Click here to read the full article.
The news that Nikki Finke — the cantankerous trade blogger who traumatized and entertained Hollywood in equal measure with her vendetta-based brand of entertainment journalism — died Sunday at 68 dislodged a tidal wave of not-so-fond memories in this town.
Her reign of terror kicked into high gear when she moved her column Deadline Hollywood from L.A. Weekly over to Penske Media Corporation, owner of The Hollywood Reporter, in 2009; she walked away in 2013 after clashing with the ownership. During that time, Finke had grown so legendary that she even served as inspiration for an HBO dramedy.
Tilda was co-conceived by Dreamgirls director Bill Condon and Tell Me You Love Me creator Cynthia Mort. It featured a starry cast, headlined by Diane Keaton as Tilda Watski, a character based on Finke’s persona; and Elliot Page, who played a studio assistant who gets ensnared in her web.
The news that Nikki Finke — the cantankerous trade blogger who traumatized and entertained Hollywood in equal measure with her vendetta-based brand of entertainment journalism — died Sunday at 68 dislodged a tidal wave of not-so-fond memories in this town.
Her reign of terror kicked into high gear when she moved her column Deadline Hollywood from L.A. Weekly over to Penske Media Corporation, owner of The Hollywood Reporter, in 2009; she walked away in 2013 after clashing with the ownership. During that time, Finke had grown so legendary that she even served as inspiration for an HBO dramedy.
Tilda was co-conceived by Dreamgirls director Bill Condon and Tell Me You Love Me creator Cynthia Mort. It featured a starry cast, headlined by Diane Keaton as Tilda Watski, a character based on Finke’s persona; and Elliot Page, who played a studio assistant who gets ensnared in her web.
- 10/12/2022
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Nikki Finke, the polarizing entertainment journalist who founded the website Deadline and wielded immense power by focusing an acerbic and unrelenting lens on Hollywood, has died. She was 68.
Finke died Sunday in Boca Raton, Florida, following a prolonged illness, a family spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.
At L.A. Weekly, Finke headed its Deadline Hollywood Daily column from 2002-09. In 2006, she launched Deadline Hollywood Daily, an around-the-clock online version, and became a key source of news surrounding the 2007 WGA strike.
That year, The New York Times‘ Brian Stelter wrote that Finke’s blog had “become a critical forum for Hollywood news and gossip, known for analyzing (in sometimes insulting terms) the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of moguls,” with her reporting on the strike ultimately solidifying “her position as a Hollywood power broker.”
Finke landed scoops with a cut-throat style that both impressed and incensed industry members.
Nikki Finke, the polarizing entertainment journalist who founded the website Deadline and wielded immense power by focusing an acerbic and unrelenting lens on Hollywood, has died. She was 68.
Finke died Sunday in Boca Raton, Florida, following a prolonged illness, a family spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.
At L.A. Weekly, Finke headed its Deadline Hollywood Daily column from 2002-09. In 2006, she launched Deadline Hollywood Daily, an around-the-clock online version, and became a key source of news surrounding the 2007 WGA strike.
That year, The New York Times‘ Brian Stelter wrote that Finke’s blog had “become a critical forum for Hollywood news and gossip, known for analyzing (in sometimes insulting terms) the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of moguls,” with her reporting on the strike ultimately solidifying “her position as a Hollywood power broker.”
Finke landed scoops with a cut-throat style that both impressed and incensed industry members.
- 10/9/2022
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
10 years after breaking all our hearts as the doomed tribute Rue in "The Hunger Games," Amandla Stenberg has firmly come into her own as an actor. Stenberg has gone on to star in a variety of films as a young adult, including the critically-acclaimed drama "The Hate U Give" and, more recently, the horror-comedy "Bodies Bodies Bodies." Up next, Stenberg will be heading to the "Star Wars" galaxy thanks to her role in the live-action series "The Acolyte," having nearly made a trip into the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the way.
In an interview with Variety in 2018, Stenberg revealed she had previously been in the running to play King T'Challa's sassy, Stem-loving sister, Shuri, in the 2018 MCU movie "Black Panther." The role ultimately went to Letitia Wright, in part because Stenberg stepped away from the film of her own volition. The actress explained:
"That was not a space that I should have taken up.
In an interview with Variety in 2018, Stenberg revealed she had previously been in the running to play King T'Challa's sassy, Stem-loving sister, Shuri, in the 2018 MCU movie "Black Panther." The role ultimately went to Letitia Wright, in part because Stenberg stepped away from the film of her own volition. The actress explained:
"That was not a space that I should have taken up.
- 8/22/2022
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
It’s a studio ritual almost as old as Hollywood: announce a production deal right before the release of a filmmaker’s new movie. For David and Jessica Oyelowo’s Yoruba/Saxon, the twinning of “The Water Man” and a two-year first-look Disney deal is more than industry rite. After seven years and six films, it means that the industry has started to catch up to them.
Like many actors, the Oyelowos created a company to improve their own opportunities. In their case, the struggles they faced mirrored a much larger one. “One of the main reasons we wanted to start the company was to have a voice and to provide a place for voices that weren’t being heard,” Jessica said in a recent interview with IndieWire. “For Hollywood to finance certain projects, they required a certain perspective on someone else’s story. We were looking at this as actors thinking,...
Like many actors, the Oyelowos created a company to improve their own opportunities. In their case, the struggles they faced mirrored a much larger one. “One of the main reasons we wanted to start the company was to have a voice and to provide a place for voices that weren’t being heard,” Jessica said in a recent interview with IndieWire. “For Hollywood to finance certain projects, they required a certain perspective on someone else’s story. We were looking at this as actors thinking,...
- 5/11/2021
- by Aramide A Tinubu
- Indiewire
Salma Hayek’s first project for HBO Max is a comedy where a 40-year-old woman’s boobs start talking to her.
The streaming service is developing an adaptation of Leslie Lehr’s upcoming novel, “A Boob’s Life: How America’s Obsession Shaped Me–and You,” which is due out March 2. The series will be a half-hour comedy about Leslie, “a woman turning 40 and in crisis, whose life gets turned upside down when her boobs start talking to her, forcing her to look at herself in a completely different light.”
Lehr will serve as an executive producer on the project, alongside Hayek and Ventanarosa’s Jose Tamez and Siobhan Flynn. Melissa Oman and Julie R. Snyder will also executive produce under their Wheeler Girl Productions banner. Cynthia Mort, who created HBO’s “Tell Me You Love Me,” will serve as showrunner.
Hayek is under a two-year first-look deal with HBO Max.
The streaming service is developing an adaptation of Leslie Lehr’s upcoming novel, “A Boob’s Life: How America’s Obsession Shaped Me–and You,” which is due out March 2. The series will be a half-hour comedy about Leslie, “a woman turning 40 and in crisis, whose life gets turned upside down when her boobs start talking to her, forcing her to look at herself in a completely different light.”
Lehr will serve as an executive producer on the project, alongside Hayek and Ventanarosa’s Jose Tamez and Siobhan Flynn. Melissa Oman and Julie R. Snyder will also executive produce under their Wheeler Girl Productions banner. Cynthia Mort, who created HBO’s “Tell Me You Love Me,” will serve as showrunner.
Hayek is under a two-year first-look deal with HBO Max.
- 2/4/2021
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Salma Hayek’s Ventanarosa Productions has come on to develop Leslie’s Lehr’s book A Boob’s Life as a series for HBO Max, marking the first project they will develop under their new first-look deal with the company. A Boob’s Life is a half hour comedy about Leslie, a woman turning 40 and in crisis, whose life gets turned upside down when her boobs start talking to her, forcing her to look at herself in a completely different light. The show blows open the reality of life in a female body in a culture that is obsessed with breasts. The series will be based off Lehr’s book A Boob’s Life: How America’s Obsession Shaped Me—and You, which is being released on March 2 by Pegasus Books. Lehr will also serve as an executive producer.
Hayek will executive produce alongside Jose Tamez and Siobhan Flynn under their Ventanarosa Productions banner.
Hayek will executive produce alongside Jose Tamez and Siobhan Flynn under their Ventanarosa Productions banner.
- 2/4/2021
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Guardians of the Galaxy actress Zoe Saldana addressed the controversy surrounding her casting as Nina Simone in the 2016 biopic Nina.
Saldana sat down with Pose creator and executive producer Steven Canals Tuesday for a conversation about diversity, activism and identity on Bese’s Instagram page. When the question about the Nina casting came up, Salanda, who is of Puerto Rican descent, answered that she should not have ever agreed to take on the role.
“I should’ve tried everything in my power to cast a Black woman to play and exceptionally perfect Black woman,” Saldana told Canals in the Instagram interview. “It was painful. I thought back then that I had the permission because I was a Black woman.”
The Cynthia Mort-directed biopic about the legendary vocalist saw Saldana don prosthetics and makeup to make her skin appear darker. The actress received backlash from a number of critics, including Simone’s own daughter,...
Saldana sat down with Pose creator and executive producer Steven Canals Tuesday for a conversation about diversity, activism and identity on Bese’s Instagram page. When the question about the Nina casting came up, Salanda, who is of Puerto Rican descent, answered that she should not have ever agreed to take on the role.
“I should’ve tried everything in my power to cast a Black woman to play and exceptionally perfect Black woman,” Saldana told Canals in the Instagram interview. “It was painful. I thought back then that I had the permission because I was a Black woman.”
The Cynthia Mort-directed biopic about the legendary vocalist saw Saldana don prosthetics and makeup to make her skin appear darker. The actress received backlash from a number of critics, including Simone’s own daughter,...
- 8/6/2020
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Actress Zoe Saldana revealed that she regrets ever starring as Nina Simone in writer/director Cynthia Mort’s controversial 2016 biopic, “Nina.” The actress discussed her role — which required a prosthetic nose, fake teeth, and makeup to darken her skin — in a recent Instagram live conversation hosted by B-ese with “Pose” co-creator Steven Canals.
“I should have never played Nina,” Saldana said (via Entertainment Weekly). “I should have done everything in my power, with the leverage that I had 10 years ago — which was a different [amount of] leverage, but it was leverage nonetheless. I should’ve tried everything in my power to cast a Black woman to play an exceptionally perfect Black woman.”
When she was cast in 2012, after replacing Mary J. Blige, Saldana already had mixed feelings about taking on the High Priestess of Soul. But distance from the film and its notoriously bungled production, she said, has led to necessary reflection.
“I should have never played Nina,” Saldana said (via Entertainment Weekly). “I should have done everything in my power, with the leverage that I had 10 years ago — which was a different [amount of] leverage, but it was leverage nonetheless. I should’ve tried everything in my power to cast a Black woman to play an exceptionally perfect Black woman.”
When she was cast in 2012, after replacing Mary J. Blige, Saldana already had mixed feelings about taking on the High Priestess of Soul. But distance from the film and its notoriously bungled production, she said, has led to necessary reflection.
- 8/5/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
At a January photo shoot for the cover of her self-titled new album, Shelby Lynne was instructed by renowned photographer Amanda Demme to pull the collar of her white turtleneck up over her mouth and nose, never expecting that bit of artistic inspiration would result in an image that’s both striking and unfortunate in its timeliness. Yet, for a mercurial artist who had more than a decade of making music behind her when she won a Best New Artist Grammy in 2001, the creative process has routinely yielded serendipitous results.
- 4/17/2020
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
Shelby Lynne offers a taste of vintage Muscle Shoals pop soul in the sparkling and romantic “Don’t Even Believe in Love,” a cut from her forthcoming self-titled album. A quintessential study in contradictions, Lynne proclaims herself incredulous at the notion of romance even as she finds herself powerless against it. With a warm yet aching vocal at the heart of the track, the singer resigns herself to the idea that there could be something to this whole thing after all.
“When love walks in, there’s not a damn...
“When love walks in, there’s not a damn...
- 2/21/2020
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
With her first solo album in five years, Shelby Lynne has put a hint right in the title that it could be her most intimately honest. Out April 17th, Shelby Lynne is prefaced by the release today of “Here I Am,” a stark but hopeful piano ballad accentuated by Lynne’s achingly intense, vulnerable delivery.
“If you get lost I’m strong enough to come and find you,” Lynne sings, “If you forget about me I’ll stay here to tell you that I know … it’s hard to dream in the light of day,...
“If you get lost I’m strong enough to come and find you,” Lynne sings, “If you forget about me I’ll stay here to tell you that I know … it’s hard to dream in the light of day,...
- 1/28/2020
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
Hulu is developing Unspeakable, a single camera half-hour dramedy starring Mary McCormack (When We Rise) and executive produced by Chelsea Handler, from Tell Me You Love Me creator Cynthia Mort and Working Title Television, Deadline has learned. Based on bestselling author Meghan Daum’s book, the project is being written by Mort, who will serve as showrunner, with McCormack’s husband and producing partner Michael Morris (Smash) attached direct. Handler optioned the book, T…...
- 11/3/2017
- Deadline TV
In the age of peak TV, we’ve gotten to see many series which are constructed to be satisfying after just one season of storytelling. But it’s important to remember that this is a relatively new phenomenon, that all too often, potentially great shows will get cancelled before getting the chance to reach their full potential.
Read More:8 Cancelled TV Shows That Got A ‘Twin Peaks’-Style Revival
The list below focuses on scripted series, reaching back over two decades to cover some of television history’s most disappointing ends. The aim is to remember some of network and cable’s most audacious experiments, for better and for worse.
25. “Almost Human” (2013-2014)
In many ways, “Almost Human” was deeply flawed to a degree that made its cancellation understandable — it struggled to balance too many plot threads with an over-reliance on recycled world-building, ultimately failing to coalesce despite some ambitious...
Read More:8 Cancelled TV Shows That Got A ‘Twin Peaks’-Style Revival
The list below focuses on scripted series, reaching back over two decades to cover some of television history’s most disappointing ends. The aim is to remember some of network and cable’s most audacious experiments, for better and for worse.
25. “Almost Human” (2013-2014)
In many ways, “Almost Human” was deeply flawed to a degree that made its cancellation understandable — it struggled to balance too many plot threads with an over-reliance on recycled world-building, ultimately failing to coalesce despite some ambitious...
- 8/15/2017
- by Liz Shannon Miller and Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Daily Dead recently interviewed Bushwick star Dave Bautista and co-directors Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion at the Sundance Film Festival, and following the thriller’s world premiere at the fest’s Midnight program, Rlj Entertainment has already acquired Bushwick for Us distribution.
A theatrical release date for Bushwick, which also stars Brittany Snow, is not yet known, but we’ll keep Daily Dead readers updated when more details are announced. In the meantime, we have the official press release with more information:
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA (January 27, 2017) – Xyz Films and Wme Global have announced that they have sold the U.S. rights for the Sundance action thriller Bushwick to Rlj Entertainment in a seven-figure deal for a theatrical release. The film, which was directed by Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott (Cooties), made its world premiere at the festival. The film stars Dave Bautista and Brittany Snow. In addition, talks...
A theatrical release date for Bushwick, which also stars Brittany Snow, is not yet known, but we’ll keep Daily Dead readers updated when more details are announced. In the meantime, we have the official press release with more information:
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA (January 27, 2017) – Xyz Films and Wme Global have announced that they have sold the U.S. rights for the Sundance action thriller Bushwick to Rlj Entertainment in a seven-figure deal for a theatrical release. The film, which was directed by Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott (Cooties), made its world premiere at the festival. The film stars Dave Bautista and Brittany Snow. In addition, talks...
- 1/30/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Olga Kurylenko has been tapped as the title character in the crime thriller Jane Millen, from writer/director Cynthia Mort. 13 Films is producing, financing and handling sales for the pic, which the company will present to buyers at Afm. Production is said to begin April 2017 on the film about a seasoned cop battling her own demons. It centers on Jane who, as her family life spins out of control, focuses on her job as a police detective in order to gain a sense of…...
- 10/25/2016
- Deadline
The actress will play the lead in the thriller which the Los Angeles-based company will finance and introduce to worldwide buyers next week.
Jane Millen is scheduled to begin shooting in April 2017 and centres on a veteran detective battling her inner demons who is assigned to investigate the murder of wealthy couple.
Cynthia Mort, whose credits include The Brave One and Nina, will direct from her screenplay.
13 Films president Tannaz Anisi will produce the film alongside Karen Kehela Sherwood and former Endgame executive Greg Schenz.
Jai Khanna of Brillstein Entertainment Partners also serves as executive producer.
Kurylenko most recently appeared in Giuseppe Tornatore’s La Corrispondenza alongside Jeremy Irons and A Perfect Day with Benicio del Toro and Tim Robbins.
The 13 Films sales roster features family action adventure Four Kids And It starring Michael Caine, Bill Nighy, Paula Patton and Mathew Goode; political thriller Public Affairs with Thora Birch, Adrien Grenier and Mimi Rogers;sci-fi thriller Spectrum...
Jane Millen is scheduled to begin shooting in April 2017 and centres on a veteran detective battling her inner demons who is assigned to investigate the murder of wealthy couple.
Cynthia Mort, whose credits include The Brave One and Nina, will direct from her screenplay.
13 Films president Tannaz Anisi will produce the film alongside Karen Kehela Sherwood and former Endgame executive Greg Schenz.
Jai Khanna of Brillstein Entertainment Partners also serves as executive producer.
Kurylenko most recently appeared in Giuseppe Tornatore’s La Corrispondenza alongside Jeremy Irons and A Perfect Day with Benicio del Toro and Tim Robbins.
The 13 Films sales roster features family action adventure Four Kids And It starring Michael Caine, Bill Nighy, Paula Patton and Mathew Goode; political thriller Public Affairs with Thora Birch, Adrien Grenier and Mimi Rogers;sci-fi thriller Spectrum...
- 10/25/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Nina Simone's bandleader and friend of 46 years, Al Schackman, is weighing in on Zoë Saldana's controversial casting in Nina, and praising the actress for tackling a difficult and complex role. Schackman, who says he and Simone were like "brother and sister" for nearly five decades until her death in 2003, tells People he believes Saldana "did an admirable job" playing the iconic singer. Saldana's casting in the role has sparked controversy, with many critics questioning the use of dark makeup and a prosthetic nose to make the actress more closely resemble her character. "Of course she did not look...
- 4/22/2016
- by Michael Miller, @write_miller
- PEOPLE.com
Nina Simone's bandleader and friend of 46 years, Al Schackman, is weighing in on Zoë Saldana's controversial casting in Nina, and praising the actress for tackling a difficult and complex role. Schackman, who says he and Simone were like "brother and sister" for nearly five decades until her death in 2003, tells People he believes Saldana "did an admirable job" playing the iconic singer. Saldana's casting in the role has sparked controversy, with many critics questioning the use of dark makeup and a prosthetic nose to make the actress more closely resemble her character. "Of course she did not look...
- 4/22/2016
- by Michael Miller, @write_miller
- PEOPLE.com
The death knell for Cynthia Mort's debut feature didn't come with all the initial controversy in 2012 when it was announced that Zoe Saldana was attached to play Nina Simone. It wasn't even when the backlash reached a fever pitch over the last few months when the trailer was released. Instead, the worst moment for "Nina" is the first time the audience hears Saldana sing in the film. Ironically, it's the classic "Feeling Good" that kills any hope that the biopic would transcend its troubled production and bad press. We're only a few minutes into the film, and it becomes clear exactly how embarrassing "Nina" is for everyone involved. You'd feel pity for the filmmakers and stars if you weren't the one being subjected to its problems for the next 85 minutes. “Nina” jumps around the singer’s life, beginning with her performance as a child as a classical pianist in North Carolina in 1946. From there,...
- 4/21/2016
- by Kimber Myers
- The Playlist
A ‘blackfaced’ Zoe Saldana is commanding in her portrayal of the High Priestess of Soul, but the movie relies too heavily on cheap shots
The chorus from the most famous Nina Simone song never heard in the Nina Simone biopic is the one that rattles around in your head most as you watch it: “Goddam!” Cynthia Mort’s long-in-development Nina has been the focus of considerable casting controversy, but the light-skinned Zoe Saldana wearing dark makeup and face-altering prosthetics is only the film’s surface problem. At its core it is an inept, cliche-ridden story edited together in a treacly and cheap manner. Set 20 years ago, Nina feels like a made-for-television movie of the era, the type which, thankfully, we rarely see any more.
Related: Nina Simone's estate tells biopic star Zoe Saldana: 'Take Nina’s name out your mouth'
Continue reading...
The chorus from the most famous Nina Simone song never heard in the Nina Simone biopic is the one that rattles around in your head most as you watch it: “Goddam!” Cynthia Mort’s long-in-development Nina has been the focus of considerable casting controversy, but the light-skinned Zoe Saldana wearing dark makeup and face-altering prosthetics is only the film’s surface problem. At its core it is an inept, cliche-ridden story edited together in a treacly and cheap manner. Set 20 years ago, Nina feels like a made-for-television movie of the era, the type which, thankfully, we rarely see any more.
Related: Nina Simone's estate tells biopic star Zoe Saldana: 'Take Nina’s name out your mouth'
Continue reading...
- 4/20/2016
- by Jordan Hoffman
- The Guardian - Film News
A ‘blackfaced’ Zoe Saldana is commanding in her portrayal of the High Priestess of Soul, but the movie relies too heavily on cheap shots
The chorus from the most famous Nina Simone song never heard in the Nina Simone biopic is the one that rattles around in your head most as you watch it: “Goddam!” Cynthia Mort’s long-in-development Nina has been the focus of considerable casting controversy, but the light-skinned Zoe Saldana wearing dark makeup and face-altering prosthetics is only the film’s surface problem. At its core it is an inept, cliche-ridden story edited together in a treacly and cheap manner. Set 20 years ago, Nina feels like a made-for-television movie of the era, the type which, thankfully, we rarely see any more.
Related: Nina Simone's estate tells biopic star Zoe Saldana: 'Take Nina’s name out your mouth'
Continue reading...
The chorus from the most famous Nina Simone song never heard in the Nina Simone biopic is the one that rattles around in your head most as you watch it: “Goddam!” Cynthia Mort’s long-in-development Nina has been the focus of considerable casting controversy, but the light-skinned Zoe Saldana wearing dark makeup and face-altering prosthetics is only the film’s surface problem. At its core it is an inept, cliche-ridden story edited together in a treacly and cheap manner. Set 20 years ago, Nina feels like a made-for-television movie of the era, the type which, thankfully, we rarely see any more.
Related: Nina Simone's estate tells biopic star Zoe Saldana: 'Take Nina’s name out your mouth'
Continue reading...
- 4/20/2016
- by Jordan Hoffman
- The Guardian - Film News
“Nina,” an infuriatingly amateurish picture about the great singer and pianist Nina Simone, is a new low for the musical biopic genre. First time writer-director Cynthia Mort, whose main experience is as a writer on the sitcoms “Roseanne” and “Will & Grace,” unforgivably exploits Simone’s memory and name with a movie that plays like a sketch comedy parody of the worst possible Nina Simone biopic. No one involved seems to have a clue who Simone was or what she stood for. Mort has said that she could not get financing for “Nina” when she submitted the names of her preferred.
- 4/19/2016
- by Dan Callahan
- The Wrap
Almost Human writer/director Joe Begos’ latest film, The Mind’s Eye, has been acquired for North American distribution by Rlj Entertainment:
Press Release: Los Angeles, April 12, 2016 – Rlj Entertainment (Nasdaq: Rlje) has acquired all North American rights to the thriller, The Mind’S Eye. Written and directed by Joe Begos, the film reunites him with his Almost Human film star Graham Skipper, along with cast members Lauren Ashley Carter (Premium Rush, The Woman), John Speredakos (The House of the Devil), and Noah Segan (Some Kind of Hate, Looper). Rlje plans to release The Mind’S Eye in theaters and On Demand later this year. Mark Ward, Rlj Entertainment’s Chief Acquisitions Officer, made the announcement today.
The Mind’S Eye made its world premiere at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival and won the award for Best Director, Horror Feature at the 2015 Fantastic Fest.
“Joe has an amazing...
Press Release: Los Angeles, April 12, 2016 – Rlj Entertainment (Nasdaq: Rlje) has acquired all North American rights to the thriller, The Mind’S Eye. Written and directed by Joe Begos, the film reunites him with his Almost Human film star Graham Skipper, along with cast members Lauren Ashley Carter (Premium Rush, The Woman), John Speredakos (The House of the Devil), and Noah Segan (Some Kind of Hate, Looper). Rlje plans to release The Mind’S Eye in theaters and On Demand later this year. Mark Ward, Rlj Entertainment’s Chief Acquisitions Officer, made the announcement today.
The Mind’S Eye made its world premiere at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival and won the award for Best Director, Horror Feature at the 2015 Fantastic Fest.
“Joe has an amazing...
- 4/12/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Distributor Robert L Johnson compares criticism of Zoe Saldana’s casting to infamous early 20th-century ‘brown paper bag’ test used to separate African Americans by shade of skin
The distributor of a controversial forthcoming biopic of Nina Simone has labelled claims that the Hollywood star Zoe Saldana performed in “blackface” to play the iconic singer a relic of slavery-era attitudes towards skin colour.
Robert L Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and often described as the first African American billionaire, bought the rights to Cynthia Mort’s film in September. He told the Hollywood Reporter that critics of the casting of Saldana, an American of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent who wore a prosthetic nose and dark makeup to portray Simone, were falling into a trap set by American slave owners centuries ago.
Continue reading...
The distributor of a controversial forthcoming biopic of Nina Simone has labelled claims that the Hollywood star Zoe Saldana performed in “blackface” to play the iconic singer a relic of slavery-era attitudes towards skin colour.
Robert L Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and often described as the first African American billionaire, bought the rights to Cynthia Mort’s film in September. He told the Hollywood Reporter that critics of the casting of Saldana, an American of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent who wore a prosthetic nose and dark makeup to portray Simone, were falling into a trap set by American slave owners centuries ago.
Continue reading...
- 3/17/2016
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Distributor Robert L Johnson compares criticism of Zoe Saldana’s casting to infamous early 20th-century ‘brown paper bag’ test used to separate African Americans by shade of skin
The distributor of a controversial forthcoming biopic of Nina Simone has labelled claims that the Hollywood star Zoe Saldana performed in “blackface” to play the iconic singer a relic of slavery-era attitudes towards skin colour.
Robert L Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and often described as the first African American billionaire, bought the rights to Cynthia Mort’s film in September. He told the Hollywood Reporter that critics of the casting of Saldana, an American of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent who wore a prosthetic nose and dark makeup to portray Simone, were falling into a trap set by American slave owners centuries ago.
Continue reading...
The distributor of a controversial forthcoming biopic of Nina Simone has labelled claims that the Hollywood star Zoe Saldana performed in “blackface” to play the iconic singer a relic of slavery-era attitudes towards skin colour.
Robert L Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and often described as the first African American billionaire, bought the rights to Cynthia Mort’s film in September. He told the Hollywood Reporter that critics of the casting of Saldana, an American of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent who wore a prosthetic nose and dark makeup to portray Simone, were falling into a trap set by American slave owners centuries ago.
Continue reading...
- 3/17/2016
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Simone’s daughter also criticises personal vilification of the actor for donning dark makeup and a prosthetic nose to play legendary singer
Queen Latifah and Paula Patton have defended Zoe Saldana against claims that she performed in “blackface” to star as Nina Simone in the forthcoming biopic of the singer.
The release last week of a new trailer and poster for Cynthia Mort’s film, titled Nina, which showed Saladana wearing dark makeup and a prosthetic nose, has reignited debate over whether producers were right to cast Saldana, an American of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. Simone’s estate have since waded into the row, telling Saldana on Twitter: “Please take Nina’s name out your mouth. For the rest of your life.”
Continue reading...
Queen Latifah and Paula Patton have defended Zoe Saldana against claims that she performed in “blackface” to star as Nina Simone in the forthcoming biopic of the singer.
The release last week of a new trailer and poster for Cynthia Mort’s film, titled Nina, which showed Saladana wearing dark makeup and a prosthetic nose, has reignited debate over whether producers were right to cast Saldana, an American of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. Simone’s estate have since waded into the row, telling Saldana on Twitter: “Please take Nina’s name out your mouth. For the rest of your life.”
Continue reading...
- 3/9/2016
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Simone’s daughter also criticises personal vilification of the actor for donning dark makeup and a prosthetic nose to play legendary singer
Queen Latifah and Paula Patton have defended Zoe Saldana against claims that she performed in “blackface” to star as Nina Simone in the forthcoming biopic of the singer.
The release last week of a new trailer and poster for Cynthia Mort’s film, titled Nina, which showed Saladana wearing dark makeup and a prosthetic nose, has reignited debate over whether producers were right to cast Saldana, an American of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. Simone’s estate have since waded into the row, telling Saldana on Twitter: “Please take Nina’s name out your mouth. For the rest of your life.”
Continue reading...
Queen Latifah and Paula Patton have defended Zoe Saldana against claims that she performed in “blackface” to star as Nina Simone in the forthcoming biopic of the singer.
The release last week of a new trailer and poster for Cynthia Mort’s film, titled Nina, which showed Saladana wearing dark makeup and a prosthetic nose, has reignited debate over whether producers were right to cast Saldana, an American of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. Simone’s estate have since waded into the row, telling Saldana on Twitter: “Please take Nina’s name out your mouth. For the rest of your life.”
Continue reading...
- 3/9/2016
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
The estate of Nina Simone took umbrage with a quote tweeted by actress Zoe Saldana, who will portray the late singer in a controversial, upcoming biopic.
Saldana has faced immense criticism over her casting in Nina due to her lack of both singing experience and resemblance to the singer and civil rights activist. She reportedly darkened her face with make-up and wore a prosthetic nose during the shoot. Upon the release of the first trailer for the long-delayed film, Saldana tweeted a Simone quote, "I'll tell you what freedom is...
Saldana has faced immense criticism over her casting in Nina due to her lack of both singing experience and resemblance to the singer and civil rights activist. She reportedly darkened her face with make-up and wore a prosthetic nose during the shoot. Upon the release of the first trailer for the long-delayed film, Saldana tweeted a Simone quote, "I'll tell you what freedom is...
- 3/3/2016
- Rollingstone.com
Release of new trailer and poster for Nina has reignited claims that the Guardians of the Galaxy actor played the iconic soul singer in ‘blackface’
The estate of Nina Simone has slapped down Zoe Saldana, the star of a controversial new biopic about the late soul icon, in an excoriating Twitter post.
The release on Thursday of a new trailer and poster for Nina has reignited debate over whether producers were right to cast Saldana, a Us woman of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, given the actor required dark makeup and a prosthetic nose to resemble her subject. A number of Twitter users accused the Star Trek actor of performing in “blackface”, and now the carriers of Simone’s flame have weighed in to condemn Cynthia Mort’s film.
Continue reading...
The estate of Nina Simone has slapped down Zoe Saldana, the star of a controversial new biopic about the late soul icon, in an excoriating Twitter post.
The release on Thursday of a new trailer and poster for Nina has reignited debate over whether producers were right to cast Saldana, a Us woman of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, given the actor required dark makeup and a prosthetic nose to resemble her subject. A number of Twitter users accused the Star Trek actor of performing in “blackface”, and now the carriers of Simone’s flame have weighed in to condemn Cynthia Mort’s film.
Continue reading...
- 3/3/2016
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding “Nina,” the forthcoming Nina Simone biopic directed and written by Cynthia Mort and starring Zoe Saldana. Since the casting announcement was made last year, many cried afoul, saying she wasn’t quite right to play the late singer-songwriter. Then in the July 2015 issue of “InStyle,” the actress herself admitted she agreed with the naysayers. “I didn’t think I was right for the part, and I know a lot of people will agree,” she said. “But then again, I don’t think Elizabeth Taylor was right for Cleopatra either.” Now the time comes when we can decide for ourselves. The first full trailer for “Nina” premiered this morning, showcasing Saldana in full Simone garb—makeup and prosthetics intact. What do you think? Was she the best actor for the part? The biopic, which has been in production for years and delayed several times,...
- 3/2/2016
- backstage.com
Given the impact she made on the music industry, it’s slightly shocking that it’s taken so long for a Nina Simone biopic to come to fruition.
The forthcoming “Nina” flick, starring Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo, just released a preview trailer and a collection of photos ahead of the April 22nd theatrical date.
According to the synopsis, the film is largely based around Nina Simone’s relationship with her former nurse-turned-manager Clifton Henderson. “Nina” was directed by Cynthia Mort.
The forthcoming “Nina” flick, starring Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo, just released a preview trailer and a collection of photos ahead of the April 22nd theatrical date.
According to the synopsis, the film is largely based around Nina Simone’s relationship with her former nurse-turned-manager Clifton Henderson. “Nina” was directed by Cynthia Mort.
- 3/2/2016
- GossipCenter
Given the impact she made on the music industry, it’s slightly shocking that it’s taken so long for a Nina Simone biopic to come to fruition.
The forthcoming “Nina” flick, starring Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo, just released a preview trailer and a collection of photos ahead of the April 22nd theatrical date.
According to the synopsis, the film is largely based around Nina Simone’s relationship with her former nurse-turned-manager Clifton Henderson. “Nina” was directed by Cynthia Mort.
The forthcoming “Nina” flick, starring Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo, just released a preview trailer and a collection of photos ahead of the April 22nd theatrical date.
According to the synopsis, the film is largely based around Nina Simone’s relationship with her former nurse-turned-manager Clifton Henderson. “Nina” was directed by Cynthia Mort.
- 3/2/2016
- GossipCenter
Nina, an upcoming film from filmmaker Cynthia Mort just dropped its first trailer today. Starring Zoe Saldana in the role of renowned musician and civil rights activist Nina Simone, the film follows her life and struggles as a legendary musician.
Check out the trailer below:
You can also check out the recently-released poster for the film below:
This is a film that's been sitting in a vault somewhere for quite some time, as it was first shown at the Cannes Film Festival back in May of 2014. One has to wonder why it's taken so long for the film to drop.
What do you think of the trailer? Let us know down below!
Nina hits theaters and VOD on April 22, 2016.
Sources: Today, Entertainment Weekly
Joseph Jammer Medina Holy shit! Why all the hate for the new Ghostbusters trailer? https://t.co/9wimQPbSqa about 40 minutes ago...
Check out the trailer below:
You can also check out the recently-released poster for the film below:
This is a film that's been sitting in a vault somewhere for quite some time, as it was first shown at the Cannes Film Festival back in May of 2014. One has to wonder why it's taken so long for the film to drop.
What do you think of the trailer? Let us know down below!
Nina hits theaters and VOD on April 22, 2016.
Sources: Today, Entertainment Weekly
Joseph Jammer Medina Holy shit! Why all the hate for the new Ghostbusters trailer? https://t.co/9wimQPbSqa about 40 minutes ago...
- 3/2/2016
- by Joseph Medina
- LRMonline.com
A biopic of musician Nina Simone has been in the works for years, and Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy star Zoe Saldana has finally brought it to life. Saldana stars in Nina, which takes the "slice of life" approach to the genre that has become commonplace after Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story skewered the cradle to the grave method. Nina joins Don Cheadle's Miles Ahead and Ethan Hawke's Born to Be Blue in this year's lineup of musical biopics.
Cynthia Mort makes her directorial debut with this film (she wrote it, too), which arrives in theaters on April 22. As far as pure looks go, I'd say SNL's Leslie Jones bears a better resemblance to the real woman than Saldana, but biopics aren't all about looks; it remains to be seen whether the actress will be able to do justice to the story of "The High Priestess of Soul.
Cynthia Mort makes her directorial debut with this film (she wrote it, too), which arrives in theaters on April 22. As far as pure looks go, I'd say SNL's Leslie Jones bears a better resemblance to the real woman than Saldana, but biopics aren't all about looks; it remains to be seen whether the actress will be able to do justice to the story of "The High Priestess of Soul.
- 3/2/2016
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
"Tell him to get me my money!!" Rlj Entertainment has debuted a trailer via the Today show for a film called Nina, starring Zoe Saldana as the very rambunctious Nina Simone, who was a singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. While there was a documentary made about Nina recently nominated for an Oscar this year, called What Happened, Miss Simone?, but this film is a much more powerful drama and features the relationship between Nina and Clifton Henderson, played by David Oyelowo. Both Saldana and Oyelowo look kind of amazing in this, no seriously, they looks incredible. Kind of interesting to follow up the Oscar ceremony - like, look, here is a great black performance!! Or two! The full cast includes Mike Epps, Ronald Guttman, Ella Joyce and Ella Thomas. I'm looking forward to seeing this. Take a look below. Here's the first official trailer for Cynthia Mort's Nina,...
- 3/2/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Following up the Oscar-nominated What Happened, Miss Simone? last year, the story of Nina Simone will get a narrative version this year, with the long-delayed biopic Nina finally arriving. Embroiled in controversy for the last few years, it’ll now be getting small theatrical run and VOD release later next month, and today brings the first trailer. Directed by Cynthia Mort and starring Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo, it follows a period in which the artist was struggling with depression and addiction, but stages a comeback. Check out the trailer below, in between the synopsis and the poster.
She was one of the century’s most extraordinary talents, a 15-time Grammy nominee and Grammy Hall of Fame Recipient; her mesmerizing songs and passionate politics combined to make her the unforgettable Nina Simone (Zoe Saldana). But fame and fortune came with a price, and her later years were riddled with depression,...
She was one of the century’s most extraordinary talents, a 15-time Grammy nominee and Grammy Hall of Fame Recipient; her mesmerizing songs and passionate politics combined to make her the unforgettable Nina Simone (Zoe Saldana). But fame and fortune came with a price, and her later years were riddled with depression,...
- 3/2/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Read More: Zoe Saldana Dishes on Behind-the-Scenes Mismanagement of Nina Simone Film The long-gestating (and apparently "mismanaged") Nina Simone biopic "Nina," is finally set for release, following a series of setbacks involving casting changes, an unhappy leading lady, copious legal action and a lot of questions about some of the casting choices that went into its creation. Starring Zoe Saldana as the beloved American jazz singer and so-called "High Priestess of Soul," the Cynthia Mort-directed film looks to take the long view on Simone's career, with a special emphasis on her relationship with her manager Clifton Henderson (played in the film by David Oyelowo). The first trailer for the feature has arrived now, thanks to Today.com, and it sees Saldana attempting to get into Simone's talented (but mercurial) skin by way of singing, drinking, smoking, fighting, crusading for equal rights and eventually staging a comeback. The film also.
- 3/2/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Update to yesterday's announcement that the film will finally be released in April, after 2 years of uncertainty... as I suspected would happen today, a trailer for the film is now online. Watch it below. *** Rlj Entertainment has announced that "Nina" - the controversial Nina Simone film starring Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo - will be released in theaters, VOD and Digital HD on April 22, 2016. "Nina" is written and directed by Cynthia Mort. Official synopsis: She was one of the century's most extraordinary talents, a 15-time Grammy nominee and Grammy Hall of Fame Recipient; her mesmerizing songs and passionate politics combined to make her the...
- 3/2/2016
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
If you're wondering why the Nina Simone biopic "Nina," starring Zoe Saldana, has taken more than two years since shooting wrapped to see the light of day, part of the reason has been lawsuits. Back in 2014, prior to the film's debut for buyers at the Cannes Film Festival market, director Cynthia Mort sued production company Ealing Studios, claiming they interfered over her approvals of the final shooting script, casting, distribution, budget, and more, and that the movie was no longer reflective of her vision of the jazz legend. And thus, the picture gathered dust, only to finally be acquired last fall by indie house Rlj Entertainment. Read More: 15 Great Unconventional Biopics Co-starring David Oyelowo, the picture actually focuses on the latter part of Simone's life, and her relationship with her assistant Clifton Henderson. It's certainly not the most obvious section of the singer and pianist's life to focus on, but...
- 3/2/2016
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Welcome to Outrage Watch, HitFix's semi-regular rundown of entertainment-related kerfuffles. Not feeling anxious enough already? Get your fix of righteous indignation below, and stay posted for outrage updates throughout the week. Update (3/3, 6:43 Pm Est): Robert L. Johnson, the founder and chairman of Nina distributor Rlj Entertainment, has released an official statement on the casting controversy. Here it is in full: “Zoe Saldana delivers an exceptional and mesmerizing tribute to Nina Simone. She gave her heart and soul to the role and displayed her extraordinary talent. The most important thing is that creativity or quality of performance should never be judged on the basis of color, or ethnicity, or physical likeness. Quality entertainment should be measured by the sheer force of creativity and the commitment that an actor or actress brings to the performance. We are proud to distribute the film headlined by Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo on...
- 3/2/2016
- by Chris Eggertsen
- Hitfix
The film finally gets a release date, after 2 years of uncertainty. Rlj Entertainment has announced that "Nina" - the controversial Nina Simone film starring Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo - will be released in theaters, VOD and Digital HD on April 22, 2016. "Nina" is written and directed by Cynthia Mort. Official synopsis: She was one of the century's most extraordinary talents, a 15-time Grammy nominee and Grammy Hall of Fame Recipient; her mesmerizing songs and passionate politics combined to make her the unforgettable Nina Simone (Zoe Saldana). But fame and fortune came with a price, and her later years were riddled with depression, alcohol abuse and...
- 3/1/2016
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Nina, the long-delayed Nina Simone biopic starring Zoe Saldana in the title role, will hit theaters in December, with Rlj Entertainment acquiring North American rights to the project, Entertainment Weekly reports.
Written and directed by Cynthia Mort, the film chronicles Simone's struggles to balance social activism with her acclaimed music career, which included 15 Grammy nominations and legendary songs like "Feeling Good" and "My Baby Just Cares For Me." Nina also touches on the isolation Simone felt living alone in France, where she met her assistant Clifton Henderson (David Oyelowo).
Robert L. Johnson,...
Written and directed by Cynthia Mort, the film chronicles Simone's struggles to balance social activism with her acclaimed music career, which included 15 Grammy nominations and legendary songs like "Feeling Good" and "My Baby Just Cares For Me." Nina also touches on the isolation Simone felt living alone in France, where she met her assistant Clifton Henderson (David Oyelowo).
Robert L. Johnson,...
- 9/11/2015
- Rollingstone.com
Read More: Here's How Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker Liz Garbus Brought Nina Simone to Life Rlj Entertainment has acquired North American theatrical rights to "Nina," the much-anticipated biopic of legendary jazz singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone. The film is the feature debut for writer-director Cynthia Mort and stars Zoe Saldana ("Avatar," "Guardians of the Galaxy") in the titular role, with David Oyelowo ("Selma," "The Butler") by her side. Simone, who died in 2003, was a 15-time Grammy nominee and received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2000. The late singer was already the subject of the acclaimed Neflix documentary "What Happened, Miss Simone?" earlier this year. The casting of Saldana was met with initial controversy in 2013. "Nina" traces the life of the amazing vocalist, as she struggles to balance her music, family life and her convictions. Simone finds herself exiled from America...
- 9/10/2015
- by Tarek Shoukri
- Indiewire
The Zoe Saldana-led Nina Simone biopic “Nina” has been acquired by Rlj Entertainment, the company announced Thursday. “Nina” also stars David Oyelowo and was written and directed by Cynthia Mort. Rlj is planning a December release for the film, which generated considerable online controversy of the casting of light-skinned actress Saldana in the lead role. The film traces the career of legendary American singer-songwriter and civil rights activist, following her struggle to balance music, family and what she believes in, which leaves her living alone in France feeling exiled from her own country. That is, until she meets Clifton Henderson (Oyelowo) who.
- 9/10/2015
- by Linda Ge
- The Wrap
Deadline founder and former editor-in-chief Nikki Finke is up and running with Hollywood Dementia, a new website devoted to fiction showbiz stories written by Hollywood insiders. She tells me the site gets off the ground today with offerings from Hollywood lawyer Bertram Fields, David Letterman's head writer Bill Scheft, Antonia Bogdanovich (daughter of Peter Bogdanovich and Polly Platt), and TV and feature writers Peter Lefcourt, Cynthia Mort, Jay Abramowitz & Tom Musca…...
- 8/3/2015
- Deadline
Eddie Murphy is in talks to join Mike Epps, Oprah Winfrey and Kate Hudson in the Richard Pryor biopic that Lee Daniels is directing for The Weinstein Co. Murphy will play Richard Pryor's father, LeRoy Pryor, while the previously cast Winfrey will play Marie Carter, Pryor's grandmother, and Hudson as Jennifer Lee Pryor, Richard Pryor’s 4th wife. Entertainment Tonight first reported the news of Murphy's casting. I should note that Mike Epps actually plays Richard Pryor in Cynthia Mort's still-unreleased Nina Simone film that Zoe Saldana stars in. A rather gutsy choice by Daniels and company, this could be the dramatic catalyst that...
- 3/14/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Zoe Saldana knows how to play ass-kicking, universe-saving, unusually colorful heroes like Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy, Neytiri in Avatar, and Uhura in Star Trek. But for her new AOL web series, Saldana turned the camera on everyday people who play the role of the hero. In My Hero, which debuted yesterday, Saldana and some of her fellow celebrities—including Julianne Hough, Nick Cannon and Maria Menounos—pay tribute to the people they cherish via short, touching vignettes. "People are generally very grateful to the people around them that keep them together, that supported them, that encouraged them to...
- 10/25/2014
- by Carolyn Todd
- EW.com - PopWatch
Jennifer Garner provides some insight into her family life with Ben Affleck.
Jennifer Garner, Zoe Saldana, Elizabeth Banks, Tina Fey and more cover Elle's 21st annual Women in Hollywood issue, in which the actresses get candid on everything from their career goals to where their confidence comes from.
In particular, Garner, 42, admits that her smaller, more indie roles in films since starting a family with Ben Affleck are no coincidence.
News: Jennifer Garner on Ben Affleck's 'Batman' Bod: 'It Feels Like I'm Having an Affair'
"My ambition shifted when I had kids in a way that I didn't anticipate," the Juno actress says. "I became more ambitious for my life as a whole, and for that kind of health and happiness of the overall family unit. And that very much includes my husband and very much includes me."
But if you think Affleck is the one telling her to stay at home to watch their three kids...
Jennifer Garner, Zoe Saldana, Elizabeth Banks, Tina Fey and more cover Elle's 21st annual Women in Hollywood issue, in which the actresses get candid on everything from their career goals to where their confidence comes from.
In particular, Garner, 42, admits that her smaller, more indie roles in films since starting a family with Ben Affleck are no coincidence.
News: Jennifer Garner on Ben Affleck's 'Batman' Bod: 'It Feels Like I'm Having an Affair'
"My ambition shifted when I had kids in a way that I didn't anticipate," the Juno actress says. "I became more ambitious for my life as a whole, and for that kind of health and happiness of the overall family unit. And that very much includes my husband and very much includes me."
But if you think Affleck is the one telling her to stay at home to watch their three kids...
- 10/9/2014
- Entertainment Tonight
The long-planned market screening of a biopic about legendary jazz singer Nina Simone starring Zoe Saldana went ahead May 15 despite a lawsuit filed by director Cynthia Mort claiming its British production company has hijacked the film. The suit was filed May 14 in Los Angeles, just hours before U.K. sales and finance banner Metro International unspooled the film to buyers. Mort alleges producer Ealing Studios Enterprises, has breached the terms of her director deal by cutting her out of the final editing process. She seeks a court ruling requiring her inclusion. Cannes Photos: Glamorous Gowns on the Cannes
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- 5/15/2014
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
So you remember that Nina Simone biopic that Zoe Saldana is starring in? The one that everyone was all up in arms about over her casting? Well, finally it’s going to see the light of day, this week, at the Cannes Film Market (Marche du Film), where it'll be screened for potential international distributors.However, one person who almost certainly won’t be present, is the director of the film, Cynthia Mort, who is none-too-happy about developments regarding the production of the film, and she has now taken legal action.In fact, according to The Hollywood Reporter (Here), Mort filed a lawsuit this week, against the British producer of the film, Ealing Studios...
- 5/15/2014
- by Sergio
- ShadowAndAct
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