critics Choice Awards, director Jane Campion's Western film, "The Power of the Dog," is named is named "Best Picture."

From Deadline:  The Visual Effects Society announced the winners at the 2022 / 20th annual VES Awards.  "Dune" and Disney's "Encanto" led with four wins apiece.

From Deadline:  The American Cinema Editors' 72nd Annual ACE Eddie Awards were held, Sat., March 5th.  The top award, "Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic)" went to "King Richard."

From Deadline:  The 2022/ 26th annual Art Directors Guild Awards turns out to be a good party.  "Dune" and "Nightmare Alley" are among the winners.

From Deadline:   The winners at the 2022 / 28th annual SAG Awards. "CODA" wins the top prize, "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture."

From Variety:  Here is a complete list of winners at 2022 / 53rd NAACP Image Awards in the film, television and music categories.  Jennifer Hudson was named "Entertainer of the Year."

From Deadline:   The 2022 / 9th annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards were announced.  The Amazon film, "Coming 2 America" (the sequel to the 1988 film, "Coming to America"), led with three wins.

From Deadline:  The 2022 BAFTA Film Awards nominations have been announced.  "Dune" leads with 11 nominations.  The winners will be announced March 13th.

From Deadline:   The 2022 / 33rd annual Producers Guild of America Awards nominations have been announced.  The winners will be announced Saturday, March 19th.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 74th annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced March 12th.

From COFCA:  The Columbus Film Critics Association name "The Power of the Dog" the "Best Film" of 2021.

From Deadline:  Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," was named the "Best Picture" of 2021 at the 13th annual African American Film Critics Association Awards.  The Western tied with "King Richard" for most wins with four.  Will Smith was named "Best Actor" for "King Richard."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced.

From Variety:  The snubs and surprises in the nominations for the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

From Variety:   At the 2022 / 79th Golden Globes, "The Power of the Dog" wins "Best Motion Picture-Drama" and "West Side Story" wins "Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy."

From Variety:  The National Society of Film Critics names the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the best film of 2021.

From AwardsWatch:  The nominations for the 22nd Annual Black Reel Awards were announced a few weeks ago. Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," has a record 20 nominations.  The winners will be announced February 27, 2022.

From AwardsWatch:  The Columbus Film Critics Association announced the nominations for their annual film awards.  Director Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 noms.  The winners will be announced Thurs., Jan. 6th, 2022.

From Deadline:  The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the "Best Picture" of 2021.

From Deadline:  The 2022 / 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards have announced their nominations. "Zola" leads with six nominations. The winners will be announced Sun., March 6, 2022.

From THR:  The 2022 / 79th Golden Globes Awards nominations have been announced.  "Belfast" and "The Power of the Dog" lead with seven nominations each.  Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From GoldDerby:   The 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations have been announced. "Belfast" and "West Side Story" leads with 11 nominations each. Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From Deadline:   The American Film Institute announced the "2021 AFI Awards" Top 10 list, and the list includes "Dune," "The Tragedy of Macbeth," and "West Side Story."

From THR:  Director Aleem Khan's "After Love" tops the 2021 British Independent Film Awards, winning six awards, including "Best Film of 2021."

From Variety:   The New York Film Critics Circle has named the Japanese drama, "Drive My Car," as the "Best Film of 2021."

From Deadline:  The National Board of Review hands director Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza" it "Best Film" and "Best Director" awards.  Will Smith picks up the "Best Actor" award for "King Richard."

From THR:  Netflix’s "The Lost Daughter," directed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, dominated the 2021 Gotham Awards in New York on Monday night (Nov. 29th).  The film won in four of the five categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Feature."

---------------------------------

"RUST" ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING DEATH:

From Deadline:  This link will take you to Deadline's Halyna Hutchins page, which articles related to everything about her shooting death on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From THR:  Alec Baldwin moves to shield himself from liability in the shooting death on the set of the Western film, "Rust."  In an arbitration demand, he blames others for the death of Halyna Hutchins.

From People:  Alec Baldwin says that certain lawsuits recording the Western film, "Rust," are targeted at "deep-pocket litigants" and that the suits are all about money.

From Deadline:  Matt Hutchins, the husband of Halyna Hutchins, blames Alec Baldwin for Halyna's accidental shooting death on the set of the doomed Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  The family and estate of Halyna Hutchins has filed suit against Alec Baldwin (who accidentally shot Hutchins), a slew of production companies and entities, producers, and key crew members involved in the Western film, "Rust," for her death.

From THR:   A Republican New Mexico legislator, State Sen. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell, on Monday introduced a bill that would require all film set personnel who handle firearms to complete a safety course offered by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.  This is in the wake a cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, being fatally shot on the set of the Western, "Rust," last year by Alec Baldwin with a weapon he says he thought was not loaded with live ammunition.

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin and the other producers of the doomed Western film, "Rust," want a California judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed against them by the script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell.

From Deadline:   Alec Baldwin has finally turned over his cell phone to police for their probe into the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Baldwin's Western film, "Rust," last October in New Mexico.

From Variety:  One of the producers of tragic Western film, Rust, Emily Salveson, pushes tax shelters and hid income.

From THR:  "I let go of the hammer and 'Bang,' the gun goes off" says Alec Baldwin says in his first interview of the moment when a gun he was holding accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin will sit down with ABC's news-reading clown George Stephanopoulos for a one hour special tomorrow night to talk about what happened on the set of the movie "Rust."  It will be Baldwin’s first extensive interview about the shooting.

From Deadline:  Industry veteran, Thall Reed, the father of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the Western, "Rust," may have handed the police a tip on why the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot to death on the set.

From THR:  A search warrant affidavit filed Tuesday for a prop shop sheds light on how alleged live ammunition ended up on the set of the Western film, "Rust," where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in October.

From Deadline:  A month after cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot and killed on the New Mexico set the movie Western, "Rust," by a prop gun “discharged” by Alec Baldwin, those closest to the cinematographer held a private ceremony and interred her ashes at an unknown location.

From Deadline:  Actor Daniel Baldwin defends his brother, Alec Baldwin, in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film, "Rust."  "Someone loaded that gun improperly," Daniel says.

From Deadline:  The newest lawsuit involving the tragic shooting on the set of the Western film, "Rust," has been filed by the film's script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell, against Alec Baldwin, the producers, the production company, armorer Hanna Gutierrez Reed, and others.

From Deadline:  Serge Svetnoy, the gaffer on "Rust," has filed a lawsuit against several parties related to the film, including the production, the financiers, star Alec Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, and first Assistant Director David Halls.

From THR:   In the wake of the tragic accidental shooting on the set of his film, "Rust," Alec Baldwin on Monday took to social media to urge Hollywood to employ a police officer on every film and TV set that uses guns.

From THR:   The budget for "Rust" - Alec Baldwin was set to earn $150,000 as lead actor and $100,000 as producer, while $7,913 was earmarked for armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and $17,500 was set aside for the rental of weapons and $5,000 for rounds.

From Deadline:  Attorneys for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the film, "Rust," said that they’re looking into whether a live bullet was placed in a box of dummy rounds with the intent of  “sabotaging the set.”

From THR:   Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the film, "Rust," released a statement through her lawyers.  She says she had “no idea where the live rounds came from” that were recovered by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's during the investigation of the accidental on-set shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.

From Jacobin:  An opinion piece says that cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death on the set of the film, "Rust," was not a freak accident, but was about Alec Baldwin and his fellow producers' cost-cutting decisions.  Baldwin accidentally fired the gun that killed Hutchins.

From Deadline:   Two of executive producers on "Rust," Allen Cheney and Emily Salveson, disavow responsibility for the film's troubled production.

From THR:   Iconic "Ghostbusters" actor Ernie Hudson is reeling from the news of the death of Halyna Hutchins, like the rest of Hollywood. Hudson also appeared in the film, "The Crow," the film in which its star, Brandon Lee, was killed because of an on-set accidental shooting.  He also agrees with the call to ban real guns from movie sets.

From THR:  The Sheriff of Sante Fe County says that his office has recovered three guns and 500 rounds of ammunition from the set of the movie "Rust" where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed.

From Deadline:  Regarding criminal charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust," District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis, "all options are on the table - no one has been ruled out."

From THR:  Does Hollywood Need Guns? Will new regulations lead to an overreactions to a tragedy.

From Deadline:   "Rust" producers have opened an internal investigation into the fatal shooting on the set of the Western film.  They have hired outside lawyers to conduct interviews with the film's production crew.

From Deadline:  "Rust's" AD (assistant director), Dave Halls, has come under scrutiny in the wake of the on-set shooting death of the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The affidavit of Sante Fe Sheriff's Department Detective Joel Cano has been made public. It can be read at "Deadline."  The affidavit was for a search warrant from the property were the Western, "Rust," was being filmed.

From THR:  The production company behind "Rust" has shut the film down until the police investigation into the fatal, on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is through.  The Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office has also revealed a timeline of the shooting.

From Deadline:  The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday night that Alec Baldwin “discharged” a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the movie, "Rust."  As a result, one crew member, director of photography Halyna Hutchins, was killed and director Joel Souza was injured and remains in a local hospital - his condition unknown.

From THR:  "Rust" director, Joel Souza, who was wounded in the accidental on-set shooting, says that he is "gutted" by the death of his cinematographer on the film, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The fatal shooting on the set of "Rust" may have been "recorded" according to detective for Santa Fe Sheriff's Department.

From Deadline:  The production company behind the film, "Rust," will launch an internal safety review after the fatal accident that killed Halyna Hutchins; possible prior gun incidents; and a camera crew walkout.

From CNN:   Crew member yelled "cold gun" as he handed Alec Baldwin prop weapon, court document shows.

From Variety:  Actor Alec Baldwin releases statement on the death of Halyna Hutchins: "There are no words to convey my shock and sadness."

From Variety:  The prop gun that killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on during an on-set accident on Thursday contained a “live single round,” according to an email sent by IATSE Local 44 to its membership.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 13th to 19th, 2022 - Update #20

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

TELEVISION - From Variety:  FX has announced that its Emmy-winning comedy, "Atlanta" will end with Season 4, which debuts Fall 2022.  Season 3 debuts March 24th.

From Variety:  Netflix has renewed its hit "Stranger Things" for a fifth and final season.

STAR TREK - From Variety:  Whatever happened to Quentin Tarantino's "Star Trek" pitch explained.

MOVIES - From GQ:  Legendary filmmaker and Oscar-winning director, Francis Ford Coppola, talks about "Godfather" on its 50th anniversary; laments the state of modern cinema (Marvel Studios), and talks about self-financing his 120 million dollar dream project, "Megalopolis."

ANIMATION - From Deadline:  Skydance Animation has acquired the rights to director Brad Bird's next animated film, "Ray Gunn."  A multiple Oscar-winner, Bird is known for his animated films, "Iron Giant," and "The Incredibles" films.

TELEVISION - From THR:  A guide to all the scripted TV shows that have been renewed, canceled and ordered to series for the 2021-22 season on ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and The CW.

FILM FESTIVALS - From Deadline:  Director Carla Simon's film, "Alcarras," wins the top prize, the "Golden Bear," at the 72nd Berlin Film Festival.

MOVIES - From IGN:  During Paramount Pictures' investor day, a third film in the "A Quiet Place" series was announced. A spinoff movie directed by Michael Sarnoski was also confirmed.

STAR TREK - From BleedingCool:  J.J. Abrams said that a fourth "Star Trek" film in his series is happening and that they are currently trying to get the cast back together.

ANIME - From Variety:  The magazine has a first look at “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” an original anime feature from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation.  It is set for release on April 12, 2024 from Warner Bros. Pictures.

MOVIES - From TheRinger:  "Death on the Disney Vine" by Miles Surrey. What is the fate of "Death on the Nile" and other 20th Century Fox films, post-Disney merger?

OSCARS - From Variety:  Amy Schumer, Regina Hall, and Wanda Sykes are finalizing details to host this year’s 94th Academy Awards, multiple sources told "Variety."

MOVIES/TRAILERS - From Variety:  Several high-profile film and streaming projects debuted a trailer during Super Bowl LVI. You can watch them all on this "Variety" page.

SPORTS/NFL - From YahooSports:  The Los Angeles Rams defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to win Super Bowl LVI.  It is the franchise's second Super Bowl championship in 5 appearances.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 2/11 to 2/13/2022 weekend box office is "Death on the Nile" with an estimated gross of 12.8 million dollars.

TRAILER - From Deadline:  Universal Pictures has revealed the first official trailer for Jordan Peele's next film, "Nope."  It is scheduled to arrive in theaters July 22, 2022 (according to Deadline) or August 4th (according to the trailer).

LGBTQ/MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment:  On the film's 40th anniversary, actor Harry Hamlin talks about his role in the groundbreaking gay romance, "Making Love."

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Ridley Scott is executive producing a TV series, "Blade Runner 2099" this  is a follow-up to the 2017 film, "Blade Runner: 2049."  Scott directed the original film, 1982's "Blade Runner."

OBITS:

From Vareity:  Film writer, producer, and director, Ivan Reitman, has died at the age of 75, Saturday, February 12, 2022.  Reitman was best known for directing successful film comedies from the late 1970s to the late 1990s.  Those include "Meatballs" (1979), "Ghost Busters" (1984), "Ghostbusters II (1989), and "Dave" (1993), to name a few.  He also produced "Animal House" (1978), "Heavy Metal" (1981), and the Oscar-nominated "Up in the Air" (2009), which was directed by his son, Jason Reitman.

From YahooEntertainment:  This remembrance of the recently passed film director, Ivan Reitman, discusses the origins of his most famous film, 1984's "Ghost Busters" ("Ghostbusters").

From Deadline:  Actor, Frank Pesce, has died at the age of 75, Sunday, February 6, 2022.  Known as a colorful character, Pesce appeared in such films as "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984), "Top Gun" (1986), and "Midnight Run" (1988).  He also appeared on such TV series as "Kojak," "Miami Vice," and "Matlock."  There was also a film about Pesce's early life, "29th Street" (1991), which was directed by George Gallo.

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94TH ACADEMY AWARDS:

OSCARS - From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 94th Academy Awards have been announced.  "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 nominations.  The winners will be revealed March 27th.

From Deadline:    With his "Best Actor" nomination for "The Tragedy of Macbeth," Denzel Washington is the most nominated Black actor is Oscar history.  He has been nominated in two acting categories a total of 10 times with two wins total.

From Variety:   With her "Best Director" Oscar nomination for "The Power of the Dog," Jane Campion becomes the first woman nominated twice in that category. She was previously nominated in that category for "The Piano" (1993).

From Variety:  With his three nominations today, Kenneth Branagh of "Belfast" becomes the first person to have been nominated in seven individual categories over his career.

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MOVIE AWARDS:

From Deadline:  The 2022 BAFTA Film Awards nominations have been announced.  "Dune" leads with 11 nominations.  The winners will be announced March 13th.

From Deadline:   The 2022 / 33rd annual Producers Guild of America Awards nominations have been announced.  The winners will be announced Saturday, March 19th.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 74th annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced March 12th.

From COFCA:  The Columbus Film Critics Association name "The Power of the Dog" the "Best Film" of 2021.

From Deadline:  Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," was named the "Best Picture" of 2021 at the 13th annual African American Film Critics Association Awards.  The Western tied with "King Richard" for most wins with four.  Will Smith was named "Best Actor" for "King Richard."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced.

From Variety:  The snubs and surprises in the nominations for the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

From Variety:   At the 2022 / 79th Golden Globes, "The Power of the Dog" wins "Best Motion Picture-Drama" and "West Side Story" wins "Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy."

From Variety:  The National Society of Film Critics names the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the best film of 2021.

From AwardsWatch:  The nominations for the 22nd Annual Black Reel Awards were announced a few weeks ago. Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," has a record 20 nominations.  The winners will be announced February 27, 2022.

From AwardsWatch:  The Columbus Film Critics Association announced the nominations for their annual film awards.  Director Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 noms.  The winners will be announced Thurs., Jan. 6th, 2022.

From Deadline:  The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the "Best Picture" of 2021.

From Deadline:  The 2022 / 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards have announced their nominations. "Zola" leads with six nominations. The winners will be announced Sun., March 6, 2022.

From THR:  The 2022 / 79th Golden Globes Awards nominations have been announced.  "Belfast" and "The Power of the Dog" lead with seven nominations each.  Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From GoldDerby:   The 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations have been announced. "Belfast" and "West Side Story" leads with 11 nominations each. Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From Deadline:   The American Film Institute announced the "2021 AFI Awards" Top 10 list, and the list includes "Dune," "The Tragedy of Macbeth," and "West Side Story."

From THR:  Director Aleem Khan's "After Love" tops the 2021 British Independent Film Awards, winning six awards, including "Best Film of 2021."

From Variety:   The New York Film Critics Circle has named the Japanese drama, "Drive My Car," as the "Best Film of 2021."

From Deadline:  The National Board of Review hands director Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza" it "Best Film" and "Best Director" awards.  Will Smith picks up the "Best Actor" award for "King Richard."

From THR:  Netflix’s "The Lost Daughter," directed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, dominated the 2021 Gotham Awards in New York on Monday night (Nov. 29th).  The film won in four of the five categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Feature."

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"RUST" ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING DEATH:

From Deadline:  This link will take you to Deadline's Halyna Hutchins page, which articles related to everything about her shooting death on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  The family and estate of Halyna Hutchins has filed suit against Alec Baldwin (who accidentally shot Hutchins), a slew of production companies and entities, producers, and key crew members involved in the Western film, "Rust," for her death.

From THR:   A Republican New Mexico legislator, State Sen. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell, on Monday introduced a bill that would require all film set personnel who handle firearms to complete a safety course offered by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.  This is in the wake a cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, being fatally shot on the set of the Western, "Rust," last year by Alec Baldwin with a weapon he says he thought was not loaded with live ammunition.

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin and the other producers of the doomed Western film, "Rust," want a California judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed against them by the script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell.

From Deadline:   Alec Baldwin has finally turned over his cell phone to police for their probe into the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Baldwin's Western film, "Rust," last October in New Mexico.

From Variety:  One of the producers of tragic Western film, Rust, Emily Salveson, pushes tax shelters and hid income.

From THR:  "I let go of the hammer and 'Bang,' the gun goes off" says Alec Baldwin says in his first interview of the moment when a gun he was holding accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin will sit down with ABC's news-reading clown George Stephanopoulos for a one hour special tomorrow night to talk about what happened on the set of the movie "Rust."  It will be Baldwin’s first extensive interview about the shooting.

From Deadline:  Industry veteran, Thall Reed, the father of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the Western, "Rust," may have handed the police a tip on why the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot to death on the set.

From THR:  A search warrant affidavit filed Tuesday for a prop shop sheds light on how alleged live ammunition ended up on the set of the Western film, "Rust," where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in October.

From Deadline:  A month after cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot and killed on the New Mexico set the movie Western, "Rust," by a prop gun “discharged” by Alec Baldwin, those closest to the cinematographer held a private ceremony and interred her ashes at an unknown location.

From Deadline:  Actor Daniel Baldwin defends his brother, Alec Baldwin, in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film, "Rust."  "Someone loaded that gun improperly," Daniel says.

From Deadline:  The newest lawsuit involving the tragic shooting on the set of the Western film, "Rust," has been filed by the film's script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell, against Alec Baldwin, the producers, the production company, armorer Hanna Gutierrez Reed, and others.

From Deadline:  Serge Svetnoy, the gaffer on "Rust," has filed a lawsuit against several parties related to the film, including the production, the financiers, star Alec Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, and first Assistant Director David Halls.

From THR:   In the wake of the tragic accidental shooting on the set of his film, "Rust," Alec Baldwin on Monday took to social media to urge Hollywood to employ a police officer on every film and TV set that uses guns.

From THR:   The budget for "Rust" - Alec Baldwin was set to earn $150,000 as lead actor and $100,000 as producer, while $7,913 was earmarked for armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and $17,500 was set aside for the rental of weapons and $5,000 for rounds.

From Deadline:  Attorneys for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the film, "Rust," said that they’re looking into whether a live bullet was placed in a box of dummy rounds with the intent of  “sabotaging the set.”

From THR:   Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the film, "Rust," released a statement through her lawyers.  She says she had “no idea where the live rounds came from” that were recovered by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's during the investigation of the accidental on-set shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.

From Jacobin:  An opinion piece says that cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death on the set of the film, "Rust," was not a freak accident, but was about Alec Baldwin and his fellow producers' cost-cutting decisions.  Baldwin accidentally fired the gun that killed Hutchins.

From Deadline:   Two of executive producers on "Rust," Allen Cheney and Emily Salveson, disavow responsibility for the film's troubled production.

From THR:   Iconic "Ghostbusters" actor Ernie Hudson is reeling from the news of the death of Halyna Hutchins, like the rest of Hollywood. Hudson also appeared in the film, "The Crow," the film in which its star, Brandon Lee, was killed because of an on-set accidental shooting.  He also agrees with the call to ban real guns from movie sets.

From THR:  The Sheriff of Sante Fe County says that his office has recovered three guns and 500 rounds of ammunition from the set of the movie "Rust" where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed.

From Deadline:  Regarding criminal charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust," District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis, "all options are on the table - no one has been ruled out."

From THR:  Does Hollywood Need Guns? Will new regulations lead to an overreactions to a tragedy.

From Deadline:   "Rust" producers have opened an internal investigation into the fatal shooting on the set of the Western film.  They have hired outside lawyers to conduct interviews with the film's production crew.

From Deadline:  "Rust's" AD (assistant director), Dave Halls, has come under scrutiny in the wake of the on-set shooting death of the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The affidavit of Sante Fe Sheriff's Department Detective Joel Cano has been made public. It can be read at "Deadline."  The affidavit was for a search warrant from the property were the Western, "Rust," was being filmed.

From THR:  The production company behind "Rust" has shut the film down until the police investigation into the fatal, on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is through.  The Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office has also revealed a timeline of the shooting.

From Deadline:  The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday night that Alec Baldwin “discharged” a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the movie, "Rust."  As a result, one crew member, director of photography Halyna Hutchins, was killed and director Joel Souza was injured and remains in a local hospital - his condition unknown.

From THR:  "Rust" director, Joel Souza, who was wounded in the accidental on-set shooting, says that he is "gutted" by the death of his cinematographer on the film, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The fatal shooting on the set of "Rust" may have been "recorded" according to detective for Santa Fe Sheriff's Department.

From Deadline:  The production company behind the film, "Rust," will launch an internal safety review after the fatal accident that killed Halyna Hutchins; possible prior gun incidents; and a camera crew walkout.

From CNN:   Crew member yelled "cold gun" as he handed Alec Baldwin prop weapon, court document shows.

From Variety:  Actor Alec Baldwin releases statement on the death of Halyna Hutchins: "There are no words to convey my shock and sadness."

From Variety:  The prop gun that killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on during an on-set accident on Thursday contained a “live single round,” according to an email sent by IATSE Local 44 to its membership.