William Shatner, Lauren Cohan, Evan Peters, WWE® Superstar Kane® Headline Celebrity Guests At Wizard World Nashville Comic Con, September 26-28
'Star Trek: TNG' Cast Reunion, Alan Tudyk, Eliza Dushku, WWE® Divas The Bella Twins™, Sean Astin, Jamie Bamber, Michael Rooker, Top Comics Creators Also Among Top Stars At Pop Culture Festival At Music City Center
William Shatner (Star Trek, “T.J. Hooker”), Lauren Cohan (“The Walking Dead,” “The Vampire Diaries”), WWE® Superstar Kane®, WWE® Divas The Bella Twins™, Evan Peters (X-Men: Days of Future Past, American Horror Story), Eliza Dushku (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel”), Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs and Brian Krause (“Charmed”) and Alan Tudyk (“Firefly,” 42) are among the celebrities scheduled to attend Wizard World Nashville Comic Con, September 26-28 at the Music City Center. It is the 12th of 16 events in the 2014 series produced by Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) and will also feature a top-drawer collection of well-known comics artists and writers and a variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions.
Shatner will appear on Friday, Sept. 26, only; The WWE stars will attend on Saturday, Sept. 27, only. Krause will appear all three days. The others are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
Wizard World Nashville Comic Con will also be the scene of a reunion of six cast members from “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” as Jonathan Frakes (“Commander William T. Riker”), Levar Burton (“Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge”), Michael Dorn (“Lieutenant Worf”), Marina Sirtis (“Counselor Deanna Troi”), Brent Spiner (“Lt. Commander Data”), and Gates McFadden (“Dr. Beverly Crusher”) relive the memories of the program's seven-year run.
Superstar comics creators scheduled to attend include Neal Adams (“Batman,” “Green Lantern”), Ron Garney (“Thor,” “Uncanny X-Force”), Ethan Van Sciver (“Green Lantern,” “Flash”), Phil Ortiz (“The Simpsons,” “Muppet Babies”), Arthur Suydam (“Marvel Zombies,” “Army of Darkness”), Michael Golden (“Spider-Man,” “Hulk”), Greg Horn (“Walt Disney,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”), and many others.
Other notable celebrities on the Wizard World Nashville Comic Con roster include Manu Bennett (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, “Arrow”), Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings, Rudy), Jamie Bamber and Michael Trucco (“Battlestar Galactica,”), Jon Bernthal and Michael Rooker of “The Walking Dead,” Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk,” “King of Queens,”), Jason David Frank (“Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers”) and Jenna Busch (“Cocktails With Stan).
Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Wizard World Nashville Comic Con show hours are Friday, September 26, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, September 27, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, September 28, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place all three days at the event, with celebrity Q&A's, the Wizard World Film Festival, comics-themed sessions, costume contest, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Sunday is also Kids Day, with an array of activities and programming specially designed for the younger Wizard World fans.
Wizard World Nashville Comic Con is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor, often stopping by the Show Stage, the ideal place to see and be seen.
For more on the 2014 Wizard World Nashville Comic Con, visit http://www.wizd.me/NashvillePR.
About Wizard World:
Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD) produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.
The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.
Wizard World 2014 Schedule
January 24-26 – Wizard World Portland Comic Con
February 7-9 – Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con
March 7-9 – Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con
March 28-30 – Wizard World Louisville Comic Con
April 4-6 – Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con
May 2-4 – Wizard World Minneapolis Comic Con
May 30-June 1 – Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con
June 19-22 – Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 1-3 – Wizard World San Antonio Comic Con
August 21-24 – Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
September 12-14 – Wizard World Richmond Comic Con
September 26-28 – Wizard World Nashville Comic Con
October 2-4 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con
October 31-November 2 – Wizard World Ohio Comic Con
November 7-9 – Wizard World Tulsa Comic Con
November 21-23 – Wizard World Reno Comic Con
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Monday, September 22, 2014
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Eminem Track, "Guts Over Fear," Featured in "The Equalizer"
"GUTS OVER FEAR," THE NEW SINGLE FROM EMINEM FEAT. SIA TO BE THE END TITLE SONG IN "THE EQUALIZER" STARRING DENZEL WASHINGTON
"Guts Over Fear," the new single from Eminem featuring Sia, has just launched to great success as a digital download, with near universal acclaim and over 247,000 downloads worldwide. Moviegoers will hear the song in the upcoming film The Equalizer, starring Denzel Washington, in theaters September 26.
"By the end of The Equalizer, Denzel’s character of Robert McCall will have to embrace who he really is, but also transform himself into a man on a tireless and continuing pursuit of justice. Like the title of Eminem’s song, that’s ultimately a story of guts over fear – for this character, the driving force of his life becomes using his skills to help the truly powerless," says Antoine Fuqua, director of The Equalizer. "It’s the perfect song to end the film. It’s powerful, a great song, but more importantly, it captures the themes of the movie and the choices that Robert McCall has made, and it leaves the audience feeling elated."
The song is also the first release from the upcoming ShadyXV, a two-CD compilation marking the 15th anniversary of Eminem’s Shady Records imprint. The collection is comprised of an album of the label’s greatest hits -- including classics such as 50 Cent’s "In Da Club" and Eminem’s "Lose Yourself" – plus an album of new material from Eminem, Slaughterhouse, Bad Meets Evil, D-12 and Yelawolf as well as special guest-artist collaborations. ShadyXV (Shady Records/Interscope Records) is set for release November 24, 2014.
In The Equalizer, Denzel Washington plays McCall, a man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when McCall meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by – he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer. Directed by Antoine Fuqua. Written by Richard Wenk. Based on the Television Series Created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim. Produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Denzel Washington, Alex Siskin, Steve Tisch, Mace Neufeld, Tony Eldridge, and Michael Sloan. Executive producers are Ezra Swerdlow, David Bloomfield, and Ben Waisbren. The film is a Columbia Pictures presentation in association with LStar Capital and Village Roadshow Pictures.
About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.
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"Guts Over Fear," the new single from Eminem featuring Sia, has just launched to great success as a digital download, with near universal acclaim and over 247,000 downloads worldwide. Moviegoers will hear the song in the upcoming film The Equalizer, starring Denzel Washington, in theaters September 26.
"By the end of The Equalizer, Denzel’s character of Robert McCall will have to embrace who he really is, but also transform himself into a man on a tireless and continuing pursuit of justice. Like the title of Eminem’s song, that’s ultimately a story of guts over fear – for this character, the driving force of his life becomes using his skills to help the truly powerless," says Antoine Fuqua, director of The Equalizer. "It’s the perfect song to end the film. It’s powerful, a great song, but more importantly, it captures the themes of the movie and the choices that Robert McCall has made, and it leaves the audience feeling elated."
The song is also the first release from the upcoming ShadyXV, a two-CD compilation marking the 15th anniversary of Eminem’s Shady Records imprint. The collection is comprised of an album of the label’s greatest hits -- including classics such as 50 Cent’s "In Da Club" and Eminem’s "Lose Yourself" – plus an album of new material from Eminem, Slaughterhouse, Bad Meets Evil, D-12 and Yelawolf as well as special guest-artist collaborations. ShadyXV (Shady Records/Interscope Records) is set for release November 24, 2014.
In The Equalizer, Denzel Washington plays McCall, a man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when McCall meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by – he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer. Directed by Antoine Fuqua. Written by Richard Wenk. Based on the Television Series Created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim. Produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Denzel Washington, Alex Siskin, Steve Tisch, Mace Neufeld, Tony Eldridge, and Michael Sloan. Executive producers are Ezra Swerdlow, David Bloomfield, and Ben Waisbren. The film is a Columbia Pictures presentation in association with LStar Capital and Village Roadshow Pictures.
About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.
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Saturday, September 20, 2014
Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of September 14th to September 20th, 2014 - Update #16
NEWS:
From CinemaBlend: Some "news" about Star Trek 3.
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From SpinoffCBR: Sony releases the first clip from the upcoming Popeye animated film, directed by Genndy Tartakovsky ("Dexter's Lab," "Samurai Jack"). The film may be released in 2016. Tartakovsky previously directed the hit film, Hotel Transylvania (2012), for Sony Pictures Animation.
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From YahooMovies: Jack Huston, the grandson of legendary director, John Huston, has been cast in the lead role in the upcoming remake of the 1959 best picture Oscar winner, Ben-Hur. He is also the the nephew of Oscar-winning actress Anjelica Huston and Danny Huston. Morgan Freeman has also been cast in the film.
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From YahooMovies: TNT locked down the rights to broadcast five Marvel movies, beginning with "Avengers: Age of Ultron." The movies will debut two years after their theatrical release.
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From HuffingtonPost: Disney hopes to exploit Frozen better than it did The Little Mermaid.
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From Gawker: More on actress Daniele Watts run-in with the LAPD after kissing her white husband.
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From Variety: The new film, No Good Deed," debuts at #1 for the September 12th - 14th, 2014 weekend box office, with an estimagted $24.5 million haul. The film stars Taraji P. Henson and Idris Elba. Meanwhile, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy becomes the first film released in 2014 to cross the $300 million mark in domestic box office. It has crossed $600 million in worldwide box office, and still has not been released in China.
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From TheHollywoodReporter: Django Unchained actress, Daniele Watts (who is black), was arrested by two Los Angeles police officers on Thursday, September 11, 2014. She claims they thought she was a prostitute. Watts also appears as Martin Lawrence's daughter on the FX comedy series, "Partners."
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From CNN: Bill Murray seems to have cause a stir with his suggestion of an all-female Ghostbusters reboot.
COMIC BOOKS - Books and Movies:
From Inquisitr: Rumors about the plot and cast of "Thor 3."
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From Mashable: Aquaman apparently had a part in Man of Steel; details to be revealed in "Batman Vs. Superman."
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From SpinoffCBR: FOX sets "Deadpool" movie for February 12, 2016, and moves "Fantastic Four" reboot to from June 2016 to August 2016.
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From YahooMovies: Disney/Marvel releases the synopsis for Avengers: Age of Ultron.
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From CinemaBlend: Speculation about a fourth Iron Man film.
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From TheVox: The business of killing Wolverine in the comic books.
STAR WARS:
From YahooMovies: Rian Johnson, writer-director of Episode 8, talks about Lucasfilm's one big demand.
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From SpinoffCBR: JJ Abrams reveals the Millennium Falcon in a video... with some humor.
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From EW's InsideMovies: A question and answer session with C-P3O, Anthony Daniels.
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From YahooMovies: An article about EW's Anthony Daniels interview.
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From Inquisitr: Possible set photos from Episode 7.
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From InternationalBusinessTimes: Supposed info about Luke Skywalker as he pertains to Episode 7.
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From InternationalBusinessTimes: Supposedly, current James Bond, Daniel Craig, has a cameo in Episode 7.
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From CinemaBlend: What Daisy Ridley could look like in Episode 7.
MISC:
From BuzzFeed: See the Columbian Women Team's cycling uniforms. They look nasty from a distance; the shadow cast at the crotch looks like pubic hair. Close-up, the uniforms look like no big deal.
From TheConcourse: Rob Harvilla on U2's new album.
From BuzzFlash: More fun with the Palin Klan...err... I mean clan.
Sony Pictures Classics Acquires "Still Alice" with Julianne Moore and Kristen Stewart
SONY PICTURES CLASSICS ACQUIRES STILL ALICE FOR NORTH AMERICA
Sony Pictures Classics announced that they acquired North American rights to STILL ALICE, starring Julianne Moore, Kristen Stewart, Alec Baldwin, Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish. The film reunites Co-Directors and Co-Writers Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland (THE LAST OF ROBIN HOOD) with Sony Pictures Classics, who worked together on QUINCEANERA. STILL ALICE, a BSM Studio Presentation, is produced by Lex Lutzus, James Brown and Pamela Koffler and executive produced by Marie Savare, Christine Vachon of Killer Films, Maria Shriver, Emilie Georges, Nicholas Shumaker, Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler. This also marks a homecoming for Julianne Moore, who worked with the company on VANYA ON 42ND STREET, SAFE and THE MYTH OF FINGERPRINTS.
The film has received much acclaim while debuting at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. It had its world premiere on Thursday.
Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, Alice and her family find their bonds tested in STILL ALICE.
"Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland have made a seamless powerfully moving film. The cast is simply phenomenal. Julianne Moore, one of the world's truly great film actresses, gives here her finest performance to date. It is a privilege to welcome Wash and Richard, Julianne, Alec and the producers back into the Sony Pictures Classics family with a film about family that promises to pack an emotional punch on audiences throughout the country," said Sony Pictures Classics.
"To have unveiled the movie on Monday and have Sony Pictures Classics picking up it up by Friday is a filmmaker's dream. We know STILL ALICE is in the best possible hands with Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and the entire team at SPC and look forward to a great release," added Filmmakers Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland.
The deal was negotiated with CAA.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.
Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 32 Academy Awards® (28 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 140 Academy Award® nominations (114 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.
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Sony Pictures Classics announced that they acquired North American rights to STILL ALICE, starring Julianne Moore, Kristen Stewart, Alec Baldwin, Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish. The film reunites Co-Directors and Co-Writers Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland (THE LAST OF ROBIN HOOD) with Sony Pictures Classics, who worked together on QUINCEANERA. STILL ALICE, a BSM Studio Presentation, is produced by Lex Lutzus, James Brown and Pamela Koffler and executive produced by Marie Savare, Christine Vachon of Killer Films, Maria Shriver, Emilie Georges, Nicholas Shumaker, Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler. This also marks a homecoming for Julianne Moore, who worked with the company on VANYA ON 42ND STREET, SAFE and THE MYTH OF FINGERPRINTS.
The film has received much acclaim while debuting at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. It had its world premiere on Thursday.
Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, Alice and her family find their bonds tested in STILL ALICE.
"Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland have made a seamless powerfully moving film. The cast is simply phenomenal. Julianne Moore, one of the world's truly great film actresses, gives here her finest performance to date. It is a privilege to welcome Wash and Richard, Julianne, Alec and the producers back into the Sony Pictures Classics family with a film about family that promises to pack an emotional punch on audiences throughout the country," said Sony Pictures Classics.
"To have unveiled the movie on Monday and have Sony Pictures Classics picking up it up by Friday is a filmmaker's dream. We know STILL ALICE is in the best possible hands with Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and the entire team at SPC and look forward to a great release," added Filmmakers Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland.
The deal was negotiated with CAA.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.
Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 32 Academy Awards® (28 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 140 Academy Award® nominations (114 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.
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2014 Austin Film Festival Announces Programming
Austin Film Festival Announces 2014 Slate
Selections include Wild, Escobar: Paradise Lost, The Imitation Game, The Homesman, Big Hero 6, and a robust slate of World Premieres
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Austin Film Festival & Screenwriters Conference (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing writers’ and filmmakers’ contributions to film, television, and new media, announced today their full slate of programming for the 21st Annual Festival, this October 23-30.
Marquee selections will feature Wild, Escobar: Paradise Lost, The Imitation Game, The Sound and the Fury, The Homesman, Black and White, Big Hero 6, Red Army, and the World Premieres of Gravitas Venture’s 21 Years: Richard Linklater, Bravo’s upcoming series A Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce, and Amplify’s Dawn Patrol – a script discovered out of AFF’s Screenplay Competition by Enderby Entertainment’s Daniel Petrie, Jr. and Rick Dugdale.
AFF’s Film Competition Program boasts 15 World Premieres, with titles hailing from more than 20 countries. Film talent confirmed to attend includes Jay Duplass (Jeff, Who Lives at Home), Rita Wilson (Sleepless in Seattle), Scott Eastwood (Fury), W. Earl Brown (Deadwood), Jason Ritter (Parenthood), Austin Nichols (One Tree Hill), Leven Rambin (The Hunger Games), Matthew Letscher (Her), Alex Anfanger (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), Sebastian Roché (Beowulf), Luke Kleintank (Bones), Lindsay Pulsipher (Hatfields & McCoys), Glenn Morshower (Friday Night Lights), Lindsay Burdge (A Teacher), comedian Maz Jobrani, members from the band Morphine, and more.
The Screenwriters Conference, held the first four days of the Festival (October 23-26), will play host to writers behind some of the last year’s biggest blockbusters and indie gems: Guardians of the Galaxy, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle, Dallas Buyers Club, Saving Mr. Banks, and The Fault In Our Stars; as well as highly-anticipated projects: Unbroken, Fifty Shades of Grey, The Jungle Book, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, and Top Gun 2. Television creators, writers, directors, and producers will be represented from Mad Men, True Detective, Breaking Bad, Fargo, Masters of Sex, Bob’s Burgers, Justified, and Orange is the New Black.
Guest programmers for AFF’s annual retrospective series include Matthew Weiner presenting episodes from The Twilight Zone; Jim Sheridan and Terry George presenting In the Name of the Father; Jenny Lumet, daughter of Sidney Lumet, presenting Network; and Randall Wallace presenting Braveheart.
Badges and passes are available for purchase online at www.austinfilmfestival.com or by phone at 1-800-310-FEST.
Attendance is subject to change and based on permitting schedules.
Austin Film Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Austin Economic Growth & Redevelopment Services Office/Cultural Arts Division believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin’s future.
Selections include Wild, Escobar: Paradise Lost, The Imitation Game, The Homesman, Big Hero 6, and a robust slate of World Premieres
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Austin Film Festival & Screenwriters Conference (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing writers’ and filmmakers’ contributions to film, television, and new media, announced today their full slate of programming for the 21st Annual Festival, this October 23-30.
Marquee selections will feature Wild, Escobar: Paradise Lost, The Imitation Game, The Sound and the Fury, The Homesman, Black and White, Big Hero 6, Red Army, and the World Premieres of Gravitas Venture’s 21 Years: Richard Linklater, Bravo’s upcoming series A Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce, and Amplify’s Dawn Patrol – a script discovered out of AFF’s Screenplay Competition by Enderby Entertainment’s Daniel Petrie, Jr. and Rick Dugdale.
AFF’s Film Competition Program boasts 15 World Premieres, with titles hailing from more than 20 countries. Film talent confirmed to attend includes Jay Duplass (Jeff, Who Lives at Home), Rita Wilson (Sleepless in Seattle), Scott Eastwood (Fury), W. Earl Brown (Deadwood), Jason Ritter (Parenthood), Austin Nichols (One Tree Hill), Leven Rambin (The Hunger Games), Matthew Letscher (Her), Alex Anfanger (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), Sebastian Roché (Beowulf), Luke Kleintank (Bones), Lindsay Pulsipher (Hatfields & McCoys), Glenn Morshower (Friday Night Lights), Lindsay Burdge (A Teacher), comedian Maz Jobrani, members from the band Morphine, and more.
The Screenwriters Conference, held the first four days of the Festival (October 23-26), will play host to writers behind some of the last year’s biggest blockbusters and indie gems: Guardians of the Galaxy, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle, Dallas Buyers Club, Saving Mr. Banks, and The Fault In Our Stars; as well as highly-anticipated projects: Unbroken, Fifty Shades of Grey, The Jungle Book, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, and Top Gun 2. Television creators, writers, directors, and producers will be represented from Mad Men, True Detective, Breaking Bad, Fargo, Masters of Sex, Bob’s Burgers, Justified, and Orange is the New Black.
Guest programmers for AFF’s annual retrospective series include Matthew Weiner presenting episodes from The Twilight Zone; Jim Sheridan and Terry George presenting In the Name of the Father; Jenny Lumet, daughter of Sidney Lumet, presenting Network; and Randall Wallace presenting Braveheart.
Badges and passes are available for purchase online at www.austinfilmfestival.com or by phone at 1-800-310-FEST.
Attendance is subject to change and based on permitting schedules.
Austin Film Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Austin Economic Growth & Redevelopment Services Office/Cultural Arts Division believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin’s future.
Trailblazing Comedian, Joan Rivers, Dead at 81 - Update #8
Heart is breaking. Can't write much now. Joan Rivers is dead.
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Born on June 8th, 1933, Joan Rivers was an American comedian, also known for her work as an actress and as a television host. Rivers also authored numerous books and recorded several comedy albums.
She first came to prominence in 1965 when she appeared on "The Tonight Show," a program with which she would be closely associated for the next two decades. In 1986, Rivers became the first woman to host her own late night talk show with "The Late Show with Joan Rivers," which was short-lived. From 1989 to 1993, she hosted a successful daytime show, "The Joan Rivers Show," which earned her a Daytime Emmy.
For the past two decades, most of Rivers' work has centered on covering celebrities and celebrity events. Beginning in 2010, Joan Rivers was the host of the television series, "Fashion Police," aired on the cable network, E!
Rivers died Thursday, September 4th, 2014. Negromancer sends condolences to Rivers' family, friends, and fans. R.I.P. Joan Rivers.
From YahooCelebrity: President Obama send handwritten note of condolences to Melissa Rivers.
From YahooCelebrity: Rivers' personal doctor took a selfie while Rivers was under anesthesia before he performed unauthorized biopsy.
From YahooCelebrity: Read the eulogy letter Melissa Rivers read at her mother's funeral.
From YahooTV: Details on Joan Rivers' death - air supply cut off
From YahooCelebrity: Joan Rivers' funeral is somber, bawdy, and star-studded.
From CNN: Rivers' funeral set for Sunday in New York City.
From YahooCelebrity: Rivers' funeral to have a red carpet.
From YahooCelebrity: Joan Rivers, trailblazing comic, red carpet fixture, dead at 81
From Variety: Joan Rivers, Comedian and TV Host, Dies at 81
From Variety: Hollywood pays tribute to Joan Rivers
From YahooTV: Revisiting the Johnny Carson-Joan Rivers feud.
From YahooTV: Joan River's most outrageous celebrity insults. Of note, most of these have to do with recent celebs. I'm sure there is a better list that focuses on former headliners and A-listers.
From the HuffingtonPost: Melissa Rivers' brave decision
From TheWrap: Rivers' cause of death still unknown.
From YahooCelebrity: More of Rivers' celebrity feuds.
Related Joan Rivers sites:
Official website is here.
Wikipedia page is here.
IMDb page is here.
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Born on June 8th, 1933, Joan Rivers was an American comedian, also known for her work as an actress and as a television host. Rivers also authored numerous books and recorded several comedy albums.
She first came to prominence in 1965 when she appeared on "The Tonight Show," a program with which she would be closely associated for the next two decades. In 1986, Rivers became the first woman to host her own late night talk show with "The Late Show with Joan Rivers," which was short-lived. From 1989 to 1993, she hosted a successful daytime show, "The Joan Rivers Show," which earned her a Daytime Emmy.
For the past two decades, most of Rivers' work has centered on covering celebrities and celebrity events. Beginning in 2010, Joan Rivers was the host of the television series, "Fashion Police," aired on the cable network, E!
Rivers died Thursday, September 4th, 2014. Negromancer sends condolences to Rivers' family, friends, and fans. R.I.P. Joan Rivers.
From YahooCelebrity: President Obama send handwritten note of condolences to Melissa Rivers.
From YahooCelebrity: Rivers' personal doctor took a selfie while Rivers was under anesthesia before he performed unauthorized biopsy.
From YahooCelebrity: Read the eulogy letter Melissa Rivers read at her mother's funeral.
From YahooTV: Details on Joan Rivers' death - air supply cut off
From YahooCelebrity: Joan Rivers' funeral is somber, bawdy, and star-studded.
From CNN: Rivers' funeral set for Sunday in New York City.
From YahooCelebrity: Rivers' funeral to have a red carpet.
From YahooCelebrity: Joan Rivers, trailblazing comic, red carpet fixture, dead at 81
From Variety: Joan Rivers, Comedian and TV Host, Dies at 81
From Variety: Hollywood pays tribute to Joan Rivers
From YahooTV: Revisiting the Johnny Carson-Joan Rivers feud.
From YahooTV: Joan River's most outrageous celebrity insults. Of note, most of these have to do with recent celebs. I'm sure there is a better list that focuses on former headliners and A-listers.
From the HuffingtonPost: Melissa Rivers' brave decision
From TheWrap: Rivers' cause of death still unknown.
From YahooCelebrity: More of Rivers' celebrity feuds.
Related Joan Rivers sites:
Official website is here.
Wikipedia page is here.
IMDb page is here.
Friday, September 19, 2014
New Trailer and Poster for Jason Reitman's "Men, Women, and Children"
Watch the new trailer for Jason Reitman's MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN:
http://www.mtv.com/news/1934090/men-women-children-trailer-ansel-elgort/
Share your thoughts and reactions to the trailer with the Whisper App using #MWC
Synopsis: MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN follows the story of a group of high school teenagers and their parents as they attempt to navigate the many ways the internet has changed their relationships, their communication, their self-image, and their love lives. The film attempts to stare down social issues such as video game culture, anorexia, infidelity, fame hunting, and the proliferation of illicit material on the internet. As each character and each relationship is tested, we are shown the variety of roads people choose - some tragic, some hopeful - as it becomes clear that no one is immune to this enormous social change that has come through our phones, our tablets, and our computers.
Official site: http://www.menwomenchildrenmovie.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/MWCmovie
Twitter: Twitter.com/MWCmovie
Instagram: Instagram.com/MWCmovie
#MWC
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Thursday, September 18, 2014
New "Interstellar" Poster - September 17th, 2014
The end of Earth will not be the end of us.
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/interstellarmovie
Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/Interstellar
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterstellarMovie
#Interstellar
Opens November 7th, 2014
Review: "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" Entangled in Too Many Angles
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Running time: 142 minutes (2 hours, 22 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi/action and violence
DIRECTOR: Marc Webb
WRITERS: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and James Pinkner; from a story by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, James Pinkner, and James Vanderbilt (based upon the Marvel comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko)
PRODUCERS: Avi Arad and Matthew Tolmach
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dan Mindel (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Pietro Scalia
COMPOSERS: Hans Zimmer, The Magnificent Six, Johnny Marr, and Pharrell Williams
SUPERHERO/DRAMA/ACTION/ROMANCE
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Sally Field, Dane DeHaan, Felicity Jones, Paul Giamatti, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, Marton Csokas, Max Charles, B.J. Novak, Kari Coleman, Michael Massee, and Stan Lee with Chris Cooper and Denis Leary
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a 2014 superhero film and drama from director Marc Webb and stars Andrew Garfield in the title role. It is the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man, the 2012 film that was a reboot of Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man film franchise, and this movie is also the fifth Spider-Man film in the series. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 finds Spider-Man facing a former admirer turned super-villain, while Peter Parker worries that being Spider-Man will endanger his loved ones.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 begins as Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) and his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), are about to graduate from high school. Peter is also loving his life as the costumed, crime-fighting superhero, Spider-Man. Peter, however, is currently haunted by the specter of police Captain George Stacy (Denis Leary), Gwen's deceased father. As Capt. Stacy lay dying (in the previous film), Peter promised him to keep Gwen out of his life because of Spider-Man. Peter reluctantly tries to break up with Gwen, but the two teenagers deeply love each other. Peter's attempts simply sow confusion.
Meanwhile, at OsCorp Industries, Peter's former friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns to New York City in time to take over the business of his recently deceased father, Norman Osborn (Chris Cooper). OsCorp's past as a company on the cutting edge of controversial genetic research, however, threatens both Harry and Peter. Also, a new villain, Electro (Jamie Foxx), appears.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 lacks focus, and I think that there are two reasons for that. First, the screenplay wants to be a story of young romance, but the romance and character drama are overwrought. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone give good performances, but Peter and Gwen's relationship is like a car stuck in mud and pointlessly spinning its wheel. The car isn't going anywhere, and until the end, neither is Peter and Gwen's relationship, and then, that is only for tragic affect.
I think the second reason that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 seems muddled is because it is more than just a superhero movie; it is the birth of an expanded universe. Sony, Columbia Pictures' parent, wants to take some of the characters that belong to Marvel Comics' line of Spider-Man comic books and use them to expand their Spider-Man film franchise into a Spider-Man universe. They want something like Marvel Studios' “Marvel Cinematic Universe.” Why have just Spider-Man movies when you can have movies starring Spider-Man adversaries like Venom and the Sinister Six.
Marvel essentially used the 2010 film, Iron Man 2, to expand its universe, and that movie tended to drift and lack focus, but in the end, Iron Man 2 was a good movie. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is meant to expand the Spider-Man universe, but in the end, it is not really a good movie. The character melodrama is at odds with the showy action-fantasy violence that is the Spider-Man vs. Electro subplot. Electro is probably the worse villain yet in the Spider-Man films.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has an engaging visual style, and it is probably at its best when it depicts Spider-Man swinging over New York City, through its canyons and around its buildings and skyscrapers. Even the fight scenes, which seem tacked on to the story, look good, when they focus on Spider-Man. Nothing about Electro looks good. Hopefully, the third installment of The Amazing Spider-Man can be itself, a stand-alone movie that does not have to carry the hopes of Sony's corporate board and accountants.
4 of 10
C
Monday, September 15, 2014
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
"Vacation" Remake/Reboot/Sequel/Contiunation Begins Filming in Georgia
Cameras Roll on “Vacation”
Principal photography begins on New Line Cinema’s “Vacation,” Starring Ed Helms and Christina Applegate
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The next generation of Griswolds is at it again. Shooting has begun in Georgia on New Line Cinema’s “Vacation,” starring Ed Helms (“The Hangover” films) and Christina Applegate (the “Anchorman” films) on the road for another ill-fated adventure. The film marks Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley’s directorial debut.
Following in his father’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.
Rounding out the cast are Chris Hemsworth (the “Thor” films) in the role of Stone Crandall, Rusty’s irritatingly successful brother-in-law; Charlie Day (the “Horrible Bosses” films), who plays a river rafting guide; and Skyler Gisondo (“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” “Hard Sell”) and Steele Stebbins (“A Haunted House 2”), who play Rusty’s sons, James and Kevin. Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo reprise their roles as Clark and Ellen Griswold from the classic “Vacation” comedies.
Goldstein & Daley (“Horrible Bosses,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”) wrote the script, based on characters created by John Hughes. David Dobkin (upcoming “The Judge,” “Wedding Crashers”) and Chris Bender (“We’re the Millers,” upcoming “Horrible Bosses 2”) are producing, with Marc S. Fischer serving as executive producer.
The directors’ behind-the-scenes creative team also includes director of photography Barry Peterson (the “Jump Street” films, “We’re the Millers”), production designer Barry Robison (“Wedding Crashers,” “Pitch Perfect”), and costume designer Debra McGuire (“Ted”).
“Vacation” is a New Line Cinema presentation and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.
---------------------------
Principal photography begins on New Line Cinema’s “Vacation,” Starring Ed Helms and Christina Applegate
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The next generation of Griswolds is at it again. Shooting has begun in Georgia on New Line Cinema’s “Vacation,” starring Ed Helms (“The Hangover” films) and Christina Applegate (the “Anchorman” films) on the road for another ill-fated adventure. The film marks Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley’s directorial debut.
Following in his father’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.
Rounding out the cast are Chris Hemsworth (the “Thor” films) in the role of Stone Crandall, Rusty’s irritatingly successful brother-in-law; Charlie Day (the “Horrible Bosses” films), who plays a river rafting guide; and Skyler Gisondo (“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” “Hard Sell”) and Steele Stebbins (“A Haunted House 2”), who play Rusty’s sons, James and Kevin. Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo reprise their roles as Clark and Ellen Griswold from the classic “Vacation” comedies.
Goldstein & Daley (“Horrible Bosses,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”) wrote the script, based on characters created by John Hughes. David Dobkin (upcoming “The Judge,” “Wedding Crashers”) and Chris Bender (“We’re the Millers,” upcoming “Horrible Bosses 2”) are producing, with Marc S. Fischer serving as executive producer.
The directors’ behind-the-scenes creative team also includes director of photography Barry Peterson (the “Jump Street” films, “We’re the Millers”), production designer Barry Robison (“Wedding Crashers,” “Pitch Perfect”), and costume designer Debra McGuire (“Ted”).
“Vacation” is a New Line Cinema presentation and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.
---------------------------
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Disney and Marvel Studios Release "Avengers: Age of Ultron" Synopsis
Disney/Marvel has released the official synopsis of Avengers: Age of Ultron, the sequel to its blockbuster film, Marvel's The Avengers.
The synopsis is as follows:
Marvel Studios presents “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the epic follow-up to the biggest Super Hero movie of all time. When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.
Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision. Written and directed by Joss Whedon and produced by Kevin Feige, Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963. Get set for an action-packed thrill ride when The Avengers return in Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on May 1, 2015.
End of synopsis.
Monday, September 15, 2014
The 15th Annual Grammy Award Nominations to Be Announced Online
The Latin Recording Academy® Will Announce Nominees for the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards® on LatinGRAMMY.com and via Twitter on Wednesday, Sept. 24
#LatinGRAMMY
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the first time in Latin GRAMMY® history, The Latin Recording Academy® will announce nominees for the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY Award® online featuring various celebrities and incorporating music fans on a global scale and will utilize social networking platform Twitter. The nominations will be revealed Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 4 a.m. PT/7 a.m. ET with the launch of a video, which will allow Latin music fans around the world an opportunity to participate in the announcement, followed by a daylong promotion of social interaction during which the public is welcome to tweet exclusive congratulatory messages to nominated artists by using the official Latin GRAMMY hashtag #LatinGRAMMY. The video, press release and full list of nominations will be available simultaneously on www.latingrammy.com. For breaking news and updates, please visit The Latin Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.
“In this era, news is immediate and everyone wants to be the first to share it”
"In this era, news is immediate and everyone wants to be the first to share it," said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. "By engaging nominees and fans at the same time, not only will the artists be notified of their good news directly, but music fans will also be a part of this special announcement and have the ability to participate through social platforms."
As previously announced, the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 20, and will air in the United States on the Univision Network from 8–11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central). This year marks the seventh time Latin music's most prestigious awards telecast will take place in Las Vegas and the first time from MGM Grand.
Since the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards debuted entirely in Spanish on Univision in 2005, the telecast has consistently earned significant ratings each year in the United States and is now seen in more than 100 countries around the world. The Latin GRAMMYs have become Univision's most watched and highest-rated show while delivering outstanding social media results and engagement. With nearly 2 million followers on Twitter, @LatinGRAMMYs has more followers than any other awards show.
Additionally, the Road To The Latin GRAMMYTMs — a monthlong series of cultural events culminating with The Biggest Night in Latin Music® — begins with the Latin GRAMMY Acoustic Sessions and Latin GRAMMY Street Parties (taking place in several cities across the United States), as well as the Special Awards Presentation and The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute gala.
The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community either directly or through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural FoundationTM. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @LatinGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "Latin GRAMMYs" on Facebook , and join the Latin GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.
#LatinGRAMMY
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the first time in Latin GRAMMY® history, The Latin Recording Academy® will announce nominees for the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY Award® online featuring various celebrities and incorporating music fans on a global scale and will utilize social networking platform Twitter. The nominations will be revealed Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 4 a.m. PT/7 a.m. ET with the launch of a video, which will allow Latin music fans around the world an opportunity to participate in the announcement, followed by a daylong promotion of social interaction during which the public is welcome to tweet exclusive congratulatory messages to nominated artists by using the official Latin GRAMMY hashtag #LatinGRAMMY. The video, press release and full list of nominations will be available simultaneously on www.latingrammy.com. For breaking news and updates, please visit The Latin Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.
“In this era, news is immediate and everyone wants to be the first to share it”
"In this era, news is immediate and everyone wants to be the first to share it," said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. "By engaging nominees and fans at the same time, not only will the artists be notified of their good news directly, but music fans will also be a part of this special announcement and have the ability to participate through social platforms."
As previously announced, the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 20, and will air in the United States on the Univision Network from 8–11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central). This year marks the seventh time Latin music's most prestigious awards telecast will take place in Las Vegas and the first time from MGM Grand.
Since the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards debuted entirely in Spanish on Univision in 2005, the telecast has consistently earned significant ratings each year in the United States and is now seen in more than 100 countries around the world. The Latin GRAMMYs have become Univision's most watched and highest-rated show while delivering outstanding social media results and engagement. With nearly 2 million followers on Twitter, @LatinGRAMMYs has more followers than any other awards show.
Additionally, the Road To The Latin GRAMMYTMs — a monthlong series of cultural events culminating with The Biggest Night in Latin Music® — begins with the Latin GRAMMY Acoustic Sessions and Latin GRAMMY Street Parties (taking place in several cities across the United States), as well as the Special Awards Presentation and The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute gala.
The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community either directly or through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural FoundationTM. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @LatinGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "Latin GRAMMYs" on Facebook , and join the Latin GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of September 7th to September 13th, 2014 - Update #14
NEWS:
From the Telegraph: Sarah Palin is still hilarious. Yes, we do know who you are; you're that Tina Fey impersonator.
-------------------
From YahooNews: Celebrities weigh in on Scottish referendum for independence from Great Britain.
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From HuffingtonPost: The Bundy's have a family reunion. The lead cast of "Married... with Children," Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate, Ed O'Neill, and David Faustino, reunite as Sagal is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, September 9, 2014.
---------------------
From InsideTV: Chris Pratt, the breakout star of Guardians of the Galaxy, will host the first "Saturday Night Live," of the new season.
------------------
From TheHollywoodReporter: Didn't know that Marlon Wayans was being sued. And, of course, being that it's Marlon, it is a hilarious lawsuit.
-------------------
From Variety: According to early estimates, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy wins the September 5th to 7th, 2014 weekend box office.
-------------------
From YahooMovies: I did not know that The Identical was a "faith-based" film. It is a box office flop, at least in its first week. The is a year that saw several successful faith-based films, including Heaven is for Real ($94.4 million), God's Not Dead ($60.7 million), and Son of God ($59.7 million).
COMIC BOOKS - Movies and Books
From TheHollywoodReporter: "Hulk vs. Thanos" by Jim Starlin, coming before the end of the year.
-----------------
From TheVerge: Spy photos for the new Batmobile from "Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice."
------------------
From TheWrap: FOX's "Gotham," a film set in Batman's hometown before Batman debuts, has been named the "most promising new show" of the Fall by the Television Critics Association.
STAR WARS:
From TheWrap: Actor Mark Ruffalo reaches out to Star Wars Episode 8 writer-director, Rian Johnson, in hopes of landing a role in the film. Ruffalo previously worked with Johnson on The Brothers Bloom.
----------------
From TheVerge: First, a British pilot and engineer accidentally caught sight of the Millennium Falcon. Now, savvy photographers have taken photos of what may be an X-Wing fighter.
----------------
From YahooMovies: A message from J.J.Abrams leads to speculation about the appearance of a third Death Stars.
-----------------
From InsideTV and ScreenRant: Two articles about how the upcoming Disney XD animated series, "Star Wars Rebels" will connect to the existing films and the upcoming Episode 7.
------------------
From HuffingtonPost: A pilot inadvertently captures the Millennium Falcon while unknowingly flying over an Episode 7 set.
REVIEWS:
From TheHollywoodReporter: A review of Mike Binder's Black and White with Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer. Oscar buzz for Spenser - hope it goes better than the results of her Oscar buzz for Fruitvale Station.
OBITS:
From YahooTV: Chicago-based actress, Molly Glynn, died in an accident when a tree fell on her while she was bike riding with her husband. Glynn had a recurring role on the television series, " Chicago Fire."
MISC:
From ESPN via RSN: NFL star Adrian Peterson charged after "whooping" his son.
-----------------
From YahooSports: No, he doesn't know where Alabama is...
-----------------
From YahooSports: The Baltimore Ravens cut running back, Ray Rice, after the full disturbing video of him knocking out his wife (then fiance) emerges. Shortly afterwards, the NFL suspended him indefinitely.
Review: "Sabotage" Mostly a Failure
Sabotage (2014)
Running time: 109 minutes (1 hour, 49 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language, some sexuality/nudity and drug use
DIRECTOR: David Ayer
WRITERS: David Ayer and Skip Woods
PRODUCERS: David Ayer, Bill Block, Paul Hanson, Palak Patel, and Ethan Smith
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Bruce McCleery (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Dody Dorn
COMPOSER: David Sardy
CRIME/THRILLER with elements of action, drama and mystery
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Olivia Williams, Sam Worthington, Joe Manganiello, Josh Holloway, Terrence Howard, Mireille Enos, Harold Perrineau, Max Martini, Kevin Vance, Mark Schlegel, and Martin Donovan
Sabotage is a 2014 crime thriller co-written and directed by David Ayer. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the leader of an elite DEA task force that is being hunted after they take money from a drug cartel safe house.
Sabotage focuses on John “Breacher” Wharton (Arnold Schwarzenegger), the commander of an elite Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Operations Team. During a raid on a drug cartel safe house, the team steals 10 million dollars from the cartel's massive stash of cash. However, the team members are unable to hide the fact that some of the cartel's money is missing from their DEA superiors, and the money also disappears from the place where the team hid it.
Six months later, team members find themselves being murdered one by one. Wharton joins local police Investigator Caroline Brentwood (Olivia Williams) in an attempt to discover who is killing members of his team. Why are they being killed? Where is the money? Are the answers closer than Wharton and Brentwood would like to admit?
Sabotage is a muddled mess. In many of these reviews, I talk about what the movie should have been or could have been. Sometimes, I even guess what story the director and writer(s) were trying to tell. In the case of Sabotage, I am not sure what the filmmakers wanted to give us.
There are some good actors in this movie, but it still manages to seem miscast. What is Arnold Schwarzenegger doing here? He looks old and tired, while delivering some of the worst acting of his career; this might be the worst of his career. There are some good moments in Sabotage, even some compelling and thrilling moments. Sabotage had potential...
3 of 10
C-
Friday, September 5, 2014
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Friday, September 12, 2014
22 Viacom Networks Will Be Available on Sony's Cloud-Based TV Service
Viacom and Sony Reach Landmark Internet Distribution Agreement
Deal Marks Major Programming Agreement for Sony’s Forthcoming Cloud-Based TV Service in the United States
Twenty-Two Viacom Networks, including Comedy Central, MTV, Spike, VH1, Nickelodeon to be Available on New Service at Launch
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Viacom (NASDAQ:VIAB)(NASDAQ:VIA) and Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE) today announced a landmark agreement for Sony’s forthcoming cloud-based TV service to carry 22 Viacom networks at launch. The deal marks Viacom’s first-ever agreement to provide its networks for an Internet-based live TV and video on demand service.
“Viacom’s award-winning networks are a perfect match for our new service, ensuring that our customers will be able to access the shows they love on their favorite devices, when and how they choose.”
“Viacom always strives to create transformational opportunities that combine consumer value and technological innovation,” said Philippe Dauman, President and CEO, Viacom. “Given our young, tech-savvy audiences, our networks are essential for any new distribution platform, and we’re excited to be among the many programmers that will help power Sony’s new service and advance a new era for television.”
“Our new cloud-based TV service will combine the live TV content people love most about cable with the dynamic experience they have come to expect from our network,” said Andrew House, Group Executive, Network Entertainment Business, Sony Corporation. “Viacom’s award-winning networks are a perfect match for our new service, ensuring that our customers will be able to access the shows they love on their favorite devices, when and how they choose.”
The partnership unites Sony’s rapidly growing network and more than 75 million Internet-enabled Sony devices in U.S. living rooms with Viacom’s content portfolio, all of which have deep connections with today’s young adults. Viacom owns and operates the largest basic cable portfolio in the United States by audience share, including 25.9% share of basic cable viewership among young people aged 2 to 34*.
Sony’s cloud-based TV service will offer subscribers Internet-based live TV and video on demand from major programmers, including the following content from Viacom:
1. At least 22 Viacom linear networks at launch, including BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, Spike, TV Land and VH1, BET Gospel, Centric, Logo, CMT Pure Country, MTV Hits, MTV James, mtvU, Palladia, TeenNick, Vh1 Classic and Vh1 Soul and all available HD.
2. Authenticated access to hundreds of hours of programming on Viacom’s TV Everywhere websites and apps. Viacom currently offers TV Everywhere apps from Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, VH1, CMT and Logo.
3. Viacom’s full video-on-demand package.
Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Sony will announce more details about its new cloud-based TV service in the near future.
*Nielsen Media Research, July 2014
About Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form video, apps, games, consumer products, social media and other entertainment content for audiences in more than 160 countries and territories. Viacom's media networks, including MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, TV Land, SPIKE, Channel 5 (UK), Tr3s, Paramount Channel and VIVA, reach approximately 700 million television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures, America's oldest film studio, is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.
For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/viacom.
Sony Network Entertainment International
Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI), a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, is the premier provider of digital entertainment. Through the Sony Entertainment Network portal, consumers around the world are able to access their favorite digital entertainment conveniently and instantly on their favorite connected devices. SNEI offers the latest and highest quality music, video, and game content through Sony Entertainment Network as well as PlayStation Network while also delivering third-party services. In addition, SNEI provides a compelling consumer experience through innovative content discovery features and a simple user interface that is globally consistent, yet locally relevant.
------------------------------
Deal Marks Major Programming Agreement for Sony’s Forthcoming Cloud-Based TV Service in the United States
Twenty-Two Viacom Networks, including Comedy Central, MTV, Spike, VH1, Nickelodeon to be Available on New Service at Launch
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Viacom (NASDAQ:VIAB)(NASDAQ:VIA) and Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE) today announced a landmark agreement for Sony’s forthcoming cloud-based TV service to carry 22 Viacom networks at launch. The deal marks Viacom’s first-ever agreement to provide its networks for an Internet-based live TV and video on demand service.
“Viacom’s award-winning networks are a perfect match for our new service, ensuring that our customers will be able to access the shows they love on their favorite devices, when and how they choose.”
“Viacom always strives to create transformational opportunities that combine consumer value and technological innovation,” said Philippe Dauman, President and CEO, Viacom. “Given our young, tech-savvy audiences, our networks are essential for any new distribution platform, and we’re excited to be among the many programmers that will help power Sony’s new service and advance a new era for television.”
“Our new cloud-based TV service will combine the live TV content people love most about cable with the dynamic experience they have come to expect from our network,” said Andrew House, Group Executive, Network Entertainment Business, Sony Corporation. “Viacom’s award-winning networks are a perfect match for our new service, ensuring that our customers will be able to access the shows they love on their favorite devices, when and how they choose.”
The partnership unites Sony’s rapidly growing network and more than 75 million Internet-enabled Sony devices in U.S. living rooms with Viacom’s content portfolio, all of which have deep connections with today’s young adults. Viacom owns and operates the largest basic cable portfolio in the United States by audience share, including 25.9% share of basic cable viewership among young people aged 2 to 34*.
Sony’s cloud-based TV service will offer subscribers Internet-based live TV and video on demand from major programmers, including the following content from Viacom:
1. At least 22 Viacom linear networks at launch, including BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, Spike, TV Land and VH1, BET Gospel, Centric, Logo, CMT Pure Country, MTV Hits, MTV James, mtvU, Palladia, TeenNick, Vh1 Classic and Vh1 Soul and all available HD.
2. Authenticated access to hundreds of hours of programming on Viacom’s TV Everywhere websites and apps. Viacom currently offers TV Everywhere apps from Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, VH1, CMT and Logo.
3. Viacom’s full video-on-demand package.
Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Sony will announce more details about its new cloud-based TV service in the near future.
*Nielsen Media Research, July 2014
About Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form video, apps, games, consumer products, social media and other entertainment content for audiences in more than 160 countries and territories. Viacom's media networks, including MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, TV Land, SPIKE, Channel 5 (UK), Tr3s, Paramount Channel and VIVA, reach approximately 700 million television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures, America's oldest film studio, is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.
For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/viacom.
Sony Network Entertainment International
Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI), a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, is the premier provider of digital entertainment. Through the Sony Entertainment Network portal, consumers around the world are able to access their favorite digital entertainment conveniently and instantly on their favorite connected devices. SNEI offers the latest and highest quality music, video, and game content through Sony Entertainment Network as well as PlayStation Network while also delivering third-party services. In addition, SNEI provides a compelling consumer experience through innovative content discovery features and a simple user interface that is globally consistent, yet locally relevant.
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Thursday, September 11, 2014
Paramount Pictures Picks Up Chris Rock's Third Directorial Effort, "Top Five"
PARAMOUNT PICTURES TO DISTRIBUTE CHRIS ROCK'S "TOP FIVE" WORLDWIDE
DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED JOINTLY BY THE STUDIO AND IAC FILMS FOLLOWING ITS PREMIERE AT THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIABN, VIA), announced it will distribute writer / director Chris Rock's "TOP FIVE" worldwide. The news comes as the film from producer Scott Rudin, and his IACF partner Barry Diller, earned rave reviews at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
"Chris and I go back decades, both personally and professionally, and so I am particularly proud to have watched his career grow to its highest heights over many decades. This film showcases brilliantly how talented Chris is as a filmmaker and storyteller and we are thrilled to be partnering with him, Scott Rudin and my longtime friend, the legendary Barry Diller and IACF for its worldwide launch," said Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures.
Written, directed by, and starring Chris Rock, “TOP FIVE” tells the story of New York City comedian-turned-film star Andre Allen, whose unexpected encounter with a journalist (Rosario Dawson) forces him to confront the comedy career—and the past—that he's left behind. Starring Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Cedric The Entertainer, J.B. Smoove, Sherri Shepherd, Anders Holm, Romany Malco, Leslie Jones, Michael Che, and Jay Pharoah. The film is produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush. The Co-Producers are Shawn “Jay Z” Carter and Kanye West; the Executive Music Producer is Questlove. Barry Diller and Scott Rudin’s IACF financed the film.
UTA negotiated the deal on behalf of the IACF and the filmmakers. The studio's negotiating team was lead by Paramount's SVP of Acquisition and Production Eben Davidson and Rona Cosgrove, EVP of Business Affairs.
Top critics have said about “TOP FIVE”:
“Chris Rock's third turn in the directing chair proves the proverbial charm in this smart, ferociously funny Hollywood-insider romp… it’s also a candid, fresh, ferociously funny snapshot of life in the celebrity bubble. Rock has finally found a big-screen vehicle for himself that comes close to capturing the electric wit, shrewd social observations and deeply autobiographical vein of his standup comedy,” said VARIETY’s Scott Foundas
“Chris Rock brings it big time in this uproarious celebrity self-portrait....piling on one hilarious sequence after another in a barrage of hard-hitting humor that has rarely been so successfully dished out in a single film. It’s like watching a first-rate standup routine transformed into fiction, or in this case auto-fiction, as Rock has more on his mind than just making us laugh, offering up a witty celebrity satire that doubles as a love story set during one long and eventful New York City day,” said THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Jordan Mintzer
“Rock has hit a career high with his new film TOP FIVE....Hilarious situations continue to top themselves as the film progresses. Just when you think the surprises are over, another famous face and comedy icon appears…. Rock may know the ins and outs of American stand-up better than any of his peers because he uses that knowledge masterfully in casting this picture. But TOP FIVE transcends its genre…. It’s a movie about the current state of race relations. It’s a movie about honesty and forgiveness. It's another searing indictment of the world of celebrity. It’s even a movie about the lasting legacy of hip-hop. And it all combines to smash you silly and leave you breathlessly wanting more,“ said HITFIX’s Greg Ellwood
“Chris Rock is at his rude, ribald and raucous best in the laugh-out-loud TOP FIVE, a deliriously funny film that looks destined to be a box office hit. Written, directed and starting Rock, the film mines similar territory to Woody Allen at his younger best – sex, comedy, paranoia, insecurity and more sex – but with a much rawer and uncensored edge,” said SCREEN INTERNATIONAL’s Mark Adams
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 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.
About IAC
IAC (NASDAQ: IACI) is a leading media and Internet company comprised of more than 150 brands and products, including Ask.com, About.com, Match.com, HomeAdvisor and Vimeo. Focused on the areas of search, applications, online dating, media, and eCommerce, IAC’s family of websites is one of the largest in the world, with over a billion monthly visits across more than 100 countries. The Company is headquartered in New York City and has offices worldwide.
DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED JOINTLY BY THE STUDIO AND IAC FILMS FOLLOWING ITS PREMIERE AT THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIABN, VIA), announced it will distribute writer / director Chris Rock's "TOP FIVE" worldwide. The news comes as the film from producer Scott Rudin, and his IACF partner Barry Diller, earned rave reviews at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
"Chris and I go back decades, both personally and professionally, and so I am particularly proud to have watched his career grow to its highest heights over many decades. This film showcases brilliantly how talented Chris is as a filmmaker and storyteller and we are thrilled to be partnering with him, Scott Rudin and my longtime friend, the legendary Barry Diller and IACF for its worldwide launch," said Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures.
Written, directed by, and starring Chris Rock, “TOP FIVE” tells the story of New York City comedian-turned-film star Andre Allen, whose unexpected encounter with a journalist (Rosario Dawson) forces him to confront the comedy career—and the past—that he's left behind. Starring Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Cedric The Entertainer, J.B. Smoove, Sherri Shepherd, Anders Holm, Romany Malco, Leslie Jones, Michael Che, and Jay Pharoah. The film is produced by Scott Rudin and Eli Bush. The Co-Producers are Shawn “Jay Z” Carter and Kanye West; the Executive Music Producer is Questlove. Barry Diller and Scott Rudin’s IACF financed the film.
UTA negotiated the deal on behalf of the IACF and the filmmakers. The studio's negotiating team was lead by Paramount's SVP of Acquisition and Production Eben Davidson and Rona Cosgrove, EVP of Business Affairs.
Top critics have said about “TOP FIVE”:
“Chris Rock's third turn in the directing chair proves the proverbial charm in this smart, ferociously funny Hollywood-insider romp… it’s also a candid, fresh, ferociously funny snapshot of life in the celebrity bubble. Rock has finally found a big-screen vehicle for himself that comes close to capturing the electric wit, shrewd social observations and deeply autobiographical vein of his standup comedy,” said VARIETY’s Scott Foundas
“Chris Rock brings it big time in this uproarious celebrity self-portrait....piling on one hilarious sequence after another in a barrage of hard-hitting humor that has rarely been so successfully dished out in a single film. It’s like watching a first-rate standup routine transformed into fiction, or in this case auto-fiction, as Rock has more on his mind than just making us laugh, offering up a witty celebrity satire that doubles as a love story set during one long and eventful New York City day,” said THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Jordan Mintzer
“Rock has hit a career high with his new film TOP FIVE....Hilarious situations continue to top themselves as the film progresses. Just when you think the surprises are over, another famous face and comedy icon appears…. Rock may know the ins and outs of American stand-up better than any of his peers because he uses that knowledge masterfully in casting this picture. But TOP FIVE transcends its genre…. It’s a movie about the current state of race relations. It’s a movie about honesty and forgiveness. It's another searing indictment of the world of celebrity. It’s even a movie about the lasting legacy of hip-hop. And it all combines to smash you silly and leave you breathlessly wanting more,“ said HITFIX’s Greg Ellwood
“Chris Rock is at his rude, ribald and raucous best in the laugh-out-loud TOP FIVE, a deliriously funny film that looks destined to be a box office hit. Written, directed and starting Rock, the film mines similar territory to Woody Allen at his younger best – sex, comedy, paranoia, insecurity and more sex – but with a much rawer and uncensored edge,” said SCREEN INTERNATIONAL’s Mark Adams
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 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.
About IAC
IAC (NASDAQ: IACI) is a leading media and Internet company comprised of more than 150 brands and products, including Ask.com, About.com, Match.com, HomeAdvisor and Vimeo. Focused on the areas of search, applications, online dating, media, and eCommerce, IAC’s family of websites is one of the largest in the world, with over a billion monthly visits across more than 100 countries. The Company is headquartered in New York City and has offices worldwide.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
"The Good Lie" for a Good Cause
Filmmakers Create Humanitarian Fund for Sudanese Refugees Whose Courageous Stories Inspired “The Good Lie”
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The producers of “The Good Lie” have established the Good Lie Fund, named for the upcoming feature drama from Alcon Entertainment, Imagine Entertainment, Black Label Media and Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is based upon the harrowing and inspirational real-life experiences of thousands of children impacted by war in Sudan.
“This film was a labor of love for all of us. I am so proud and happy to know that it will not only be a compelling and personal story for audiences everywhere to see, but may also serve to illuminate an ongoing and little-known human drama.”
The Good Lie Fund (www.thegoodliefund.org) was created to support the humanitarian and educational needs of those who have come to be universally known as the Lost Boys and Girls, uprooted and orphaned by the Sudanese Civil War that began in 1983. Its initial focus will be the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, which came into being to meet the first wave of survivors of the conflict—the majority of them children, alone, and on foot—and which currently houses thousands of refugees fleeing from continuing violence and unrest.
The Fund will also seek to raise worldwide awareness of the dire situation that still exists in South Sudan. As part of this publicity campaign, the producers of “The Good Lie” have planned a Washington, D.C. fundraiser in mid-September to benefit the war refugees from South Sudan and those still living in the Kakuma camp. Many corporations have already pledged their support and donations. Black Label Media and Alcon Entertainment have also seeded the Good Lie Fund to start the fundraising effort, in honor of the film and its story.
Additionally, “The Good Lie” will be made available for select screenings by various philanthropic groups and Lost Boys and Girls communities throughout the U.S. and overseas, in advance of its October 3, 2014 U.S. release date, to aid in their own fundraising and awareness efforts.
Said producer Molly Smith, “This film was a labor of love for all of us. I am so proud and happy to know that it will not only be a compelling and personal story for audiences everywhere to see, but may also serve to illuminate an ongoing and little-known human drama.”
Director Philippe Falardeau’s involvement with the plight of the South Sudanese refugees began with a documentary assignment that was cut short due to escalating hostilities, and he sees “The Good Lie”—both the film and the Fund—as continuing what he had just begun when evacuated from South Sudan in 1994. “I had the feeling, then, that I was abandoning them, and that feeling stayed with me until I read Margaret Nagle’s script for ‘The Good Lie.’ It was like a calling, to finish this in another way and to tell their story.”
Contact information for the Good Lie Fund will appear in the film’s end credits.
“The Good Lie” opens in limited theatrical engagements October 3, 2014. It stars Reese Witherspoon; Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal and Kuoth Wiel, all of whom are of Sudanese descent; and Corey Stoll. Directed by Philippe Falardeau from a screenplay by Margaret Nagle, “The Good Lie” was produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Karen Kehela Sherwood, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill and Trent Luckinbill. Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Kim Roth, Ellen H. Schwartz, Deepak Nayar, and Bobby and Deb Newmyer served as executive producers. The creative filmmaking team included director of photography Ronald Plante, production designer Aaron Osborne, editor Richard Comeau, costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb and composer Martin Leon.
A presentation of Alcon Entertainment, Imagine Entertainment and Black Label Media, “The Good Lie” is a Black Label Media, Imagine Entertainment and Reliance Entertainment production and will be distributed domestically by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The producers of “The Good Lie” have established the Good Lie Fund, named for the upcoming feature drama from Alcon Entertainment, Imagine Entertainment, Black Label Media and Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is based upon the harrowing and inspirational real-life experiences of thousands of children impacted by war in Sudan.
“This film was a labor of love for all of us. I am so proud and happy to know that it will not only be a compelling and personal story for audiences everywhere to see, but may also serve to illuminate an ongoing and little-known human drama.”
The Good Lie Fund (www.thegoodliefund.org) was created to support the humanitarian and educational needs of those who have come to be universally known as the Lost Boys and Girls, uprooted and orphaned by the Sudanese Civil War that began in 1983. Its initial focus will be the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, which came into being to meet the first wave of survivors of the conflict—the majority of them children, alone, and on foot—and which currently houses thousands of refugees fleeing from continuing violence and unrest.
The Fund will also seek to raise worldwide awareness of the dire situation that still exists in South Sudan. As part of this publicity campaign, the producers of “The Good Lie” have planned a Washington, D.C. fundraiser in mid-September to benefit the war refugees from South Sudan and those still living in the Kakuma camp. Many corporations have already pledged their support and donations. Black Label Media and Alcon Entertainment have also seeded the Good Lie Fund to start the fundraising effort, in honor of the film and its story.
Additionally, “The Good Lie” will be made available for select screenings by various philanthropic groups and Lost Boys and Girls communities throughout the U.S. and overseas, in advance of its October 3, 2014 U.S. release date, to aid in their own fundraising and awareness efforts.
Said producer Molly Smith, “This film was a labor of love for all of us. I am so proud and happy to know that it will not only be a compelling and personal story for audiences everywhere to see, but may also serve to illuminate an ongoing and little-known human drama.”
Director Philippe Falardeau’s involvement with the plight of the South Sudanese refugees began with a documentary assignment that was cut short due to escalating hostilities, and he sees “The Good Lie”—both the film and the Fund—as continuing what he had just begun when evacuated from South Sudan in 1994. “I had the feeling, then, that I was abandoning them, and that feeling stayed with me until I read Margaret Nagle’s script for ‘The Good Lie.’ It was like a calling, to finish this in another way and to tell their story.”
Contact information for the Good Lie Fund will appear in the film’s end credits.
“The Good Lie” opens in limited theatrical engagements October 3, 2014. It stars Reese Witherspoon; Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal and Kuoth Wiel, all of whom are of Sudanese descent; and Corey Stoll. Directed by Philippe Falardeau from a screenplay by Margaret Nagle, “The Good Lie” was produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Karen Kehela Sherwood, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill and Trent Luckinbill. Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Kim Roth, Ellen H. Schwartz, Deepak Nayar, and Bobby and Deb Newmyer served as executive producers. The creative filmmaking team included director of photography Ronald Plante, production designer Aaron Osborne, editor Richard Comeau, costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb and composer Martin Leon.
A presentation of Alcon Entertainment, Imagine Entertainment and Black Label Media, “The Good Lie” is a Black Label Media, Imagine Entertainment and Reliance Entertainment production and will be distributed domestically by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
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Joe and Anthony Russo Talk About Making "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" Grounded in Realism
Joe and Anthony Russo are the film-making brothers who won an Emmy for directing the episode "Pilot," of one of my favorite TV shows, "Arrested Development." They also directed the smash hit Marvel film, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Walt Disney Home Entertainment provided this question and answer with the brothers to coincide with the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier on Blu-ray and DVD. - Editor's note
AN INTERVIEW WITH JOE AND ANTHONY RUSSO FOR THE BLU-RAY AND DVD RELEASE OF CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the second chapter in the thrilling Captain America movie franchise. The exhilarating story follows Marvel’s First Avenger, Captain America, along with Black Widow and their new ally The Falcon as they battle their most mysterious and powerful enemy yet, the Winter Soldier.
With the blockbuster superhero movie about to be released on 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD, we catch up with the directing team of brothers Joe and Anthony Russo to find out about their experience on the iconic Marvel project…
What makes Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier stand out from other Marvel movies?
Joe: I think it is the level of realism and intensity that makes this movie stand out. Up to this point, I think Marvel films have really embraced the fantasy component, but we have tried to infuse it with intensity and edge. It’s aggressive. We wanted a movie that would grab you and wouldn’t let go until the end. Hopefully we’ve accomplished that and I think that’s what distinguishes it from other Marvel movies.
How did you accomplish this?
Joe: We talked to Marvel early on and said, “People will tell you that they love chocolate ice cream, but if all you give them is chocolate ice cream, sooner or later they’ll get sick of it.” We wanted to throw a curveball and add something to their toolbox going forward that they could use to diversify and dimensionalize the universe.
Why was it so important for you to ground the action in reality?
Anthony: The movie is set in the political genre and that world is exciting because it has stakes that feel real to you. We were trying to play on a lot of our contemporary anxieties in the storytelling and the realisms flowed from that. This movie has a darker tone and it needs real stakes. That’s what drove us.
How difficult was the challenge of adding more realism to the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Joe: Well, I was ecstatic as any fan on the planet when I saw what Kevin Feige was doing with The Avengers. I’ve always thought in my own head, ‘How do you pull off an Avengers movie?’ How do you get past so many logistical and financial reasons that mean this movie shouldn’t exist? It’s a real feat, and he pulled it off. If you knew how complicated it is behind-the-scenes to make a movie like that, you’d be amazed. You want the comfort food of that idea, but I think that in order for these movies to keep growing and staying interesting, they have to shift; the tone has to shift. We have to experiment with different flavors…
Anthony: Like Pistachio!
Joe: …To keep it fresh. Hopefully, that’s what we’ve hopefully done with this movie.
What was your biggest challenging in directing the movie?
Joe: The choreography of the action is intense and it’s a very protracted process. It takes a lot of prep and you’re working with a lot of people. Thankfully, we were working with really talented people; from our stunt coordinators to our VFX department to our special effects guys – everybody was the best in the business. Marvel attracts the crème de la crème of talent in the business.
Was it easier to step into a film where most of the characters have been pre-established in earlier Marvel movies?
Joe: We come from television shows like Community and Arrested Development. We always say that after two episodes, the actor knows the character better than we ever will. In that sense, it’s easy to rely on the actor to bring truth to the character. It’s great for us because it’s like a short hand where they can show up with the characters already in place. We just worry about the arcs and the tone of the film. It takes a lot of burden off directing the performance and allows you to focus on the bigger picture of the movie.
How did you balance technology with real sets on Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier?
Anthony: We wanted to be very careful with that on this film. The level of realism was important to us and it was something that Marvel really embraced. It was a challenge to render the world and the effects in a way that felt very grounded and real world.
Joe: It’s an execution thing. We had a sequence on a freeway and we could have gone to a back-lot and built a little stretch of freeway and green-screened it. But, instead of that, we went to our hometown and got in a lot of trouble for shutting down the freeway for two weeks. We were able to shoot and execute a lot of those stunts practically and I think that enhances your experience because you can feel those things happening for real.
How did it feel to shoot in your hometown, Cleveland?
Joe: It was awesome to be able to go home and shoot. It’s a town that we love and know really well. Not only were we able to share this town with the crew, but also it was easier for us to find locations. We know where everything is, so we could quickly explain to the crew where certain locations could be shot. We understood how to shoot the town because it was the third movie that we had shot there. Also, it was fantastic to have our family around as a support system when you’re working on something of this scale.
Robert Redford was a stellar addition to the cast of Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. What was it like to direct such an iconic actor?
Joe: It was amazing.
Anthony: Amazing!
Joe: We couldn’t say enough about him as an individual, and as an actor. He’s truly a renaissance man. He’s like a prince of a human being. And we’re children of the 1970s and of 1970s films, so we’ve seen everything he’s done. I’ve seen Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid a million times. To be able to work with him was the highlight of our career.
Robert Redford is a distinguished director, as well as an accomplished actor. Did he offer his directorial input into the movie?
Joe: He is so easy-going and balanced and his knowledge base is incredible. He will offer input or advice when he feels it’s necessary, but he’s never overbearing with it.
Anthony: He’s very respectful and he’s just a lovely man. It was really a privilege to work with him.
What makes the Winter Soldier the perfect villain for the movie?
Joe: It’s a gift to have The Winter Soldier in our movie; it’s a real gift. The genius of [Ed] Brubaker’s comic run is that he took Captain America’s best friend and turned him into the villain. They always say that your hero is only as good as your villain. And, when the hero has so much emotional turmoil in his relationship with the villain, you can’t ask for better storytelling. We were gifted with a great story arc between Captain America and the Winter Soldier. That’s another reason why I think the movie skews darker, too. It’s very rare that you find a villain who has such a strong emotional connection to the hero and where the stakes are so high.
Anthony: It’s very complicated.
Joe: We said to them that this is Star Wars. You know, it’s Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.
In your opinion, can any woman replace Peggy Carter in Captain America’s life?
Joe: Hayley Atwell did a fantastic job with that role. She’s very charming and beautiful.
Anthony: And that was certainly an issue that Cap was dealing with in this movie.
Joe: And it’s how to reconcile that in his life.
Anthony: But the relationships are very important in the movie in general. His relationship with Natasha [Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson] is very important in this film. And his relationships with Fury [Samuel L. Jackson] and The Falcon [Anthony Mackie] are also important.
How challenging was it to come up with a new design for Captain America’s costume in the film?
Joe: The execution of the costumes is a critical and key component for us in the movies. It’s based on our style and our tone and what we like. Again, with everything based in realism, we wanted the costume to be Kevlar-based. We wanted to make sure that the costume had a very functional purpose. That way, when he wears it and you look at him in it, you say “Oh, that’s to stop bullets. I understand.”
Would you say that the costume is as true-to-life as possible?
Joe: Captain America is a stealth operative for S.H.I.E.L.D in this movie, which is another factor that pointed us in a direction for the design of the costume. If the character is working in darkness and in clandestine operations, he can’t wear a target on his chest. He needs to move around in the shadows. We drew upon the more recent versions of the outfit from the comics.
How did your knowledge of comic books inform your directing style?
Anthony: It was most important in terms of the approach to the character and in terms of the version of Captain America we wanted to show in the movie. We didn’t want to get caught up in the boy-scout version; we really wanted to butch up the character. We wanted to bring him into the modern day and make him a man’s man that we could relate to. His virtues are like Rocky Balboa’s in the sense that he has a very simple goal and very fixed virtues. However, he’s unbreakable too, and that’s what is fun about him. In this movie, it was our job to think, ‘Ok, how are we going to break him?’ That’s very much how we approached the film.
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Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Review: "14 Blades" is Martial Arts with Western and Persian Stylings
14 Blades (2010)
Jin yi wei – original Chinese title
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Hong Kong/China; Language: Mandarin Chinese
Running time: 113 minutes (1 hour, 53 minutes)
Rating: MPAA – R for violence and bloody images
DIRECTOR: Daniel Lee
WRITERS: Daniel Lee, Kwong Man Wai, Tin Shu Mak, and Ho Leung Lau; from a story by Daniel Lee and Siu Cheung Chan
PRODUCERS: Xiang Dong, Zhang He-Yun, Zhang Hong, Si Jian-Jun, Zhao Ping, Xu Ping-An, Wang Qi-Shun, Yi'an Sun, Susanna Tsang, Tianyun Wang, and Cui Xiao-Wen
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Cheung Tung Leung
EDITORS: Ka Fai Cheung and Man To Tang
COMPOSER: Henry Lai
MARTIAL ARTS/DRAMA/HISTORICAL
Starring: Donnie Yen, Wei Zhao, Chun Wu, Kate Tsui, Yuwu Qi, Ma Wu, Kar-Ying Law, Xiang Dong Xu, Chen Zhi Hui, Sammo Hung, and Loi Kwan Kam
14 Blades is a 2010 martial arts (wuxia) and historical drama from director Daniel Lee. The film, a co-production of China and Hong Kong, received a limited theatrical release in August 2014 after making a film festival appearance in 2011. 14 Blades focuses on an imperial secret agent who is hunted while he tries to stop a conspiracy against the Emperor.
14 Blades opens in China during the late Ming dynasty (a period taking place from 1368 to 1644). It is a time when the imperial court is plagued by corruption, and the young emperor is incompetent and seems more interested in pleasure than in governing. He is protected by the Jinyiwei (the Brocade Guard), a secret police force and clandestine royal guard. They ensure peace and stability and have the authority to execute almost anyone. Their leader is called Qinglong (Donnie Yen), and he carries with him the Fourteen Blades, a box containing 14 different steel blades with which he executes his duties... and people.
Far from the imperial Forbidden City, the Emperor's uncle, Prince Quing (Sammo Hung), hatches a conspiracy with the traitorous royal eunuch, Jia Jingzhong (Kar-Ying Law). Their plot involves taking control of the Jinyiwei and betraying Qinglong. They succeed, and Qinglong soon finds himself wounded, hunted, and on the run. He finds shelter with Boss Yong Qiao (Ma Wu) and his men in the Justice Escort Agency. Boss' daughter, Hua Qiao (Wei Zhao), becomes attracted to Qinglong and is determined to assist him in his fight to protect the Emperor and the country from chaos and destruction.
My summary of 14 Blades does not do this epic film justice. There are enough supporting characters with their own causes and motivations to turn 14 Blades into a television miniseries. However, the film's core, Qinglong, remains strong, and when the beautiful Hua is added, 14 Blades suddenly has heart, an emotional center to go with the lust for revenge and the film's blistering marital artist action.
Donnie Yen and Wei Zhao give heartfelt, deeply emotional, thoughtful, and strong performances. They make everything about their respective characters: external conflicts, internal struggles, motivations, ideals, wants, and love seem genuine and honest. They are believable and likeable; they draw the viewer to this film. In fact, like a superstar athlete does for his teammates, Yen and Zhao make their fellow actors betters. Their characters make the other characters even more interesting and engaging. I would love to see these two actors in another movie similar to 14 Blades or in a romantic drama.
14 Blades is obviously a martial arts film, but the film also has suggestions of an Ancient Persian romance and an American Western film. The former comes through in some of the locales, in the costumes, and in certain musical strains in Henry Lai's score. The latter is also suggested by some of the settings, but also by the staging of some scenes and sequences and in the poses and attitudes of both heroes and villains. Most notable is the Clint Eastwood-like pose and attitude that Donnie Yen frequently strikes.
That makes 14 Blades something different, even if the story occasionally becomes a bit muddled. Still, its colorful characters and lavish costumes; to say nothing of the flashy fight choreography makes this movie thoroughly enjoyable. With its attractive lead couple, 14 Blades, while different enough to stand out from other marital arts films, tells a familiar story of love and bravery that will captivate audiences.
7 of 10
B+
Saturday, September 6, 2014
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Monday, September 8, 2014
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" in IMAX 3D for One Week Only - Beginning September 12, 2014
PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND NICKELODEON MOVIES’ HIT FILM “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES” TO BE RELEASED IN IMAX® 3D THEATERS FOR A ONE-WEEK LIMITED ENGAGEMENT BEGINNING FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies’ blockbuster film “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES,” directed by Jonathan Liebesman and produced by Michael Bay, will be released in IMAX® 3D Theatres nationwide for a special one-week run beginning Friday, September 12th.
The limited engagement will kick off with advance screenings on Thursday, September 11th at 7:00 p.m. local times nationwide. The first 300 ticketholders at each of these advance screenings will receive one of three special Legends of the Yokai Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Collector’s Artist Posters, while supplies last.
Tickets for “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES” in IMAX 3D are available at www.IMAX.com/NinjaTurtles and participating theater box offices.
The IMAX release of “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES” will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
“TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES” debuted in theaters on August 8th, earning more than $270 million worldwide to-date. The film is a modern-day iteration of the popular franchise that has captivated audiences of all ages for decades. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April O’Neil (Megan Fox) and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett) to save New York City and unravel Shredder’s diabolical plan. Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, written by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec and Evan Daugherty, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is produced by Michael Bay (director and executive producer of the blockbuster Transformers franchise), Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Galen Walker, Scott Mednick and Ian Bryce, and directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“WRATH OF THE TITANS”).
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 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.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of March 31, 2014, there were 840 IMAX theatres (707 commercial multiplexes, 18 commercial destinations and 115 institutions) in 57 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience®, IMAX Is Believing® and IMAX nXos® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
------------------------------
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies’ blockbuster film “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES,” directed by Jonathan Liebesman and produced by Michael Bay, will be released in IMAX® 3D Theatres nationwide for a special one-week run beginning Friday, September 12th.
The limited engagement will kick off with advance screenings on Thursday, September 11th at 7:00 p.m. local times nationwide. The first 300 ticketholders at each of these advance screenings will receive one of three special Legends of the Yokai Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Collector’s Artist Posters, while supplies last.
Tickets for “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES” in IMAX 3D are available at www.IMAX.com/NinjaTurtles and participating theater box offices.
The IMAX release of “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES” will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
“TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES” debuted in theaters on August 8th, earning more than $270 million worldwide to-date. The film is a modern-day iteration of the popular franchise that has captivated audiences of all ages for decades. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April O’Neil (Megan Fox) and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett) to save New York City and unravel Shredder’s diabolical plan. Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, written by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec and Evan Daugherty, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is produced by Michael Bay (director and executive producer of the blockbuster Transformers franchise), Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Galen Walker, Scott Mednick and Ian Bryce, and directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“WRATH OF THE TITANS”).
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 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.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of March 31, 2014, there were 840 IMAX theatres (707 commercial multiplexes, 18 commercial destinations and 115 institutions) in 57 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience®, IMAX Is Believing® and IMAX nXos® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
------------------------------
Sunday, September 7, 2014
2014 Urbanworld Film Festival to Offer Exclusive Look at the Film, "Addicted"
Urbanworld® Adds Lionsgate/Codeblack Films’ Evening with Zane and the Men of Addicted: Boris Kodjoe, Tyson Beckford, William Levy and Director Bille Woodruff for Q&A and Exclusive Look at Scenes from the Film to Their 2014 Festival Line-up
Nation’s Premiere Showcase For Multicultural Cinema To Be Held in New York September 17 – 21, 2014
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 18th Annual Urbanworld® Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), presented by BET Networks with founding sponsor HBO, announced the addition of an exclusive look at scenes from the upcoming Lionsgate/Codeblack Films release, Addicted and a Q & A with the stars and filmmakers today.
“More than ever, we recognize the importance of technology as it relates to content creation and distribution”
Addicted, based on the best-selling novel by Zane and a screenplay by Christina Welsh and Ernie Barbarash, is a sexy and provocative thriller about desire and the dangers of indiscretion. Successful businesswoman Zoe Reynard (Sharon Leal) appears to have attained it all - the dream husband she loves, two wonderful children and a flourishing career. As perfect as everything appears from the outside, Zoe is still drawn to temptations she cannot escape or resist. As she pursues a secretive life, Zoe finds herself risking it all when she heads down a perilous path she may not survive. Boris Kodjoe, Tyson Beckford and William Levy star in the film and will join Zane and director Bille Woodruff at a Q & A and exclusive look at scenes from the film on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 7:45pm at Manhattan's AMC Loews 34th Street 14. Addicted will open nationwide on October 10.
Also of note, the four finalist scripts selected for the best screenplay competition are Just Downsized – written by Pauline Gray, The Jumbie – written by H.M. Coakley, Noor – written by Nijla Mumin and Summer Break – written by Cathleen Campbell. In addition to awarding $5,000 to the winner, BET Networks will review the finalist scripts with an eye for potential development at the network.
Spotlight films and programs at this year’s festival also include Urbanworld® Digital, which will be hosted by HBO for the fifth year. “More than ever, we recognize the importance of technology as it relates to content creation and distribution,” said Dennis Williams, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility at HBO. “We are proud to support Urbanworld Digital, as it provides a unique opportunity to connect content creators and industry influencers within a rapidly evolving digital landscape.” The program will feature workshops and sessions presented by HBO, Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, Interactive One, Seed & Spark and Project Catalyst, among others in the digital space.
Issa Rae, best known for her hit web-series, The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl, is a featured guest for the Urbanworld® Digital Fireside Chat with Roland Martin sponsored by NewsOne. Rae will also premiere her latest venture, Issa Rae Presents: ColorCreative.TV, at the festival. Through Color Creative.TV, Issa Rae – along with her producing partner Deniese Davis, who will also join her in the Urbanworld® Digital Fireside Chat – strives to discover new writing talent and diverse stories via national workshops, improve the TV pilot development process; and produce and package low-cost TV pilots with an indie familiarity.
The festival’s nightlife will feature special editions of Urbanworld® Music presenting a mix of eclectic live performances in partnership with Que Bajo?! and Everyday People — two leading NYC event franchises – to create unique after-dark experiences for festival goers. On Saturday, September 20, Urbanworld® Music and Everyday People will present the 8-piece rock/soul band, Condola and the Stoop Kids, in an edgy, live performance that features lead singer and Tony® nominated actress Condola Rashad.
Additionally, Urbanworld® will host free community screenings on Sunday, September 21 in Brooklyn, Queens, and Harlem to engage the broader New York community with the Urbanworld® experience. In partnership with Bed-Stuy Restoration Corporation in Brooklyn, The Museum of Moving Image in Queens, ImageNation and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, Urbanworld® will curate customized evening screening programs for each community. The full schedule will be announced on the festival website next week.
Along with presenting sponsor BET Networks and founding sponsor HBO, another key supporter of the nation’s largest competitive multicultural film festival September 17-21, 2014 in New York is premiere sponsor Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo. Industry circle supporters include Fox Global Directors Initiative, Cinemax, Interactive One, Panavision, MoviePass, Moguldom, RLJ Entertainment, the Directors Guild of America and AMC Theatres.
For the complete slate of films, film synopsis, ticket information, additional Urbanworld® Digital and Urbanworld® Music details and daily updates, visit www.urbanworld.org.
ABOUT URBANWORLD® FILM FESTIVAL
The Urbanworld® Film Festival, founded in 1997 by Stacy Spikes, is the largest internationally competitive festival of its kind. The five-day festival includes narrative features, documentaries, short films, spotlight screenings, events, live staged screenplay readings, the Urbanworld® Digital track focused on digital and social media panels and workshops and Urbanworld® Music, which highlights emerging talent in live performances during after party events. Over the last 18 years, Hollywood studios, indie film distributors, and established and emerging filmmakers have consistently chosen Urbanworld® to premiere box office and award-winning hits. Urbanworld® has also provided a platform for some of today's leading brands seeking to reach key influencers across the industry and within the consumer marketplace. The Urbanworld® Film Festival is an initiative of the Urbanworld® Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization that endeavors to consistently manifest its mission of redefining and advancing the presence and impact of the multicultural community in cinema and cross-platform media. By implementing initiatives that actively support and develop content creators of color, Urbanworld® significantly contributes to the evolution of the media and entertainment landscape and the diversity that it reflects. Gabrielle Glore serves as Executive Producer & Head of Programming for the Urbanworld® Film Festival. The festival website is www.urbanworld.org.
ABOUT BET NETWORKS
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.
Nation’s Premiere Showcase For Multicultural Cinema To Be Held in New York September 17 – 21, 2014
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 18th Annual Urbanworld® Film Festival (www.urbanworld.org), presented by BET Networks with founding sponsor HBO, announced the addition of an exclusive look at scenes from the upcoming Lionsgate/Codeblack Films release, Addicted and a Q & A with the stars and filmmakers today.
“More than ever, we recognize the importance of technology as it relates to content creation and distribution”
Addicted, based on the best-selling novel by Zane and a screenplay by Christina Welsh and Ernie Barbarash, is a sexy and provocative thriller about desire and the dangers of indiscretion. Successful businesswoman Zoe Reynard (Sharon Leal) appears to have attained it all - the dream husband she loves, two wonderful children and a flourishing career. As perfect as everything appears from the outside, Zoe is still drawn to temptations she cannot escape or resist. As she pursues a secretive life, Zoe finds herself risking it all when she heads down a perilous path she may not survive. Boris Kodjoe, Tyson Beckford and William Levy star in the film and will join Zane and director Bille Woodruff at a Q & A and exclusive look at scenes from the film on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 7:45pm at Manhattan's AMC Loews 34th Street 14. Addicted will open nationwide on October 10.
Also of note, the four finalist scripts selected for the best screenplay competition are Just Downsized – written by Pauline Gray, The Jumbie – written by H.M. Coakley, Noor – written by Nijla Mumin and Summer Break – written by Cathleen Campbell. In addition to awarding $5,000 to the winner, BET Networks will review the finalist scripts with an eye for potential development at the network.
Spotlight films and programs at this year’s festival also include Urbanworld® Digital, which will be hosted by HBO for the fifth year. “More than ever, we recognize the importance of technology as it relates to content creation and distribution,” said Dennis Williams, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility at HBO. “We are proud to support Urbanworld Digital, as it provides a unique opportunity to connect content creators and industry influencers within a rapidly evolving digital landscape.” The program will feature workshops and sessions presented by HBO, Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, Interactive One, Seed & Spark and Project Catalyst, among others in the digital space.
Issa Rae, best known for her hit web-series, The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl, is a featured guest for the Urbanworld® Digital Fireside Chat with Roland Martin sponsored by NewsOne. Rae will also premiere her latest venture, Issa Rae Presents: ColorCreative.TV, at the festival. Through Color Creative.TV, Issa Rae – along with her producing partner Deniese Davis, who will also join her in the Urbanworld® Digital Fireside Chat – strives to discover new writing talent and diverse stories via national workshops, improve the TV pilot development process; and produce and package low-cost TV pilots with an indie familiarity.
The festival’s nightlife will feature special editions of Urbanworld® Music presenting a mix of eclectic live performances in partnership with Que Bajo?! and Everyday People — two leading NYC event franchises – to create unique after-dark experiences for festival goers. On Saturday, September 20, Urbanworld® Music and Everyday People will present the 8-piece rock/soul band, Condola and the Stoop Kids, in an edgy, live performance that features lead singer and Tony® nominated actress Condola Rashad.
Additionally, Urbanworld® will host free community screenings on Sunday, September 21 in Brooklyn, Queens, and Harlem to engage the broader New York community with the Urbanworld® experience. In partnership with Bed-Stuy Restoration Corporation in Brooklyn, The Museum of Moving Image in Queens, ImageNation and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, Urbanworld® will curate customized evening screening programs for each community. The full schedule will be announced on the festival website next week.
Along with presenting sponsor BET Networks and founding sponsor HBO, another key supporter of the nation’s largest competitive multicultural film festival September 17-21, 2014 in New York is premiere sponsor Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo. Industry circle supporters include Fox Global Directors Initiative, Cinemax, Interactive One, Panavision, MoviePass, Moguldom, RLJ Entertainment, the Directors Guild of America and AMC Theatres.
For the complete slate of films, film synopsis, ticket information, additional Urbanworld® Digital and Urbanworld® Music details and daily updates, visit www.urbanworld.org.
ABOUT URBANWORLD® FILM FESTIVAL
The Urbanworld® Film Festival, founded in 1997 by Stacy Spikes, is the largest internationally competitive festival of its kind. The five-day festival includes narrative features, documentaries, short films, spotlight screenings, events, live staged screenplay readings, the Urbanworld® Digital track focused on digital and social media panels and workshops and Urbanworld® Music, which highlights emerging talent in live performances during after party events. Over the last 18 years, Hollywood studios, indie film distributors, and established and emerging filmmakers have consistently chosen Urbanworld® to premiere box office and award-winning hits. Urbanworld® has also provided a platform for some of today's leading brands seeking to reach key influencers across the industry and within the consumer marketplace. The Urbanworld® Film Festival is an initiative of the Urbanworld® Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization that endeavors to consistently manifest its mission of redefining and advancing the presence and impact of the multicultural community in cinema and cross-platform media. By implementing initiatives that actively support and develop content creators of color, Urbanworld® significantly contributes to the evolution of the media and entertainment landscape and the diversity that it reflects. Gabrielle Glore serves as Executive Producer & Head of Programming for the Urbanworld® Film Festival. The festival website is www.urbanworld.org.
ABOUT BET NETWORKS
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.
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