Francis Ford Coppola has finally finished his magnum opus Megalopolis. The filmmaker’s self-funded sci-fi epic has reportedly been in the making since the ‘80s and the Apocalypse Now director finally got to revive it a few years ago. However, the film has a huge obstacle to pass through as prominent studios are reportedly not interested in giving a distribution deal.
Coppola’s epic has reportedly been avoided like the plague by major Hollywood studios, who allegedly do not see commercial potential in it. Though the film has names such as Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, and Audrey Plaza attached to it, there seem to be no takers. After a recent screening, fans have been reportedly campaigning for studios to give the film a wide release.
Studios Reportedly Feel That Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis Is Not Marketable Francis Ford Coppola in Apocalypse Now
Francis Ford Coppola has been talking about...
Coppola’s epic has reportedly been avoided like the plague by major Hollywood studios, who allegedly do not see commercial potential in it. Though the film has names such as Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, and Audrey Plaza attached to it, there seem to be no takers. After a recent screening, fans have been reportedly campaigning for studios to give the film a wide release.
Studios Reportedly Feel That Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis Is Not Marketable Francis Ford Coppola in Apocalypse Now
Francis Ford Coppola has been talking about...
- 4/24/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
German actress Nina Hoss (Phoenix, Tár, Barbara) has signed on to star in The Other Side, an upcoming adventure thriller from German director Mariko Minoguchi.
Hoss will play Hanna, a doctor who, during the midst of an epidemic, goes into self-isolation in the mountain wilderness to protect herself and others.
Best known for her many collaborations with German director Christian Petzold —including 2007’s Yella, 2012’s Barbara and 2014’s Phoenix — Hoss played Cate Blanchett’s wife in Todd Field’s Oscar-nominated Tár (2022) and had a recurring role as Astrid in seasons 5 and 6 of Showtime’s Emmy-winning series Homeland and in Amazon’s action series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. More recently, Hoss co-starred in Claire Burger’s coming-of-age romantic drama Langue Étrangère, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival last month, and in Radu Jude’s freewheeling feminist satire Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World, which...
Hoss will play Hanna, a doctor who, during the midst of an epidemic, goes into self-isolation in the mountain wilderness to protect herself and others.
Best known for her many collaborations with German director Christian Petzold —including 2007’s Yella, 2012’s Barbara and 2014’s Phoenix — Hoss played Cate Blanchett’s wife in Todd Field’s Oscar-nominated Tár (2022) and had a recurring role as Astrid in seasons 5 and 6 of Showtime’s Emmy-winning series Homeland and in Amazon’s action series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. More recently, Hoss co-starred in Claire Burger’s coming-of-age romantic drama Langue Étrangère, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival last month, and in Radu Jude’s freewheeling feminist satire Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World, which...
- 3/13/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Nearly six months after its release, and perfectly timed to its powerful awards momentum, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” (Universal), now renting for $5.99 ahead of its unannounced Peacock debut, repeats as #1 at iTunes and Google Play this week.
Both platforms rank by transactions. “Trolls Band Together,” also Universal and still renting at $19.99, is #1 at Vudu, where revenue determines the top 10. They list “Oppenheimer” #3, tops among lower-priced entries, reinforcing its draw. “Trolls” is second at iTunes, #5 at Google Play.
“Society of the Snow,” a stealth Oscar contender from Spain director J.A. Bayona, is #2 at Netflix — besting its high-profile originals “Maestro” and “May December,” both of which ranked for only a few days and at lower positions.
“Snow,” which is Spain’s Oscar submission, is following the path of “All Quiet on the Western Front” last year as a non-English language success on the platform. It’s just behind “The Equalizer 3” for the second week,...
Both platforms rank by transactions. “Trolls Band Together,” also Universal and still renting at $19.99, is #1 at Vudu, where revenue determines the top 10. They list “Oppenheimer” #3, tops among lower-priced entries, reinforcing its draw. “Trolls” is second at iTunes, #5 at Google Play.
“Society of the Snow,” a stealth Oscar contender from Spain director J.A. Bayona, is #2 at Netflix — besting its high-profile originals “Maestro” and “May December,” both of which ranked for only a few days and at lower positions.
“Snow,” which is Spain’s Oscar submission, is following the path of “All Quiet on the Western Front” last year as a non-English language success on the platform. It’s just behind “The Equalizer 3” for the second week,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Mike Nussbaum, one of the oldest working actors in the U.S. industry who appeared in such films as “Men in Black” and “Field of Dreams,” has died. He was 99.
Nussbaum died of natural causes Saturday — six days short of his 100th birthday — at his home in Chicago, his daughter Karen told the Chicago Tribune.
Nussbaum played book publisher Bob Drimmer in “Fatal Attraction” (1987), a school principal in “Field of Dreams” (1989) and alien jeweler Gentle Rosenburg in “Men in Black” (1997). He also appeared in films like “House of Games” (1987), “Things Change” (1988), “Harry and Tonto” (1974), “Losing Josiah” (1995) and “Steal Big Steal Little” (1995).
On the television side, Nussbaum had turns in “The Equalizer,” “The X-Files,” “Brooklyn Bridge,” “Separate but Equal,” “Frasier,” “L.A. Law,” “227,” “The Commish” and “Early Edition.”
Nussbaum was born on Dec. 29, 1923, and raised in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. He went on to have an extensive career in theater,...
Nussbaum died of natural causes Saturday — six days short of his 100th birthday — at his home in Chicago, his daughter Karen told the Chicago Tribune.
Nussbaum played book publisher Bob Drimmer in “Fatal Attraction” (1987), a school principal in “Field of Dreams” (1989) and alien jeweler Gentle Rosenburg in “Men in Black” (1997). He also appeared in films like “House of Games” (1987), “Things Change” (1988), “Harry and Tonto” (1974), “Losing Josiah” (1995) and “Steal Big Steal Little” (1995).
On the television side, Nussbaum had turns in “The Equalizer,” “The X-Files,” “Brooklyn Bridge,” “Separate but Equal,” “Frasier,” “L.A. Law,” “227,” “The Commish” and “Early Edition.”
Nussbaum was born on Dec. 29, 1923, and raised in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. He went on to have an extensive career in theater,...
- 12/25/2023
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
The PVOD debuts of “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Leave the World Behind,” high-profile movies adapted from adult-oriented bestsellers, are currently #1 on their respective platforms. Martin Scorsese’s film tops all PVOD charts, and the timely Long Island-set thriller co-produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground is #1 at Netflix.
Both films dislodged high-powered #1 titles. “Oppenheimer,” released four months after its theatrical run began, enjoyed two weeks in the top PVOD slot. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” the year’s #2 movie (behind “Barbie” and just ahead of Christopher Nolan’s historical epic) managed five days in the lead at Netflix after previous play, which included streaming on Peacock.
“Flower Moon” and “Leave the World Behind” each reflect the state of film platforming. Apple produced “Flower Moon” with Paramount handling theatrical distribution. It had a 46-day window before debuting on revenue-rich PVOD. At $19.99, Apple gets the lion’s share of rentals.
Both films dislodged high-powered #1 titles. “Oppenheimer,” released four months after its theatrical run began, enjoyed two weeks in the top PVOD slot. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” the year’s #2 movie (behind “Barbie” and just ahead of Christopher Nolan’s historical epic) managed five days in the lead at Netflix after previous play, which included streaming on Peacock.
“Flower Moon” and “Leave the World Behind” each reflect the state of film platforming. Apple produced “Flower Moon” with Paramount handling theatrical distribution. It had a 46-day window before debuting on revenue-rich PVOD. At $19.99, Apple gets the lion’s share of rentals.
- 12/11/2023
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
On a weekend when “Five Weeks at Freddy’s” (Universal) dropped 76 percent and overall grosses were $65 million on a traditionally prime release date, it could have been worse. With limited studio alternatives, there were some good holds among longer-run films, and solid expansions for “Priscilla” (A24) and “The Holdovers” (Focus). “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (AMC) showed particular strength with a 13 percent drop in its fourth weekend.
“Freddy’s” added $19.4 million after its unexpectedly massive opening. It’s also a massive fall — one of the biggest ever for its level of initial gross, and more so for a film with an A- Cinemascore. Still, let’s be honest: A month ago, a prediction of “Freddy’s” grossing nearly $20 million its second weekend would be considered delusional.
The Blumhouse videogame adaptation is now at $113 million domestic, $217 million total worldwide off a film budgeted at $20 million pre-marketing. Already, that’s a massive...
“Freddy’s” added $19.4 million after its unexpectedly massive opening. It’s also a massive fall — one of the biggest ever for its level of initial gross, and more so for a film with an A- Cinemascore. Still, let’s be honest: A month ago, a prediction of “Freddy’s” grossing nearly $20 million its second weekend would be considered delusional.
The Blumhouse videogame adaptation is now at $113 million domestic, $217 million total worldwide off a film budgeted at $20 million pre-marketing. Already, that’s a massive...
- 11/5/2023
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
There’s something wonderfully nerve-rattling about a “survive the night” horror scenario, whether it’s a handful of strangers trying to fend off crazed zombies in “Night of the Living Dead” or a group of sarcastic Gen Z friends suspecting each other of murder in “Bodies Bodies Bodies.”
Here are some of our favorite entries in this subgenre, where the weapons are improvised, the stakes are life and death and there’s no guarantee anyone will get out alive.
We did not include movies that take place over a few days (like “Battle Royale”) or movies that aren’t streaming right now, like “Ready or Not.”
Night of the Living Dead (1968) Continental Distributing
George Romero’s low-budget chiller, in which the dead come back to life and prey on the living, still packs a wallop more than 50 years later. Ben (Duane Jones) takes charge as shellshocked people shelter inside an isolated farmhouse…...
Here are some of our favorite entries in this subgenre, where the weapons are improvised, the stakes are life and death and there’s no guarantee anyone will get out alive.
We did not include movies that take place over a few days (like “Battle Royale”) or movies that aren’t streaming right now, like “Ready or Not.”
Night of the Living Dead (1968) Continental Distributing
George Romero’s low-budget chiller, in which the dead come back to life and prey on the living, still packs a wallop more than 50 years later. Ben (Duane Jones) takes charge as shellshocked people shelter inside an isolated farmhouse…...
- 10/30/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
There may be nothing more boomer than comparing Gen Z’s box-office juggernaut to a movie released before their parents were born. Nevertheless, that’s what this boomer is doing: The staggering opening for “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (Universal) is as shocking as the success of “Easy Rider” 54 years ago for its sense of upheaval and disruption.
Like Peter Fonda’s low-budget motorcycle cross-country drama “Easy Rider” in 1969, we are seeing moviegoers under 25 embrace a film as their own while it leaves older viewers baffled. Similarly, its success will have significant strategic impact for the future of production and distribution.
Blumhouse Productions’ $20 million video game adaptation opened to an estimated $78 million and $152 million worldwide. With its lower ticket prices, that total translates to a bigger audience than the first weekends of either “Taylor Swift The Eras Tour” (AMC) or “Oppenheimer” (Universal).
It’s a shocker. Sure, rules can be broken...
Like Peter Fonda’s low-budget motorcycle cross-country drama “Easy Rider” in 1969, we are seeing moviegoers under 25 embrace a film as their own while it leaves older viewers baffled. Similarly, its success will have significant strategic impact for the future of production and distribution.
Blumhouse Productions’ $20 million video game adaptation opened to an estimated $78 million and $152 million worldwide. With its lower ticket prices, that total translates to a bigger audience than the first weekends of either “Taylor Swift The Eras Tour” (AMC) or “Oppenheimer” (Universal).
It’s a shocker. Sure, rules can be broken...
- 10/29/2023
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
After one of the worst months of 2023 at the box office, we might have found the true savior for the month of October in a pop singer. Taylor Swift‘s return to theaters is with a concert film based on her multi-billion North American tour. How much money do we think it’ll rake in? Read on for Gold Derby’s October 2023 box office preview.
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (AMC Theatrical Distribution – Oct. 13)
It’s Taylor Swift’s world, and we’re just livin’ in it. That might be the biggest takeaway for the month, as “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” blasts into theaters after its surprise announcement at the end of August. Considering how quickly most of the stops on her U.S. tour sold out and the controversy it stirred up with ticket sales, it was no surprise when the filmed version of her L.A. show...
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (AMC Theatrical Distribution – Oct. 13)
It’s Taylor Swift’s world, and we’re just livin’ in it. That might be the biggest takeaway for the month, as “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” blasts into theaters after its surprise announcement at the end of August. Considering how quickly most of the stops on her U.S. tour sold out and the controversy it stirred up with ticket sales, it was no surprise when the filmed version of her L.A. show...
- 9/29/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
This post contains spoilers for the season 4 premiere of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."
The final episode of "Star Trek: Voyager," called "Endgame", took place on Stardate 54973.4. Trek's current dating system can be traced back to the first episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," which took place on Stardate 41153.7. The second number in the Stardate, one might note, always corresponded to the show's season; all the first-season episode Stardates began with a "41," the second season with "42," etc. By that gauge, "Endgame" took place 13 years after the beginning of NextGen.
"Twovix," the fourth-season premiere episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks," takes place on Stardate 58724.3, placing it about four years after the events of "Endgame." The U.S.S. Voyager itself, one might recall, eventually made its way back to Earth after seven years in deep space. In "Twovix," it is revealed that the Voyager was hastily preserved, repaired, and has now been converted into a museum.
The final episode of "Star Trek: Voyager," called "Endgame", took place on Stardate 54973.4. Trek's current dating system can be traced back to the first episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," which took place on Stardate 41153.7. The second number in the Stardate, one might note, always corresponded to the show's season; all the first-season episode Stardates began with a "41," the second season with "42," etc. By that gauge, "Endgame" took place 13 years after the beginning of NextGen.
"Twovix," the fourth-season premiere episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks," takes place on Stardate 58724.3, placing it about four years after the events of "Endgame." The U.S.S. Voyager itself, one might recall, eventually made its way back to Earth after seven years in deep space. In "Twovix," it is revealed that the Voyager was hastily preserved, repaired, and has now been converted into a museum.
- 9/7/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
"You've gotta be alive to have he scoop of a lifetime." Relativity has debuted an official trailer for an action comedy movie titled Freelance, the latest from French action filmmaker Pierre Morel. Set to open in theaters nationwide this October. An ex special forces operator takes a job to provide security for a journalist as she interviews a dictator, but, a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview with the suave dictator. They are forced to escape into the jungle where they must survive and figure out how to escape. This sounds a lot like so many other movies recently, mainly The Lost City or Shotgun Wedding. John Cena and Alison Brie star with Juan Pablo Raba, Alice Eve, Marton Csokas, and Christian Slater. It was shot in Colombia early last year. This doesn't look so bad, mainly because I think Cena is hilarious, handling all his action and comedy quite well.
- 8/21/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Get to shout out "Rhlstp!!" like a proper cool kid as the multi-award-winning and perennially popular live podcast interview series in which comedian Richard Herring chats with some of the biggest names in comedy and entertainment tours this autumn. Usually recorded in London’s glittering West End, Rhlstp is going on the road. The UK & Ire 2023 / 2024 tour will start in September and includes dates in Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Salford, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff and Dublin, along with multiple dates at the show’s spiritual home in London’s Leicester Square Theatre.
Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 30th June with an exclusive fan pre-sale on Thursday 29th June for Rhlstp badgers and plussers. To become a badger/plusser or to view all dates visit, visit richardherring.com
Richard Herring enjoys continual success as both a writer and performer and is widely known an innovator in the world of podcasts,...
Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 30th June with an exclusive fan pre-sale on Thursday 29th June for Rhlstp badgers and plussers. To become a badger/plusser or to view all dates visit, visit richardherring.com
Richard Herring enjoys continual success as both a writer and performer and is widely known an innovator in the world of podcasts,...
- 6/29/2023
- Podnews.net
The films were Ok but lacked some luster on the whole. The list of winners of the festival(s) follows. Women filmmakers swept most of the top awards from Competition to Un Certain Regard and Critics’ Week. The market was also Ok, but not great. Rights sold before the festival and during the festival are listed with the winning titles.
The disrupters, the big streamers, were in the background and theatrical rights were being acquired by indie distributors. France’s theatrical exhibition has sprung back to its pre-covid levels while others’ like Germany, Italy and the U.S. remain 30% below.
Read The Film Verdict Summation and Reviews of Cannes Ff 2003 here. Their summation in part:
The most common line heard on the Croisette was that the main section was stuffed with minor films from major directors, which does no one any favors. But there were happy exceptions, which included 83-year-old Marco Bellocchio’s dramatically exciting and thought-provoking Kidnapped, a summing-up of his many films dealing with the Catholic religion and how a child’s cultural identity is created beginning at a young age. Disappointingly, the jury led by two-time Palme d’Or winner Ruben Ostlund overlooked the film entirely when they awarded their prizes.Another classic director who returned in top form was 77-year-old Wim Wenders with two masterful films: Anselm, a ravishing 3D documentary portrait of artist Anselm Kiefer, and Perfect Days, a lyrical Japanese-language character study of a Tokyo toilet attendant. Justly winning the Best Actor prize for his Zen-like performance in the latter title was Koji Yakusho.Cannes Film Festival Winners:
Palme d’Or
Anatomy of a Fall, Directed by Justine Triet
Isa: MK2 rights sold pre-Cannes to France-Le Pacte; Hong Kong — Golden Scene; Italy-Teodora; Russia, Cis, Baltics-Provzglyad; Spain-Elastica, Filmin; Taiwan-Hooray; Turkey-Mars. Cannes: No. America-Neon; Brazil-Diamond; Switzerland-Cineworx; U.K./Ireland-Picturehouse
Grand Prix
The Zone of Interest, Directed by Jonathan Glazer
Isa: A24. No. America: A24.
Jury Prize
Fallen Leaves, Directed by Aki Kaurismaki
Isa: The Match Factory sold pre-Cannes rights to Austria/ Germany-Pandora; Baltics-a-One; Benelux-September; ex-Yugo-mcf; Finland-BPlan; France-Diaphana; Greece-Cinobo; Hungary-Cirko; Israel-Lev; Italy-Lucky Red; Japan-Eurospace; Norway-Arthause; Portugal-Midas; Sweden-Folkets Bio; Switzerland-Filmcoopi. Cannes sales to Latvia/ Lithuania-a One
Best Director
Tran Anh Hung for The Pot au Feu
Isa: Gaumont sold to Australia/ N.Z.-Rialto; Belgium-Athena; Brazil-Diamond; Canada-Mongrel; France-Gaumont; Germany-Weltkino; Hong Kong-First Distributors; Israel-Lev/ Shani; Italy-Lucky Red; Japan-Gaga; Portugal-Sun; Spain-a Contracorriente; Switzerland-Frenetic; Taiwan-Swallow Wings; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Sun
Best Screenplay
Yuji Sakamoto for Monster directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu
Isa: Goodfellas and Gaga sold pre-Cannes to Australia/ N.Z.-Madman; Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; Finland-Cinema Mondo; Hungary-Cirko; Japan-Gaga. Cannes to Bulgaria-Beta; Ex-Yugo-mcf Megacom; Germany-Wild Bunch; Greece-Spentzos; India-Impact; Indonesia-Falcon; Israel-Lev/ Shani; Italy-Bim; Hong Kong-Edko; Japan-Toho; Poland-Best; Portugal-Midas; Singapore-Clover/ Golden Village; So. Korea-Media Castle; Spain-Vertigo; Sweden-Triart; Switzerland-Cineworx, Taiwan-Movie Cloud; Thailand-Sahamongkolfilm; Turkiye-Filmarti; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Well Go/ Relativity
Best Actress
Merve Dizdar for About Dry Grasses directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Isa Playtime sold pre-Cannes rights to Austria-Filmladen; Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; France-Memento; Italy-Movies Inspired, Taiwan-Swallow Wings. Cannes: Canada-Sphere; Turkey-Bir; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Janus/ Criterion/ Sideshow
Best Actor
Kôji Yakusho for Perfect Days directed by Wim Wenders
Isa The Match Factory sold rights to Madman-Australia/ N.Z.; Artfest-Bulgaria; DDDream-China; Aerofilms-Czech & Slovakia; Haut et Court-France; Feelgood-Greece; Edko-Hong Kong; Cirko-Hungary; Lev-Israel; Lucky Red-Italy; Gutek-Poland; Alambique-Portugal; Bad Unicorn-Romania; A Contracorriente-Spain; Dcm-Switzerland; Applause-Taiwan; Mubi-Ireland, Turkiye, U.K., U.S.; Neon-u.S.
Palme d’Or for Best Short Film: 27, Directed by Flora Anna Buda
Special Mention to a Short Film: Far, Directed by Gunnur Martinsdottir Schluter
Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard Prize
How to Have Sex, Directed by Molly Manning Walker
Isa MK2 sold rights to Imagine-Benelux; Greece-Cinobo; N.Z.-Ahi; Russian World Vision-Russia; Turkiye, U.K./ Ireland, Italy, U.S.-Mubi
Jury Prize
Hounds, Directed by Kamal Lazraq
Isa Charades sold to Ad Vitam-France; Zabriskie-Spain
Best Director
Asmae El Moudir For The Mother of All Lies
Isa Autlook
New Voice Prize
Augure (Omen), Directed by Baloji Tshiani
Isa Memento
Ensemble Prize
The Buriti Flower, Directed by Joao Salaviza and Renée Nader Messora
Freedom Prize
Goodbye Julia, Directed by Mohamed Kordofani
Camera D’Or
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, Directed by Thien An Pham
The Golden Eye Documentary Prize
Awarded ex aequo to: Four Daughters, Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania
and The Mother of All Lies, Directed by Asmae El Moudir
62nd LA Semaine De LA Critique
Grand Prize
Tiger Stripes, Directed by Amanda Nell Eu
French Touch Jury Prize to It’s Raining in the House, Directed by Paloma Sermon-Dai
Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award to Jovan Ginic For Lost Country
Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for a Short Film to Bolero, Directed by Nans Laborde-Jourdàa
Gan Foundation Award for Distribution to Pyramide Films for Inshallah a Boy
Sacd Award to Iris Kaltenback, Writer of The Rapture
Canal+ Award for a Short Film to Bolero, Directed by Nans Laborde-Jourdàa
Fipresci International Competition: The Zone of Interest
Fipresci Un Certain Regard: The Settlers (Los Colonos)
Fipresci Directors’ Fortnight & Critics’ Week: Power Alley (Levante)
Ecumenical Jury Prize to Perfect Days, Directed by Wim Wenders
Queer Palm Award to Monster, Directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda
Palme Dog to border collie Messie in Anatomy of a Fall...
The disrupters, the big streamers, were in the background and theatrical rights were being acquired by indie distributors. France’s theatrical exhibition has sprung back to its pre-covid levels while others’ like Germany, Italy and the U.S. remain 30% below.
Read The Film Verdict Summation and Reviews of Cannes Ff 2003 here. Their summation in part:
The most common line heard on the Croisette was that the main section was stuffed with minor films from major directors, which does no one any favors. But there were happy exceptions, which included 83-year-old Marco Bellocchio’s dramatically exciting and thought-provoking Kidnapped, a summing-up of his many films dealing with the Catholic religion and how a child’s cultural identity is created beginning at a young age. Disappointingly, the jury led by two-time Palme d’Or winner Ruben Ostlund overlooked the film entirely when they awarded their prizes.Another classic director who returned in top form was 77-year-old Wim Wenders with two masterful films: Anselm, a ravishing 3D documentary portrait of artist Anselm Kiefer, and Perfect Days, a lyrical Japanese-language character study of a Tokyo toilet attendant. Justly winning the Best Actor prize for his Zen-like performance in the latter title was Koji Yakusho.Cannes Film Festival Winners:
Palme d’Or
Anatomy of a Fall, Directed by Justine Triet
Isa: MK2 rights sold pre-Cannes to France-Le Pacte; Hong Kong — Golden Scene; Italy-Teodora; Russia, Cis, Baltics-Provzglyad; Spain-Elastica, Filmin; Taiwan-Hooray; Turkey-Mars. Cannes: No. America-Neon; Brazil-Diamond; Switzerland-Cineworx; U.K./Ireland-Picturehouse
Grand Prix
The Zone of Interest, Directed by Jonathan Glazer
Isa: A24. No. America: A24.
Jury Prize
Fallen Leaves, Directed by Aki Kaurismaki
Isa: The Match Factory sold pre-Cannes rights to Austria/ Germany-Pandora; Baltics-a-One; Benelux-September; ex-Yugo-mcf; Finland-BPlan; France-Diaphana; Greece-Cinobo; Hungary-Cirko; Israel-Lev; Italy-Lucky Red; Japan-Eurospace; Norway-Arthause; Portugal-Midas; Sweden-Folkets Bio; Switzerland-Filmcoopi. Cannes sales to Latvia/ Lithuania-a One
Best Director
Tran Anh Hung for The Pot au Feu
Isa: Gaumont sold to Australia/ N.Z.-Rialto; Belgium-Athena; Brazil-Diamond; Canada-Mongrel; France-Gaumont; Germany-Weltkino; Hong Kong-First Distributors; Israel-Lev/ Shani; Italy-Lucky Red; Japan-Gaga; Portugal-Sun; Spain-a Contracorriente; Switzerland-Frenetic; Taiwan-Swallow Wings; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Sun
Best Screenplay
Yuji Sakamoto for Monster directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu
Isa: Goodfellas and Gaga sold pre-Cannes to Australia/ N.Z.-Madman; Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; Finland-Cinema Mondo; Hungary-Cirko; Japan-Gaga. Cannes to Bulgaria-Beta; Ex-Yugo-mcf Megacom; Germany-Wild Bunch; Greece-Spentzos; India-Impact; Indonesia-Falcon; Israel-Lev/ Shani; Italy-Bim; Hong Kong-Edko; Japan-Toho; Poland-Best; Portugal-Midas; Singapore-Clover/ Golden Village; So. Korea-Media Castle; Spain-Vertigo; Sweden-Triart; Switzerland-Cineworx, Taiwan-Movie Cloud; Thailand-Sahamongkolfilm; Turkiye-Filmarti; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Well Go/ Relativity
Best Actress
Merve Dizdar for About Dry Grasses directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Isa Playtime sold pre-Cannes rights to Austria-Filmladen; Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; France-Memento; Italy-Movies Inspired, Taiwan-Swallow Wings. Cannes: Canada-Sphere; Turkey-Bir; U.K./ Ireland-Picturehouse; U.S.-Janus/ Criterion/ Sideshow
Best Actor
Kôji Yakusho for Perfect Days directed by Wim Wenders
Isa The Match Factory sold rights to Madman-Australia/ N.Z.; Artfest-Bulgaria; DDDream-China; Aerofilms-Czech & Slovakia; Haut et Court-France; Feelgood-Greece; Edko-Hong Kong; Cirko-Hungary; Lev-Israel; Lucky Red-Italy; Gutek-Poland; Alambique-Portugal; Bad Unicorn-Romania; A Contracorriente-Spain; Dcm-Switzerland; Applause-Taiwan; Mubi-Ireland, Turkiye, U.K., U.S.; Neon-u.S.
Palme d’Or for Best Short Film: 27, Directed by Flora Anna Buda
Special Mention to a Short Film: Far, Directed by Gunnur Martinsdottir Schluter
Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard Prize
How to Have Sex, Directed by Molly Manning Walker
Isa MK2 sold rights to Imagine-Benelux; Greece-Cinobo; N.Z.-Ahi; Russian World Vision-Russia; Turkiye, U.K./ Ireland, Italy, U.S.-Mubi
Jury Prize
Hounds, Directed by Kamal Lazraq
Isa Charades sold to Ad Vitam-France; Zabriskie-Spain
Best Director
Asmae El Moudir For The Mother of All Lies
Isa Autlook
New Voice Prize
Augure (Omen), Directed by Baloji Tshiani
Isa Memento
Ensemble Prize
The Buriti Flower, Directed by Joao Salaviza and Renée Nader Messora
Freedom Prize
Goodbye Julia, Directed by Mohamed Kordofani
Camera D’Or
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, Directed by Thien An Pham
The Golden Eye Documentary Prize
Awarded ex aequo to: Four Daughters, Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania
and The Mother of All Lies, Directed by Asmae El Moudir
62nd LA Semaine De LA Critique
Grand Prize
Tiger Stripes, Directed by Amanda Nell Eu
French Touch Jury Prize to It’s Raining in the House, Directed by Paloma Sermon-Dai
Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award to Jovan Ginic For Lost Country
Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for a Short Film to Bolero, Directed by Nans Laborde-Jourdàa
Gan Foundation Award for Distribution to Pyramide Films for Inshallah a Boy
Sacd Award to Iris Kaltenback, Writer of The Rapture
Canal+ Award for a Short Film to Bolero, Directed by Nans Laborde-Jourdàa
Fipresci International Competition: The Zone of Interest
Fipresci Un Certain Regard: The Settlers (Los Colonos)
Fipresci Directors’ Fortnight & Critics’ Week: Power Alley (Levante)
Ecumenical Jury Prize to Perfect Days, Directed by Wim Wenders
Queer Palm Award to Monster, Directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda
Palme Dog to border collie Messie in Anatomy of a Fall...
- 6/3/2023
- by Sydney
- Sydney's Buzz
James Gunn’s band of galactic rascals are proving their worth at the box office as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 enjoyed the best second-weekend hold of any sequel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the second-best among any MCU title, according to final weekend numbers.
From Marvel Studios and Disney, the threequel grossed an estimated $62.6 million from 4,450 theaters in its sophomore outing, a mere 47 percent decline and more than enough to crush the competition (that’s up from Sunday’s estimate of $60.5 million, a 49 percent decline). In more good news, the pic crossed the $200 million mark domestically to finish Sunday with a cume of $215.6 million.
Overseas, Guardians 3 took in another $91.9 million from 52 markets for a foreign tally of $315.6 million — including a pleasing $58.4 million from China — and $530.9 million globally.
Chris Pratt in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Marvel movies have suffered larger-than-usual drops of late, so...
From Marvel Studios and Disney, the threequel grossed an estimated $62.6 million from 4,450 theaters in its sophomore outing, a mere 47 percent decline and more than enough to crush the competition (that’s up from Sunday’s estimate of $60.5 million, a 49 percent decline). In more good news, the pic crossed the $200 million mark domestically to finish Sunday with a cume of $215.6 million.
Overseas, Guardians 3 took in another $91.9 million from 52 markets for a foreign tally of $315.6 million — including a pleasing $58.4 million from China — and $530.9 million globally.
Chris Pratt in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Marvel movies have suffered larger-than-usual drops of late, so...
- 5/15/2023
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Anonymous Content is elevating longtime literary managers and producers Ryan Cunningham, David Kanter and Nicole Romano to partner.
Cunningham joined Anonymous Content in 2019 from Madhouse Entertainment where he had been a manager and producer for a decade. On the management side, his clients include filmmakers Scott Beck & Bryan Woods (65), Derek Tsang (The Three Body Problem), Daniel Goldhaber and Isa Mazzei (How to Blow Up a Pipeline); showrunners and writers Steven DeKnight (Spartacus), Jewel Coronel (The Chi), Seamus Fahey (Walker: Independence) and Sonya Winton & Jonathan Kidd (Lovecraft Country), Darnell Metayer and Josh Peters (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts), Neil Uliano and Bryan Schulz (The Peanuts Movie), and Ben Queen (The Addams Family 2). Cunningham most recently produced the Sky/Relativity feature The Independent, and executive-produced Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman, which will be released in June by 20th Century Studios and Disney.
Kanter is a producer and manager at Anonymous...
Cunningham joined Anonymous Content in 2019 from Madhouse Entertainment where he had been a manager and producer for a decade. On the management side, his clients include filmmakers Scott Beck & Bryan Woods (65), Derek Tsang (The Three Body Problem), Daniel Goldhaber and Isa Mazzei (How to Blow Up a Pipeline); showrunners and writers Steven DeKnight (Spartacus), Jewel Coronel (The Chi), Seamus Fahey (Walker: Independence) and Sonya Winton & Jonathan Kidd (Lovecraft Country), Darnell Metayer and Josh Peters (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts), Neil Uliano and Bryan Schulz (The Peanuts Movie), and Ben Queen (The Addams Family 2). Cunningham most recently produced the Sky/Relativity feature The Independent, and executive-produced Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman, which will be released in June by 20th Century Studios and Disney.
Kanter is a producer and manager at Anonymous...
- 4/12/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Anonymous Content has closed a first-look deal with Theresa Park’s film and TV banner Per Capita Productions.
Park’s Per Capita Productions is focused an auteur-driven, independent films, primarily based on literary material.
Most recently, Park produced Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All starring Timothée Chalamet, Taylor Russell and Mark Rylance. The movie has been nominated for 2023 Independent Spirit Awards for Best Feature Film, Best Lead Performance and Best Supporting Performance; received two acting nominations from the Gotham Awards; and won the Silver Lion at Venice for Best Director; and Best New Talent for Russell. Bones and All was financed by The Apartment Pictures (a Fremantle company) and produced by that studio’s Lorenzo Mieli as well.
Park also produced the film After Yang with Cinereach for A24, starring Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith and Justin Min, adapted by writer-director Kogonada from Alexander Weinstein’s short story Saying Goodbye to Yang.
Park’s Per Capita Productions is focused an auteur-driven, independent films, primarily based on literary material.
Most recently, Park produced Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All starring Timothée Chalamet, Taylor Russell and Mark Rylance. The movie has been nominated for 2023 Independent Spirit Awards for Best Feature Film, Best Lead Performance and Best Supporting Performance; received two acting nominations from the Gotham Awards; and won the Silver Lion at Venice for Best Director; and Best New Talent for Russell. Bones and All was financed by The Apartment Pictures (a Fremantle company) and produced by that studio’s Lorenzo Mieli as well.
Park also produced the film After Yang with Cinereach for A24, starring Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith and Justin Min, adapted by writer-director Kogonada from Alexander Weinstein’s short story Saying Goodbye to Yang.
- 2/6/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) has entered into a first-look production agreement with Universal Pictures, which will see him produce three features for the studio alongside Anonymous Content.
The films will be based on some of Sparks’ most recent novels, the first being his 2021 hit The Wish—a story about the enduring legacy of first love, and the decisions that haunt us forever. Zack Hayden will produce the big-screen adaptation on behalf of Anonymous Content with oversight by CEO Dawn Olmstead and Cco David Levine, alongside Sparks’ longtime literary agent and collaborator, Theresa Park, and Universal Pictures’ Vice President of Production Development, Lexi Barta.
“Nick Sparks’s evocative novels have served as beloved cultural touchstones, with strong characters and powerful themes that make them ideal for cinematic adaptation,” said Universal Pictures President, Peter Cramer. “We are honored to partner with Nick, Theresa, and Anonymous Content on these new films,...
The films will be based on some of Sparks’ most recent novels, the first being his 2021 hit The Wish—a story about the enduring legacy of first love, and the decisions that haunt us forever. Zack Hayden will produce the big-screen adaptation on behalf of Anonymous Content with oversight by CEO Dawn Olmstead and Cco David Levine, alongside Sparks’ longtime literary agent and collaborator, Theresa Park, and Universal Pictures’ Vice President of Production Development, Lexi Barta.
“Nick Sparks’s evocative novels have served as beloved cultural touchstones, with strong characters and powerful themes that make them ideal for cinematic adaptation,” said Universal Pictures President, Peter Cramer. “We are honored to partner with Nick, Theresa, and Anonymous Content on these new films,...
- 5/17/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Universal Pictures has entered into a first-look production deal with “The Notebook” author Nicholas Sparks to bring three of his more recent novels to the big screen, starting with last year’s runaway hit “The Wish.”
Sparks and Anonymous Content will partner to produce three feature films for Universal, each one based on one of his most recent books, though only a film based on “The Wish” was announced on Tuesday.
Zack Hayden will produce “The Wish” on behalf of Anonymous Content with oversight by Anonymous Content CEO Dawn Olmstead and Cco David Levine, alongside Theresa Park, Sparks’ longtime literary agent and collaborator, and Universal Pictures’ Vice President of Production Development, Lexi Barta. No director or screenwriter was set for the project.
Also Read:
Universal’s Abhijay Prakash Joins Blumhouse as President
“The Wish” begins in 1996 and follows a teenager named Maggie Dawes who is sent away to live with...
Sparks and Anonymous Content will partner to produce three feature films for Universal, each one based on one of his most recent books, though only a film based on “The Wish” was announced on Tuesday.
Zack Hayden will produce “The Wish” on behalf of Anonymous Content with oversight by Anonymous Content CEO Dawn Olmstead and Cco David Levine, alongside Theresa Park, Sparks’ longtime literary agent and collaborator, and Universal Pictures’ Vice President of Production Development, Lexi Barta. No director or screenwriter was set for the project.
Also Read:
Universal’s Abhijay Prakash Joins Blumhouse as President
“The Wish” begins in 1996 and follows a teenager named Maggie Dawes who is sent away to live with...
- 5/17/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
This Star Trek: Picard article contains spoilers.
Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 8
Being trapped in the year 2024 hasn’t prevented Star Trek: Picard from connecting to all corners of the Trek franchise. In some ways, this part of Earth’s history is the most pivotal for the formation of the rest of the timeline. And so, it makes sense that as the series warps towards its impending finale, the rest of the canon is honored and somehow referenced.
Here’s every major easter egg and reference in Star Trek: Picard season 2, episode 8, “Mercy.”
Vulcans on Earth
One of the central plot points in this episode of Picard is the idea that Vulcans were surreptitiously hanging around on Earth. Prior to the Vulcan-human meeting in First Contact, one stand-out episode of the prequel series Enterprise, “Carbon Creek,” retroactively established that some Vulcans were surveying Earth in 1957. Now, with the flashback to...
Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 8
Being trapped in the year 2024 hasn’t prevented Star Trek: Picard from connecting to all corners of the Trek franchise. In some ways, this part of Earth’s history is the most pivotal for the formation of the rest of the timeline. And so, it makes sense that as the series warps towards its impending finale, the rest of the canon is honored and somehow referenced.
Here’s every major easter egg and reference in Star Trek: Picard season 2, episode 8, “Mercy.”
Vulcans on Earth
One of the central plot points in this episode of Picard is the idea that Vulcans were surreptitiously hanging around on Earth. Prior to the Vulcan-human meeting in First Contact, one stand-out episode of the prequel series Enterprise, “Carbon Creek,” retroactively established that some Vulcans were surveying Earth in 1957. Now, with the flashback to...
- 4/21/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
This Star Trek: Picard article contains spoilers.
Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 6
Continuing a kind of mash-up between 12 Monkeys and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard has entered into its final batch of episodes. At this point, the show has a lot going on: from a rogue Soong (Brent Spiner) to a new hybrid Borg Queen (Alison Pill And Annie Wersching), and of course, the still unexplained mystery of Q’s vanishing powers. But, for the most part, in Episode 7, “Monsters,” the show slows down. Here, we’re in Jean-Luc’s mind for about half the episode, which could have triggered a clip-show episode a la Tng’s “Shades of Gray” but thankfully didn’t.
Instead, Picard brought a batch of deep cuts and easter eggs from the entire Star Trek franchise, and a few other sci-fi franchises along the way, too.
Picard Enterprise-e Ready Room?...
Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 6
Continuing a kind of mash-up between 12 Monkeys and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard has entered into its final batch of episodes. At this point, the show has a lot going on: from a rogue Soong (Brent Spiner) to a new hybrid Borg Queen (Alison Pill And Annie Wersching), and of course, the still unexplained mystery of Q’s vanishing powers. But, for the most part, in Episode 7, “Monsters,” the show slows down. Here, we’re in Jean-Luc’s mind for about half the episode, which could have triggered a clip-show episode a la Tng’s “Shades of Gray” but thankfully didn’t.
Instead, Picard brought a batch of deep cuts and easter eggs from the entire Star Trek franchise, and a few other sci-fi franchises along the way, too.
Picard Enterprise-e Ready Room?...
- 4/14/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: After not speaking for 13 years, Oscar-winning Precious star Mo’Nique has been set by that film’s director Lee Daniels to replace Octavia Spencer in Demon House, an exorcism film package that Netflix acquired after a brisk auction in January. Spencer had to bow out of the star-studded film because of a scheduling conflict with her Apple TV+ television show Truth Be Told.
Mo’Nique, who last worked with Daniels in the celebrated 2009 film Precious that brought her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, will take over the role of a clergy member who helps a family through a series of exorcisms. Demon House reunites Daniels with Oscar-nominated The United States vs. Billie Holiday star Andra Day, who’ll star with Glenn Close, Don’t Look Up‘s Rob Morgan, Stranger Things‘ Caleb McLaughlin and Aunjanue Ellis, latter of whom is fresh from an Oscar nomination for King Richard.
At a...
Mo’Nique, who last worked with Daniels in the celebrated 2009 film Precious that brought her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, will take over the role of a clergy member who helps a family through a series of exorcisms. Demon House reunites Daniels with Oscar-nominated The United States vs. Billie Holiday star Andra Day, who’ll star with Glenn Close, Don’t Look Up‘s Rob Morgan, Stranger Things‘ Caleb McLaughlin and Aunjanue Ellis, latter of whom is fresh from an Oscar nomination for King Richard.
At a...
- 4/1/2022
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Cast includes Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer, Rob Morgan, Caleb McLaughlin, Aunjanue Ellis.
Netflix has reportedly paid in the region of $65m for Lee Daniel’s upcoming exorcism film that reunites the filmmaker with Andra Day, his Oscar-nominated star of The United States vs. Billie Holiday.
The cast includes Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer, Rob Morgan, Caleb McLaughlin and King Richard star and awards contender Aunjanue Ellis. Day will portray an Indiana woman whose children appear to be demonically possessed.
The screenplay is inspired by events in 2011-12 that involved Indiana mother Latoya Ammons and her three children. After they moved into...
Netflix has reportedly paid in the region of $65m for Lee Daniel’s upcoming exorcism film that reunites the filmmaker with Andra Day, his Oscar-nominated star of The United States vs. Billie Holiday.
The cast includes Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer, Rob Morgan, Caleb McLaughlin and King Richard star and awards contender Aunjanue Ellis. Day will portray an Indiana woman whose children appear to be demonically possessed.
The screenplay is inspired by events in 2011-12 that involved Indiana mother Latoya Ammons and her three children. After they moved into...
- 1/24/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Over recent years France has established itself as a key hub for VFX work, driven by the talent and creativity of local players and extensive public support schemes.
In 2020, the VFX sector was given a further boost by the change to France’s Tax Rebate for International Production (Trip) scheme, which now offers a 40% rebate on all eligible production expenses for international projects whose VFX expenses in France surpass €2 million ($2.27 million).
Pids Enghien – the Paris Images Digital Summit in Enghien-les-Bains – runs from Jan. 26-29, including a series of presentations, round-tables and case studies, and presentation of the Genie Awards.
Yann Marchet, founder and managing director of Pids Enghien, provides an overview of the key trends that will be discussed during the event.
What are the key recent achievements of the French VFX industry?
The two last years have been very important for the French VFX industry. In 2020, for the first time,...
In 2020, the VFX sector was given a further boost by the change to France’s Tax Rebate for International Production (Trip) scheme, which now offers a 40% rebate on all eligible production expenses for international projects whose VFX expenses in France surpass €2 million ($2.27 million).
Pids Enghien – the Paris Images Digital Summit in Enghien-les-Bains – runs from Jan. 26-29, including a series of presentations, round-tables and case studies, and presentation of the Genie Awards.
Yann Marchet, founder and managing director of Pids Enghien, provides an overview of the key trends that will be discussed during the event.
What are the key recent achievements of the French VFX industry?
The two last years have been very important for the French VFX industry. In 2020, for the first time,...
- 1/23/2022
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
Critical Content, the largely unscripted producer behind series including MTV’s Catfish and Kevin Hart-fronted Celebrity Game Face, has been acquired by Crazy Rich Asians producer Sk Global.
It comes as Deadline understands that the Tom Forman-run company was an acquisition target last year with multiple bidders thought to have expressed interest.
Sk Global has acquired the company from Anchorage Capital Group, which backed the formation of Critical Content from the ashes of Ryan Kavanaugh’s Relativity.
It moves Sk Global, which was formed in 2016 with the merger of Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Ivanhoe Pictures and is best known as a film financier and producer, into the non-scripted television arena. The company is currently in production on its Thai cave rescue docuseries for Netflix.
Tom Forman will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Critical Content and Jenny Daly will continue to serve as President of Critical Content following the deal,...
It comes as Deadline understands that the Tom Forman-run company was an acquisition target last year with multiple bidders thought to have expressed interest.
Sk Global has acquired the company from Anchorage Capital Group, which backed the formation of Critical Content from the ashes of Ryan Kavanaugh’s Relativity.
It moves Sk Global, which was formed in 2016 with the merger of Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Ivanhoe Pictures and is best known as a film financier and producer, into the non-scripted television arena. The company is currently in production on its Thai cave rescue docuseries for Netflix.
Tom Forman will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Critical Content and Jenny Daly will continue to serve as President of Critical Content following the deal,...
- 1/10/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
I have always been a sucker for comeback stories, especially at a time like this when careers veer dramatically between triumph and cancellation – though some comebacks may raise questions (see below).
In the world of corporate suits, I admired Alan Horn’s remarkable comeback at Disney after Warners abruptly declared him excess baggage. Or Ron Meyer emerging as the boss of Wild Bunch after Universal cut him loose. Or even Paramount levitating Brian Robbins to studio chief after his Eddie Murphy movie bombed (Eddie cast as a literary agent in A Thousand Words!).
At another level, I was impressed by Bill Tennant’s fortitude in reinventing himself as a highflying talent manager after plunging into drug addiction and homelessness – becoming a role model for the similarly afflicted.
On the talent side, the Tom Cruise legend was famously crunched when he was “fired” by Paramount and Valkyrie bombed, only to be...
In the world of corporate suits, I admired Alan Horn’s remarkable comeback at Disney after Warners abruptly declared him excess baggage. Or Ron Meyer emerging as the boss of Wild Bunch after Universal cut him loose. Or even Paramount levitating Brian Robbins to studio chief after his Eddie Murphy movie bombed (Eddie cast as a literary agent in A Thousand Words!).
At another level, I was impressed by Bill Tennant’s fortitude in reinventing himself as a highflying talent manager after plunging into drug addiction and homelessness – becoming a role model for the similarly afflicted.
On the talent side, the Tom Cruise legend was famously crunched when he was “fired” by Paramount and Valkyrie bombed, only to be...
- 1/6/2022
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
“Years ago, I made a lot of fear-based decisions” admits Justine Bateman, who makes her feature directorial debut with “Violet,” which she also wrote and which stars Olivia Munn, Luke Bracey and Justin Theroux. “Once I found a map to get from living that kind of life to life that’s more instinct-based, I really wanted to pass that map on to others,” Bateman explains. “I wish I had this map back then. Every day, I endeavor to become more and more myself, and eventually be completely confident and not make any decisions based in fear. That’s my goal, that’s my life,” she says. Watch our exclusive video interview with Bateman above.
For the Relativity film, the titular character Violet (Munn) works for a successful movie production company. On the face of it, she appears to have it all, but underneath the surface she struggles with crippling anxiety...
For the Relativity film, the titular character Violet (Munn) works for a successful movie production company. On the face of it, she appears to have it all, but underneath the surface she struggles with crippling anxiety...
- 12/6/2021
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: Following the movie’s TIFF premiere, Relativity Media will open Justine Bateman’s feature directorial debut Violet on Oct. 29 in NY and LA with an expansion to follow on Nov. 5.
The pic will also hit in home demand on Nov. 9.
Relativity, as we first told you, picked up Violet after its world premiere at SXSW.
The pic follows Violet Calder (Olivia Munn) as she realizes that she can no longer ignore the daily barrage of self-criticisms (voiced by Justin Theroux) that clouds her life. These self-criticism cause her to make fear-based decisions and hold her back from the kind of professional, personal, and romantic life she knows she wants. Unsure how to live a life free of that self-doubt, like her childhood friend Red (Luke Bracey), Violet realizes she has no choice but to travel the road that is more frightening to her than the fear that holds her back: Doing everything differently.
The pic will also hit in home demand on Nov. 9.
Relativity, as we first told you, picked up Violet after its world premiere at SXSW.
The pic follows Violet Calder (Olivia Munn) as she realizes that she can no longer ignore the daily barrage of self-criticisms (voiced by Justin Theroux) that clouds her life. These self-criticism cause her to make fear-based decisions and hold her back from the kind of professional, personal, and romantic life she knows she wants. Unsure how to live a life free of that self-doubt, like her childhood friend Red (Luke Bracey), Violet realizes she has no choice but to travel the road that is more frightening to her than the fear that holds her back: Doing everything differently.
- 9/17/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Relativity (1966)My long-awaited first visit to the International Film Festival Oberhausen was canceled last year, due to the pandemic, so I was thrilled to finally experience the festival this year, albeit via streaming. The 67th edition took place in a dual format, online and with somewhat expanded in-person screenings in Oberhausen (though the online offerings themselves were ample). Founded in 1954, Oberhausen played a decisive role in fostering avant-garde and experimental filmmaking during the Cold War, when much of Eastern Europe suffered the brunt of censorship. It wasn’t uncommon for films that remained unscreened or were banned in their native countries to premiere and win prizes at Oberhausen, and so be saved from critical and public oblivion. Given its longstanding legacy, it was invigorating to see Oberhausen bring a wide-ranging historical perspective to its online platform. Such emphasis helped avoid a common pitfall at other, more industry-driven festivals, whose online...
- 8/5/2021
- MUBI
Exclusive: Relativity Media has acquired North American rights to Justine Bateman’s debut feature Violet, which recently premiered at SXSW. Relativity is looking to release the movie in theaters later this year.
Written and directed by the 2x Primetime Emmy nominated Family Ties star, Violet stars Olivia Munn, Luke Bracey (Hacksaw Ridge) and Justin Theroux (Mosquito Coast).
Pic centers around Violet Morton (Munn), who realizes her life has been built on a foundation of lies after a friend’s off-hand comment to her. Unable to shake the new awareness that her fear-based decisions have dismantled her romantic, professional, and personal life, Violet begins to feel suffocated by her past choices. Seeing that it is impossible to unwind what she now knows, Violet has no choice but to battle forward to become her true self.
Bateman beamed, “Relativity Media is a perfect home for Violet. Relativity’s...
Written and directed by the 2x Primetime Emmy nominated Family Ties star, Violet stars Olivia Munn, Luke Bracey (Hacksaw Ridge) and Justin Theroux (Mosquito Coast).
Pic centers around Violet Morton (Munn), who realizes her life has been built on a foundation of lies after a friend’s off-hand comment to her. Unable to shake the new awareness that her fear-based decisions have dismantled her romantic, professional, and personal life, Violet begins to feel suffocated by her past choices. Seeing that it is impossible to unwind what she now knows, Violet has no choice but to battle forward to become her true self.
Bateman beamed, “Relativity Media is a perfect home for Violet. Relativity’s...
- 7/1/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
It was once said that a second season of the popular HBO series Big Little Lies wasn’t possible, that is until author Liane Moriarty came up with an outline for one.
All of this raises the question as to whether we’ll see more of Kate Winslet’s Delco Pennsylvania detective Mare Sheehan in another season of Mare of Easttown, especially after the finale, which was a huge success. Listen to our recent podcast with Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby as to whether a second one is possible…or not.
Lord knows we all want to see more: Mare of Easttown‘s last episode on May 30 was watched by 4M across HBO and HBO Max, setting several records for the pay-cabler and its streaming service. Not only did the finale rep a series high, but set a record as the most-watched episode of an original series on HBO Max...
All of this raises the question as to whether we’ll see more of Kate Winslet’s Delco Pennsylvania detective Mare Sheehan in another season of Mare of Easttown, especially after the finale, which was a huge success. Listen to our recent podcast with Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby as to whether a second one is possible…or not.
Lord knows we all want to see more: Mare of Easttown‘s last episode on May 30 was watched by 4M across HBO and HBO Max, setting several records for the pay-cabler and its streaming service. Not only did the finale rep a series high, but set a record as the most-watched episode of an original series on HBO Max...
- 6/8/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
In its two latest latest acquisitions, TrillerNet has bought Fite, a streaming platform best known for boxing and ring-sports events, and customer engagement platform Amplify.ai.
The deals, both announced today, are part of an 18-month string of acquisitions in which the parent of social media app Triller has invested $250 million. Triller, a short-form video rival to TikTok, has more than 300 million global users.
Along with the M&a transactions, TrillerNet said Amplify.ai co-founder and CEO Mahi de Silva will be the new CEO of TrillerNet. De Silva had already been non-executive board chairman of TrillerNet. He replaces Mike Lu, who will become president of TrillerNet and shift his focus to investor relations.
Bobby Sarnevesht will remain executive chairman of TrillerNet. He and Ryan Kavanaugh, a known figure in Hollywood as the former head of the twice-bankrupted Relativity Studios, are co-controlling shareholders of TrillerNet.
In a press release, Kavanaugh...
The deals, both announced today, are part of an 18-month string of acquisitions in which the parent of social media app Triller has invested $250 million. Triller, a short-form video rival to TikTok, has more than 300 million global users.
Along with the M&a transactions, TrillerNet said Amplify.ai co-founder and CEO Mahi de Silva will be the new CEO of TrillerNet. De Silva had already been non-executive board chairman of TrillerNet. He replaces Mike Lu, who will become president of TrillerNet and shift his focus to investor relations.
Bobby Sarnevesht will remain executive chairman of TrillerNet. He and Ryan Kavanaugh, a known figure in Hollywood as the former head of the twice-bankrupted Relativity Studios, are co-controlling shareholders of TrillerNet.
In a press release, Kavanaugh...
- 4/14/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Gabriel Vasquez and Roman White, contemporary Christian and country music biz mainstays and the producer and director, respectively, of the upcoming faith-based Netflix musical film A Week Away, have signed with UTA and launched their new banner Rove Productions. They will be based in Nashville.
A Week Away, which bows on March 26, stars Kevin Quinn and Bailee Madison in the story of a troubled teen (Quinn) who after a run-in with the law must choose between juvenile detention and a Christian summer camp. He chooses the later and falls for a camp regular (Madison) who helps him find a sense of belonging in the last place he expected.
Vasquez, the founder of Vazquez Entertainment who has worked with musical artists including Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Building 429, Newsboys and Jaci Velasquez, is the co-creator and producer of the faith-based musical.
White, who has helmed music videos for the the likes of Taylor Swift,...
A Week Away, which bows on March 26, stars Kevin Quinn and Bailee Madison in the story of a troubled teen (Quinn) who after a run-in with the law must choose between juvenile detention and a Christian summer camp. He chooses the later and falls for a camp regular (Madison) who helps him find a sense of belonging in the last place he expected.
Vasquez, the founder of Vazquez Entertainment who has worked with musical artists including Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Building 429, Newsboys and Jaci Velasquez, is the co-creator and producer of the faith-based musical.
White, who has helmed music videos for the the likes of Taylor Swift,...
- 3/3/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: As we step foot on the ground at the Sundance Film Festival today, we’ve confirmed that 12 people of the near 30-person staff at Aviron Pictures were pinkslipped on Friday and issued their final paychecks. Domestic theatrical distribution president Greg Forston and his team were eliminated, in addition to Evp Publicity and Promotion Claire Heath.
This melee comes in the wake of BlackRock, Aviron’s senior lender, alleging impropriety in the company’s structure in a contentious lawsuit that was filed December 17 in the Supreme Court of New York (read it here), specifically accusing the company’s founder and owner William Sadleir of forgery and fraud. This resulted in Sadleir being removed by BlackRock as the operating manager of his company’s subsidiary Aviron Pictures as well as other arms of his company.
At this point in time sources inform us that Sadleir is prepping a defense, and counter-claims against these accusations.
This melee comes in the wake of BlackRock, Aviron’s senior lender, alleging impropriety in the company’s structure in a contentious lawsuit that was filed December 17 in the Supreme Court of New York (read it here), specifically accusing the company’s founder and owner William Sadleir of forgery and fraud. This resulted in Sadleir being removed by BlackRock as the operating manager of his company’s subsidiary Aviron Pictures as well as other arms of his company.
At this point in time sources inform us that Sadleir is prepping a defense, and counter-claims against these accusations.
- 1/23/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Aviron Pictures Chairman and Founder William Sadleir has been let go from the indie distributor for undisclosed reasons according to reports tonight.
Apparently, Sadleir was fired due to a contractual provision given to Aviron’s senior lender, BlackRock according to Variety who had the news.
Separately, we heard murmurs tonight that BlackRock is in the process of evaluating its position in independent film companies like Aviron; that the asset manager is looking into possibly increasing its financing in entertainment mergers and acquisitions.
Deadline first broke the news about the launch of Aviron back in May 2017. Out of the gate, they started off quite well with the rescue of Halle Berry suspense feature Kidnap from Relativity. The movie opened to $10M and made close to $31M at the domestic box office in August of that year. Aviron also had the sequel to the Rogue Pictures movie, The Strangers: Prey at Night...
Apparently, Sadleir was fired due to a contractual provision given to Aviron’s senior lender, BlackRock according to Variety who had the news.
Separately, we heard murmurs tonight that BlackRock is in the process of evaluating its position in independent film companies like Aviron; that the asset manager is looking into possibly increasing its financing in entertainment mergers and acquisitions.
Deadline first broke the news about the launch of Aviron back in May 2017. Out of the gate, they started off quite well with the rescue of Halle Berry suspense feature Kidnap from Relativity. The movie opened to $10M and made close to $31M at the domestic box office in August of that year. Aviron also had the sequel to the Rogue Pictures movie, The Strangers: Prey at Night...
- 1/4/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, rescue drama “Not Without Hope” is back in development, a “Galaxy Quest” documentary is set for release, “The Two Popes” wins another award, and Ella Joyce gets cast.
Project Revived
U.K.-based financing-production outfit Goldfinch has bought feature film rights to Nick Schuyler’s “Not Without Hope” and signed “The Fog” director Rupert Wainwright.
The project had been set up at Relativity in 2013 with Dwayne Johnson attached but fell apart when Relativity collapsed.
Goldfinch will put the film into production in early 2020. Chief operating officer Phil McKenzie is overseeing the project on behalf of the indie studio. Rick French of Prix Productions (“The True Don Quixote”) will produce, in association with Wainwright’s Adore Creative Content.
Schuyler’s story recounts his dramatic 2009 rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard 70 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico following a boating accident that left three friends dead,...
Project Revived
U.K.-based financing-production outfit Goldfinch has bought feature film rights to Nick Schuyler’s “Not Without Hope” and signed “The Fog” director Rupert Wainwright.
The project had been set up at Relativity in 2013 with Dwayne Johnson attached but fell apart when Relativity collapsed.
Goldfinch will put the film into production in early 2020. Chief operating officer Phil McKenzie is overseeing the project on behalf of the indie studio. Rick French of Prix Productions (“The True Don Quixote”) will produce, in association with Wainwright’s Adore Creative Content.
Schuyler’s story recounts his dramatic 2009 rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard 70 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico following a boating accident that left three friends dead,...
- 10/16/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Last year’s Munich break-out was Eva Trobisch’s ‘All Is Good’ .
The Munich Film Festival is proving to be the place to go to first catch films by rising German directors. All of the 18 titles in the festival’s New German Cinema line-up are world premeires this year and many have attached international sales agents ahead of their launch.
Ilker Catak’s romantic drama I Was, I Am, I Will Be opened the strand on June 28. Danish sales agent Level K took on its first ever German feature when it acquired the the rights to the film just before...
The Munich Film Festival is proving to be the place to go to first catch films by rising German directors. All of the 18 titles in the festival’s New German Cinema line-up are world premeires this year and many have attached international sales agents ahead of their launch.
Ilker Catak’s romantic drama I Was, I Am, I Will Be opened the strand on June 28. Danish sales agent Level K took on its first ever German feature when it acquired the the rights to the film just before...
- 7/2/2019
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
“The Upside,” a feel good film about the bond that forms between a wealthy quadriplegic and his caretaker, scored a surprising box office victory last weekend. The movie had to overcome a series of obstacles and setbacks before it topped charts.
In the weeks leading up to the drama’s release, star Kevin Hart had been the subject of countless headlines analyzing whether or not the comedian will host this year’s Oscars. The entertainer was offered the gig, but quickly stepped down after controversy sparked over homophobic jokes he made in the past. A little unwanted press, however, is nothing compared to the turmoil leading up to the movie’s theatrical debut.
Its rocky gestation to the big screen makes “The Upside,” which doubled industry expectations with a $19.5 million opening weekend, all the more impressive. An English-language remake of the French hit “Les Intouchables” was first announced in 2011, and...
In the weeks leading up to the drama’s release, star Kevin Hart had been the subject of countless headlines analyzing whether or not the comedian will host this year’s Oscars. The entertainer was offered the gig, but quickly stepped down after controversy sparked over homophobic jokes he made in the past. A little unwanted press, however, is nothing compared to the turmoil leading up to the movie’s theatrical debut.
Its rocky gestation to the big screen makes “The Upside,” which doubled industry expectations with a $19.5 million opening weekend, all the more impressive. An English-language remake of the French hit “Les Intouchables” was first announced in 2011, and...
- 1/14/2019
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
James Hunt Nov 28, 2018
The stories behind the strange collision of two iconic but (usually) separate worlds.
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Recently, Marvel honored the world of hip-hop by recreating some of the industry’s most iconic album covers with their own superheroes substituted in. The variant covers appeared on Marvel’s comics and proved so popular that the publisher even released a two-volume collection of just the album artwork.
But Marvel’s characters have appeared on record covers before, and often for stranger reasons than you might expect. Here are a few famous (and not-so-famous) examples that you may or may not be aware of…
Joe Satriani, Surfing With The Alien
Joe Satriani’s 1987 breakout album of instrumental psychedelic rock featured – until recently – the Silver Surfer on its cover. Taken from the pages of 1982’s Silver Surfer #1, the artwork (by John Byrne) was suggested by Jim Kozlowski,...
The stories behind the strange collision of two iconic but (usually) separate worlds.
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Recently, Marvel honored the world of hip-hop by recreating some of the industry’s most iconic album covers with their own superheroes substituted in. The variant covers appeared on Marvel’s comics and proved so popular that the publisher even released a two-volume collection of just the album artwork.
But Marvel’s characters have appeared on record covers before, and often for stranger reasons than you might expect. Here are a few famous (and not-so-famous) examples that you may or may not be aware of…
Joe Satriani, Surfing With The Alien
Joe Satriani’s 1987 breakout album of instrumental psychedelic rock featured – until recently – the Silver Surfer on its cover. Taken from the pages of 1982’s Silver Surfer #1, the artwork (by John Byrne) was suggested by Jim Kozlowski,...
- 11/28/2018
- Den of Geek
This weekend provided more of the same at the box office — not that that’s a bad thing. With “Halloween,” “A Star Is Born,” and “Venom” again occupying the top three slots, grosses for the pre-Halloween period jumped a third over last year.
The Blumhouse-reinvigorated “Halloween” looks like a two-week wonder with its 58 percent drop. That’s the high end for the second weekend of a seasonal release right before the holiday. It will easily surpass $150 million in gross, making it second only to “Get Out” at Blumhouse.
Even so, the story of the moment remains the continued success of “A Star Is Born.” There was no real new competition, and after four weekends at #2 it will probably relinquish its slot next weekend when three significant new titles open. No matter; its awards play is right on schedule. In fact, its gross is more than $60 million ahead of what “Argo,...
The Blumhouse-reinvigorated “Halloween” looks like a two-week wonder with its 58 percent drop. That’s the high end for the second weekend of a seasonal release right before the holiday. It will easily surpass $150 million in gross, making it second only to “Get Out” at Blumhouse.
Even so, the story of the moment remains the continued success of “A Star Is Born.” There was no real new competition, and after four weekends at #2 it will probably relinquish its slot next weekend when three significant new titles open. No matter; its awards play is right on schedule. In fact, its gross is more than $60 million ahead of what “Argo,...
- 10/28/2018
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Unforgettable alum Poppy Montgomery is heading back to TV… but she’s on the other side of the law this time.
Montgomery will star as a charming thief in the crime drama Reef Break, which just landed a straight-to-series order at ABC. (The 13-episode season is slated to air next summer.) Montgomery’s character, Cat Chambers, puts her skills as a thief to good use as a fixer for the governor of a gorgeous island in the Pacific. “Cat’s less-than-perfect past gives her an instinctive gift for understanding crime and criminals,” the official description hints, “as she becomes enmeshed in fast-paced,...
Montgomery will star as a charming thief in the crime drama Reef Break, which just landed a straight-to-series order at ABC. (The 13-episode season is slated to air next summer.) Montgomery’s character, Cat Chambers, puts her skills as a thief to good use as a fixer for the governor of a gorgeous island in the Pacific. “Cat’s less-than-perfect past gives her an instinctive gift for understanding crime and criminals,” the official description hints, “as she becomes enmeshed in fast-paced,...
- 8/23/2018
- TVLine.com
A judge on Thursday approved the sale of Relativity Media to UltraV Holdings, an investor group that is seeking a fresh start for the twice-bankrupt studio.
Relativity declared bankruptcy in May as it sought to shed debt in advance of a sale to UltraV, its largest secured creditor. UltraV held $73 million of Relativity’s secured debt, of which it bid $40 million to acquire the company. No other bidders came forward to challenge the sale.
The court approval follows settlements with Netflix and the committee of unsecured creditors, both of which had raised objections earlier in the process.
“Court approval of the sale today ends four difficult years for Relativity and marks a new beginning for the company,” Colin Adams, the company’s chief restructuring officer, said in a statement. “Relativity’s administrative and priority creditors will be paid in full and unsecured creditors, including creditors from prior cases, will see meaningful recoveries,...
Relativity declared bankruptcy in May as it sought to shed debt in advance of a sale to UltraV, its largest secured creditor. UltraV held $73 million of Relativity’s secured debt, of which it bid $40 million to acquire the company. No other bidders came forward to challenge the sale.
The court approval follows settlements with Netflix and the committee of unsecured creditors, both of which had raised objections earlier in the process.
“Court approval of the sale today ends four difficult years for Relativity and marks a new beginning for the company,” Colin Adams, the company’s chief restructuring officer, said in a statement. “Relativity’s administrative and priority creditors will be paid in full and unsecured creditors, including creditors from prior cases, will see meaningful recoveries,...
- 8/16/2018
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix’s 11th hour purchase of “Mowgli” has been hailed as a coming-of-age moment for the streaming service and as a sign that changing tastes have left some big-budget studio films struggling to justify a traditional theatrical release.
But it’s also an acknowledgement that a certain kind of franchise hunting has only resulted in diminishing returns. For a time, Warner Bros., the studio that sold off “Mowgli,” had banked heavily on exploiting intellectual property that had drifted into the public domain. The hope was that classic fantasy stories could be re-imagined for modern audiences, inspiring epic films that could lead to sequels and that would hit multiplexes with built-in “brand awareness.” They also had the added benefit of having creators that were long dead. That meant that studios wouldn’t have to engage in elaborate author appeasement (see: E.L. James) or become embroiled in long-standing litigation over rights (see: the Tolkien estate).
At Warners,...
But it’s also an acknowledgement that a certain kind of franchise hunting has only resulted in diminishing returns. For a time, Warner Bros., the studio that sold off “Mowgli,” had banked heavily on exploiting intellectual property that had drifted into the public domain. The hope was that classic fantasy stories could be re-imagined for modern audiences, inspiring epic films that could lead to sequels and that would hit multiplexes with built-in “brand awareness.” They also had the added benefit of having creators that were long dead. That meant that studios wouldn’t have to engage in elaborate author appeasement (see: E.L. James) or become embroiled in long-standing litigation over rights (see: the Tolkien estate).
At Warners,...
- 7/30/2018
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
A hedge fund investor is doubling down on his claim that Ryan Kavanaugh defrauded him into investing into Relativity Media, the twice-bankrupt mini-studio.
Carey Metz filed an amended lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, accusing Kavanaugh, the founder and CEO, of conning him into making a $10 million investment in the company in 2013. Metz had earlier alleged that Kavanaugh duped him into making a $2.5 million investment in the company as it verged on bankruptcy in 2015.
The amended complaint comes two weeks after a New York bankruptcy judge dismissed portions of Metz’s original complaint alleging breach of oral contract, unjust enrichment, and other torts. Judge Michael Wiles held that Metz’s claims were barred by a release that accompanied Relativity’s initial plan of reorganization in 2016.
Relativity first recently declared bankruptcy for a second time, having failed to raise $100 million in new equity since first emerging from bankruptcy two years ago.
Carey Metz filed an amended lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, accusing Kavanaugh, the founder and CEO, of conning him into making a $10 million investment in the company in 2013. Metz had earlier alleged that Kavanaugh duped him into making a $2.5 million investment in the company as it verged on bankruptcy in 2015.
The amended complaint comes two weeks after a New York bankruptcy judge dismissed portions of Metz’s original complaint alleging breach of oral contract, unjust enrichment, and other torts. Judge Michael Wiles held that Metz’s claims were barred by a release that accompanied Relativity’s initial plan of reorganization in 2016.
Relativity first recently declared bankruptcy for a second time, having failed to raise $100 million in new equity since first emerging from bankruptcy two years ago.
- 6/22/2018
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The Accountant team of Ben Affleck and director Gavin O’Connor are circling The Has-Been, a drama scripted by Brad Ingelsby. I’m told Warner Bros is trying to make a deal on a movie that would happen on a fast track. No deals have been completed at this point.
The script by Ingelsby has drawn strong interest around town. It centers on a former basketball all-star who has lost his wife and family foundation in a struggle with addiction. He attempts to regain his soul and salvation by becoming the coach of a disparate, ethnically mixed high school basketball team at his alma mater. Affleck wants to play the former hoops star, and O’Connor would direct.
The Has-Been will be produced by Affleck and Jennifer Todd, Mark Ciardi and Gordon Grey, with O’Connor also expected to be involved as a producer along with the writer.
Affleck,...
The script by Ingelsby has drawn strong interest around town. It centers on a former basketball all-star who has lost his wife and family foundation in a struggle with addiction. He attempts to regain his soul and salvation by becoming the coach of a disparate, ethnically mixed high school basketball team at his alma mater. Affleck wants to play the former hoops star, and O’Connor would direct.
The Has-Been will be produced by Affleck and Jennifer Todd, Mark Ciardi and Gordon Grey, with O’Connor also expected to be involved as a producer along with the writer.
Affleck,...
- 6/11/2018
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Relativity Media founder Ryan Kavanaugh sued his former production president Adam Fields for $50 million on Thursday, claiming that Fields illegally leaked documents from a private arbitration that mistakenly paints Kavanaugh as a fraud.
The breach of contract suit says that Fields gave only selective parts of documents to a U.S. bankruptcy court this week in a larger effort to mislead the entertainment industry and public that Kavanaugh forged evidence of sexual harassment against Fields and used it as an excuse to fire him.
“The preparation, selection and attachment of the arbitration-related materials … was done for the improper purposes of distracting and deflecting attention from Fields’ history of improper conduct, especially in light of the #MeToo movement, and harming Kavanaugh,” according to the suit, which was obtained by TheWrap.
Representatives for Fields did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Also Read: Relativity Fabricated Sexual Harassment Accusations Against Former Executive,...
The breach of contract suit says that Fields gave only selective parts of documents to a U.S. bankruptcy court this week in a larger effort to mislead the entertainment industry and public that Kavanaugh forged evidence of sexual harassment against Fields and used it as an excuse to fire him.
“The preparation, selection and attachment of the arbitration-related materials … was done for the improper purposes of distracting and deflecting attention from Fields’ history of improper conduct, especially in light of the #MeToo movement, and harming Kavanaugh,” according to the suit, which was obtained by TheWrap.
Representatives for Fields did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Also Read: Relativity Fabricated Sexual Harassment Accusations Against Former Executive,...
- 6/7/2018
- by Matt Donnelly
- The Wrap
Netflix has filed a complaint against Relativity Media, accusing the studio of violating terms of its multiyear contract to provide exclusive content to the streaming service.
The streaming service claims that five Relativity films licensed exclusively to Netflix wound up on competing services, including Amazon and Starz, in breach of the exclusivity agreement. Relativity claimed that happened inadvertently.
“Netflix has subsequently learned, Relativity was not being honest or forthright with Netflix in asserting that the exhibition of the five Titles on other Svod services was ‘as a result of inadvertence,’ and had not been honest or forthright with Netflix for months,” Netflix’s attorney Thomas Patterson wrote (read the filing here). “To the contrary, Relativity had in fact lost its rights to three of the titles through foreclosure.”
The streaming service alleges Relativity sought to conceal the foreclosure to reduce the the chances that Netflix would take action
The dispute is playing out in bankruptcy court in New York, where Relativity sought protection from creditors as it seeks a sale to UltraV Holdings. Relativity founder Ryan Kavanaugh has struggled to raise the money to produce new films since emerging from bankruptcy for the first time in 2016.
Netflix is asking the court to refund of $9.6 million for the fees Netflix paid for the exclusive distribution rights to three films: The Lazarus Effect, The Woman In Black 2: Angel of Death and Beyond the Lights. It also wants a $2.9 million rebate on two other films, And So It Goes and Hector and the Search for Happiness, that Relativity licensed to Starz, allegedly in violation of its Netflix agreement.
The streaming service also says it’s entitled to collect $5 million for each title Relativity failed to deliver to Netflix — a sum that could add up quickly, since the streaming giant claims its owed eight titles in 2017.
“Relativity could have offered all of the eight 2017 titles (and more) to Netflix but did not, even though Relativity knew that Netflix had the resources to acquire and/or finance each of these film projects,” wrote Patterson in the complaint.
The streaming service claims that five Relativity films licensed exclusively to Netflix wound up on competing services, including Amazon and Starz, in breach of the exclusivity agreement. Relativity claimed that happened inadvertently.
“Netflix has subsequently learned, Relativity was not being honest or forthright with Netflix in asserting that the exhibition of the five Titles on other Svod services was ‘as a result of inadvertence,’ and had not been honest or forthright with Netflix for months,” Netflix’s attorney Thomas Patterson wrote (read the filing here). “To the contrary, Relativity had in fact lost its rights to three of the titles through foreclosure.”
The streaming service alleges Relativity sought to conceal the foreclosure to reduce the the chances that Netflix would take action
The dispute is playing out in bankruptcy court in New York, where Relativity sought protection from creditors as it seeks a sale to UltraV Holdings. Relativity founder Ryan Kavanaugh has struggled to raise the money to produce new films since emerging from bankruptcy for the first time in 2016.
Netflix is asking the court to refund of $9.6 million for the fees Netflix paid for the exclusive distribution rights to three films: The Lazarus Effect, The Woman In Black 2: Angel of Death and Beyond the Lights. It also wants a $2.9 million rebate on two other films, And So It Goes and Hector and the Search for Happiness, that Relativity licensed to Starz, allegedly in violation of its Netflix agreement.
The streaming service also says it’s entitled to collect $5 million for each title Relativity failed to deliver to Netflix — a sum that could add up quickly, since the streaming giant claims its owed eight titles in 2017.
“Relativity could have offered all of the eight 2017 titles (and more) to Netflix but did not, even though Relativity knew that Netflix had the resources to acquire and/or finance each of these film projects,” wrote Patterson in the complaint.
- 6/1/2018
- by Dawn C. Chmielewski
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix sued Relativity Media on Friday, accusing the bankrupt mini-studio of violating an exclusivity agreement by providing five films to Amazon and Starz.
The streaming service also accuses Relativity of failing to provide the required number of releases for 2017. Netflix is seeking $12.6 million in damages for the exclusivity violations, plus $5 million for each film Relativity failed to deliver.
Relativity declared bankruptcy last month for the second time in three years, as it seeks a court-approved sale to UltraV Holdings. Since emerging from the first bankruptcy in 2016, Relativity founder Ryan Kavanaugh has been unable to raise fresh capital to produce new films.
Relativity continues to have an output agreement with Netflix, first signed in 2010, which Relativity considers to be “one of the crown jewel assets of the estate,” according to the filing. Under the deal, Relativity was originally supposed to provide 15 titles to Netflix in 2017. Following its first bankruptcy, the company revised that total,...
The streaming service also accuses Relativity of failing to provide the required number of releases for 2017. Netflix is seeking $12.6 million in damages for the exclusivity violations, plus $5 million for each film Relativity failed to deliver.
Relativity declared bankruptcy last month for the second time in three years, as it seeks a court-approved sale to UltraV Holdings. Since emerging from the first bankruptcy in 2016, Relativity founder Ryan Kavanaugh has been unable to raise fresh capital to produce new films.
Relativity continues to have an output agreement with Netflix, first signed in 2010, which Relativity considers to be “one of the crown jewel assets of the estate,” according to the filing. Under the deal, Relativity was originally supposed to provide 15 titles to Netflix in 2017. Following its first bankruptcy, the company revised that total,...
- 6/1/2018
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The Crow has seen its wings clipped yet again. Sources tell me Jason Momoa and director Corin Hardy formally withdrew from the film this morning. This after Sony was close to exiting as the film’s worldwide distributor. I’m told this has to do with creative and financial differences with Samuel Hadida, whose Davis Films holds underlying rights and who was financing the film. Production was gearing up to start within the next five weeks in Budapest, and the picture was in full pre-production with Hardy presiding.
Sony Pictures announced last September that it had picked up the film for worldwide distribution, and announced an October 11, 2019 release date. Insiders said that deal hasn’t closed. My sources said Hadida’s inability to close a deal with Sony left the studio in exit mode, and that directly precipitated the exits of the filmmaker and star.
Above is the social...
Sony Pictures announced last September that it had picked up the film for worldwide distribution, and announced an October 11, 2019 release date. Insiders said that deal hasn’t closed. My sources said Hadida’s inability to close a deal with Sony left the studio in exit mode, and that directly precipitated the exits of the filmmaker and star.
Above is the social...
- 5/31/2018
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated 1:13 Pm: Exclusive: Aspects of Relativity’s first bankruptcy are still before the courts, but as expected the company today filed for Chapter 11 with a promise that “funds will be available for distribution” to its approximately 200 unsecured creditors.
As Deadline laid out in our exclusive this morning on the once high-flying Ryan Kavanaugh-run company’s intention to sell its assets to a New York investor group, the voluntary bankruptcy petition is intended to pave the way for new owners UltraV to take over later this year
After all the drama, huffing and puffing of Relativity’s crash in 2015 and subsequent battles with Netflix and others, the 10-page filing made Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York was a relatively low-key affair. However, the paperwork (read it here) did reveal that Relativity Media and Relativity Studios has between $10 million-$50 million in assets up...
As Deadline laid out in our exclusive this morning on the once high-flying Ryan Kavanaugh-run company’s intention to sell its assets to a New York investor group, the voluntary bankruptcy petition is intended to pave the way for new owners UltraV to take over later this year
After all the drama, huffing and puffing of Relativity’s crash in 2015 and subsequent battles with Netflix and others, the 10-page filing made Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York was a relatively low-key affair. However, the paperwork (read it here) did reveal that Relativity Media and Relativity Studios has between $10 million-$50 million in assets up...
- 5/3/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman and Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Relativity Media, the beleaguered movie and television studio that’s been running on fumes, has entered into an agreement to sell the bulk of its remaining assets to UltraV Holdings LLC. The studio’s new owner is described in a release as a joint venture among funds managed by Sound Point Capital Management and Rmrm Holdings.
UltraV says it will inject capital into the company so it can begin producing and developing content. It also made a point of stressing that it believes Relativity’s distribution agreement with Netflix is still in effect. Netflix has previously tried to get out of that pact as Relativity’s financial woes have exacerbated.
Weighed down by film flops such as “Out of the Furnace” and “Earth to Echo,” Relativity filed for bankruptcy protection in 2015. At the time it had a book value of $560 million, and liabilities of nearly $1.2 billion. After exiting Chapter 11 in...
UltraV says it will inject capital into the company so it can begin producing and developing content. It also made a point of stressing that it believes Relativity’s distribution agreement with Netflix is still in effect. Netflix has previously tried to get out of that pact as Relativity’s financial woes have exacerbated.
Weighed down by film flops such as “Out of the Furnace” and “Earth to Echo,” Relativity filed for bankruptcy protection in 2015. At the time it had a book value of $560 million, and liabilities of nearly $1.2 billion. After exiting Chapter 11 in...
- 5/3/2018
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
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