This is the first installment of Ask IndieWire, in which our team of writers and editors address reader questions related to filmmaking, movies and television. If you have a question you’d like us to answer, write us at ask@indiewire.com.
Within a matter of hours of advertising the ask@indiewire.com email, we received several variations of the same question.
“I’m graduating soon with a degree in film and television studies and am mostly interested in film and television journalism/criticism,” wrote Morgan Picton-James. “What advice would you have for following that career path?”
Farida Ezzat, a fourth-year medical student, had a similar question. “I’m interested in a career in film criticism,” she wrote. “What do you recommend I study after graduating from med school: filmmaking or journalism?” Jessie Rodriguez just cut to the chase: “How does one become a David Ehrlich?”
Every one of these questions — yes, even the last one — reflects a legitimate challenge facing many young writers keen on covering movies. Although there are numerous opportunities on this career path, the media landscape is in constant flux. And while it would be unrealistic to assume that every talented young cinephile could land a gig as the next Roger Ebert (or the next David Ehrlich), there are several practical ways in which a serious, talented journalist can take steps toward doing just that.
I’ve spent the last few years working with aspiring critics and reporters at workshops around the world, and teaching them at Nyu. Many of them have found rewarding paths into the film community, either by landing full-time jobs in media or developing those skills on the side. Here are some of the key guidelines to keep in mind if you’re keen on breaking into the field.
Find deadlines. Stick to them.
Writers who regularly blow deadlines have a rough time finding work and keeping it. Even the really talented ones. Discipline is essential to a developing critic or reporter, and discipline also creates productivity — and productivity goes toward those 10,000 hours everyone likes to talk about. (Whether or not you buy Malcolm Gladwell’s theory, the ethos of “practice makes perfect” still holds water.)
This is especially valuable for budding critics who need to produce distinctive work. Imitating other critics is deadly; so is falling back on clichés. That means developing voice, and the fastest way to do that is get a deadline, hit it, and then do it again.
Finding deadlines depends on your starting point. Students can write for the college newspaper, or intern at an admired publication — or even one they don’t like. The point is to get in the vicinity of writers and editors, with the potential opportunity for bylines. Every story creates a clip, and every clip is one more piece of evidence that you can do the job when pitching publications.
First-rate film publications like Reverse Shot and Slant have been wonderful resources for budding writers; the editors provide smart, insightful, and honest feedback (essential for developing a thick skin). It also makes your byline familiar to publicists and other members of the film community.
Get to know the scene.
Big cities like Los Angeles or New York have a complex network of filmmakers, programmers, publicists, distributors, agents, and journalists. The more effort you make to become a part of this ecosystem, the better. Work the film parties, go to the big screening series and festivals, don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to the room, and build a network of contacts. This will provide screening access, potential stories, and productive work.
If you live outside a big city, you have a chance to be a big fish in a smaller pond. Get to know who runs the big art house theater or local film festival. Being an active critic and reporter means they will see you as a key resource, which could lead to more work.
Find your strengths. Then go beyond them.
Young writers are often keen on covering the films and filmmakers that appeal to them and leave everything else on the sidelines. That’s a mistake: You’re more valuable if can cover an Agnes Varda retrospective as well as the new “Transformers” movie.
This logic also applies to the work: Too many aspiring critics saw Roger Ebert or Leonard Maltin on TV and decided that being a movie reviewer is the one and only career. There’s too many other possibilities, and very few publications hiring full-time critics.
Become a good interviewer, with angles that stand out (your story will almost always be one among many). Become a good reporter, paying attention to hard-news coverage of the entertainment industry. Both force you to interact with people outside the ivory tower of criticism, give you insight into how movies work, and inevitably deepen your well of contacts.
And, since we’re in 2017: Write about television. Not only does every outlet want to cover TV, but also the overlap between film and TV has never been more pronounced.
Finally, pay close attention to the way publications package information. Something that might seem crass or clickbaity — think clever headlines and lists (like this one) — is how outlets reach the widest readership possible. Pitch stories in these terms, and you advance the odds of finding work.
Find a strong angle for everything you write.
The only thing worse than a poorly written story is a boring one. Before you conjure clever one-liners, ask yourself what you really want to say. Does this loud blockbuster illustrate Hollywood’s worst tendencies? Why does this filmmaker do such a bad job of representing women? Did you just watch the best horror movie of the year? Construct real arguments that will pull your readers into your work.
A good editor will tell you if you need to pull back on the prose. Some of my favorite critics, including Manohla Dargis, Wesley Morris, B. Ruby Rich, and Amy Taubin, all have distinctive perspectives that come through both in the specificity of their voices and their specific sensibilities; agreeing with them is irrelevant. Tastes should be transparent: Writers like Glenn Kenny, Nick Pinkerton, and IndieWire’s own David Ehrlich are strong, entertaining writers no matter what they tackle (or where). Nothing can boost your profile faster.
What are your priorities?
Is your agenda to find a stable paycheck, with a good health insurance plan and reasonable hours? Don’t jump headfirst into the freelance lifestyle. Even if you’re overwhelmed with assignments, it can be tricky to maintain that momentum. But don’t let anyone stop you from pursuing your dream; there are ways to produce work on the side. Which leads me to a final point…
Look beyond journalism and criticism.
If movies are your passion, there are many different ways put it to work. Careers in distribution, publicity, and programming all let you watch a lot of movies, engage with filmmakers, travel to festivals, or work at studios. (And: Get paid more.)
I’m a big fan of Andrea Picard’s Film/Art column in Cinema Scope; she’s one of the best writers covering experimental film. She’s also a programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival’s avant-garde Wavelengths section, which gives her an incredible degree of influence beyond the stories she writes.
Before you get carried away about being the next David Ehrlich, think about how that ambition might be expressed with other opportunities. A world of possibilities await.
Related storiesJared Kushner's New York Observer Lays Off Film Critic Rex ReedRichard Schickel, Rip: How the Legendary Critic Defined a GenerationCléo Journal Addresses 'Woeful Lack of Feminist Perspectives' in Film Criticism...
Within a matter of hours of advertising the ask@indiewire.com email, we received several variations of the same question.
“I’m graduating soon with a degree in film and television studies and am mostly interested in film and television journalism/criticism,” wrote Morgan Picton-James. “What advice would you have for following that career path?”
Farida Ezzat, a fourth-year medical student, had a similar question. “I’m interested in a career in film criticism,” she wrote. “What do you recommend I study after graduating from med school: filmmaking or journalism?” Jessie Rodriguez just cut to the chase: “How does one become a David Ehrlich?”
Every one of these questions — yes, even the last one — reflects a legitimate challenge facing many young writers keen on covering movies. Although there are numerous opportunities on this career path, the media landscape is in constant flux. And while it would be unrealistic to assume that every talented young cinephile could land a gig as the next Roger Ebert (or the next David Ehrlich), there are several practical ways in which a serious, talented journalist can take steps toward doing just that.
I’ve spent the last few years working with aspiring critics and reporters at workshops around the world, and teaching them at Nyu. Many of them have found rewarding paths into the film community, either by landing full-time jobs in media or developing those skills on the side. Here are some of the key guidelines to keep in mind if you’re keen on breaking into the field.
Find deadlines. Stick to them.
Writers who regularly blow deadlines have a rough time finding work and keeping it. Even the really talented ones. Discipline is essential to a developing critic or reporter, and discipline also creates productivity — and productivity goes toward those 10,000 hours everyone likes to talk about. (Whether or not you buy Malcolm Gladwell’s theory, the ethos of “practice makes perfect” still holds water.)
This is especially valuable for budding critics who need to produce distinctive work. Imitating other critics is deadly; so is falling back on clichés. That means developing voice, and the fastest way to do that is get a deadline, hit it, and then do it again.
Finding deadlines depends on your starting point. Students can write for the college newspaper, or intern at an admired publication — or even one they don’t like. The point is to get in the vicinity of writers and editors, with the potential opportunity for bylines. Every story creates a clip, and every clip is one more piece of evidence that you can do the job when pitching publications.
First-rate film publications like Reverse Shot and Slant have been wonderful resources for budding writers; the editors provide smart, insightful, and honest feedback (essential for developing a thick skin). It also makes your byline familiar to publicists and other members of the film community.
Get to know the scene.
Big cities like Los Angeles or New York have a complex network of filmmakers, programmers, publicists, distributors, agents, and journalists. The more effort you make to become a part of this ecosystem, the better. Work the film parties, go to the big screening series and festivals, don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to the room, and build a network of contacts. This will provide screening access, potential stories, and productive work.
If you live outside a big city, you have a chance to be a big fish in a smaller pond. Get to know who runs the big art house theater or local film festival. Being an active critic and reporter means they will see you as a key resource, which could lead to more work.
Find your strengths. Then go beyond them.
Young writers are often keen on covering the films and filmmakers that appeal to them and leave everything else on the sidelines. That’s a mistake: You’re more valuable if can cover an Agnes Varda retrospective as well as the new “Transformers” movie.
This logic also applies to the work: Too many aspiring critics saw Roger Ebert or Leonard Maltin on TV and decided that being a movie reviewer is the one and only career. There’s too many other possibilities, and very few publications hiring full-time critics.
Become a good interviewer, with angles that stand out (your story will almost always be one among many). Become a good reporter, paying attention to hard-news coverage of the entertainment industry. Both force you to interact with people outside the ivory tower of criticism, give you insight into how movies work, and inevitably deepen your well of contacts.
And, since we’re in 2017: Write about television. Not only does every outlet want to cover TV, but also the overlap between film and TV has never been more pronounced.
Finally, pay close attention to the way publications package information. Something that might seem crass or clickbaity — think clever headlines and lists (like this one) — is how outlets reach the widest readership possible. Pitch stories in these terms, and you advance the odds of finding work.
Find a strong angle for everything you write.
The only thing worse than a poorly written story is a boring one. Before you conjure clever one-liners, ask yourself what you really want to say. Does this loud blockbuster illustrate Hollywood’s worst tendencies? Why does this filmmaker do such a bad job of representing women? Did you just watch the best horror movie of the year? Construct real arguments that will pull your readers into your work.
A good editor will tell you if you need to pull back on the prose. Some of my favorite critics, including Manohla Dargis, Wesley Morris, B. Ruby Rich, and Amy Taubin, all have distinctive perspectives that come through both in the specificity of their voices and their specific sensibilities; agreeing with them is irrelevant. Tastes should be transparent: Writers like Glenn Kenny, Nick Pinkerton, and IndieWire’s own David Ehrlich are strong, entertaining writers no matter what they tackle (or where). Nothing can boost your profile faster.
What are your priorities?
Is your agenda to find a stable paycheck, with a good health insurance plan and reasonable hours? Don’t jump headfirst into the freelance lifestyle. Even if you’re overwhelmed with assignments, it can be tricky to maintain that momentum. But don’t let anyone stop you from pursuing your dream; there are ways to produce work on the side. Which leads me to a final point…
Look beyond journalism and criticism.
If movies are your passion, there are many different ways put it to work. Careers in distribution, publicity, and programming all let you watch a lot of movies, engage with filmmakers, travel to festivals, or work at studios. (And: Get paid more.)
I’m a big fan of Andrea Picard’s Film/Art column in Cinema Scope; she’s one of the best writers covering experimental film. She’s also a programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival’s avant-garde Wavelengths section, which gives her an incredible degree of influence beyond the stories she writes.
Before you get carried away about being the next David Ehrlich, think about how that ambition might be expressed with other opportunities. A world of possibilities await.
Related storiesJared Kushner's New York Observer Lays Off Film Critic Rex ReedRichard Schickel, Rip: How the Legendary Critic Defined a GenerationCléo Journal Addresses 'Woeful Lack of Feminist Perspectives' in Film Criticism...
- 6/22/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Lineup and Pre-Festival Announcements and News
Tribeca 2017: 14 Must-See Films From This Year’s Festival
Tribeca 2017: 10 Must-Attend Events at This Year’s Festival
Why ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Is the Most Anticipated Screening of the Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca 2017: New Online Works Showcase Will Premiere Fresh Efforts from Shailene Woodley, Eli Roth and More
Tribeca TV Lineup 2017 Unveiled: ’Handmaid’s Tale,’ Albert Einstein’s ‘Genius,’ Ken Burns’ Vietnam War Doc and More
Tribeca Talks 2017: Scarlett Johansson, Kathryn Bigelow, Noah Baumbach, and Lena Dunham Join The Conversation
Francis Ford Coppola, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino Will Reunite for ‘The Godfather’ 45th Anniversary Celebration
Tribeca 2017 Lineup: The Obamas’ Virtual Reality White House Tour Leads Experimental Storytelling Program
Tribeca 2017 Short Film Lineup: Elisabeth Moss, Kobe Bryant, Mae Whitman and More Lend Their Talents to This Year’s Program
Tribeca 2017 Lineup: New Films From Alex Gibney, Azazel Jacobs and Laurie Simmons...
Tribeca 2017: 14 Must-See Films From This Year’s Festival
Tribeca 2017: 10 Must-Attend Events at This Year’s Festival
Why ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Is the Most Anticipated Screening of the Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca 2017: New Online Works Showcase Will Premiere Fresh Efforts from Shailene Woodley, Eli Roth and More
Tribeca TV Lineup 2017 Unveiled: ’Handmaid’s Tale,’ Albert Einstein’s ‘Genius,’ Ken Burns’ Vietnam War Doc and More
Tribeca Talks 2017: Scarlett Johansson, Kathryn Bigelow, Noah Baumbach, and Lena Dunham Join The Conversation
Francis Ford Coppola, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino Will Reunite for ‘The Godfather’ 45th Anniversary Celebration
Tribeca 2017 Lineup: The Obamas’ Virtual Reality White House Tour Leads Experimental Storytelling Program
Tribeca 2017 Short Film Lineup: Elisabeth Moss, Kobe Bryant, Mae Whitman and More Lend Their Talents to This Year’s Program
Tribeca 2017 Lineup: New Films From Alex Gibney, Azazel Jacobs and Laurie Simmons...
- 4/19/2017
- by Indiewire Staff
- Indiewire
Each year, the Tribeca Film Festival fills out its schedule with a variety of events that extend far past the typical film fest fare, including their signature Tribeca Talks program and a continuing bent towards the possibilities of Virtual Reality. This year’s slate is no different, offering up intimate chats between industry luminaries (did you know that Robert Rodriguez and Barbra Streisand are pals? they are!) and special screening opportunities for projects both new (Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s “The Vietnam War”) and classic (a “Godfather” one-two punch). There’s a little something for everyone here.
This year’s Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 19 – 30. Check out some of our must-attend events below.
Read More: Tribeca 2017: 14 Must-See Films From This Year’s Festival
Tribeca Talks: Jon Favreau with Scarlett Johansson
Friday, April 21 at 5:00Pm
The must-see event at Tribeca’s Directors Series is “Iron Man...
This year’s Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 19 – 30. Check out some of our must-attend events below.
Read More: Tribeca 2017: 14 Must-See Films From This Year’s Festival
Tribeca Talks: Jon Favreau with Scarlett Johansson
Friday, April 21 at 5:00Pm
The must-see event at Tribeca’s Directors Series is “Iron Man...
- 4/18/2017
- by Indiewire Staff
- Indiewire
Fly over the moon. Sing in the rain. Fasten your seatbelts. Make an offer no one can refuse. See classic movies on the big screen!
Gene Kelly will sing in the rain, Bette Davis will fasten her seatbelt for a bumpy night, Marlon Brando will make an offer no one can refuse, Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint will scurry across Mount Rushmore, and Elliott and E.T. will fly over the moon – and they’ll do it all on the silver screen in 2017. Today, Fathom Events and TCM announce their continuing partnership to bring monthly screenings of their “TCM Big Screen Classics” series to movie theaters nationwide throughout the year.
For the second consecutive year, “TCM Big Screen Classics” offers film fans an amazing journey into the magic of movies year-round. Beginning in January, the series presents one or more films each month in movie theaters – all accompanied by specially...
Gene Kelly will sing in the rain, Bette Davis will fasten her seatbelt for a bumpy night, Marlon Brando will make an offer no one can refuse, Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint will scurry across Mount Rushmore, and Elliott and E.T. will fly over the moon – and they’ll do it all on the silver screen in 2017. Today, Fathom Events and TCM announce their continuing partnership to bring monthly screenings of their “TCM Big Screen Classics” series to movie theaters nationwide throughout the year.
For the second consecutive year, “TCM Big Screen Classics” offers film fans an amazing journey into the magic of movies year-round. Beginning in January, the series presents one or more films each month in movie theaters – all accompanied by specially...
- 12/13/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Festival’s industry strand crowns work-in-progress winners from Macedonia and Ukraine.
The Grand Prix of FilmFestival Cottbus (8-13 November) went to Russia for the fourth time in the last six years, with filmmaker Ivan I. Tverdovsky taking the top award for his second feature Zoology after also winning top honours for his debut Corrections Class in 2014.
The other previous winners from Russia had been Angelina Nikonova in 2011 with Twilight Portrait and Alexander Veledinsky in 2013 with The Geographer Who Drank His Globe Away.
Moreover, Tverdovsky is the third film-maker to win Cottbus’s top prize twice in the festival’s 26-year history following Slovakia’s Martin Sulik (1993: Everything I Like and 1995: The Garden) and Serbia’s Oleg Novkovic (2006: Tomorrow Morning and 2010: White White World).
The international jury, which included veteran Israeli producer Marek Rosenbaum and Serbian actress-director Mirjana Karanovic, described Zoology as ¨an original and emotional story about loneliness, love, hope and...
The Grand Prix of FilmFestival Cottbus (8-13 November) went to Russia for the fourth time in the last six years, with filmmaker Ivan I. Tverdovsky taking the top award for his second feature Zoology after also winning top honours for his debut Corrections Class in 2014.
The other previous winners from Russia had been Angelina Nikonova in 2011 with Twilight Portrait and Alexander Veledinsky in 2013 with The Geographer Who Drank His Globe Away.
Moreover, Tverdovsky is the third film-maker to win Cottbus’s top prize twice in the festival’s 26-year history following Slovakia’s Martin Sulik (1993: Everything I Like and 1995: The Garden) and Serbia’s Oleg Novkovic (2006: Tomorrow Morning and 2010: White White World).
The international jury, which included veteran Israeli producer Marek Rosenbaum and Serbian actress-director Mirjana Karanovic, described Zoology as ¨an original and emotional story about loneliness, love, hope and...
- 11/14/2016
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Formidable supporting femmes will be on hand when The Defenders — aka Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist — go up against “their biggest threat yet.”
RelatedDaredevil Renewed for Season 3,The Defenders Logo Revealed
The latest teaser for Netflix’s Marvel-ous team-up series, arriving in 2017, confirms that Daredevil‘s Deborah Ann Woll and Luke Cage‘s Simone Missick will be reprising their roles as Karen Page and Misty Knight:
Get ready. @deborahannwoll & @SimoneMissick return for The #Defenders. pic.twitter.com/Yjz6m6xuQ0
— The Defenders (@TheDefenders) October 31, 2016
In addition to the above and, of course, Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter,...
RelatedDaredevil Renewed for Season 3,The Defenders Logo Revealed
The latest teaser for Netflix’s Marvel-ous team-up series, arriving in 2017, confirms that Daredevil‘s Deborah Ann Woll and Luke Cage‘s Simone Missick will be reprising their roles as Karen Page and Misty Knight:
Get ready. @deborahannwoll & @SimoneMissick return for The #Defenders. pic.twitter.com/Yjz6m6xuQ0
— The Defenders (@TheDefenders) October 31, 2016
In addition to the above and, of course, Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter,...
- 10/31/2016
- TVLine.com
One of the most frustrating things to learn when you’re trying to break into the comics business is that you can be doing everything right – you can be skilled in your craft, pro-level, ready to go, with genuine audience pleasing work – and you still don’t get the job.
Even more, you can go back, show the same work again, get an even better response to it – and you still don’t get the job.
Let me offer myself as an example.
1989. Summer. Batman had been in theaters for six weeks and I was at the San Diego Comic-Con. My first, their 20th. I was 20, so it seemed fair. The show was still in what they now call the San Diego Concourse, with the Masquerade in the Civic Theatre, and it was the biggest convention I’d ever seen, bigger than all the New York shows I’d been to – why,...
Even more, you can go back, show the same work again, get an even better response to it – and you still don’t get the job.
Let me offer myself as an example.
1989. Summer. Batman had been in theaters for six weeks and I was at the San Diego Comic-Con. My first, their 20th. I was 20, so it seemed fair. The show was still in what they now call the San Diego Concourse, with the Masquerade in the Civic Theatre, and it was the biggest convention I’d ever seen, bigger than all the New York shows I’d been to – why,...
- 10/17/2016
- by Glenn Hauman
- Comicmix.com
The 10th annual PaleyFest Fall TV Previews, which runs from September 8 – 15 this year, has announced its full lineup. New to the annual showcase is El Rey Network’s innovative wrestling drama “Lucha Underground,” while “The Mindy Project” is receiving pride of place with a special “Inside the Writers’ Room” event. Full details below:
Read More: PaleyFest Adds ‘Better Call Saul,’ ‘Scandal’ and More to 2016 Panels
Thursday, September 8 — Fox
6:00 pm: “Pitch” Red Carpet
7:00 pm: “Pitch” Screening
7:45 pm: “Pitch” Panel featuring:
Kylie Bunbury, “Ginny Baker”
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, “Mike Lawson”
Rick Singer, Executive Producer
Kevin Falls, Executive Producer
7:00 pm: “Lethal Weapon” Red Carpet
8:15 pm: “Lethal Weapon” Screening
9:00 pm: “Lethal Weapon” panel featuring:
Damon Wayans, Sr., “Roger Murtaugh”
Clayne Crawford, “Martin Riggs”
Matt Miller, Executive Producer
9:30 pm: “Son of Zorn” Screening
9:55 pm: “The Exorcist” Screening
Friday, September 9 — El Rey Network
6:00 pm: “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series...
Read More: PaleyFest Adds ‘Better Call Saul,’ ‘Scandal’ and More to 2016 Panels
Thursday, September 8 — Fox
6:00 pm: “Pitch” Red Carpet
7:00 pm: “Pitch” Screening
7:45 pm: “Pitch” Panel featuring:
Kylie Bunbury, “Ginny Baker”
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, “Mike Lawson”
Rick Singer, Executive Producer
Kevin Falls, Executive Producer
7:00 pm: “Lethal Weapon” Red Carpet
8:15 pm: “Lethal Weapon” Screening
9:00 pm: “Lethal Weapon” panel featuring:
Damon Wayans, Sr., “Roger Murtaugh”
Clayne Crawford, “Martin Riggs”
Matt Miller, Executive Producer
9:30 pm: “Son of Zorn” Screening
9:55 pm: “The Exorcist” Screening
Friday, September 9 — El Rey Network
6:00 pm: “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series...
- 8/9/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Jerusalem Film and Television Fund’s animation event The Hop, Skip & A Jump is aiming to grow the city’s fledgling animation scene.
The first edition of a new event aimed at Jerusalem’s nascent animation industry – called The Hop, Skip & A Jump – kicks off on the fringes of Jerusalem Film Festival on July 13. The three-day meeting, comprising mentoring sessions, master-classes and the pitching of 14 new Israeli animation projects, has been put together by Jerusalem Film and Television Fund director Yoram Honig, who says it is the third stage in his fund’s campaign to build an animation industry in Jerusalem.
The first stage was direct investment in Israeli animation features Including Albert Hanan Kaminksi’s Being Solomon [pictured] and Gidi Dar’s Legend Of Destruction which are currently in production (Being Solomon was also part of this year’s Pitch Point event). The second stage was the introduction of a 30% rebate for every dollar spent in Jerusalem...
The first edition of a new event aimed at Jerusalem’s nascent animation industry – called The Hop, Skip & A Jump – kicks off on the fringes of Jerusalem Film Festival on July 13. The three-day meeting, comprising mentoring sessions, master-classes and the pitching of 14 new Israeli animation projects, has been put together by Jerusalem Film and Television Fund director Yoram Honig, who says it is the third stage in his fund’s campaign to build an animation industry in Jerusalem.
The first stage was direct investment in Israeli animation features Including Albert Hanan Kaminksi’s Being Solomon [pictured] and Gidi Dar’s Legend Of Destruction which are currently in production (Being Solomon was also part of this year’s Pitch Point event). The second stage was the introduction of a 30% rebate for every dollar spent in Jerusalem...
- 7/13/2016
- ScreenDaily
Fox on Monday announced its fall 2016 schedule and offered previews of its upcoming series, among them a TV adaptation of Lethal Weapon, a new spin on The Exorcist and the pseudo-animated comedy Son of Zorn.
Trailers were also released for midseason fare, including Lee Daniels’ music-infused Star and baseball drama Pitch.
PhotosFall TV Preview: Your Guide to What’s New
Watch the trailers in their entirety below, preceded by the official logline for each series:
A.P.B. (Midseason)
A tech billionaire purchases a troubled police precinct in the wake of a loved one’s murder, but can this eccentric...
Trailers were also released for midseason fare, including Lee Daniels’ music-infused Star and baseball drama Pitch.
PhotosFall TV Preview: Your Guide to What’s New
Watch the trailers in their entirety below, preceded by the official logline for each series:
A.P.B. (Midseason)
A tech billionaire purchases a troubled police precinct in the wake of a loved one’s murder, but can this eccentric...
- 5/16/2016
- TVLine.com
Fox on Tuesday announced six new series joining its 2016–2017 schedule.
RelatedFall TV: 15 Pilots We Can’t Wait to See!
On the drama side, The Exorcist, Lethal Weapon, A.P.B. and Pitch have all been ordered to series, along with comedies Making History and The Mick. Read on for details about each pick-up:
* A.P.B.: A tech billionaire purchases a troubled police precinct in the wake of a loved one’s murder, but can this eccentric and enigmatic figure’s cutting edge approach fix the broken ways of these blue blooded veterans?
* The Exorcist: A modern reinvention...
RelatedFall TV: 15 Pilots We Can’t Wait to See!
On the drama side, The Exorcist, Lethal Weapon, A.P.B. and Pitch have all been ordered to series, along with comedies Making History and The Mick. Read on for details about each pick-up:
* A.P.B.: A tech billionaire purchases a troubled police precinct in the wake of a loved one’s murder, but can this eccentric and enigmatic figure’s cutting edge approach fix the broken ways of these blue blooded veterans?
* The Exorcist: A modern reinvention...
- 5/10/2016
- TVLine.com
Clayne Crawford will channel a circa-80s Mel Gibson in Fox’s in-the-works Lethal Weapon reboot, TVLine has confirmed.
The Rectify actor has been cast as Martin Riggs opposite Damon Wayans, Sr.’s Roger Murtaugh in the pilot, which is based on the 1987 film starring Gibson and Danny Glover as polar-opposite Lapd detectives who become reluctant partners. Crawford’s Riggs is described as a former Navy Seal and Texas cop who suffers the loss of his wife and baby and tries to start anew by moving to Los Angeles and working for the Lapd, where he is partnered with Murtaugh.
The Rectify actor has been cast as Martin Riggs opposite Damon Wayans, Sr.’s Roger Murtaugh in the pilot, which is based on the 1987 film starring Gibson and Danny Glover as polar-opposite Lapd detectives who become reluctant partners. Crawford’s Riggs is described as a former Navy Seal and Texas cop who suffers the loss of his wife and baby and tries to start anew by moving to Los Angeles and working for the Lapd, where he is partnered with Murtaugh.
- 3/10/2016
- TVLine.com
Fox is moving forward with its Lethal Weapon adaptation, greenlighting a pilot and casting Damon Wayans Sr. as the co-lead.
The 1987 film starred Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as polar-opposite LAPD detectives Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh who become reluctant partners.
Wayans will follow in Glover’s footsteps by playing Det. Murtaugh, who, having recently suffered a “minor” heart attack, must avoid any stress in his life. Casting for the role of Riggs is underway.
The project represents a bit of a homecoming for Wayans,...
The 1987 film starred Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as polar-opposite LAPD detectives Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh who become reluctant partners.
Wayans will follow in Glover’s footsteps by playing Det. Murtaugh, who, having recently suffered a “minor” heart attack, must avoid any stress in his life. Casting for the role of Riggs is underway.
The project represents a bit of a homecoming for Wayans,...
- 2/12/2016
- TVLine.com
David Gordon Green returns to his alma mater to present Manglehorn; local newcomers impress with Homeless feature.Scroll down for full list of winners
RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, wrapped last night with Shawkat Amin Korki’s Memories on Stone winning best narrative feature and Hao Zhou’s The Chinese Mayor winning best documentary feature.
In the audience awards, best of the fest went to honoree Stanley Nelson’s The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution; best narrative feature went to Anywhere Else by Ester Amrami; best documentary feature went to Marc Silver’s 3 ½ Minutes and best indie was Proud Citizen by Thomas Southerland.
The festival presented 165 films in total in its 17th annual edition; more filmmakers than ever before attended the event.
“Films showcased at our festival this year reflected diverse stories from around the world, immense talent from directors, many trained in Winston-Salem, and a host of passionate projects that are jewels...
RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, wrapped last night with Shawkat Amin Korki’s Memories on Stone winning best narrative feature and Hao Zhou’s The Chinese Mayor winning best documentary feature.
In the audience awards, best of the fest went to honoree Stanley Nelson’s The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution; best narrative feature went to Anywhere Else by Ester Amrami; best documentary feature went to Marc Silver’s 3 ½ Minutes and best indie was Proud Citizen by Thomas Southerland.
The festival presented 165 films in total in its 17th annual edition; more filmmakers than ever before attended the event.
“Films showcased at our festival this year reflected diverse stories from around the world, immense talent from directors, many trained in Winston-Salem, and a host of passionate projects that are jewels...
- 4/27/2015
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Crazy Heart writer-director Scott Cooper has been tapped to rewrite and helm 36th Precinct, the 2004 French movie directed by Olivier Marchal. Thunder Road optioned remake rights from French producer Gaumont, which made the original thriller. That pic starred Gerard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil and centered on rival Paris cops who ruthlessly seek a coveted promotion and blur the lines between the police and the criminals they’re supposed to catch in the process. I’m hearing the updated version will be set in the NYPD’s anti-terrorism unit. Thunder Road boss Basil Iwanyk will produce the new pic along with Cooper, with Marchal and Thunder Road’s Peter Lawson exec producing. Marchal also helmed Gang Story, the 2011 French pic that Thunder Road also is developing, with Safe House helmer Daniel Espinosa attached to direct, Liam Neeson attached to star, and David Scarpa writing the script. Related: Thunder Road Makes...
- 5/3/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
Welcome back to This Week In Discs! As always, if you see something you like, click on the image to buy it. Beautiful Girls Willie Conway (Timothy Hutton) has returned home for his high school reunion at a very confused time in his life. His long time girlfriend (Annabeth Gish) joins him on the trip as he visits with friends, strikes up a purely platonic relationship with a 15-year-old neighbor girl (Natalie Portman) and decides if he’s ready to settle down and get married. The late Ted Demme has a few fine films to his name including The Ref and Blow, but this sweet, honest and funny movie remains his high point. Portman’s perfect encapsulation of the untouchable teen is fantastic in every regard, but to be fair her storyline is only a small part of the whole. Willie’s friends (Matt Dillon, Noah Emmerich, Max Perlich, Michael Rapaport, Rosie...
- 3/25/2013
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
There's a reason you've recently had the urge to bust out your plaid shirts, Celine Dion albums and dial-up modems, as this week sees the release of two relics of the 1990s: "Titanic 3D" and "American Reunion."
Since both of these movies make us think back to a more innocent time when Monica Lewinsky was an eager young White House intern, our money wasn't on fire and Twittering was a weird body tic, we're reminiscing about that decade's most influential and essential cinematic treasures for future generations. It wasn't easy to narrow down the list (next time, "Problem Child 2," next time ...) but if we were to preserve only 25 flicks from the '90s in a time capsule, they would be these (listed in alphabetical order).
1. 'American Pie' (1999)
Losing your virginity on prom night is a rite of passage as American as … well, you know. Jim, Stifler and...
Since both of these movies make us think back to a more innocent time when Monica Lewinsky was an eager young White House intern, our money wasn't on fire and Twittering was a weird body tic, we're reminiscing about that decade's most influential and essential cinematic treasures for future generations. It wasn't easy to narrow down the list (next time, "Problem Child 2," next time ...) but if we were to preserve only 25 flicks from the '90s in a time capsule, they would be these (listed in alphabetical order).
1. 'American Pie' (1999)
Losing your virginity on prom night is a rite of passage as American as … well, you know. Jim, Stifler and...
- 4/5/2012
- by Max Evry
- NextMovie
Which Has The Unfortunate Pitch Of 'Sister Act' Meets 'Dead Poets Society' Warning: The following news should not be read by those affected by heart conditions, high blood pressure, or any other conditions that could be aggravated by extreme emotional ups and downs. Likewise, expectant women should use caution, even if they are a fan of Whoopi Goldberg's duet. Straight from the mouth of Cannes comes a new project starring the always great Tilda Swinton and Ciarán Hinds ("Life During Wartime," "There Will Be Blood"), a film directed by Terry Loane ("Mickybo & Me," "Goal 2") simply titled "Sisters." The…...
- 5/17/2011
- The Playlist
Happy Monday, Garfield. Last week was San Diego Comic Con and lots of exciting stuff went down. We got to see all the Avengers lined up, we got a new Tron Legacy trailer with awesome de-aged Bridges (lil bit o lip-flap, but within the goodwill hump of the uncanny valley) and my ongoing attempts to get Olivia Wilde to acknowledge my existence failed once again (she split to shoot more Cowboys & Aliens, then returned for the Cowboys & Aliens panel). I was here in New York, working and trolling Twitter for a virtual Con experience. Then, each night, when Kellvin, Mayimbe and El Guapo started tweeting pics of famous people I wasn’t meeting, I’d come to my apartment, cry and take in some entertainment. Not a bunch of you suggested things through last week’s column or at my e-mail for such things: HeyDa7e@gmail.com, but I can understand.
- 7/26/2010
- LRMonline.com
This talk about "Entourage" one day showing up on the big screen? Not total bull, it turns out. Earlier this week, exec producer Mark Wahlberg told us that he wants to take his show in a "Sex and the City" direction headed straight toward the cinema.
"Quite possibly, yes," he said when asked about an "Entourage" movie. "We still have a couple more seasons to do, but yeah. We'd like to follow in the 'Sex and the City' footsteps and do a movie."
Just after this news originally broke, I hopped on the phone with Matt Dillon—the Drugstore Cowboy and brother to Kevin Dillon, otherwise known as Johnny Drama on "Entourage"—and I got to wondering. I've always expected Matt to show up in an episode, if only as a fun inside joke: Johnny Drama's bro is Vince (Adrian Grenier) and here comes Kevin's real life bro Matt.
"Quite possibly, yes," he said when asked about an "Entourage" movie. "We still have a couple more seasons to do, but yeah. We'd like to follow in the 'Sex and the City' footsteps and do a movie."
Just after this news originally broke, I hopped on the phone with Matt Dillon—the Drugstore Cowboy and brother to Kevin Dillon, otherwise known as Johnny Drama on "Entourage"—and I got to wondering. I've always expected Matt to show up in an episode, if only as a fun inside joke: Johnny Drama's bro is Vince (Adrian Grenier) and here comes Kevin's real life bro Matt.
- 12/9/2009
- by Eric Ditzian
- MTV Movies Blog
If you’re an aspiring screenwriter which, let’s face it, you may be, one way to break into the “business” is through a lab where you work with established mentors and advisers on honing your work and getting it in the hands of the right people. One of the most prestigious and famous of these labs is the one sponsored by Film Independent, a non-profit group dedicated to fostering and nurturing creativity that also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Spirit Awards.
Today, they’ve announced a new group of writers who will participate in this year’s lab. Here’s all the info about the lucky 9 participants from the official press release.
Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and Los Angeles Film Festival, has announced the screenwriters and film projects selected for its 10th annual Screenwriters Lab, sponsored by the Writers Guild of America,...
Today, they’ve announced a new group of writers who will participate in this year’s lab. Here’s all the info about the lucky 9 participants from the official press release.
Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and Los Angeles Film Festival, has announced the screenwriters and film projects selected for its 10th annual Screenwriters Lab, sponsored by the Writers Guild of America,...
- 8/17/2009
- by Joe Gillis
- The Flickcast
Yesterday we told you that the first season of the classic “Trek” has arrived on Blu-ray, and now we’re back to report that all six of the “first generation” films have also made their way to HD. Remastered in high-def and sporting new audio tracks, the collection presents the “Star Trek” films as they have never been seen before.
Two different packages have been assembled, one collecting all six films and another collecting the first three. Each of the films carries over the special features from previous releases, but more importantly delivers nearly three hours of brand new bonus content specially recorded in high-def (and 14 hours total including the standard-def extra).
Check out the full specs after the jump.
* Star Trek: The Motion Picture: new audio commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda, Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens and Daren Dochterman, 3 HD featurettes (The Longest Trek: Writing the Motion Picture, Special Star Trek...
Two different packages have been assembled, one collecting all six films and another collecting the first three. Each of the films carries over the special features from previous releases, but more importantly delivers nearly three hours of brand new bonus content specially recorded in high-def (and 14 hours total including the standard-def extra).
Check out the full specs after the jump.
* Star Trek: The Motion Picture: new audio commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda, Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens and Daren Dochterman, 3 HD featurettes (The Longest Trek: Writing the Motion Picture, Special Star Trek...
- 5/27/2009
- by Brian Jacks
- MTV Movies Blog
Pope film a Hotz ticket at Whistler
WHISTLER, British Columbia -- Papal Chase, a mock documentary about a young Jewish man attempting to meet Pope John Paul II on a Canadian papal tour while dressed as a horned devil grabbed the inaugural Phillip Borsos Award as best Canadian film at the fourth annual Whistler Film Festival wrapped. The irreverent feature-length film, directed by Kenny Hotz (Pitch) on a slim $800 budget, beat out five other Canadian films for the prize. "I can't believe Whistler is cool enough to embrace guerilla independent film making," a surprised Hotz said at the closing awards brunch Sunday. The film was shot during the Pope's 2003 stay in Toronto for World Youth Day celebrations. Hotz never did meet the Pontiff, but he was run over in the Papal Mass by a golf cart, targeted by police snipers and, wearing horns and red grease paint, escorted off site by Vatican security forces.
- 12/7/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
CBC exports reality comedy
Kenny vs. Spenny, a wacky reality show airing on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., has wrapped up several worldwide format deals, including a deal with Britain's Channel 4 and a 40-episode agreement in Colombia. The "reality comedy" format features two buddies who challenge each other to silly contests, such as who can lose the most weight, who can survive in the woods the longest or who can stay awake the longest. The stars, Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice, developed the series after producing a feature film, Pitch, which follows the real-life story of two writers as they try to sell a script to Hollywood.
- 12/19/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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