Two of the most successful specialty films of the year expand this weekend and a handful of others jump into an arthouse market that’s seen few new entrants in recent weeks as wide release piled on wide release.
Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City jumps from a blockbuster six-theater opening ($800k over three days) last weekend for Focus Features to 1,675 locations today. A24’s Past Lives by Celine Song, which debuted in early June on four screens, expands to 296. They’re joined by a documentary on epic cyclist Greg LeMond ahead of the Tour De France, and the first theatrical release by Wayward Entertainment, launched in late 2021 by former Revolution Studios CEO Vince Totino and former Orion Pictures President John Hegeman and focusing on genre titles.
Wayward is opening God Is A Bullet, directed and written by Nick Cassavetes, on 375 screens. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau stars as a detective whose ex-wife is...
Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City jumps from a blockbuster six-theater opening ($800k over three days) last weekend for Focus Features to 1,675 locations today. A24’s Past Lives by Celine Song, which debuted in early June on four screens, expands to 296. They’re joined by a documentary on epic cyclist Greg LeMond ahead of the Tour De France, and the first theatrical release by Wayward Entertainment, launched in late 2021 by former Revolution Studios CEO Vince Totino and former Orion Pictures President John Hegeman and focusing on genre titles.
Wayward is opening God Is A Bullet, directed and written by Nick Cassavetes, on 375 screens. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau stars as a detective whose ex-wife is...
- 6/23/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Don’t feel bad, even highly respected executive editors of business coverage are still a bit confused about the GameStop stock situation and the meme-stock industry in general. It’s all good, Netflix’s three-part docuseries “Eat the Rich: The GameStop Saga” is here to educate — and entertain — all of us. The program accomplishes both of those goals, which it delivers in a bingeable 120-minute package.
The basics of what went down online and in real life (and in the Netflix docuseries) go like this: In 2020, video-game retailer GameStop was the most-shorted company on Wall Street, as hedge-fund managers bet the heavily brick-and-mortar store selling physical media would go bankrupt in an increasingly digital world (and that goes double for the video-game industry itself).
What was originally a wise assumption soon got out of hand. When some savvy number-crunching Redditors realized just how much money was stacked against GameStop’s continued existence,...
The basics of what went down online and in real life (and in the Netflix docuseries) go like this: In 2020, video-game retailer GameStop was the most-shorted company on Wall Street, as hedge-fund managers bet the heavily brick-and-mortar store selling physical media would go bankrupt in an increasingly digital world (and that goes double for the video-game industry itself).
What was originally a wise assumption soon got out of hand. When some savvy number-crunching Redditors realized just how much money was stacked against GameStop’s continued existence,...
- 9/28/2022
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Story Syndicate, the production house founded by Oscar and Emmy-winning documentary powerhouse couple Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus, is bulking up its development and production team with a new hire, a promotion and a first-look deal with producer and investigative journalist Amy Herdy.
The New York-based production company, which launched in 2019, was behind several popular docs and docuseries in 2021, including Garbus’ “Becoming Cousteau” (National Geographic), Orlando von Einsiedel’s “Convergence: Courage in a Crisis” (Netflix) and John Hoffman and Janet Tobias’ “Fauci” (Nat Geo).
Jon Bardin, most recently Story Syndicate’s head of creative, has been named head of documentary and nonfiction. Bardin, who has been at the production company since its inception, has served as a producer or executive producer on Story Syndicate documentaries including Jesse Moss’ “Mayor Pete,” Erin Lee Carr’s “Britney Vs. Spears,” “Fauci” and Ry Russo-Young’s docuseries “Nuclear Family.” Currently Bardin is working on...
The New York-based production company, which launched in 2019, was behind several popular docs and docuseries in 2021, including Garbus’ “Becoming Cousteau” (National Geographic), Orlando von Einsiedel’s “Convergence: Courage in a Crisis” (Netflix) and John Hoffman and Janet Tobias’ “Fauci” (Nat Geo).
Jon Bardin, most recently Story Syndicate’s head of creative, has been named head of documentary and nonfiction. Bardin, who has been at the production company since its inception, has served as a producer or executive producer on Story Syndicate documentaries including Jesse Moss’ “Mayor Pete,” Erin Lee Carr’s “Britney Vs. Spears,” “Fauci” and Ry Russo-Young’s docuseries “Nuclear Family.” Currently Bardin is working on...
- 4/11/2022
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Story Syndicate, the New York-based film and television production company founded by Oscar- and Emmy-winning filmmaking couple Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus, has added four executives to its growing ranks.
Joining Story Syndicate in the newly-created role of COO is Mala Chapple, a Peabody-winning and Emmy nominated executive producer and production executive who previously held the title of SVP of Content Strategy, Operations, and Media Partnerships at Viacom. Chapple will be tasked with overseeing “the company’s growing production slate as well as its business operations,” according to a release.
Nell Constantinople and Jack Youngelson will take on the roles of SVP of Current, while Shane Tilston joins in the position of VP of Production, reporting to Chapple. All the new hires will “work directly with Cogan and Garbus to continue to expand and build out the company’s production and development content slate.”
Story Syndicate, which describes itself...
Joining Story Syndicate in the newly-created role of COO is Mala Chapple, a Peabody-winning and Emmy nominated executive producer and production executive who previously held the title of SVP of Content Strategy, Operations, and Media Partnerships at Viacom. Chapple will be tasked with overseeing “the company’s growing production slate as well as its business operations,” according to a release.
Nell Constantinople and Jack Youngelson will take on the roles of SVP of Current, while Shane Tilston joins in the position of VP of Production, reporting to Chapple. All the new hires will “work directly with Cogan and Garbus to continue to expand and build out the company’s production and development content slate.”
Story Syndicate, which describes itself...
- 11/8/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s been just over two years since documentary power couple — director Liz Garbus and producer/financier Dan Cogan — launched Story Syndicate, and already the production company has four films contending for Academy Award consideration this awards season.
In addition to producing Garbus’ National Geographic doc “Becoming Cousteau,” opening in theaters today, Story Syndicate is also behind three additional Oscar qualified documentaries: John Hoffman and Janet Tobias’ “Fauci” (National Geographic), Orlando von Einsiedel’s “Convergence: Courage in a Crisis” (Netflix) and Jesse Moss’ “Mayor Pete” (Amazon). The company also produced Ry Russo-Young’s “Nuclear Family,” an HBO three-part series about lesbian moms facing a paternity lawsuit, and Erin Lee Carr’s “Britney vs Spears,” a Netflix title investigating Britney Spears’ conservatorship.
Garbus and Cogan launched the Brooklyn-based production company in June 2019 with just three projects in the works – HBO’s “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark,” Amazon’s “All In:...
In addition to producing Garbus’ National Geographic doc “Becoming Cousteau,” opening in theaters today, Story Syndicate is also behind three additional Oscar qualified documentaries: John Hoffman and Janet Tobias’ “Fauci” (National Geographic), Orlando von Einsiedel’s “Convergence: Courage in a Crisis” (Netflix) and Jesse Moss’ “Mayor Pete” (Amazon). The company also produced Ry Russo-Young’s “Nuclear Family,” an HBO three-part series about lesbian moms facing a paternity lawsuit, and Erin Lee Carr’s “Britney vs Spears,” a Netflix title investigating Britney Spears’ conservatorship.
Garbus and Cogan launched the Brooklyn-based production company in June 2019 with just three projects in the works – HBO’s “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark,” Amazon’s “All In:...
- 10/22/2021
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Woodstock, N.Y. — Indie film distributor Neon is hoping to make a statement with its awards consideration plan for the animated documentary “Flee.”
Tom Quinn, co-founder of Neon, told Variety that Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s story of a gay refugee who fled to safety in Denmark from his home in Afghanistan as a child, will be submitted for Oscar best picture consideration in addition to the documentary, animation and foreign language categories. “Flee” was picked up by Neon and Participant after premiering in January at Sundance, where it won the Grand Jury Prize.
“I think it’s high time that a non-fiction feature film be a part of the best picture category,” Quinn said Saturday during an interview at the 22nd annual Woodstock Film Festival. “Flee” is timely and unfortunately more relevant than ever. It’s a film that resonates culturally, but it’s also pure cinema. It’s also...
Tom Quinn, co-founder of Neon, told Variety that Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s story of a gay refugee who fled to safety in Denmark from his home in Afghanistan as a child, will be submitted for Oscar best picture consideration in addition to the documentary, animation and foreign language categories. “Flee” was picked up by Neon and Participant after premiering in January at Sundance, where it won the Grand Jury Prize.
“I think it’s high time that a non-fiction feature film be a part of the best picture category,” Quinn said Saturday during an interview at the 22nd annual Woodstock Film Festival. “Flee” is timely and unfortunately more relevant than ever. It’s a film that resonates culturally, but it’s also pure cinema. It’s also...
- 10/3/2021
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
The Woodstock Film Festival has announced the slate for its 22nd edition, with 11 world premieres among the 43 features on the bill.
The festival will take place September 29 to October 3 in three Hudson Valley communities about two hours north of New York City. In-person screenings and events will be featured throughout the fest’s five days, but online options will also enable attendees to connect amid the ongoing challenges of Covid-19.
Panels, concerts and comedy sets along with film screenings are planned in Woodstock, Kingston and Saugerties. Neon chief Tom Quinn is slated to receive the festival’s Honorary Trailblazer Award, an honor announced in 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic.
The festival will kick off with Fanny: The Right to Rock, a documentary about a pathbreaking Filipina-American garage band, with a performance by some of the band’s members following the screening. Music is an annual touchstone for Woodstock’s lineup,...
The festival will take place September 29 to October 3 in three Hudson Valley communities about two hours north of New York City. In-person screenings and events will be featured throughout the fest’s five days, but online options will also enable attendees to connect amid the ongoing challenges of Covid-19.
Panels, concerts and comedy sets along with film screenings are planned in Woodstock, Kingston and Saugerties. Neon chief Tom Quinn is slated to receive the festival’s Honorary Trailblazer Award, an honor announced in 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic.
The festival will kick off with Fanny: The Right to Rock, a documentary about a pathbreaking Filipina-American garage band, with a performance by some of the band’s members following the screening. Music is an annual touchstone for Woodstock’s lineup,...
- 9/1/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios’ All In: The Fight for Democracy examines the history of voter suppression in the U.S. Stacey Abrams, the Georgia politician and lawyer, stars in and produces the documentary directed by Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortés that spotlights those who fought against voter suppression, and those still fighting today.
The documentary’s script, an Emmy nominee in the Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program category, puts Abrams’ 2018 run to become the first African-American governor of Georgia at the heart of the story. Ultimately she lost by a razor-thin margin, refusing to concede given evidence that the vote was rigged.
Here, the Emmy-nominated writer of the script — Jack Youngelson — answers some questions about his work as part of Deadline’s It Starts on the Page, a series showcasing scripts from this year’s Emmy-nominated programs and the writers who brought them to life.
Deadline: What inspired you to work on the project?...
The documentary’s script, an Emmy nominee in the Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program category, puts Abrams’ 2018 run to become the first African-American governor of Georgia at the heart of the story. Ultimately she lost by a razor-thin margin, refusing to concede given evidence that the vote was rigged.
Here, the Emmy-nominated writer of the script — Jack Youngelson — answers some questions about his work as part of Deadline’s It Starts on the Page, a series showcasing scripts from this year’s Emmy-nominated programs and the writers who brought them to life.
Deadline: What inspired you to work on the project?...
- 8/12/2021
- by Ryan Fleming
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Here. Is. Better., Emmy Award-Winning Director Jack Youngelson’s documentary about the rising mental health crisis in America though its examination of veterans’ experiences with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd), has completed production.
Here. Is. Better follows veterans overcoming the debilitating effects of Ptsd with treatments that could bring hope to the millions that continue to struggle. The film features the prominent politician, veteran and podcast host (Majority 54) Jason Kander, sharing his journey through treatment for the first time.
The docu is produced by Emmy Award-Winning producer Sian Edwards-Beal, producer David Beal, with executive producer William F. Brandt, Jr., Co-ep Andrew Craissati and Co-Producer Chloe Hall.
David Koh is selling Here. Is. Better. worldwide at Cannes. The film will be a part of a larger initiative geared towards helping those who struggle with Ptsd, to be launched later this year.
Below is the just released trailer; note some of the...
Here. Is. Better follows veterans overcoming the debilitating effects of Ptsd with treatments that could bring hope to the millions that continue to struggle. The film features the prominent politician, veteran and podcast host (Majority 54) Jason Kander, sharing his journey through treatment for the first time.
The docu is produced by Emmy Award-Winning producer Sian Edwards-Beal, producer David Beal, with executive producer William F. Brandt, Jr., Co-ep Andrew Craissati and Co-Producer Chloe Hall.
David Koh is selling Here. Is. Better. worldwide at Cannes. The film will be a part of a larger initiative geared towards helping those who struggle with Ptsd, to be launched later this year.
Below is the just released trailer; note some of the...
- 7/12/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Another guild award is in the books, ladies and gentlemen. The Writers Guild Awards are in the rearview mirror now, with some definite Oscar implications. For one thing, it does really now seem like Emerald Fennell is headed towards an Academy Award for her Promising Young Woman screenplay. She’s almost undoubtedly taken a strong lead over Aaron Sorkin and his script for The Trial of the Chicago 7. On the flip-side, Kemp Powers’ hopes to upset Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland in Best Adapted Screenplay took a hit when One Night in Miami… lost at WGA to Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Could they be in line for another upset? We shall see… Here are all of the winners from the Writers Guild Awards: Film Original Screenplay “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros) – Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King, Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas “Palm Springs...
- 3/22/2021
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Virtual ceremony took place on Sunday evening (March 21).
In the latest boost to ascendant campaigns, Emerald Fennell and Sacha Baron Cohen have won top honours at the Writers Guild Of America’s (WGA) awards.
Promising Young Woman writer-director Fennell took the original screenplay award at the virtual 73rd Writers Guild Awards on Sunday (March 21), less than a week after the Focus Features release earned five Oscar nominations including recognition in writing and directing categories.
Baron Cohen led the writing team on Amazon Studios’ Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, whose WGA adapted screenplay win follows Oscar nods for that category and supporting actress.
In the latest boost to ascendant campaigns, Emerald Fennell and Sacha Baron Cohen have won top honours at the Writers Guild Of America’s (WGA) awards.
Promising Young Woman writer-director Fennell took the original screenplay award at the virtual 73rd Writers Guild Awards on Sunday (March 21), less than a week after the Focus Features release earned five Oscar nominations including recognition in writing and directing categories.
Baron Cohen led the writing team on Amazon Studios’ Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, whose WGA adapted screenplay win follows Oscar nods for that category and supporting actress.
- 3/22/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” and “Promising Young Woman” were named the best adapted original screenplays of 2021 at the Writers Guild Awards, which took place in a virtual ceremony on Sunday.
While “Promising Young Woman” went into the show with a slight edge over “The Trial of the Chicago 7’ for the original-screenplay award,”Borat” was a decided dark horse in the adapted-screenplay category, whose nominees also included “One Night in Miami,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “News of the World’ and “The White Tiger.”
Writers Guild winners in the screenplay categories go on to win Oscars almost two-thirds of the time, although the two awards sometimes differ because the WGA is an award strictly for screenplays for movies that were made under the terms of the guild’s Minimum Basic Agreement, or similar agreements from a number of international guilds.
This year, those restrictions disqualified three Oscar-nominated screenplays: “Minari” in the Original...
While “Promising Young Woman” went into the show with a slight edge over “The Trial of the Chicago 7’ for the original-screenplay award,”Borat” was a decided dark horse in the adapted-screenplay category, whose nominees also included “One Night in Miami,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “News of the World’ and “The White Tiger.”
Writers Guild winners in the screenplay categories go on to win Oscars almost two-thirds of the time, although the two awards sometimes differ because the WGA is an award strictly for screenplays for movies that were made under the terms of the guild’s Minimum Basic Agreement, or similar agreements from a number of international guilds.
This year, those restrictions disqualified three Oscar-nominated screenplays: “Minari” in the Original...
- 3/21/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Before the Indie Spirits, before the Oscars, there are the guilds, and as Hollywood inches its way through a protracted awards season, it’s up to each voting body to dole out their own accolades. On Sunday night, it was time for the writers to shine, as the Writers Guild of America presented their awards for film, television, news, and more, all voted on by fellow writers. For writers, by writers!
As IndieWire’s own Anne Thompson has noted, the WGA’s film nominees are less predictive than an indication of what’s losing and gaining heat, from the missing early 2020 releases “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” “The King of Staten Island,” and “Da 5 Bloods,” to such surging movies as “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Sound of Metal,” and “Promising Young Woman,” all of which recently earned Best Picture nods from the Academy.
At the Sunday night event, Emerald Fennell...
As IndieWire’s own Anne Thompson has noted, the WGA’s film nominees are less predictive than an indication of what’s losing and gaining heat, from the missing early 2020 releases “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” “The King of Staten Island,” and “Da 5 Bloods,” to such surging movies as “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Sound of Metal,” and “Promising Young Woman,” all of which recently earned Best Picture nods from the Academy.
At the Sunday night event, Emerald Fennell...
- 3/21/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The Writers Guild of America Awards were handed during a virtual ceremony on Sunday, March 21. But don’t base your Oscar predictions on these kudos. Every year a slew of Oscar-nominated scripts are deemed ineligible for consideration here due to guild guidelines. Indeed, over the past 12 years only 80 of the Writers Guild of America Awards nominees have numbered among the 120 screenplays that reaped Academy Awards bids. Scroll down for the 2021 Writers Guild of America Awards winners list.
Our odds predict that “Nomadland” will win Best Adapted Screenplay winner at the Oscars but it was not allowed to compete at the WGA Awards. Neither was another Oscar contender in that category: “The Father.” The guild did match the academy three-for-five in this category, with “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “One Night in Miami” and “The White Tiger” competing at both. “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “News of the World” round out the guild nominees.
Our odds predict that “Nomadland” will win Best Adapted Screenplay winner at the Oscars but it was not allowed to compete at the WGA Awards. Neither was another Oscar contender in that category: “The Father.” The guild did match the academy three-for-five in this category, with “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “One Night in Miami” and “The White Tiger” competing at both. “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “News of the World” round out the guild nominees.
- 3/21/2021
- by Zach Laws and Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Don’t look for five of our predicted 10 Oscar contenders for screenplay in the 2021 Writers Guild of America Awards nominations announced February 16. They didn’t qualify for consideration under the guild’s guidelines or those of its international partners.
We are predicting that “Nomadland” will win Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars. Three of its likely Oscar rivals — “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “News of the World” and “One Night in Miami” — contend at the WGA Awards as do “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” and “The White Tiger.”
The Original Screenplay Oscar frontrunner “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is in the running here as is “Promising Young Woman,” which sits in second place on our chart. With “Mank,” “Minari” and “Soul” ineligible at the guild kudos, that race is rounded out by “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Palm Springs” and “Sound of Metal.”
Over the past 11 years only 73 of the Writers Guild...
We are predicting that “Nomadland” will win Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars. Three of its likely Oscar rivals — “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “News of the World” and “One Night in Miami” — contend at the WGA Awards as do “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” and “The White Tiger.”
The Original Screenplay Oscar frontrunner “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is in the running here as is “Promising Young Woman,” which sits in second place on our chart. With “Mank,” “Minari” and “Soul” ineligible at the guild kudos, that race is rounded out by “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Palm Springs” and “Sound of Metal.”
Over the past 11 years only 73 of the Writers Guild...
- 2/16/2021
- by Paul Sheehan and Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
A few minutes ago, the 2021 Writers Guild Award nominations were announced. Coming to us, of course, from the Writers Guild of America, this Guild is one that can clue us in a bit to how Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Screenplay could go at the Oscars. This Guild do disqualify several titles ahead of time, so it’s not likely to resemble the Academy Award lineup in full, and even excludes a potential frontrunner, but by and large, these are ten of the maybe fifteen major contenders for a win come Oscar time. Read on to see who and what were cited by the WGA today… Here now are the nominees: Original Screenplay Judas and the Black Messiah, Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King, Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas; Warner Bros. Palm Springs, Screenplay by Andy Siara, Story by Andy Siara & Max Barbakow; Hulu Promising Young Woman,...
- 2/16/2021
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Doc nominations include The Dissident, All In: The Fight For Democracy.
Promising Young Woman, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Sound Of Metal and The White Tiger are among the WGA screenplay nominees announced on Tuesday (February 16).
The winners will be announced at a joint 2021 Writers Guild Awards virtual ceremony on March 21.
Original Screenplay
Judas And The Black Messiah
Screenplay by Will Berson and Shaka King
Story by Will Berson and Shaka King and Kenny Lucas and Keith Lucas
Palm Springs
Screenplay by Andy Siara
Story by Andy Siara and Max Barbakow
Promising Young Woman
Written by Emerald Fennell
Sound Of Metal
Screenplay...
Promising Young Woman, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Sound Of Metal and The White Tiger are among the WGA screenplay nominees announced on Tuesday (February 16).
The winners will be announced at a joint 2021 Writers Guild Awards virtual ceremony on March 21.
Original Screenplay
Judas And The Black Messiah
Screenplay by Will Berson and Shaka King
Story by Will Berson and Shaka King and Kenny Lucas and Keith Lucas
Palm Springs
Screenplay by Andy Siara
Story by Andy Siara and Max Barbakow
Promising Young Woman
Written by Emerald Fennell
Sound Of Metal
Screenplay...
- 2/16/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Doc nominations include The Dissident, All In: The Fight For Democracy.
Promising Young Woman, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Sound Of Metal and The White Tiger are among the WGA screenplay nominees announced on Tuesday (February 16).
The winners will be announced at a joint 2021 Writers Guild Awards virtual ceremony on March 21.
Original Screenplay
Judas And The Black Messiah
Screenplay by Will Berson and Shaka King
Story by Will Berson and Shaka King and Kenny Lucas and Keith Lucas
Palm Springs
Screenplay by Andy Siara
Story by Andy Siara and Max Barbakow
Promising Young Woman
Written by Emerald Fennell
Sound Of Metal
Screenplay...
Promising Young Woman, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Sound Of Metal and The White Tiger are among the WGA screenplay nominees announced on Tuesday (February 16).
The winners will be announced at a joint 2021 Writers Guild Awards virtual ceremony on March 21.
Original Screenplay
Judas And The Black Messiah
Screenplay by Will Berson and Shaka King
Story by Will Berson and Shaka King and Kenny Lucas and Keith Lucas
Palm Springs
Screenplay by Andy Siara
Story by Andy Siara and Max Barbakow
Promising Young Woman
Written by Emerald Fennell
Sound Of Metal
Screenplay...
- 2/16/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The Writers Guild of America Awards announced their nominations where big boosts were given to films like “Judas and the Black Messiah” from Shaka King, “Palm Springs” from Max Barbakow and “The White Tiger” from Ramin Bahrani.
Missing from the lineup, that was eligible, are “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” in the original screenplay category and “First Cow” and “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” in the adapted.
The full list of nominations is below:
Original Screenplay
“Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros) – Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King, Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas “Palm Springs” (Hulu/Neon) – Screenplay by Andy Siara, Story by Andy Siara & Max Barbakow “Promising Young Woman” (Focus Features) – Written by Emerald Fennell “Sound of Metal” (Amazon Studios) – Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder, Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix) – Written by Aaron Sorkin...
Missing from the lineup, that was eligible, are “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” in the original screenplay category and “First Cow” and “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” in the adapted.
The full list of nominations is below:
Original Screenplay
“Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros) – Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King, Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas “Palm Springs” (Hulu/Neon) – Screenplay by Andy Siara, Story by Andy Siara & Max Barbakow “Promising Young Woman” (Focus Features) – Written by Emerald Fennell “Sound of Metal” (Amazon Studios) – Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder, Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix) – Written by Aaron Sorkin...
- 2/16/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The WGA on Tuesday unveiled the movie nominations for its 2021 WGA Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in screenwriting of original, adapted and documentary films during 2020. Winners will be March 21 in a virtual ceremony. Check out the full list below.
The Original Screenplay category covers comedy, drama, mystery and more as the scribes behind Judas and the Black Messiah, Palm Springs, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal and The Trial of the Chicago 7 will vie for the hardware.
The Adapted Screenplay race will be among Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, News of the World, One Night in Miami and The White Tiger.
On the documentary side, All In: The Fight for Democracy, The Dissident, Herb Alpert Is…, Red Penguins and Totally Under Control will battle it out for the WGA trophy.
The eligibility period is January 1, 2020-February 28, 2021.
The WGA is the only guild that requires a movie to have been...
The Original Screenplay category covers comedy, drama, mystery and more as the scribes behind Judas and the Black Messiah, Palm Springs, Promising Young Woman, Sound of Metal and The Trial of the Chicago 7 will vie for the hardware.
The Adapted Screenplay race will be among Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, News of the World, One Night in Miami and The White Tiger.
On the documentary side, All In: The Fight for Democracy, The Dissident, Herb Alpert Is…, Red Penguins and Totally Under Control will battle it out for the WGA trophy.
The eligibility period is January 1, 2020-February 28, 2021.
The WGA is the only guild that requires a movie to have been...
- 2/16/2021
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Trial of the Chicago 7,” “One Night in Miami,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” are among the films that have been nominated by the Writers Guild of America in the original and adapted screenplay categories, the WGA West and WGA East announced on Tuesday.
In the Original Screenplay category, “Chicago 7,” “Promising Young Woman” and “Judas and the Black Messiah” were joined by “Palm Springs” and “Sound of Metal.”
“Borat,” “One Night in Miami” and “Ma Rainey” were nominated for Adapted Screenplay along with “News of the World” and “The White Tiger.”
In the documentary category, the nominees included one film that is on the Oscars documentary shortlist, “All In: The Fight for Democracy,” and four that are not: “The Dissident,” “Herb Alpert Is…,” “Red Penguins” and “Totally Under Control.”
To an even greater degree than usual, many of the top Oscar...
In the Original Screenplay category, “Chicago 7,” “Promising Young Woman” and “Judas and the Black Messiah” were joined by “Palm Springs” and “Sound of Metal.”
“Borat,” “One Night in Miami” and “Ma Rainey” were nominated for Adapted Screenplay along with “News of the World” and “The White Tiger.”
In the documentary category, the nominees included one film that is on the Oscars documentary shortlist, “All In: The Fight for Democracy,” and four that are not: “The Dissident,” “Herb Alpert Is…,” “Red Penguins” and “Totally Under Control.”
To an even greater degree than usual, many of the top Oscar...
- 2/16/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Every year, the Writers Guild of America leaves out several Oscar-contending screenplays in its award nominations. But this year’s ineligible list is massive, from “Mank” to “Nomadland.” The WGA maintains jurisdiction over whether scripts are produced under a Writer’s Guild contract, and who finally gets credit on a screenplay. The guild insists on withholding non-signatories from being part of the WGA Awards.
That’s why, unlike the other guilds, every year a long list of WGA ineligible indie, British, and animated movies are excluded. A WGA nomination isn’t essential for Oscar nomination; plenty of exceptions include American indie “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” Iranian Oscar-winner “A Separation,” Oscar-winning British films “Les Miserables,” and “The Favourite,” and all Pixar animated contenders, from “Up” to “Incredibles 2.” “The Artist” and “The King’s Speech” both won Best Picture without the benefit of a WGA nomination.
The WGA nominees listed below...
That’s why, unlike the other guilds, every year a long list of WGA ineligible indie, British, and animated movies are excluded. A WGA nomination isn’t essential for Oscar nomination; plenty of exceptions include American indie “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” Iranian Oscar-winner “A Separation,” Oscar-winning British films “Les Miserables,” and “The Favourite,” and all Pixar animated contenders, from “Up” to “Incredibles 2.” “The Artist” and “The King’s Speech” both won Best Picture without the benefit of a WGA nomination.
The WGA nominees listed below...
- 2/16/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Every year, the Writers Guild of America leaves out several Oscar-contending screenplays in its award nominations. But this year’s ineligible list is massive, from “Mank” to “Nomadland.” The WGA maintains jurisdiction over whether scripts are produced under a Writer’s Guild contract, and who finally gets credit on a screenplay. The guild insists on withholding non-signatories from being part of the WGA Awards.
That’s why, unlike the other guilds, every year a long list of WGA ineligible indie, British, and animated movies are excluded. A WGA nomination isn’t essential for Oscar nomination; plenty of exceptions include American indie “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” Iranian Oscar-winner “A Separation,” Oscar-winning British films “Les Miserables,” and “The Favourite,” and all Pixar animated contenders, from “Up” to “Incredibles 2.” “The Artist” and “The King’s Speech” both won Best Picture without the benefit of a WGA nomination.
The WGA nominees listed below...
That’s why, unlike the other guilds, every year a long list of WGA ineligible indie, British, and animated movies are excluded. A WGA nomination isn’t essential for Oscar nomination; plenty of exceptions include American indie “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” Iranian Oscar-winner “A Separation,” Oscar-winning British films “Les Miserables,” and “The Favourite,” and all Pixar animated contenders, from “Up” to “Incredibles 2.” “The Artist” and “The King’s Speech” both won Best Picture without the benefit of a WGA nomination.
The WGA nominees listed below...
- 2/16/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Doc-biopic directed by Oscar-nominated Rory Kennedy.
UK sales outfit Film Constellation has boarded sales on a doc-biopic of surfing icon Laird Hamilton, directed by Rory Kennedy (Last Days In Vietnam).
Take Every Wave examines the life of the big wave pioneer and the passion and fear driving his exploits.
The film will combine new footage with interviews and archive material spanning four decades of the athlete’s career from California, Hawaii, Tahiti to Europe.
Film Constellation’s Fabien Westerhoff said: “What Ayrton Senna was to Formula 1, Laird Hamilton is to the surf world. A driven sportsman, inspiring millions by pushing the boundaries of a discipline to new and uncharted territories. We look forward to introducing the film to audiences worldwide”.
The film’s sound-track feature’s a mix of rock tracks from artists including the Ventures, Jack Nitzsche and the Pixies.
Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton, is a [link...
UK sales outfit Film Constellation has boarded sales on a doc-biopic of surfing icon Laird Hamilton, directed by Rory Kennedy (Last Days In Vietnam).
Take Every Wave examines the life of the big wave pioneer and the passion and fear driving his exploits.
The film will combine new footage with interviews and archive material spanning four decades of the athlete’s career from California, Hawaii, Tahiti to Europe.
Film Constellation’s Fabien Westerhoff said: “What Ayrton Senna was to Formula 1, Laird Hamilton is to the surf world. A driven sportsman, inspiring millions by pushing the boundaries of a discipline to new and uncharted territories. We look forward to introducing the film to audiences worldwide”.
The film’s sound-track feature’s a mix of rock tracks from artists including the Ventures, Jack Nitzsche and the Pixies.
Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton, is a [link...
- 4/13/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
VI Issue 1
Join us twice weekly. Send us links to your sizzle reels and film sites.
We are happy to add a new feature to SydneysBuzz! Mitchell Block who, specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. Mitchell will post his commentary on docs and shorts twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday. Stay Tuned!
Ethel a documentary by Rory Kennedy
Ethel is a feature length documentary about the remarkable life of Ethel Kennedy, told from the point of view those who know Ethel best: her family. Produced and directed by Rory Kennedy, the film features candid interviews with Ethel and seven of her children. The film is a personal portrait of Ethel’s political awakening, the life she shared with Robert F. Kennedy, and the years following his death when she raised their eleven children on her own. Ethel offers a personal look inside the political dynasty that helped shape America.
Beautifully directed by Emmy Award winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy, this is her best work to date. Powerful, moving and deeply personal it was short listed for the Documentary Oscar. Produced by Jack Youngelston, smartly written by Mark Bailey, stunningly shot by Buddy Squires, elegantly scored by Miriam Cutler and edited by Azin Samari, this is that rare work that is perfectly crafted and feels like the director did not have to compromise one frame. Compressing an extraordinary life into this one and half ‐ hour work, the film both shares the life of Ethel Kennedy and covers the career of Robert Kennedy who was fatally shot in 1968 leaving Ethel alone to manage her family of eleven children. Never seeming to tire she shows continued strength, intelligence, sensitivity and love for her family and the Kennedys. This work is a tribute to an amazing mom.
The film aired on HBO in 2012.
Credits:
Director, Producer & Narrator: Rory Kennedy
Producer: Jack Youngelson
Writer: Mark Bailey
Cinematographer: Buddy Squires
Editor: Azin Samari
Original Score: Miriam Cutler
Executive Producer: Sheila Nevins
Producer: Nancy Abraham
Salar a short film by Nicholas Greene
In an isolated Bolivian village, on the edge of the vast Uyuni salt flats, two lives collide: Marc, a jaded American doctor looking to leave, and Carlos, a fiery Bolivian salt miner who's just been stabbed in the hand.
In this stunning fiction short student filmmaker Nicholas Greene has made a film worthy of an Oscar nomination. This 19 minute film has great production values, strong acting, an amazing cast and, with the Red camera, a clarity of image that gives a great look. Solidly produced by fellow Columbia University classmate Julie Buck and shot by Hilary Spera this work like many of the thesis films coming from Columbia shows how a solid original story can become a solid film. Short listed for an Academy Award, this thesis film is outstanding.
Director/ Writer’s Bio:
Nicholas Greene is a British writer/director. In 2010 he made the short film Salar in Bolivia, working with La Fabrica Escuela, the country's only film school. The film won the international competition at the Clermont‐Ferrand Film Festival. He holds an Mfa in Film at Columbia University. He works as an editor for non‐profit documentaries in New York.
Producer Bio:
Julie Buck is a New York‐based producer and currently works for Rabbit Bandini, James Franco’s production company, where her co‐producer credits include Child of God and Black Dog Red Dog. She has an Mfa from Brigham Young University, a certificate in film preservation from George Eastman House, and an Mfa from Columbia University.
Credits
Written and Directed by: Nicholas Greene
Produced by: Julie Buck
Co-Producer: Roberto Lanza Lobo
Director of Photography: Hillary Spera
Editor: Faisal Azam
Composer: John Plenge
Columbia University School of the Arts in New York
The Film Mfa Programs
Columbia University’s film program has distinguished itself over the last decade by its students winning more Student Academy Awards in fiction than any other training program in the Us. Its entries are consistently well written, beautifully produced and strongly directed.
There are two Mfa programs in filmmaking, Screenwriting/Directing and Creative Producing, which share a common first year. The course of instruction combines producing, directing, and writing with technical training and even some history and theory to provide students with a deep understanding of all the principles and practice of dramatic filmmaking. All the courses within this unique, integrated curriculum focus on film as a medium for the telling of stories. The graduate programs average 25 students in each class. While Columbia does not “own” the student works they are produced under Columbia’s egis. Since the program is not training camera, sound, editors and other craft areas student films are crewed by friends, colleagues and others interested in working on them rather than the projects being required to use other Columbia University students.
The faculty combines veteran and new members of the New York and Hollywood film communities in both production and writing.
Web site: http://arts.columbia.edu/mfa‐programs
mwblock@gmail.com
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
"Poster Girl," produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the "Best" Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series "Carrier,” a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
______________________________________________________________________
©2012Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited. All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
Join us twice weekly. Send us links to your sizzle reels and film sites.
We are happy to add a new feature to SydneysBuzz! Mitchell Block who, specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. Mitchell will post his commentary on docs and shorts twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday. Stay Tuned!
Ethel a documentary by Rory Kennedy
Ethel is a feature length documentary about the remarkable life of Ethel Kennedy, told from the point of view those who know Ethel best: her family. Produced and directed by Rory Kennedy, the film features candid interviews with Ethel and seven of her children. The film is a personal portrait of Ethel’s political awakening, the life she shared with Robert F. Kennedy, and the years following his death when she raised their eleven children on her own. Ethel offers a personal look inside the political dynasty that helped shape America.
Beautifully directed by Emmy Award winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy, this is her best work to date. Powerful, moving and deeply personal it was short listed for the Documentary Oscar. Produced by Jack Youngelston, smartly written by Mark Bailey, stunningly shot by Buddy Squires, elegantly scored by Miriam Cutler and edited by Azin Samari, this is that rare work that is perfectly crafted and feels like the director did not have to compromise one frame. Compressing an extraordinary life into this one and half ‐ hour work, the film both shares the life of Ethel Kennedy and covers the career of Robert Kennedy who was fatally shot in 1968 leaving Ethel alone to manage her family of eleven children. Never seeming to tire she shows continued strength, intelligence, sensitivity and love for her family and the Kennedys. This work is a tribute to an amazing mom.
The film aired on HBO in 2012.
Credits:
Director, Producer & Narrator: Rory Kennedy
Producer: Jack Youngelson
Writer: Mark Bailey
Cinematographer: Buddy Squires
Editor: Azin Samari
Original Score: Miriam Cutler
Executive Producer: Sheila Nevins
Producer: Nancy Abraham
Salar a short film by Nicholas Greene
In an isolated Bolivian village, on the edge of the vast Uyuni salt flats, two lives collide: Marc, a jaded American doctor looking to leave, and Carlos, a fiery Bolivian salt miner who's just been stabbed in the hand.
In this stunning fiction short student filmmaker Nicholas Greene has made a film worthy of an Oscar nomination. This 19 minute film has great production values, strong acting, an amazing cast and, with the Red camera, a clarity of image that gives a great look. Solidly produced by fellow Columbia University classmate Julie Buck and shot by Hilary Spera this work like many of the thesis films coming from Columbia shows how a solid original story can become a solid film. Short listed for an Academy Award, this thesis film is outstanding.
Director/ Writer’s Bio:
Nicholas Greene is a British writer/director. In 2010 he made the short film Salar in Bolivia, working with La Fabrica Escuela, the country's only film school. The film won the international competition at the Clermont‐Ferrand Film Festival. He holds an Mfa in Film at Columbia University. He works as an editor for non‐profit documentaries in New York.
Producer Bio:
Julie Buck is a New York‐based producer and currently works for Rabbit Bandini, James Franco’s production company, where her co‐producer credits include Child of God and Black Dog Red Dog. She has an Mfa from Brigham Young University, a certificate in film preservation from George Eastman House, and an Mfa from Columbia University.
Credits
Written and Directed by: Nicholas Greene
Produced by: Julie Buck
Co-Producer: Roberto Lanza Lobo
Director of Photography: Hillary Spera
Editor: Faisal Azam
Composer: John Plenge
Columbia University School of the Arts in New York
The Film Mfa Programs
Columbia University’s film program has distinguished itself over the last decade by its students winning more Student Academy Awards in fiction than any other training program in the Us. Its entries are consistently well written, beautifully produced and strongly directed.
There are two Mfa programs in filmmaking, Screenwriting/Directing and Creative Producing, which share a common first year. The course of instruction combines producing, directing, and writing with technical training and even some history and theory to provide students with a deep understanding of all the principles and practice of dramatic filmmaking. All the courses within this unique, integrated curriculum focus on film as a medium for the telling of stories. The graduate programs average 25 students in each class. While Columbia does not “own” the student works they are produced under Columbia’s egis. Since the program is not training camera, sound, editors and other craft areas student films are crewed by friends, colleagues and others interested in working on them rather than the projects being required to use other Columbia University students.
The faculty combines veteran and new members of the New York and Hollywood film communities in both production and writing.
Web site: http://arts.columbia.edu/mfa‐programs
mwblock@gmail.com
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
"Poster Girl," produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the "Best" Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series "Carrier,” a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
______________________________________________________________________
©2012Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited. All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
- 12/13/2012
- by Mitchell Block
- Sydney's Buzz
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