Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Las Vegas Film Critics Name "Birdman" Best Picture of 2014

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) is a non-profit organization that describes itself as “progressive” and “dedicated to the advancement and preservation of film.”  The LVFCS membership is comprised of “select” print, television and internet film critics in the Las Vegas area. The LVFCS presents its "Sierra" awards each year for the best in film, including The William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award, which is named for the late Academy Award winning actor.

2014 Sierra Award winners:

Best Picture
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

Best Actor
Michael Keaton, “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

Best Actress
Reese Witherspoon, “Wild”

Best Supporting Actor
J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash”

Best Supporting Actress
Tilda Swinton, “Snowpiercer”

Best Director
Alejandro González Iñárritu, “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

Best Screenplay
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

Best Cinematography
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

Best Film Editing
James Herbert and Laura Jennings, “Edge of Tomorrow”

Best Costume Design
Alexandra Byrne, “Guardians of the Galaxy”

Best Art Direction
“The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

Best Visual Effects
“Interstellar”

Best Foreign Film
“Ida” (Poland)

Best Documentary
“Citzenfour”

Best Animated Film
“The Lego Movie”

Best Family Film
“The Lego Movie”

Best Horror/Sci-Fi Film
“Babadook”

Best Comedy Film
“Top 5”

Best Action Film
“Guardians of the Galaxy”

Best Ensemble
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

Best Score
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

Best Song
“I Love You All,” Stephen Rennicks – “Frank”

Youth in Film
Jaeden Lieberher, “St. Vincent”

Breakout Filmmaker of the Year
Damien Chazelle, “Whiplash”

William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award
Bill Murray

Cinema Heritage Award
Prof. Francisco Menendez, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Film Dept. Chair

LVFCS Top 10 Films of 2013:

1. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

2. Boyhood

3. Whiplash

4. Nightcrawler

5. The Grand Budapest Hotel

6. Wild

7. Selma

8. The Imitation Game

9. Snowpiercer

10.  Under the Skin

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Review: Entertaining "Hercules" is Old-Fashioned and a Bit Different

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 2 (of 2015) by Leroy Douresseaux

Hercules (2014)
Running time:  98 minutes (1 hour, 38 minutes)
MPAA - PG-13 for epic battle sequences, violence, suggestive comments, brief strong language and partial nudity
DIRECTOR:  Brett Ratner
WRITERS:  Ryan J. Condal and Evan Spiliotopoulos (based on the Radical Studios Hercules: The Thracian War comic book written by Steve Moore)
PRODUCERS:  Beau Flynn, Barry Levine, and Brett Ratner
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Dante Spinotti (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Mark Helfrich and Julia Wong
COMPOSERS:  Fernando Velázquez and Johannes Vogel (score composer)

FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE/DRAMA

Starring:  Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane, John Hurt, Rufus Sewell, Aksel Hennie, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Reece Ritchie, Joseph Fiennes, Tobias Santelmann, Peter Mullan, Rebecca Ferguson, Karoline Szymczak, and Isaac Andrews

Hercules is a 2014 fantasy drama and action-adventure film from director Brett Ratner.  This film presents a new take on the mythical Greek hero, Hercules, and the film's story is based on Hercules: The Thracian Wars, a graphic novel written by the late Steve Moore.  In this Hercules movie, Hercules and his band of mercenaries enter the service of a Thracian lord who is fighting a bloodthirsty warlord.  Of note, director Peter Berg is one of this film's executive producers.

This movie finds Hercules (Dwayne Johnson) as the leader of a band of mercenaries:  the prophet, Amphiaraus (Ian McShane); the knife-throwing thief, Autolycus (Rufus Sewell); the feral warrior, Tydeus (Aksel Hennie); the Amazon archer, Atalanta (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal); and Hercules' nephew, Iolaus (Reece Ritchie), a storyteller.   It is the year, 358 B.C., and they are on the Macedonian Coast in Northern Greece, paid to dispatch troublesome pirates.

Shortly after that mission, Hercules and his band are celebrating at a tavern where they are approached by Ergenia (Rebecca Ferguson) with the offer of a new mission.  She has come to Hercules on behalf of her father, Lord Cotys (John Hurt) of East Thracia.  Cotys wants Hercules to lead his army against Rheseus (Tobias Santelmann), a bloodthirsty warlord said to have mystical powers.  The legend of his “twelve labors” precedes Hercules, and the people expect supernatural results from him in dealing with the mysterious Rheseus.  All is not what it seems, however.

The trailers, commercials, and advertisements do not do justice to Hercules.  I am not going to lie to you and say that this is a great movie, but Hercules is an old-fashioned, action-adventure movie that manages to be both different and quite entertaining.  The film has dramatic heft because the story engages Hercules' shame and grief, and also the nature of his personality as related to the legends about him.  The story also delves deeply into Hercules' relationships with his band of mercenaries, as a whole and as individuals.  They are a family, and the story allows each member of this family to reveal his or her's personality and desires (or goals).

The advertising for Hercules emphasized the battle scenes, and the trailers made Hercules look like a Conan the Barbarian movie set in Greek antiquity.  However, this Hercules is not quite swords-and-sandals (or swords-and-sorcery, for that matter), but there are indeed two battles fought directly against Rheseus' forces.  These two battle sequences are fantastically staged.  I wish that they were longer, or that there was a third fight out on the battlefield.

Early in this film, Dwayne Johnson looks bored as Hercules, and he may be.  On the other hand, I think that his attitude is a deliberate choice of performing the character on the part of Johnson.  Having experienced the fickleness of the gods or perhaps of existence, Johnson's Hercules does not take everything so seriously that every professional setback seems like the end of the world.  Hercules and his friends take each job as it comes, with a jaundiced eye toward the declared motivations of potential buyers of their services.

Director Brett Ratner takes that and makes a Hercules that is spirited and fun, but not shallow.  It is a film not overwhelmed by computer generated imagery, environments, and actions.  The CGI simply enhances the fantasy, while the story stays grounded.  So Hercules is the kind of solidly-entertaining action-adventure that is worth repeated viewings.  And yeah, I'd like a sequel.

6 of 10
B

Monday, January 12, 2015


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.


Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Kansas City Film Critics Fly with "Birdman" as Best Picture

Founded in 1967, the Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) says that it is the "second oldest professional film critics" association in the United States" (behind the New York Film Critics Circle).  The organization is composed of media film critics in the Kansas City metropolitan area.  The KCFCC’s awards are named for the group’s founder, James Loutzenhiser, who died in November 2001.

On Sunday, December 14th, 2014, the Kansas City Film Critics Circle announced the winners of its 48th annual awards.

2014 / 48th KCFCC Annual Awards:

BEST PICTURE: “Birdman”

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD FOR BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING: Richard Linklater – “Boyhood”

BEST ACTOR: Michael Keaton – “Birdman”

BEST ACTRESS: Rosamund Pike – “Gone Girl”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Edward Norton – “Birdman”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Patricia Arquette – “Boyhood”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Nicholas Glocobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo – “Birdman”

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Gillian Robespierre – “Obvious Child”

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: “The Lego Movie”

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: “CitizenFour”

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: “Ida” (Poland)

VINCE KOEHLER AWARD FOR BEST SCI-FI, FANTASY or HORROR FILM: “The Babadook”

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More African-American Leaders Bring "Selma" to Students - for FREE #SelmaForStudents

MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS ACROSS AMERICA JOIN NEW YORK LEADERS IN RAISING FUNDS TO BRING “SELMA” TO STUDENTS FOR FREE

NEW CITIES BOSTON, NASHVILLE, NEW JERSEY, PHILADELPHIA, SAN FRANCISCO, SARASOTA, FL, AND WESTCHESTER ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE NATIONWIDE EFFORT

NEW YORK CITY COMPLETELY SOLD OUT

In an unprecedented effort lead by a team of African-American business leaders in New York, organizations across the U.S. coordinated a massive national campaign to find African-American business leaders to underwrite free admission to the Golden Globe-nominated film “SELMA” for students around the country. 

New cities Boston, Nashville, New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sarasota, FL, and Westchester have come together to create funds that will allow students in these locations to see “SELMA” for free at participating theaters.

The efforts are inspired by the success of the program in New York City, in which 27 African-American business leaders created a fund for 27,000 of the city’s 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to see the film for free. Due to the overwhelming demand, the New York City effort sold out in the very first weekend and was expanded to 75,000 tickets.

“Our goal was to educate as many children as we could about the historical importance and contemporary relevance of the march in Selma,” said Bill Lewis, Co-Chairman of Investment Banking, Lazard. “Seeing so many business leaders in other cities join this spontaneous initiative is a wonderful outcome for the children and for our country.”

The students in these cities will show a student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater for free admittance. The programs begin today, January 12th and run through January 19th (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) or while tickets last.

Business leaders in additional cities are currently organizing commitments and participation from community organizations. Those cities and leaders will be announced Wednesday, January 14th.

The local business leaders who are leading the efforts are:

Bennie Wiley, Principal, The Wiley Group and Flash Wiley, Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, in Boston (10,000 tickets)

“How inspiring to see so many members of the African-American community come together to expose our young people to this important chapter in history,” said Bennie Wiley and Flash Wiley. “We are delighted to join this extraordinary effort.”

Lawrence Jackson, Chairman, SourceMark, LLC, Former President, Dollar General, in Nashville (10,000 tickets)

“Director Ava DuVernay has created a film about an important piece of American history,” said Jackson. “Nashville is privileged to raise funds to help bring the film to as many students as possible.”

David R. Jones, President & CEO, CastleOak Securities, L.P., Anré Williams, President, Global Merchant Services, American Express, and Carla A. Harris, Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley in Northern New Jersey (10,000 tickets)

“New Jersey is honored to join its friends in New York in bringing ‘SELMA’ to students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to hear Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message,” said Jones. “We are grateful to the leaders in New York, whose generosity and vision lead to this movement.”

Leslie Brun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SARR Group, LLC, in Philadelphia (10,000 tickets)

“Philadelphia is happy to do its part in helping students experience the story of Dr. King’s journey in Alabama,” said Brun. “The challenges he faced there will still ring true today for many of our country’s youth.”

Charles Ward, Chief Development Officer, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, in San Francisco (10,000 tickets)

“We've managed to raise $100,000 in a relatively short period of time. That will send 10,000 kids to see the movie,” said Ward. “We do expect that there may be even greater demand. We'd like to cover as many admissions as possible.”

The Grain Family in Sarasota, FL (1,000 tickets)

“‘SELMA’ tells the story of Dr. King’s march so powerfully and so beautifully, that we are honored to contribute to such a worthwhile cause,” said the Grain Family.

Michael V. Littlejohn, Partner, IBM Global Business Services in Westchester (6,000 tickets)

“We are so inspired by the program in New York City and are humbled to be able to contribute to its success,” said Littlejohn.

For a list of participating theaters in select cities offering free admission to students during this program and for information on group sales, visit www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets

To help get the word out about the program, tweet using the hashtag #SelmaForStudents

Directed by Ava DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., “SELMA” earned a Golden Globe for Best Song for “Glory” by Common and John Legend and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.

The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”

Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films present “SELMA.” Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.

“SELMA” is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.

“SELMA” is playing in theaters nationwide. To learn more about the film, go to http://www.selmamovie.com

About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

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Webcomics Update: Grumble: Chapter One - Page 12 is Ready


Page 12 is here:http://www.comicbookbin.com/grumbleone012.html


Monday, January 12, 2015

Central Ohio Film Critics Name "Selma" Best Film of 2014


The Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA) was founded in 2002 and is made up of film critics based in Columbus, Ohio, and the surrounding areas.  Its membership currently consists of more than 21 print, radio, television, and new media critics.  Each January, COFCA votes on a number of awards, recognizing excellence in the film industry.

The 13th Annual Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards, honoring the best in film for 2014, were announced on Thursday, January 8, 2015.

2014 / 13th Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards:

Best Film
   1. Selma

   2. Whiplash
   3. Snowpiercer
   4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
   5. Nightcrawler
   6. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
   7. The Imitation Game
   8. Boyhood
   9. A Most Violent Year
  10. Gone Girl

Best Director
  • Ava DuVernay - (Selma)

  • Runner-Up: Wes Anderson - (The Grand Budapest Hotel)

Best Actor
  • David Oyelowo - (Selma)

  • Runner-Up (tie): Michael Keaton - (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance))
  • Runner-Up (tie): Jake Gyllenhaal - (Nightcrawler)

Best Actress
  • Essie Davis - (The Babadook)

  • Runner-Up: Scarlett Johansson - (Under the Skin)

Best Supporting Actor
  • J.K. Simmons - (Whiplash)

  • Runner-Up (tie): Josh Brolin - (Inherent Vice)
  • Runner-Up (tie): Mark Ruffalo - (Foxcatcher)

Best Supporting Actress
  • Tilda Swinton - (Snowpiercer)

  • Runner-Up: Patricia Arquette - (Boyhood)

Best Ensemble
  • The Grand Budapest Hotel

  • Runner-Up (tie): Foxcatcher
  • Runner-Up (tie): Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Actor of the Year (for an exemplary body of work)
  • Jake Gyllenhaal - (Enemy and Nightcrawler)

  • Runner-Up: Tilda Swinton - (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Only Lovers Left Alive, Snowpiercer, and The Zero Theorem)

Breakthrough Film Artist
  • Ava DuVernay - (Selma) - (for directing)

  • Runner-Up: Jennifer Kent - (The Babadook) - (for directing and screenwriting)

Best Cinematography
  • Robert Yeoman - (The Grand Budapest Hotel)

  • Runner-Up: Daniel Landin - (Under the Skin)

Best Film Editing
  • Tom Cross - (Whiplash)

  • Runner-Up: Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione - (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance))

Best Adapted Screenplay
  • Graham Moore - (The Imitation Game)

  • Runner-Up: Bong Joon-ho and Kelly Masterson - (Snowpiercer)

Best Original Screenplay
  • Paul Webb - (Selma)

  • Runner-Up: Wes Anderson - (The Grand Budapest Hotel)

Best Score
  • Alexandre Desplat - (The Grand Budapest Hotel)

  • Runner-Up: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - (Gone Girl)

Best Documentary
  • Finding Vivian Maier

  • Runner-Up: Citizenfour

Best Foreign Language Film
  • We Are the Best! (Vi är bäst!)

  • Runner-Up: Ida

Best Animated Film
  • The LEGO Movie

  • Runner-Up: Big Hero 6

Best Overlooked Film
  • The Babadook

  • Runner-Up: Edge of Tomorrow

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Ridley Scott, Alex Gibney Have Pilots for Amazon's First Pilot Season of 2015

Amazon’s First Pilot Season of 2015, Featuring Slate of 13 Original Comedy, Drama, Docuseries and Kids Offerings, will Debut January 15 on Amazon Instant Video in the US, UK and Germany

Seven new comedy, drama and docu-series pilots will be available including hour-long shows Cocked, Mad Dogs, Man in the High Castle and Point of Honor, half hour shows Down Dog and Salem Rogers, and half hour docu-series The New Yorker Presents

Six new kids pilots will be available including preschool projects Buddy: Tech Detective, Sara Solves It and The Stinky & Dirty Show, as well as 6-11 animated show Niko and the Sword of Light, and 6-11 live-action shows Table 58 and Just Add Magic

Pilots come from a talented creative roster including Ridley Scott (Blade Runner), Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files), Carlton Cuse (Lost), Randall Wallace (Braveheart), Shawn Ryan (The Shield), Brad Silberling (Jane the Virgin, Lemony Snickets…), Mark Waters (Mean Girls), Academy and Emmy Award winning director Alex Gibney (The Armstrong Lie), Angela Santomero (Blue’s Clues), and Carol Greenwald (Arthur)


SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon Studios announced it will debut its first pilot season of 2015 on Thursday, January 15, 2015 on Amazon Instant Video in the US, UK and Germany. Seven drama and comedy pilots will premiere, including hour-long shows Cocked from Samuel Baum (Lie to Me) and Sam Shaw (Manhattan – TV series), Mad Dogs from Cris Cole (The Bill) and Shawn Ryan (The Shield), Man in the High Castle from Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files), and Point of Honor from Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Randall Wallace (Braveheart). In addition, pilots for two half hour shows will debut, including Down Dog from Robin Schiff (Are You There, Chelsea?) and Salem Rogers from Will Graham (Onion News Network) and newcomer Lindsey Stoddart, along with a documentary series, The New Yorker Presents, inspired by non-fiction and fiction material from one of the most acclaimed and longest running publications, The New Yorker. The New Yorker Presents is Executive Produced by Oscar and Emmy-winning documentarian Alex Gibney (The Armstrong Lie).

    “We look forward to seeing our customers’ response to these new projects.”

Four animated kids pilots—Buddy: Tech Detective, The Stinky & Dirty Show, Sara Solves It, Niko and the Sword of Light—will join two live-action kids pilots—Table 58 and Just Add Magic—from a brilliantly talented roster of creative talent including May Chan (Phineas & Ferb), Carol Greenwald (Arthur), Jennifer Hamburg (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood), Rob Hoegee (Generator Rex), Guy Toubes (The Adventures of Chuck & Friends), Angela Santomero (Creative Galaxy), and Joanna Lewis & Kristine Songco (Sullivan & Son).

Customers will once again be invited to watch and provide feedback on the shows they want to see turned into full series. All pilots will be available via the Amazon Instant Video app on Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire tablets, Fire phone, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, as well as hundreds of other connected devices such as smart TVs—or customers can visit Amazon.com/AIV to watch online.

“We are working with great storytellers on some fascinating ideas for the year’s first pilot season,” said Roy Price, Vice President, Amazon Studios. “We look forward to seeing our customers’ response to these new projects.”

Amazon’s comedy and drama pilots include:

    Cocked
    Created by Samuel Baum (Lie to Me) and Sam Shaw (Manhattan – TV series), Cocked stars Sam Trammell (True Blood) as Richard Paxson, a family man and corporate lap dog who left his family in rural Colorado twenty years before and vowed never to go back. After some unfortunate circumstances, he is forced to leave the big city and return home to help his family’s gun business—one of the oldest in the country. But no good deed goes unpunished. Older brother Grady Paxton, played by Jason Lee (My Name is Earl), who’s a bachelor, playboy and gun aficionado, isn’t so happy to have him back, and Richard’s liberal wife and two opinionated teenage children are horrified by the world they have been thrown into. Hilarity, epic fights and emotional breakdowns ensue. Cocked also stars Tony award-winning Brian Dennehy (Death of a Salesman) as Wade Paxson and Laura Fraser (Breaking Bad) as Hannah Paxson, and Dreama Walker (The Good Wife) as Tabby Paxson. The hour-long dark comedy pilot was directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts (Skull Island), and Erwin Stoff (Unbroken) and Baum are Executive Producers.

    Down Dog
    Blessed with good looks, a winning smile, hippie parents, and a Southern California upbringing, life has been relatively easy thus far for Logan Wood (played by Josh Casaubon, I Just Want My Pants Back). In his late 30's, having coasted through romances with countless women and various random jobs, he now teaches yoga to the trophy wives, hot moms and aspiring celebrities of Santa Monica and Venice Beach. But when Logan and his current girlfriend, a successful and attractive older woman named Amanda (played by Paget Brewster, Criminal Minds) who happens to be the owner of the yoga studio, break up, life starts to get more complicated. Down Dog also stars Lyndsy Fonseca (How I Met Your Mother), Will Greenberg (Halt and Catch Fire), Andrea Savage (The Life and Times of Tim), Amir Talai (American Dad), Kris Kristofferson (Lone Star), and Alysia Reiner (Orange is the New Black). The pilot was written by Robin Schiff (Are You There, Chelsea?), produced by Bob Cooper (RFK) and Michael Fuchs (Death in the Modern Age), and directed by Bradley Silberling (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events).

    Mad Dogs
    Mad Dogs is an hour-long dark comedy created by Cris Cole (The Bill), and Executive Produced by Cole, Shawn Ryan (The Shield) and Marney Hochman (Last Resort), Andy Harries (DCI Banks), Suzanne Mackie (All in Good Time), and Charles McDougall (The Mindy Project). Based on the hit UK series, Mad Dogs follows the twisted reunion of a group of underachieving forty-something friends—a mixture of single, married and recently divorced—who are all at different crossroads in their lives. Celebrating the early retirement of an old friend at his gorgeous Belize villa, grudges begin to emerge and secrets explode as their trip becomes a labyrinthine nightmare of lies, deception and murder. Mad Dogs is a twisted tale of friendship put to the ultimate test. As an inconceivable chain of events unfolds, cracks within the group widen before the friends realize that the only people they can trust are each other, the last people they want to be relying on. The pilot stars Steve Zahn (Dallas Buyers Club) as Cobi, Billy Zane (Twin Peaks) as Milo, Romany Malco (Weeds) as Gus, Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) as Lex and Ben Chaplin as Joel. Mad Dogs is directed by McDougall and is being co-produced with Sony Pictures Television.

    The Man in the High Castle
    Based on Philip K. Dick's Hugo Award-winning 1962 alternative history, The Man in the High Castle considers the question of what would have happened if the Allied Powers had lost World War II. Almost 20 years after that loss, the United States and much of the world has now been split between Japan and Germany, the major hegemonic states. But the tension between these two powers is mounting, and this stress is playing out in the western U.S. Through a collection of characters in various states of posing (spies, sellers of falsified goods, others with secret identities), The Man in the High Castle provides an intriguing tale about life and history as it relates to authentic and manufactured reality. The hour-long dramatic pilot stars Alexa Davalos (Mob City) as Juliana Crain, Luke Kleintank (Pretty Little Liars) as Joe Blake, Rupert Evans (The Village) as Frank Frink, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Kombat Legacy) as Tagomi, Joel De La Fuente (Hemlock Grove) as Inspector Kido, Rufus Sewell (Eleventh Hour) as John Smith and DJ Qualls (Z Nation) as Ed McCarthy. The pilot was directed by David Semel (Madam Secretary, Heroes) and written by Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files), both serving as Executive Producers. Also executive producing are Ridley Scott (Blade Runner) and David W. Zucker (The Good Wife), with co-executive producer Jordan Sheehan of Scott Free Productions (The Good Wife, The Andromeda Strain), and Executive Producers Stewart Mackinnon and Christian Baute of Headline Pictures (The Invisible Woman). In addition, Isa Dick Hackett will executive produce and Kalen Egan will co-executive produce on behalf of Electric Shepherd (The Adjustment Bureau). Christopher Tricarico (May in the Summer) is also Executive Producer.

    The New Yorker Presents
    America’s most award-winning magazine comes to life in this half hour docu-series pilot. The New Yorker Presents is a completely unique viewing experience that features Tony-Award winner Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) and actor Brett Gelman (Go On) in a short film based on a story by Simon Rich (Saturday Night Live) and directed by Emmy Award-winning director Troy Miller (Arrested Development); a poem by Matthew Dickman and narrated by Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spiderman); a documentary by Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs) about biologist Tyrone Hayes based on a Rachel Aviv article; and an interview with famous performance artist, Marina Abramović, conducted by The New Yorker writer Ariel Levy. Academy Award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side) is Executive Producer, joined by Dave Snyder (Death Row Stories) and Dawn Ostroff (The Fashion Fund). The pilot is co-produced by Condé Nast Entertainment and Jigsaw Productions.

    Point of Honor
    At the start of the Civil War, a Virginia family, led by their West Point bred son, John Rhodes (played by Nathan Parsons, True Blood), makes the controversial decision to defend the South while freeing all of their slaves. At battle against his northern brethren and his best friend and brother-in-law Robert Sumner (played by Christopher O’Shea, Baby Daddy), John leaves his three strong-willed sisters at home to run the plantation that is now without a free labor source. The choice to protect the life they have always known and defend the moral high ground will pit the family against one another and test their strength, courage and love. An hour-long drama shot entirely on-location in historic Virginia, Point of Honor also stars Annabelle Stephenson (Revenge) as Kate Rhodes, Riley Voelkel (The Newsroom) as Lorelei Rhodes, Hanna Mangan Lawrence (Old School) as Estella Rhodes, Patrick Heusinger (Revolution) as Colonel Palmer Kane, Luke Benward (Ravenswood) as Garland Rhodes, Adrienne Warren (Black Box) as Abby, Lucien Laviscount (Waterloo Road) as Elijah, and James Harvey Ward (Low Winter Sun) as Cutler. The pilot was directed by Randall Wallace (Braveheart), written by Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Wallace, and Executive Produced by Cuse, Wallace and Barry Jossen (Sex and the City). Point of Honor is a co-production with ABC Signature Studios.

    Salem Rogers
    A half-hour comedy, Leslie Bibb (About a Boy) plays Salem Rogers, an overly confident, blunt, hard-partying former supermodel who is forced to face her past and re-enter the real world after ten years in a posh rehab center. Intent on recreating her glamorous lifestyle and modeling success, she tracks down Agatha (played by Rachel Dratch, Saturday Night Live), her former assistant who has since built a career as an author of self-help books to help her win back the spotlight. Salem Rogers also stars Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle), Brad Morris (Playing House), Harry Hamlin (Mad Men), Toks Olagundoye (The Neighbors), and Scott Adsit (30 Rock). The pilot was written by newcomer Lindsey Stoddart, Executive Produced by Will Graham (The Onion News Network) and directed by Mark Waters (Mean Girls). Salem Rogers was submitted to Amazon as part of the studio’s open screenplay submission process.

Amazon’s original kids pilots include:

    Buddy: Tech Detective (for preschool-aged children)
    Based on an original idea by Chris Dicker (What’s Your News?) and created by Jon Burton (The Lego Movie), Dicker and Jocelyn Stevenson (Fraggle Rock), and developed for television by Jennifer Hamburg (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Henry Hugglemonster), Buddy: Tech Detective is an exciting preschool whodunit that follows super-sleuth Buddy, his inventor best friend Trudy, the funny furry ferret Ferdo and you, the smarty-pants viewer! Using a myriad of interactive technologies, Buddy and his team gather evidence, follow cues and crack the case. The project is a TT Animation/The Foundation (a part of Zodiak Kids) production, and is animated by Jellyfish Animation Limited.

    Sara Solves It (for preschool-aged children)
    This animated musical comes from the talented minds of Carol Greenwald (Arthur, Martha Speaks, Curious George), and Angela C. Santomero (Super Why, Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Creative Galaxy, Wishenpoof!) with animation production handled by DHX (Martha Speaks, Kid vs. Kat, Inspector Gadget). Produced by WGBH and Out of the Blue Enterprises with Greenwald, Santomero and Samantha Freeman executive producing, Sara Solves It follows 9-year-old whiz kid Sara and her younger brother Sam as they work together in order to solve mysteries in their apartment building, at school and beyond using creative problem solving! Each mystery is an interactive problem, steeped in musical goodness. In this first episode, viewers will use math and music in a creative way as they help Sara and Sam solve the cheesiest pizza mystery!

    The Stinky & Dirty Show (for preschool-aged children)
    The Stinky & Dirty Show, based on the “I Stink!” book series by Kate & Jim McMullan, is written by Guy Toubes (The Adventures of Chuck & Friends, Littlest Pet Shop, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi) and animated by Brown Bag Films, Ltd (Peter Rabbit, Octonauts, Doc McStuffins). The Stinky & Dirty Show follows the adventures and mishaps faced by best friends and unlikely heroes, Stinky the garbage truck and Dirty, the backhoe loader. Whether it’s rescuing their pal Mighty the tugboat, or moving a giant boulder blocking the highway in their town of Go City, Stinky & Dirty are a dynamic duo of resourcefulness who make plenty of mistakes along the way. For them, hilariously failing turns out to be the most fun path to success.

    Niko and the Sword of Light (for children ages 6-11)
    Niko and the Sword of Light is based on the motion graphic comic by Imaginism Studios, Inc., the studio behind character and concept designs for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and Men in Black 3, and Studio NX (The Carrot and Rabbit Show, Tree Fu Tom). Written by Rob Hoegee (Generator Rex, League of Super Evil, Storm Hawks, Teen Titans) and animated by Titmouse (Motorcity, Metalocalpyse, Turbo FAST, Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja), Niko and the Sword of Light follows ten-year-old Niko who is the last of his kind in a strange, fantastical world. He must embark on an epic quest to defeat the darkness and bring the light back to his land. Armed with his magic sword, brave Niko journeys to the Cursed Volcano, making new friends and powerful foes along the way, all while uncovering secrets about his mysterious past. Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) and Jim Cummings (Shrek) lend their vocal talent.

    Table 58 (for children ages 6-11)
    Written by May Chan (Phineas & Ferb, Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures), Table 58 is a single-camera live-action pilot directed by Gil Junger (10 Things I Hate About You, Greek). In Table 58, they’re not a part of the popular crowd, and they’re not a part of the geek crowd. The only thing they’re a part of is Table 58: the odd table in the lunchroom, made up of kids from all different cliques who have been ousted from the table where they seemingly belong. When new kid Logan moves to town, he rallies the group of six mismatched middle schoolers to form a tenuous partnership in order to help each other get back to their rightful place in the cafeteria. The project stars Grace Kaufman (Bad Teacher), Johnnie Ladd (Melissa & Joey), Jacob Melton (The Middle), Nathaniel Potvin (Girl Meets World), Juliana Rigolioso (The Smurfs), and Zack Shires (Wilfred).

    Just Add Magic (for children ages 6-11)
    Based on Cindy Callaghan’s young adult book of the same name and adapted by Joanna Lewis & Kristine Songco (Sullivan & Son, Fairly Odd Parents, My Little Pony), Just Add Magic is a single-camera live-action pilot directed by Joe Nussbaum (George Lucas in Love, Awkward). The story centers on Kelly Quinn and her two BFF’s, Darbie and Hannah, who stumble upon her grandmother’s mysterious cookbook in the attic and discover it has some interesting recipes. The Shut’em Up Shortcake actually silences Kelly’s pesky little brother and when the Healing Hazelnut Tart quickly heals Darbie’s ankle, the girls discover they have the power of magic. The project stars Olivia Sanabia (Extant), Abby Donnelly (Suburgatory), Aubrey Miller (Austin & Ally), and Judah Bellamy (Home).


About Amazon Studios
Amazon Studios most recently debuted its dramatic comedy Mozart in the Jungle from Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Paul Weitz, John Strauss and Alex Timbers as well as Jill Soloway’s critically acclaimed and Golden Globe nominated dark comedy Transparent; its first live-action series for kids 6-11, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street; and a second season of the Garry Trudeau political comedy Alpha House. The studio has also launched three additional children’s series, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival Award-winning and Annie Award-nominated Tumble Leaf from Bix Pix Entertainment; Creative Galaxy from Angela Santomero and Out of the Blue Enterprises, the creators of Blue’s Clues; and Annedroids, from Emmy nominated Sinking Ship Entertainment.

Amazon Studios has also announced four additional, original series to debut in 2015 including Michael Connelly’s Bosch; Hand of God from Marc Forster and Ben Watkins; Red Oaks from Steven Soderbergh, David Gordon Green, Greg Jacobs and Joe Gangemi; and kids series Wishenpoof! from Angela Santomero and Out of the Blue Enterprises; as well as a second season of Transparent.

Amazon Studios launched in 2010 as a new way to develop feature films and episodic series—one that’s open to great ideas from creators and audiences around the world. Anyone can upload a script online and Amazon Studios will read and review all submissions. Those who choose to make their projects public can also receive feedback from the Amazon Studios community.

Comprehensive cast and crew information, including bios and filmographies, is available on Amazon's IMDb (www.imdb.com), the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content.

About Amazon
Amazon.com opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire phone, Fire tablets, and Fire TV are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.

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