In the late 1980s, Bruce Joel Rubin was a screenwriter with two interesting credits on his resume — “Brainstorm” (1983) and “Deadly Friend” (1986) — and a screenplay (“Jacob’s Ladder”) that everyone in Los Angeles agreed was terrific but which no one at the studios would green light. Rubin’s fortunes and reputation changed seemingly overnight on July 13, 1990, when his romantic thriller “Ghost” opened and became a worldwide smash. A few months later, “Jacob’s Ladder,” which had finally been brought to the screen by director Adrian Lyne, opened as well, and Rubin’s status as one of Hollywood’s top screenwriters was secure.
While “Ghost” ultimately garnered Rubin an Academy Award and went on to become a classic — one of those rare cases where personal expression seamlessly intersected with popular and artistic success — its path to the screen wasn’t always smooth. In the following exclusive excerpt from Rubin’s new memoir, “It’s Only a Movie,...
While “Ghost” ultimately garnered Rubin an Academy Award and went on to become a classic — one of those rare cases where personal expression seamlessly intersected with popular and artistic success — its path to the screen wasn’t always smooth. In the following exclusive excerpt from Rubin’s new memoir, “It’s Only a Movie,...
- 5/25/2024
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
Dawn Steel was one of the most influential and significant figures in the film industry regarding women working in production settings. Women acting in films is nothing new and has not been for decades. However, the same cannot be said about their presence behind the camera. The production of films, the studios that make them, and all of the major decisions were always taken by men; that was until Steel came around.
Dawn Steel [Credit: Spotlight]In 1987, she became one of the first women to run a major Hollywood film studio, becoming the president of Columbia Pictures. Despite all that she represented for the feminist movement and the change she brought about in the film industry, many were not happy with her achievements. So much so, that the producer was fired soon after she had her first child.
Dawn Steel’s Well-Used Power
Dawn Steel opened many doors for women when she had the power to.
Dawn Steel [Credit: Spotlight]In 1987, she became one of the first women to run a major Hollywood film studio, becoming the president of Columbia Pictures. Despite all that she represented for the feminist movement and the change she brought about in the film industry, many were not happy with her achievements. So much so, that the producer was fired soon after she had her first child.
Dawn Steel’s Well-Used Power
Dawn Steel opened many doors for women when she had the power to.
- 5/19/2024
- by Ananya Godboley
- FandomWire
Tom Cruise’s Top Gun is one of the legendary actor’s earliest landmark projects that ended up thrusting him into the mainstream. Recognized as arguably the biggest action star in Hollywood since a decade or two, Top Gun is still seen as one of his most stellar projects yet.
The 1986-release recently completed its 38th year of existence, bringing fans a sense of nostalgia to the time when the now 61-year-old broke into the industry as a charming, baby-faced action star.
Tom Cruise in Top Gun. | Columbia Pictures
Regardless, as it turns out, the Tony Scott-directorial had its fair share of hiccups during the production process. Among them, was the fact that Charlotte Blackwood’s character, Kirsten Lindstrom, was initially shown as a stereotypical ‘classic bimbo,’ instead of the aviator instructor that she was eventually transformed into.
That was all thanks to Dawn Steel, who was the first...
The 1986-release recently completed its 38th year of existence, bringing fans a sense of nostalgia to the time when the now 61-year-old broke into the industry as a charming, baby-faced action star.
Tom Cruise in Top Gun. | Columbia Pictures
Regardless, as it turns out, the Tony Scott-directorial had its fair share of hiccups during the production process. Among them, was the fact that Charlotte Blackwood’s character, Kirsten Lindstrom, was initially shown as a stereotypical ‘classic bimbo,’ instead of the aviator instructor that she was eventually transformed into.
That was all thanks to Dawn Steel, who was the first...
- 5/18/2024
- by Rishabh Bhatnagar
- FandomWire
James Woods’ Nuclear Secrets
By Christopher Nolan’s standards, Oppenheimer couldn’t be a more straightforward narrative. Scientist builds bomb. Bomb ends war. Government betrays scientist. But there is one part of the movie that has some viewers scratching their heads, and it’s right there in the opening credits: What the heck is James Woods’ name doing on the screen? The 76-year-old actor, best known today for his right-wing conspiracy mongering, is listed as an executive producer. But as far as anyone can tell, he had no part in making the film, never met with Nolan and wouldn’t know a neutron reflector from a People’s Choice Award. So, how’d he nab an EP credit? Woods, it turns out, is pals with businessman J. David Wargo, a onetime Discovery board member and longtime Trinity Project buff. Back in 2015, Wargo bought the rights to the Oppenheimer biography American...
By Christopher Nolan’s standards, Oppenheimer couldn’t be a more straightforward narrative. Scientist builds bomb. Bomb ends war. Government betrays scientist. But there is one part of the movie that has some viewers scratching their heads, and it’s right there in the opening credits: What the heck is James Woods’ name doing on the screen? The 76-year-old actor, best known today for his right-wing conspiracy mongering, is listed as an executive producer. But as far as anyone can tell, he had no part in making the film, never met with Nolan and wouldn’t know a neutron reflector from a People’s Choice Award. So, how’d he nab an EP credit? Woods, it turns out, is pals with businessman J. David Wargo, a onetime Discovery board member and longtime Trinity Project buff. Back in 2015, Wargo bought the rights to the Oppenheimer biography American...
- 2/15/2024
- by THR Staff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Seven months after landing the coveted top jobs at Warner Bros Motion Picture studios, co-chairpersons Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy were bestowed with the PGA Milestone award Saturday night. The pair paid respect for their mega industry mentors; remembered emotionally their cinematic New York City and New Jersey youths; and gave a shoutout to their new boss, Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
“I see I’ve entered the twilight portion of my career where they start giving you body-of-work awards … sort of like getting that AARP mailer for the first time. Sorry to have dragged you into this, Pam. Pam is way younger than I am, as you can all see,” De Luca joked soon after taking the stage after Ron Howard’s warm introduction to the packed crowd at the Beverly Hilton.
Related: 2023 PGA Awards – Deadline’s Full Coverage
“As studio heads, they quietly revolutionized industry practices,...
“I see I’ve entered the twilight portion of my career where they start giving you body-of-work awards … sort of like getting that AARP mailer for the first time. Sorry to have dragged you into this, Pam. Pam is way younger than I am, as you can all see,” De Luca joked soon after taking the stage after Ron Howard’s warm introduction to the packed crowd at the Beverly Hilton.
Related: 2023 PGA Awards – Deadline’s Full Coverage
“As studio heads, they quietly revolutionized industry practices,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
You know, I don’t exactly go after him as much as I should, but, yeah, there’s a segment of Hell out there somewhere waiting for Chris Meladandri. For those who aren’t 100% familiar with him, he’s somewhat of an allusive figure, there’s actually not a lot of material out there on him, but I think I’m not gonna disappoint too many people by saying in animation terms at least, he’s probably the biggest hack out there. Well, I should say that he’s most known for animation, but honestly, he doesn’t have much of an animation background; he’s spent his whole career producing in fact, and his career didn’t start in animation. He’s not illustrious as a producer; the pre-Disney movies he made, range from the forgotten to the forgettable, until he had relatively minor hit with ‘Cool Runnings’. He...
- 11/23/2017
- by David Baruffi
- Age of the Nerd
'Making Love': Groundbreaking romantic gay drama returns to the big screen As part of its Anniversary Classics series, Laemmle Theaters will be presenting Arthur Hiller's groundbreaking 1982 romantic drama Making Love, the first U.S. movie distributed by a major studio that focused on a romantic gay relationship. Michael Ontkean, Harry Hamlin, and Kate Jackson star. The 35th Anniversary Screening of Making Love will be held on Saturday, June 24 – it's Gay Pride month, after all – at 7:30 p.m. at the Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre on Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. The movie will be followed by a Q&A session with Harry Hamlin, screenwriter Barry Sandler, and author A. Scott Berg, who wrote the “story” on which the film is based. 'Making Love' & What lies beneath In this 20th Century Fox release – Sherry Lansing was the studio head at the time – Michael Ontkean plays a...
- 6/24/2017
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
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Hate the idea of a new Ghostbusters film? That's fair enough. Attacking another human being? It might be time to draw the line...
I believe it to be Empire magazine that works on an editorial policy of treating the approach to every movie as if it’s Christmas Eve. That, until you’ve seen the final cut of something, go in with optimism, and a wish for something to be good, be it Big Momma’s House 3 or Captain America: Civil War. Hate must be saved until you've seen the final cut of a film.
I like that ethos a lot. I think in an era when great films can have terrible trailers, and terrible films can have great trailers, that reserving judgement for a movie until the whole thing has been seen is something to cherish.
So then: you don’t need me to tell...
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Hate the idea of a new Ghostbusters film? That's fair enough. Attacking another human being? It might be time to draw the line...
I believe it to be Empire magazine that works on an editorial policy of treating the approach to every movie as if it’s Christmas Eve. That, until you’ve seen the final cut of something, go in with optimism, and a wish for something to be good, be it Big Momma’s House 3 or Captain America: Civil War. Hate must be saved until you've seen the final cut of a film.
I like that ethos a lot. I think in an era when great films can have terrible trailers, and terrible films can have great trailers, that reserving judgement for a movie until the whole thing has been seen is something to cherish.
So then: you don’t need me to tell...
- 5/23/2016
- Den of Geek
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Looking for good books about the movies to read? We've got a bumper selection of recommendations right here...
A confession. I actually started writing this article in 2013, and the reason you've only reading it now is that I've made sure I've read every book on this list, save for one or two where I've marked otherwise. As such, what you're getting is a very personal list of recommendations. Each of these books has at least something to it that I think is of interest to someone wanting to learn more about film - or just enjoy stories of movie making.
I've tended to avoid picture books, with one exception, as these ones I've chosen are all intended to be chock-full of words, to relax with at the end of a long day. Which is what I did. There are one or two notable omissions, as I'm still...
google+
Looking for good books about the movies to read? We've got a bumper selection of recommendations right here...
A confession. I actually started writing this article in 2013, and the reason you've only reading it now is that I've made sure I've read every book on this list, save for one or two where I've marked otherwise. As such, what you're getting is a very personal list of recommendations. Each of these books has at least something to it that I think is of interest to someone wanting to learn more about film - or just enjoy stories of movie making.
I've tended to avoid picture books, with one exception, as these ones I've chosen are all intended to be chock-full of words, to relax with at the end of a long day. Which is what I did. There are one or two notable omissions, as I'm still...
- 12/10/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Women In Film is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women, encouraging creative projects by women, and expanding and enhancing portrayals of women in all forms of global media. Given that women comprise fifty percent of the population, Wif's ultimate goal is to see the same gender parity reflected on and off screen. Founded in 1973, Wif focuses on advocacy and education, provides scholarships, grants and film finishing funds and works to preserve the legacies of all women working in the entertainment community.
Since 1977, Women In Film, Los Angeles has annually honored outstanding women in the entertainment industry – women who lead by example, who are creative, groundbreaking, and who excel at their chosen fields. This year’s Crystal + Lucy Awards® fundraising dinner, in support of Wif La’s educational and philanthropic programs and its advocacy for gender parity for women throughout the industry, is being held on Tuesday, June 16 in the Los Angeles Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City. The 2015 Crystal + Lucy Awards is sponsored by Max Mara, BMW of North America, and Tiffany & Co.
This year’s Crystal + Lucy Award honorees are:
2015 Crystal Award for Excellence in Film – Nicole Kidman 2015 Lucy Award for Excellence in Television – Jill Soloway 2015 Dorothy Arzner Directors Award® – Ava DuVernay The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future®” 2015 – Kate Mara Presented by Nicola Maramotti Global Brand Ambassador for Max Mara
2015 Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award – Sue Kroll 2015 Sue Mengers Award – Toni Howard
Cathy Schulman , President of Women In Film, Los Angeles, said in making the announcement, “We are proud to celebrate an extraordinary line-up of honorees this year. Each one of these women has made extraordinary contributions to the media art, and as a group they have forged sustainable careers that are emblematic of the positive and long overdue change that is taking root for women in Hollywood.”
Iris Grossman, President Emerita of Women In Film, Los Angeles, returning this year as Chair of the Awards, said “This year’s honorees are all women who have helped change the face of the business. Through their insight, determination, resilience and talent, they add substance and depth to their creative endeavors and to the entertainment industry as a whole.”
About the Honorees
Nicole Kidman / Crystal Award for Excellence in Film
The Crystal Awards were established in 1977 to honor outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry. Past recipients include Cate Blanchett, Laura Linney, Viola Davis, Annette Bening, Donna Langley, Jennifer Aniston, Diane English and the cast of The Women, Renée Zellweger, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Diane Lane, Halle Berry, Laura Ziskin, Jessica Lange, Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster, Angela Bassett, Meg Ryan, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Alfre Woodard, Polly Platt, Lauren Shuler Donner, Diane Warren, Amy Heckerling, Paula Weinstein, Martha Coolidge, Buffy Shutt and Kathy Jones, Gale Anne Hurd, Nancy Malone, Maya Angelou, Lily Tomlin, Ruby Dee, Penny Marshall, Jessica Tandy, Barbara Boyle, Nikki Rocco, Jean Firstenberg, Lee Remick, Lina Wertmuller, Bette Davis, Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, Sherry Lansing, Nora Ephron, Dawn Steel, Fay Kanin, Lillian Gish, Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close and Amy Pascal.
Academy Award winning actress Nicole Kidman is internationally-recognized for her range and versatility. In 2002, Kidman was honored with her first Oscar nomination for her performance in the innovative musical, "Moulin Rouge!" For that role, and her performance in the psychological thriller "The Others," she received dual 2002 Golden Globe nominations, winning for Best Actress in a Musical. In 2003, Kidman won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award and a Berlin Silver Bear for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in Stephen Daldry’s "The Hours." In 2010 Kidman starred in "Rabbit Hole," for which she received Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best Actress. The film was developed by Kidman’s production company, Blossom Films. In October 2012 Kidman starred in Lee Daniel’s "The Paperboy." Her performance earned her an Aacta, Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe nomination.
Upcoming films include "Strangerland," "The Family Fang" and "Genius." Kidman is currently in production on "The Secret in Their Eyes." Next up, she will being shooting The Weinstein Company’s "Lion."
In January of 2006, Kidman was awarded Australia’s highest honor, the Companion in the Order of Australia. She was also named, and continues to serve, as Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, Un Women, whose goals are to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality, to raise awareness of the infringement on women’s human rights around the world and to end violence against women. Along with her husband, Keith Urban, she has helped raise millions over the years for the Women’s Cancer Program which is a world-renowned center for research into the causes, treatment, prevention, and eventual cure of women’s cancer.
Jill Soloway / Lucy Award for Excellence in Television
The Lucy Awards were founded in 1994 by Joanna Kerns, Bonny Dore and Loreen Arbus and are presented in association with the Lucille Ball Estate. They were named for Lucille Ball, who was not only a legendary actress and comedienne, but also a producer, studio owner, creator and director. They are given to recognize women and men and their creative works that exemplify the extraordinary accomplishments she embodied; whose excellence and innovation have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television. Past recipients include: Kerry Washington, The Women Of "Mad Men" (Christina Hendricks, January Jones, Elisabeth Moss, Jessica Paré, Kiernan Shipka), Bonnie Hammer, Nina Tassler, Courteney Cox, Holly Hunter, Salma Hayek, Shonda Rhimes and the women of "Grey’s Anatomy," Geena Davis, Debra Messing and Megan Mullally, Blythe Danner, Lily Tomlin, Rosie O’Donnell, Amy Brenneman, Tyne Daley, Phyllis Diller, Marcy Carsey, Carol Burnett, Barbara Walters, Shari Lewis, Garry Marshall, Angela Lansbury, Marlo Thomas, Gary David Goldberg, Diahann Carroll, Tracey Ullman, Fred Silverman, Imogene Coca, Camryn Manheim, Norman Lear, Bud Yorkin and the casts of "Sex and the City," " If These Walls Could Talk" and "If These Walls Could Talk 2."
Jill Soloway is the creator of Amazon Studios' Golden Globe-winning, "Transparent," a dark, deep, silly family series about boundaries, love and secrets.
Soloway won the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival for her first feature, "Afternoon Delight." She recently founded WifeyTv, an internet brand producing and curating content to ignite the feminist revolution. Soloway is a three-time Emmy nominee for her work writing and producing "Six Feet Under."
She co-created the theater experiences, "Real Live Brady Bunch," "Miss Vagina Pageant," "Hollywood Hellhouse" and "Sit N Spin," and co-founded the community organization East Side Jews. Soloway lives with her family in Silver Lake.
Ava DuVernay / Dorothy Arzner Directors Award
Dorothy Arzner was the first female member of the Directors Guild of America. In her honor, the Dorothy Arzner Directors Award® was established to recognize the important role women directors play in the film and television industries. Past recipients include: Jennifer Lee, Sofia Coppola, Pamela Fryman, Lisa Cholodenko, Catherine Hardwicke, Nancy Meyers, Barbra Streisand, Mimi Leder, Barbara Kopple, Gillian Armstrong, Lian Lunson, Joey Lauren Adams and Nicole Holofcener.
Nominated for two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, five Critics Choice awards, eight NAACP Image Awards and five Independent Spirit Awards, writer/director Ava DuVernay's most recent film "Selma" chronicles the historic 1965 voting rights campaign led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
She won the Best Director Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012 for her acclaimed feature "Middle of Nowhere." Her previous narrative and documentary work includes the feature film "I Will Follow" and the documentaries Venus Vs.," "My Mic Sounds Nice" and "This is The Life."
In 2010, DuVernay founded the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (Affrm), a grassroots collective that distributes work from filmmakers of color. Prior to her directorial career, she worked as a film marketer and publicist for more than 14 years through her company, The DuVernay Agency.
Kate Mara / The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future” Award
The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future” Award® was inaugurated at Women In Film’s 2006 Crystal + Lucy Awards®. As the 13th year as presenting sponsor and longstanding Women In Film partner, Max Mara identifies an actress who is experiencing a turning point in her career through her work in the film and television industries with focus on her contributions to the community at large and recognizes her outstanding personal achievements and embodiment of style and grace. Past recipients include: Rose Byrne, Hailee Steinfeld, Chloë Grace Moretz, Katie Holmes, Zoë Saldana, Elizabeth Banks, Ginnifer Goodwin, Emily Blunt and Maria Bello.
Kate Mara made her feature film debut in "Random Hearts" for director Sydney Pollack. She then co-starred in Ang Lee’s "Brokeback Mountain" in which she portrayed Heath Ledger’s daughter. She also appeared in the Academy Award nominated film "127 Hours" with James Franco for director Danny Boyle and she co-starred in "Transcendence" alongside Johnny Depp and Morgan Freeman, which marked the directorial debut of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister.
Mara recently completed filming on location in Budapest director Ridley Scott’s outer space action film The Martian alongside Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain. Last fall, she completed filming the psychological thriller "Man Down" in which she plays the wife of a war veteran, played by Shia Labeouf and "Captive" in which she stars with David Oyelowo as a single mother struggling with meth addiction in the adaptation of the best-selling book An Unlikely Angel. This summer she will film "Morgan" for director Luke Scott, son of Ridley Scott, who will produce. Audiences will next see her star in "Fantastic Four" alongside Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell.
She received an Emmy Award® nomination for her role in David Fincher’s critically acclaimed television series, "House of Cards" in which she co-starred alongside Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright.
Sue Kroll/ Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award
The Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award was created to honor the late director and great mentor Bruce Paltrow. This year, Wif Presenting Sponsor Tiffany & Co. has joined the Paltrow family in recognizing an entertainment industry professional who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to mentoring and supporting the next generation of filmmakers and executives. Past honorees include Kathleen Kennedy and Sherry Lansing.
Sue Kroll is President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures. As marketing chief, she oversees the strategic creation and implementation of marketing campaigns for the Studio’s global releases and collaborates closely with the Studio’s principals on the strategic development of its slate of films.
Her leadership of global marketing has propelled the studio’s releases to record-breaking box office and myriad awards. Most recently, the Best Picture Oscar nominee "American Sniper" became the top-grossing domestic film release of 2014 and has grossed more than $500 million worldwide. Other recent successes include the "Harry Potter," "Dark Knight," and "The Hobbit" film series, as well as such award-winning pictures as "Gravity," "Argo" and "The Departed."
Kroll joined Warner Bros. in 1994 and headed International Marketing from 2000 to 2008, when she was named to her current role at the studio. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Film Independent, the Los Angeles-based non-profit that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, and is one of the inaugural members of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program.
Toni Howard / Sue Mengers Award
The Sue Mengers Award , named for the legendary agent and given for the first time in 2015, will be presented annually to a representative who is, and has been, instrumental in guiding careers. Sue Mengers was an icon in the entertainment industry. She was one of the most influential talent agents of her time, when women were not the norm, and she was devoted to her clients.
Toni Howard is a partner at ICM Partners. Toni joined the agency’s talent department in 1991 and quickly became a leader in the division, having served as its department head for the better part of a decade. She oversees a celebrated and eclectic group of actors who appear in film, television and on stage and have garnered an astonishing 46 Academy Award® nominations, 148 Emmy® nominations, and 125 Golden Globe® nominations. Among her award-winning clients are Alan Alda, Candice Bergen, Michael Caine, Bobby Cannavale, Edie Falco, Samuel L. Jackson, Topher Grace, Holly Hunter, Michael Keaton, Nathan Lane, Spike Lee, Laura Linney, Catherine O’Hara, Lily Rabe, Christina Ricci, Tim Robbins, Michael Sheen, Maggie Smith, James Spader, Julia Stiles, and Christopher Walken. Throughout her career at ICM Partners, Toni has mentored many young agents to incredibly successful careers of their own.
Prior to joining ICM, Toni was an agent at the William Morris Agency for seven years. She began her entertainment industry career as a casting director, working on such iconic projects as "Tootsie," "Superman," "The Right Stuff" and "Something About Amelia."
Recognized by her distinctive voice, Toni was cast by director Alexander Payne as the voice of agent ‘Evelyn Berman-Silverman’ in the film "Sideways."...
Since 1977, Women In Film, Los Angeles has annually honored outstanding women in the entertainment industry – women who lead by example, who are creative, groundbreaking, and who excel at their chosen fields. This year’s Crystal + Lucy Awards® fundraising dinner, in support of Wif La’s educational and philanthropic programs and its advocacy for gender parity for women throughout the industry, is being held on Tuesday, June 16 in the Los Angeles Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City. The 2015 Crystal + Lucy Awards is sponsored by Max Mara, BMW of North America, and Tiffany & Co.
This year’s Crystal + Lucy Award honorees are:
2015 Crystal Award for Excellence in Film – Nicole Kidman 2015 Lucy Award for Excellence in Television – Jill Soloway 2015 Dorothy Arzner Directors Award® – Ava DuVernay The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future®” 2015 – Kate Mara Presented by Nicola Maramotti Global Brand Ambassador for Max Mara
2015 Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award – Sue Kroll 2015 Sue Mengers Award – Toni Howard
Cathy Schulman , President of Women In Film, Los Angeles, said in making the announcement, “We are proud to celebrate an extraordinary line-up of honorees this year. Each one of these women has made extraordinary contributions to the media art, and as a group they have forged sustainable careers that are emblematic of the positive and long overdue change that is taking root for women in Hollywood.”
Iris Grossman, President Emerita of Women In Film, Los Angeles, returning this year as Chair of the Awards, said “This year’s honorees are all women who have helped change the face of the business. Through their insight, determination, resilience and talent, they add substance and depth to their creative endeavors and to the entertainment industry as a whole.”
About the Honorees
Nicole Kidman / Crystal Award for Excellence in Film
The Crystal Awards were established in 1977 to honor outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry. Past recipients include Cate Blanchett, Laura Linney, Viola Davis, Annette Bening, Donna Langley, Jennifer Aniston, Diane English and the cast of The Women, Renée Zellweger, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Diane Lane, Halle Berry, Laura Ziskin, Jessica Lange, Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster, Angela Bassett, Meg Ryan, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Alfre Woodard, Polly Platt, Lauren Shuler Donner, Diane Warren, Amy Heckerling, Paula Weinstein, Martha Coolidge, Buffy Shutt and Kathy Jones, Gale Anne Hurd, Nancy Malone, Maya Angelou, Lily Tomlin, Ruby Dee, Penny Marshall, Jessica Tandy, Barbara Boyle, Nikki Rocco, Jean Firstenberg, Lee Remick, Lina Wertmuller, Bette Davis, Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, Sherry Lansing, Nora Ephron, Dawn Steel, Fay Kanin, Lillian Gish, Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close and Amy Pascal.
Academy Award winning actress Nicole Kidman is internationally-recognized for her range and versatility. In 2002, Kidman was honored with her first Oscar nomination for her performance in the innovative musical, "Moulin Rouge!" For that role, and her performance in the psychological thriller "The Others," she received dual 2002 Golden Globe nominations, winning for Best Actress in a Musical. In 2003, Kidman won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award and a Berlin Silver Bear for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in Stephen Daldry’s "The Hours." In 2010 Kidman starred in "Rabbit Hole," for which she received Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best Actress. The film was developed by Kidman’s production company, Blossom Films. In October 2012 Kidman starred in Lee Daniel’s "The Paperboy." Her performance earned her an Aacta, Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe nomination.
Upcoming films include "Strangerland," "The Family Fang" and "Genius." Kidman is currently in production on "The Secret in Their Eyes." Next up, she will being shooting The Weinstein Company’s "Lion."
In January of 2006, Kidman was awarded Australia’s highest honor, the Companion in the Order of Australia. She was also named, and continues to serve, as Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, Un Women, whose goals are to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality, to raise awareness of the infringement on women’s human rights around the world and to end violence against women. Along with her husband, Keith Urban, she has helped raise millions over the years for the Women’s Cancer Program which is a world-renowned center for research into the causes, treatment, prevention, and eventual cure of women’s cancer.
Jill Soloway / Lucy Award for Excellence in Television
The Lucy Awards were founded in 1994 by Joanna Kerns, Bonny Dore and Loreen Arbus and are presented in association with the Lucille Ball Estate. They were named for Lucille Ball, who was not only a legendary actress and comedienne, but also a producer, studio owner, creator and director. They are given to recognize women and men and their creative works that exemplify the extraordinary accomplishments she embodied; whose excellence and innovation have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television. Past recipients include: Kerry Washington, The Women Of "Mad Men" (Christina Hendricks, January Jones, Elisabeth Moss, Jessica Paré, Kiernan Shipka), Bonnie Hammer, Nina Tassler, Courteney Cox, Holly Hunter, Salma Hayek, Shonda Rhimes and the women of "Grey’s Anatomy," Geena Davis, Debra Messing and Megan Mullally, Blythe Danner, Lily Tomlin, Rosie O’Donnell, Amy Brenneman, Tyne Daley, Phyllis Diller, Marcy Carsey, Carol Burnett, Barbara Walters, Shari Lewis, Garry Marshall, Angela Lansbury, Marlo Thomas, Gary David Goldberg, Diahann Carroll, Tracey Ullman, Fred Silverman, Imogene Coca, Camryn Manheim, Norman Lear, Bud Yorkin and the casts of "Sex and the City," " If These Walls Could Talk" and "If These Walls Could Talk 2."
Jill Soloway is the creator of Amazon Studios' Golden Globe-winning, "Transparent," a dark, deep, silly family series about boundaries, love and secrets.
Soloway won the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival for her first feature, "Afternoon Delight." She recently founded WifeyTv, an internet brand producing and curating content to ignite the feminist revolution. Soloway is a three-time Emmy nominee for her work writing and producing "Six Feet Under."
She co-created the theater experiences, "Real Live Brady Bunch," "Miss Vagina Pageant," "Hollywood Hellhouse" and "Sit N Spin," and co-founded the community organization East Side Jews. Soloway lives with her family in Silver Lake.
Ava DuVernay / Dorothy Arzner Directors Award
Dorothy Arzner was the first female member of the Directors Guild of America. In her honor, the Dorothy Arzner Directors Award® was established to recognize the important role women directors play in the film and television industries. Past recipients include: Jennifer Lee, Sofia Coppola, Pamela Fryman, Lisa Cholodenko, Catherine Hardwicke, Nancy Meyers, Barbra Streisand, Mimi Leder, Barbara Kopple, Gillian Armstrong, Lian Lunson, Joey Lauren Adams and Nicole Holofcener.
Nominated for two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, five Critics Choice awards, eight NAACP Image Awards and five Independent Spirit Awards, writer/director Ava DuVernay's most recent film "Selma" chronicles the historic 1965 voting rights campaign led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
She won the Best Director Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012 for her acclaimed feature "Middle of Nowhere." Her previous narrative and documentary work includes the feature film "I Will Follow" and the documentaries Venus Vs.," "My Mic Sounds Nice" and "This is The Life."
In 2010, DuVernay founded the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (Affrm), a grassroots collective that distributes work from filmmakers of color. Prior to her directorial career, she worked as a film marketer and publicist for more than 14 years through her company, The DuVernay Agency.
Kate Mara / The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future” Award
The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future” Award® was inaugurated at Women In Film’s 2006 Crystal + Lucy Awards®. As the 13th year as presenting sponsor and longstanding Women In Film partner, Max Mara identifies an actress who is experiencing a turning point in her career through her work in the film and television industries with focus on her contributions to the community at large and recognizes her outstanding personal achievements and embodiment of style and grace. Past recipients include: Rose Byrne, Hailee Steinfeld, Chloë Grace Moretz, Katie Holmes, Zoë Saldana, Elizabeth Banks, Ginnifer Goodwin, Emily Blunt and Maria Bello.
Kate Mara made her feature film debut in "Random Hearts" for director Sydney Pollack. She then co-starred in Ang Lee’s "Brokeback Mountain" in which she portrayed Heath Ledger’s daughter. She also appeared in the Academy Award nominated film "127 Hours" with James Franco for director Danny Boyle and she co-starred in "Transcendence" alongside Johnny Depp and Morgan Freeman, which marked the directorial debut of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister.
Mara recently completed filming on location in Budapest director Ridley Scott’s outer space action film The Martian alongside Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain. Last fall, she completed filming the psychological thriller "Man Down" in which she plays the wife of a war veteran, played by Shia Labeouf and "Captive" in which she stars with David Oyelowo as a single mother struggling with meth addiction in the adaptation of the best-selling book An Unlikely Angel. This summer she will film "Morgan" for director Luke Scott, son of Ridley Scott, who will produce. Audiences will next see her star in "Fantastic Four" alongside Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell.
She received an Emmy Award® nomination for her role in David Fincher’s critically acclaimed television series, "House of Cards" in which she co-starred alongside Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright.
Sue Kroll/ Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award
The Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award was created to honor the late director and great mentor Bruce Paltrow. This year, Wif Presenting Sponsor Tiffany & Co. has joined the Paltrow family in recognizing an entertainment industry professional who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to mentoring and supporting the next generation of filmmakers and executives. Past honorees include Kathleen Kennedy and Sherry Lansing.
Sue Kroll is President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures. As marketing chief, she oversees the strategic creation and implementation of marketing campaigns for the Studio’s global releases and collaborates closely with the Studio’s principals on the strategic development of its slate of films.
Her leadership of global marketing has propelled the studio’s releases to record-breaking box office and myriad awards. Most recently, the Best Picture Oscar nominee "American Sniper" became the top-grossing domestic film release of 2014 and has grossed more than $500 million worldwide. Other recent successes include the "Harry Potter," "Dark Knight," and "The Hobbit" film series, as well as such award-winning pictures as "Gravity," "Argo" and "The Departed."
Kroll joined Warner Bros. in 1994 and headed International Marketing from 2000 to 2008, when she was named to her current role at the studio. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Film Independent, the Los Angeles-based non-profit that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, and is one of the inaugural members of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program.
Toni Howard / Sue Mengers Award
The Sue Mengers Award , named for the legendary agent and given for the first time in 2015, will be presented annually to a representative who is, and has been, instrumental in guiding careers. Sue Mengers was an icon in the entertainment industry. She was one of the most influential talent agents of her time, when women were not the norm, and she was devoted to her clients.
Toni Howard is a partner at ICM Partners. Toni joined the agency’s talent department in 1991 and quickly became a leader in the division, having served as its department head for the better part of a decade. She oversees a celebrated and eclectic group of actors who appear in film, television and on stage and have garnered an astonishing 46 Academy Award® nominations, 148 Emmy® nominations, and 125 Golden Globe® nominations. Among her award-winning clients are Alan Alda, Candice Bergen, Michael Caine, Bobby Cannavale, Edie Falco, Samuel L. Jackson, Topher Grace, Holly Hunter, Michael Keaton, Nathan Lane, Spike Lee, Laura Linney, Catherine O’Hara, Lily Rabe, Christina Ricci, Tim Robbins, Michael Sheen, Maggie Smith, James Spader, Julia Stiles, and Christopher Walken. Throughout her career at ICM Partners, Toni has mentored many young agents to incredibly successful careers of their own.
Prior to joining ICM, Toni was an agent at the William Morris Agency for seven years. She began her entertainment industry career as a casting director, working on such iconic projects as "Tootsie," "Superman," "The Right Stuff" and "Something About Amelia."
Recognized by her distinctive voice, Toni was cast by director Alexander Payne as the voice of agent ‘Evelyn Berman-Silverman’ in the film "Sideways."...
- 4/6/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Can a new film really ruin a childhood? A look at the controversy - and comments - surrounding Paul Feig's Ghostbusters reboot...
You don't need me to tell you that last week's reveal of the new cast for the Ghostbusters reboot caused 'some conversation'. Our unscientific reading of said reaction is that most people are against Paul Feig's 2016 movie, many vehemently so. Furthermore, the casting of Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones as the lead quartet caused further consternation.
It would be fair to say that some news stories have been better received.
There are, without doubt, legitimate criticisms and concerns here. Notwithstanding the fact that not a frame of footage has been shot, and that very, very few people have read Katie Dippold's and Paul Feig's screenplay, there nonetheless can't help but be fan concerns.
The bulk of them centre around the...
You don't need me to tell you that last week's reveal of the new cast for the Ghostbusters reboot caused 'some conversation'. Our unscientific reading of said reaction is that most people are against Paul Feig's 2016 movie, many vehemently so. Furthermore, the casting of Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones as the lead quartet caused further consternation.
It would be fair to say that some news stories have been better received.
There are, without doubt, legitimate criticisms and concerns here. Notwithstanding the fact that not a frame of footage has been shot, and that very, very few people have read Katie Dippold's and Paul Feig's screenplay, there nonetheless can't help but be fan concerns.
The bulk of them centre around the...
- 2/1/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Back in the summer of 1989, Rick Moranis had three films in the Us top 20 - each going on to be a $100m+ hit....
Feature
On August 4th 1989, the film Parenthood opened at number one in the Us, taking $10.5m on its opening weekend. It knocked Turner & Hooch off the top spot down to second, with Lethal Weapon 2 rounding out the top three.
Parenthood is lots of things. It's a very strong comedy. It's a film that boasts one of the finest comedic ensembles brought together in one movie in the last 25 years. And it's a movie that's spun off two really quite different television series.
But if you look at that top 20 box office chart for the weekend of August 4th-6th 1989, then you might just notice a pretty impressive achievement on top of all of that. For one actor had three films in the top 20, at the same time.
Feature
On August 4th 1989, the film Parenthood opened at number one in the Us, taking $10.5m on its opening weekend. It knocked Turner & Hooch off the top spot down to second, with Lethal Weapon 2 rounding out the top three.
Parenthood is lots of things. It's a very strong comedy. It's a film that boasts one of the finest comedic ensembles brought together in one movie in the last 25 years. And it's a movie that's spun off two really quite different television series.
But if you look at that top 20 box office chart for the weekend of August 4th-6th 1989, then you might just notice a pretty impressive achievement on top of all of that. For one actor had three films in the top 20, at the same time.
- 6/23/2014
- by sarahd
- Den of Geek
Jon Turteltaub first heard the story of the 1988 Olympic Jamaican bobsled team when he was in film school. “We all thought that was both hilarious and sort of indicative of what the Olympics was all about,” Turteltaub said. “In some ways it was looked at as a joke, and in other ways, it was looked at as a very inspiring little anecdote that made the whole Olympics have more character.” Less than five years later, Turteltaub would get a call from his agent about a new opportunity.
Disney was making a film about the Jamaican bobsled team’s story, and...
Disney was making a film about the Jamaican bobsled team’s story, and...
- 2/12/2014
- by Samantha Highfill
- EW - Inside Movies
TriStar Productions will launch on Sept 1 backed by Sony, who will handle worldwide distribution on all film and TV product. Former Fox Filmed Entertainment chairman and CEO Tom Rothman becomes chairman and will have an ownership share.
Rothman will report to Sony Entertainment CEO and Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton and Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal.
TriStar Productions will produce up to four features a year to be released under the TriStar Pictures label, which will also continue to release other product including titles from Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions.
TriStar Productions will have its own in-house creative production executives and strategic marketing capabilities while relying on Sony’s infrastructure.
The new company will have the ability to take on outside investments and will also develop long form and series programming for Sony Pictures Television.
“Tom is a rare executive who loves movies, loves filmmakers, understands how to make money and has exquisite taste,” said Pascal...
Rothman will report to Sony Entertainment CEO and Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton and Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal.
TriStar Productions will produce up to four features a year to be released under the TriStar Pictures label, which will also continue to release other product including titles from Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions.
TriStar Productions will have its own in-house creative production executives and strategic marketing capabilities while relying on Sony’s infrastructure.
The new company will have the ability to take on outside investments and will also develop long form and series programming for Sony Pictures Television.
“Tom is a rare executive who loves movies, loves filmmakers, understands how to make money and has exquisite taste,” said Pascal...
- 8/1/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
This story comes courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter and first appeared in the Oct. 19 issue of the magazine.
They were part of Hollywood lore, the "Killer Dillers" of the mid-1970s. With Barry Diller in the top job, the team presided over Paramount during an extraordinary run -- with hits from the Oscar-winning Reds to the franchise-launching Star Trek and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Included in the group of brilliant young execs were future Disney chairman and CEO Michael Eisner; future Disney studio chairman and DreamWorks Animation boss Jeffrey Katzenberg; Dawn Steel, who would become president of Columbia Pictures; and Don Simpson, who would produce with Jerry Bruckheimer such hits as Flashdance, Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop.
"Back in the day, those were the guys in the room," says a former studio boss. "Now, who the f-- is in the room? You don't see people as well-rounded and business-wise as they were.
They were part of Hollywood lore, the "Killer Dillers" of the mid-1970s. With Barry Diller in the top job, the team presided over Paramount during an extraordinary run -- with hits from the Oscar-winning Reds to the franchise-launching Star Trek and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Included in the group of brilliant young execs were future Disney chairman and CEO Michael Eisner; future Disney studio chairman and DreamWorks Animation boss Jeffrey Katzenberg; Dawn Steel, who would become president of Columbia Pictures; and Don Simpson, who would produce with Jerry Bruckheimer such hits as Flashdance, Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop.
"Back in the day, those were the guys in the room," says a former studio boss. "Now, who the f-- is in the room? You don't see people as well-rounded and business-wise as they were.
- 10/10/2012
- Huffington Post
Reintroduced to the geek generation as the film Michael Fassbender's android character David was watching in Ridley Scott's Prometheus, Lawrence of Arabia is an undoubted classic. And now it's coming back to cinemas.
A 50th anniversary restoration of the film is being released in the UK on November 16. The movie will screen at the BFI Southbank, Empire Leicester Square and nationwide. A trailer is included below.
David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia won seven Oscars including 1962 best picture and best director, and four BAFTAs including best film.
It starred Peter O'Toole in the title role alongside Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Jose Ferrer, Claude Rains, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quayle and Arthur Kennedy.
Official synopsis and background
One of the screen's grandest epics, this monumental story recounts the true life experiences of T.E. Lawrence, better known to the world as Lawrence of Arabia.
A young, idealistic British officer in Wwi,...
A 50th anniversary restoration of the film is being released in the UK on November 16. The movie will screen at the BFI Southbank, Empire Leicester Square and nationwide. A trailer is included below.
David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia won seven Oscars including 1962 best picture and best director, and four BAFTAs including best film.
It starred Peter O'Toole in the title role alongside Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Jose Ferrer, Claude Rains, Jack Hawkins, Anthony Quayle and Arthur Kennedy.
Official synopsis and background
One of the screen's grandest epics, this monumental story recounts the true life experiences of T.E. Lawrence, better known to the world as Lawrence of Arabia.
A young, idealistic British officer in Wwi,...
- 10/3/2012
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
In a sadly ironic twist, This is It has become the hit movie that Michael Jackson never managed to make while he was alive. Jackson’s most prominent big-screen role was as the Scarecrow in the 1978 flop The Wiz, but he continued to explore his love of movies with projects like the 14-minute “Thriller” video and Captain Eo, the short science-fiction film he made with Francis Ford Coppola in the mid-1980s. In an interview for EW’s recent cover story, This Is It director Kenny Ortega revealed that Jackson continued to harbor cinematic ambitions right up to the end of his life.
- 10/30/2009
- by Josh Rottenberg
- EW - Inside Movies
Sony Pictures has inked a multiyear, first-look deal with producer Charles Roven and his Atlas Entertainment shingle.
The announcement was made Monday by Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach, presidents of Sony's Columbia Pictures.
Roven, whose "Get Smart" topped the boxoffice this past weekend, is now producing with Atlas partner Richard Suckle "The International" for Columbia. The film, set for a Feb. 20 release, stars Clive Owen and Naomi Watts and is directed by Tom Tykwer. Atlas and Columbia also are developing the comedy "Winter's Discontent" from a spec penned by Paul Fruchbom.
Roven produced "Get Smart" with Atlas partner Alex Gartner.
"Chuck is an incredibly passionate hands-on producer who has a gift for combining elegant and sophisticated storytelling with a commercial sensibility," Tolmach said. "He is also someone we have known and worked with for many years and are thrilled to be formally reuniting with him and his entire team at Atlas."
The deal reunites Roven with Tolmach and Sony co-chair Amy Pascal, whom he worked with launching Turner Pictures with his late wife Dawn Steel.
The announcement was made Monday by Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach, presidents of Sony's Columbia Pictures.
Roven, whose "Get Smart" topped the boxoffice this past weekend, is now producing with Atlas partner Richard Suckle "The International" for Columbia. The film, set for a Feb. 20 release, stars Clive Owen and Naomi Watts and is directed by Tom Tykwer. Atlas and Columbia also are developing the comedy "Winter's Discontent" from a spec penned by Paul Fruchbom.
Roven produced "Get Smart" with Atlas partner Alex Gartner.
"Chuck is an incredibly passionate hands-on producer who has a gift for combining elegant and sophisticated storytelling with a commercial sensibility," Tolmach said. "He is also someone we have known and worked with for many years and are thrilled to be formally reuniting with him and his entire team at Atlas."
The deal reunites Roven with Tolmach and Sony co-chair Amy Pascal, whom he worked with launching Turner Pictures with his late wife Dawn Steel.
- 6/23/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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