Exclusive: Jessica Alba (Sin City), Russell Harvard (Fargo), and Daniel Durant (Coda) are attached to star in sports feature film Flash Before the Bang, inspired by the true story of an all-deaf high school track and field team in 1980’s Oregon.
The film heralds from deaf writer-director Jevon Whetter, on whose experience the story is based. Oscar winners Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are exec producers along with Fanshen Cox in association with Trujulo Productions. Jessica Alba is also an exec producer.
Production is due begin in September in Georgia on the project, in which more than half of the characters in the ensemble cast will deaf and portrayed by deaf actors. Brothers Jevon and Delbert (producer) Whetter are from a multigenerational deaf family, while actors Harvard and Durant are also deaf.
The Exchange is introducing the title to international buyers at the Cannes Film Market this week with UTA Independent Film Group representing U.
The film heralds from deaf writer-director Jevon Whetter, on whose experience the story is based. Oscar winners Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are exec producers along with Fanshen Cox in association with Trujulo Productions. Jessica Alba is also an exec producer.
Production is due begin in September in Georgia on the project, in which more than half of the characters in the ensemble cast will deaf and portrayed by deaf actors. Brothers Jevon and Delbert (producer) Whetter are from a multigenerational deaf family, while actors Harvard and Durant are also deaf.
The Exchange is introducing the title to international buyers at the Cannes Film Market this week with UTA Independent Film Group representing U.
- 5/17/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Projects come from 34 different countries.
Projects from Rodrigo Reyes, Ike Nnaebue and Sean McAllister are among 48 titles that will be pitched to international and UK industry representatives and experts at this year’s Sheffield DocFest MeetMarket.
One of the world’s largest documentary and factual pitching forums, MeetMarket moved to the beginning of the festival and will take place on June 15-16 with all projects in the development or production stage.
The projects have been selected from more than 500 submissions. Rodrigo Reyes, whose doc Sanson And Me was the winner of DocFest’s 2022 international competition, is pitching Mexican-us co-pro Warrior Mothers.
Projects from Rodrigo Reyes, Ike Nnaebue and Sean McAllister are among 48 titles that will be pitched to international and UK industry representatives and experts at this year’s Sheffield DocFest MeetMarket.
One of the world’s largest documentary and factual pitching forums, MeetMarket moved to the beginning of the festival and will take place on June 15-16 with all projects in the development or production stage.
The projects have been selected from more than 500 submissions. Rodrigo Reyes, whose doc Sanson And Me was the winner of DocFest’s 2022 international competition, is pitching Mexican-us co-pro Warrior Mothers.
- 4/25/2023
- by Heather Fallon Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Click here to read the full article.
Heartstopper, Sesame Street and The Baby-Sitters Club walked away with top honors during the second night of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ inaugural Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.
HBO Max’s Sesame Street took the honor for outstanding preschool series, while Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club garnered the top award in the children’s or family viewing series category. Netflix’s Heartstopper took the win for young teen series.
Heartstopper had the most wins of the night, with four, including best guest performance in a preschool, children’s or young teen program (Heartstopper) for Olivia Colman. Netflix’s Kid Cosmic also was a multiple winner, taking home two awards.
Other notable winners included Helen Mirren, who was named best host for Cartoon Network/TBS’ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses.
Hosted by Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show‘s Jack McBrayer and held at L.
Heartstopper, Sesame Street and The Baby-Sitters Club walked away with top honors during the second night of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ inaugural Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.
HBO Max’s Sesame Street took the honor for outstanding preschool series, while Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club garnered the top award in the children’s or family viewing series category. Netflix’s Heartstopper took the win for young teen series.
Heartstopper had the most wins of the night, with four, including best guest performance in a preschool, children’s or young teen program (Heartstopper) for Olivia Colman. Netflix’s Kid Cosmic also was a multiple winner, taking home two awards.
Other notable winners included Helen Mirren, who was named best host for Cartoon Network/TBS’ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses.
Hosted by Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show‘s Jack McBrayer and held at L.
- 12/12/2022
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Maya and the Three, Sneakerella and Netflix were among the big winners at The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ inaugural Children’s & Family Emmy Awards on Saturday.
Presented as the first half of a two-night event held at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles, the Dec. 10 ceremony celebrated winners in more than 30 creative arts categories, from directing, writing and editing to stunt work, choreography and song spanning live action, animation, interactive, promotional, single camera and multicamera media.
Netflix’s Maya and the Three and Disney+’s Sneakerella walked away with the most honors, both taking home three awards. Another Disney+ title, The Quest, came in second with two wins. Netflix ultimately led wins by distribution, nabbing 13 total followed by Disney+ with 10 and Apple TV+ with two.
During the show, the late Gilbert Gottfried was remembered during the in-memoriam for Cyberchase.
Maya and the Three, Sneakerella and Netflix were among the big winners at The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ inaugural Children’s & Family Emmy Awards on Saturday.
Presented as the first half of a two-night event held at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles, the Dec. 10 ceremony celebrated winners in more than 30 creative arts categories, from directing, writing and editing to stunt work, choreography and song spanning live action, animation, interactive, promotional, single camera and multicamera media.
Netflix’s Maya and the Three and Disney+’s Sneakerella walked away with the most honors, both taking home three awards. Another Disney+ title, The Quest, came in second with two wins. Netflix ultimately led wins by distribution, nabbing 13 total followed by Disney+ with 10 and Apple TV+ with two.
During the show, the late Gilbert Gottfried was remembered during the in-memoriam for Cyberchase.
- 12/11/2022
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After splitting off from the Daytime Emmys, the first-ever Children’s & Family Emmys ceremony is here.
Taking place at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 10, the first night of the festivities focused on the creative arts, with trophies doled out for achievements in writing, directing, voice direction, cinematography, editing and more.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced the establishment of the Children’s & Family Emmys in late 2021, nodding to recent growth in scope and reach among that programming, which NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said could “stand on its own two feet.” Indeed, younger audiences aren’t strictly daytime cable viewers anymore — much of the innovation in children’s and family TV in recent years has happened in streaming. Case in point: Netflix was nominated for more awards than any other platform, beating even Disney+, Disney Channel and Disney Junior combined.
Saturday...
Taking place at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 10, the first night of the festivities focused on the creative arts, with trophies doled out for achievements in writing, directing, voice direction, cinematography, editing and more.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced the establishment of the Children’s & Family Emmys in late 2021, nodding to recent growth in scope and reach among that programming, which NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said could “stand on its own two feet.” Indeed, younger audiences aren’t strictly daytime cable viewers anymore — much of the innovation in children’s and family TV in recent years has happened in streaming. Case in point: Netflix was nominated for more awards than any other platform, beating even Disney+, Disney Channel and Disney Junior combined.
Saturday...
- 12/11/2022
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
This weekend, the inaugural Children’s & Family Emmy Awards will kick off at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, marking a major moment for both the programming space and TV industry at large.
It was an effort years in the making says Adam Sharp, The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences CEO and president, and one that seeks to honor one of the most rapidly growing genres awarded by NATAS. The first standalone expansion of the Emmy Award competition since the launch of the Sports Emmy Awards and the News & Documentary Emmy Awards in 1979, the two-night event will feature onstage, in-room interpreters; more than 50 categories; counts YouTube star-multihyphenate performer JoJo Siwa and comedian-actor Jack McBrayer as its creative arts and main ceremony hosts, respectively; and present a special lifetime achievement honor to children’s and family icon LeVar Burton.
With a...
This weekend, the inaugural Children’s & Family Emmy Awards will kick off at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, marking a major moment for both the programming space and TV industry at large.
It was an effort years in the making says Adam Sharp, The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences CEO and president, and one that seeks to honor one of the most rapidly growing genres awarded by NATAS. The first standalone expansion of the Emmy Award competition since the launch of the Sports Emmy Awards and the News & Documentary Emmy Awards in 1979, the two-night event will feature onstage, in-room interpreters; more than 50 categories; counts YouTube star-multihyphenate performer JoJo Siwa and comedian-actor Jack McBrayer as its creative arts and main ceremony hosts, respectively; and present a special lifetime achievement honor to children’s and family icon LeVar Burton.
With a...
- 12/9/2022
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Laurence Fishburne, Kyla Pratt (“The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”) and “Heartstopper” stars William Gao and Joe Locke are among the presenters lined up for the first-ever Children’s & Family Emmys, Variety has learned exclusively.
The awards, overseen by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, will take place over two nights this coming weekend. JoJo Siwa, nominated for outstanding choreography (Peacock’s “Siwa’s Dance Pop Revolution”) hosts the creative arts ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 10, while the main event on Sunday, Dec. 10, will be hosted by Jack McBrayer, who is nominated for outstanding host.
As previously announced, LeVar Burton will receive the lifetime achievement award on Dec. 11, presented by Fishburne. And the all-girl group Xomg Pop! Will perform on Dec. 10. Both nights take place at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles.
Also appearing during the Dec. 11 event is the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, which will perform. Presenters include Indigenous actor Sovereign Bill,...
The awards, overseen by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, will take place over two nights this coming weekend. JoJo Siwa, nominated for outstanding choreography (Peacock’s “Siwa’s Dance Pop Revolution”) hosts the creative arts ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 10, while the main event on Sunday, Dec. 10, will be hosted by Jack McBrayer, who is nominated for outstanding host.
As previously announced, LeVar Burton will receive the lifetime achievement award on Dec. 11, presented by Fishburne. And the all-girl group Xomg Pop! Will perform on Dec. 10. Both nights take place at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles.
Also appearing during the Dec. 11 event is the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, which will perform. Presenters include Indigenous actor Sovereign Bill,...
- 12/5/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
The 2022 Oscars were certainly one for the history books.
With multiple historic wins — “Coda” star Troy Kotsur becoming the first deaf man to win an acting award, and Jane Campion becoming the third woman to win Best Director, among others — and plenty of viral moments, the Academy Awards outdid themselves once again by becoming, well, undone.
As Jessica Chastain scooped up Best Actress for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and Ariana DeBose followed Rita Moreno’s historic footsteps and won for playing Anita in “West Side Story,” and Will Smith landed his first Oscar for “King Richard,” Hollywood’s biggest night was full of starry surprises.
And “Coda”‘s unprecedented Best Picture win cemented Apple TV+ as a cutting-edge streamer, with the platform becoming the first to take home the night’s top prize.
The film’s writer-director Sian Heder also won for Best Adapted Screenplay, and called “The Power of the Dog...
With multiple historic wins — “Coda” star Troy Kotsur becoming the first deaf man to win an acting award, and Jane Campion becoming the third woman to win Best Director, among others — and plenty of viral moments, the Academy Awards outdid themselves once again by becoming, well, undone.
As Jessica Chastain scooped up Best Actress for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and Ariana DeBose followed Rita Moreno’s historic footsteps and won for playing Anita in “West Side Story,” and Will Smith landed his first Oscar for “King Richard,” Hollywood’s biggest night was full of starry surprises.
And “Coda”‘s unprecedented Best Picture win cemented Apple TV+ as a cutting-edge streamer, with the platform becoming the first to take home the night’s top prize.
The film’s writer-director Sian Heder also won for Best Adapted Screenplay, and called “The Power of the Dog...
- 3/28/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Coda star Troy Kotsur this morning became the first deaf male actor ever to earn an Oscar nomination, and spoke with Deadline about what the watershed moment means for the deaf community, as well as his upcoming film Flash Before the Bang and more.
Kotsur said that he was “extremely thrilled” by his nomination, along with the Apple film‘s noms for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay, given the role the Oscars play in bringing recognition to deserving work and the artists behind it. “I feel like it’s wonderful to be able to share this experience with the deaf community and with the hearing community,” the actor said via an Asl interpreter. “It’s so exciting and such a blessing.”
Coda is a comedic drama based on the French film La Famille Bélier, which tells the story of Ruby (Emilia Jones), a Coda (or “child of deaf adult”) who...
Kotsur said that he was “extremely thrilled” by his nomination, along with the Apple film‘s noms for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay, given the role the Oscars play in bringing recognition to deserving work and the artists behind it. “I feel like it’s wonderful to be able to share this experience with the deaf community and with the hearing community,” the actor said via an Asl interpreter. “It’s so exciting and such a blessing.”
Coda is a comedic drama based on the French film La Famille Bélier, which tells the story of Ruby (Emilia Jones), a Coda (or “child of deaf adult”) who...
- 2/8/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Tara Nicole Whitaker will make her feature directorial debut with “Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk,” an upcoming musically-driven animated film which she will co-direct alongside John D. Eraklis.
The film’s cast includes such heavy-weight talents as Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Coolidge, Kenan Thompson, Howie Mandel, Luis Guzmán, Paul Blackthorne, Jamal Trulove, Domenick Lombardozzi, Evan Ross and Ashlee Simpson. Will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson and Snoop Dogg recently joined the ensemble voice cast and will executive produce “Pierre The Pigeon-Hawk,” which is intended to promote diversity, inclusion, and community.
“I am beyond delighted to join this incredible team of artists, musicians and storytellers to explore Pierre’s world and bring this wonderfully vibrant and inspiring tale of self-discovery to life,” Whitaker said in a statement.
Whitaker’s involvement is a glass-ceiling shattering moment. She is one of the first Black women to direct a major animated movie, an important milestone for representation behind-the-camera. Whitaker is...
The film’s cast includes such heavy-weight talents as Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Coolidge, Kenan Thompson, Howie Mandel, Luis Guzmán, Paul Blackthorne, Jamal Trulove, Domenick Lombardozzi, Evan Ross and Ashlee Simpson. Will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson and Snoop Dogg recently joined the ensemble voice cast and will executive produce “Pierre The Pigeon-Hawk,” which is intended to promote diversity, inclusion, and community.
“I am beyond delighted to join this incredible team of artists, musicians and storytellers to explore Pierre’s world and bring this wonderfully vibrant and inspiring tale of self-discovery to life,” Whitaker said in a statement.
Whitaker’s involvement is a glass-ceiling shattering moment. She is one of the first Black women to direct a major animated movie, an important milestone for representation behind-the-camera. Whitaker is...
- 8/17/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Pearl Street Films and Exodus Film Group have boarded “Flash Before the Bang,” a sports drama about an all-deaf high school track team.
The film has been in development for some time and will star Troy Kotsur, who was recently seen in “Coda,” along with actress Deanne Bray and “Deaf U” host Nyle Dimarco.
“Flash Before the Bang” is a coming-of-age story inspired by the life of the film’s deaf writer and director Jevon Whetter. It follows a track and field team at the Oregon High School for the Deaf who in 1986 overcame discrimination and adversity to become state champions.
Kotsur in the film will play the team’s head coach, Dimarco an assistant coach, and Bray will portray the mother of one of the film’s young co-lead.
“Flash Before the Bang” will also now utilize an inclusion rider, which Pearl Street...
The film has been in development for some time and will star Troy Kotsur, who was recently seen in “Coda,” along with actress Deanne Bray and “Deaf U” host Nyle Dimarco.
“Flash Before the Bang” is a coming-of-age story inspired by the life of the film’s deaf writer and director Jevon Whetter. It follows a track and field team at the Oregon High School for the Deaf who in 1986 overcame discrimination and adversity to become state champions.
Kotsur in the film will play the team’s head coach, Dimarco an assistant coach, and Bray will portray the mother of one of the film’s young co-lead.
“Flash Before the Bang” will also now utilize an inclusion rider, which Pearl Street...
- 8/16/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Troy Kotsur (Coda), Nyle Dimarco (America’s Next Top Model) and Deanne Bray (Heroes) are attached to star in Flash Before The Bang, a groundbreaking sports pic from Pearl Street Films and Exodus Film Group.
The coming-of-age drama tells the true story of an all-deaf high school track & field team from the Oregon School for the Deaf. The team overcame discrimination and adversity on their way to an unprecedented victory against much larger Oregon public schools—becoming the Oregon State Track & Field Champions in 1986.
Kotsur will play the lead role of Coach Farrior, with Dimarco playing an assistant coach. Bray will portray Mrs. Warner, the mother of the film’s co-lead Jake, whose journey the film follows. Casting for other roles is currently underway, with an eye towards filming in the spring.
Flash Before the Bang showcases the Deaf experience in an unprecedented way: through the authentic lens of a...
The coming-of-age drama tells the true story of an all-deaf high school track & field team from the Oregon School for the Deaf. The team overcame discrimination and adversity on their way to an unprecedented victory against much larger Oregon public schools—becoming the Oregon State Track & Field Champions in 1986.
Kotsur will play the lead role of Coach Farrior, with Dimarco playing an assistant coach. Bray will portray Mrs. Warner, the mother of the film’s co-lead Jake, whose journey the film follows. Casting for other roles is currently underway, with an eye towards filming in the spring.
Flash Before the Bang showcases the Deaf experience in an unprecedented way: through the authentic lens of a...
- 8/16/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
RespectAbility will have a heavy presence at Sundance this year, with a lineup of virtual panels and discussions, all on digital Main Street.
The disability advocacy group is presenting five conversations under the umbrella title the Accessibility & Inclusion Lab; two of the events are in collaboration with Film Independent.
A goal is to encourage authentic representation of disabled people on screen, and to help change how audiences view people with disabilities. Another goal is to give filmmakers the tools to make films more accessible, both for disabled crew members and for audiences.
According to Nielsen, the disability market influences more than a trillion dollars in disposable income. However, with one-in-five people in the U.S. having a disability, there is a startling lack of representation – just 2.3% of characters in the 100 top-grossing films of 2019 and 8% in family films.
“What we see and hear on screen influences how we act in real life,...
The disability advocacy group is presenting five conversations under the umbrella title the Accessibility & Inclusion Lab; two of the events are in collaboration with Film Independent.
A goal is to encourage authentic representation of disabled people on screen, and to help change how audiences view people with disabilities. Another goal is to give filmmakers the tools to make films more accessible, both for disabled crew members and for audiences.
According to Nielsen, the disability market influences more than a trillion dollars in disposable income. However, with one-in-five people in the U.S. having a disability, there is a startling lack of representation – just 2.3% of characters in the 100 top-grossing films of 2019 and 8% in family films.
“What we see and hear on screen influences how we act in real life,...
- 1/28/2021
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, SXSW winner “Saint Frances” gets a home, Kyle Chandler gets cast, Jeannine Tang gets promoted, and the La Film School honors its graduates.
Acquisition
Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. rights to SXSW winner “Saint Frances,” written by and starring Kelly O’Sullivan.
The film premiered at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival and won the Audience Award in the narrative feature competition as well as a special jury recognition for breakthrough voice.
Oscilloscope will release the film in theaters before a roll out to digital platforms. O’Sullivan plays a flailing 34-year-old who lands a much-needed job nannying six-year-old Frances (played by Ramona Edith-Williams), but an unwanted pregnancy introduces an unexpected complication.
The film was produced by James Choi, Pierce Cravens, Ian Keiser, Eddie Linker, and Raphael Nash. Ryan Kampe of Visit Films negotiated the sale on behalf of the filmmakers.
Casting
Kyle Chandler will...
Acquisition
Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. rights to SXSW winner “Saint Frances,” written by and starring Kelly O’Sullivan.
The film premiered at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival and won the Audience Award in the narrative feature competition as well as a special jury recognition for breakthrough voice.
Oscilloscope will release the film in theaters before a roll out to digital platforms. O’Sullivan plays a flailing 34-year-old who lands a much-needed job nannying six-year-old Frances (played by Ramona Edith-Williams), but an unwanted pregnancy introduces an unexpected complication.
The film was produced by James Choi, Pierce Cravens, Ian Keiser, Eddie Linker, and Raphael Nash. Ryan Kampe of Visit Films negotiated the sale on behalf of the filmmakers.
Casting
Kyle Chandler will...
- 8/15/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
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