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Friday, October 31, 2014

Political Documentary Film, "Pay 2 Play," Arrives November 1st, 2014

Political Documentary “PAY 2 PLAY” Spotlights Dark Money in U.S. Politics

Director John Wellington Ennis Reveals Six Keys for Campaign Finance Reform

Doc in Limited Theatrical Release; Nationwide House Party Screenings; Digital Release November 1st and DVD Available December 2nd


LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Public Interest Pictures and filmmaker John Wellington EnnisShoot First Inc. are proud to present the humorous feature-length political documentary “PAY 2 PLAY: Democracy’s High Stakes” (89 minutes, Not Rated). The film about getting Big Money out of politics was held over theatrically in New York, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. and will be available digitally on Saturday, November 1st, 2014 on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Vimeo, Cinemanow, Google Play, Sony Playstation, Vudu and Xbox.

    “In order to face any of our mounting problems, we need leaders who will listen to ‘We The People,’ not just ‘We The Wealthiest People.’ This documentary highlights obstacles to elected office in hopes of encouraging reform and inspiring future candidates.”
The DVD will be available Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014 and can be purchased via TDC Entertainment (http://disinfo.com/product/pay-2-play-democracys-high-stakes/). Links to purchase the DVD and learn more about community screening packages can also be found at the “PAY 2 PLAY” website (http://www.pay2play.tv/buy_a_screening_package).

Ennis explains, “In order to face any of our mounting problems, we need leaders who will listen to ‘We The People,’ not just ‘We The Wealthiest People.’ This documentary highlights obstacles to elected office in hopes of encouraging reform and inspiring future candidates.”

In the film, Ennis’ six keys for campaign finance reform are: Public Financing for Campaigns; Disclosure; Free Airtime for Candidates, Required Voting (Like Jury Duty); End Gerrymandering; and a Constitutional Amendment affirming that Money is not Speech and that Corporations are not People.

Appearing in “PAY 2 PLAY” are Robert Reich, John Nichols, Lawrence Lessig, Noam Chomsky, Van Jones, Marianne Williamson, Jack Abramoff, Marge Baker, Jerry Springer, Mark Crispin Miller, Brad Friedman, Lee Fang, Jason Leopold, Thom Hartmann, Jessica Levinson, Rashad Robinson, Bob Edgar, Kathay Feng and Rob Weissman, amongst others.

As a citizen journalist, Ennis embarked on a journey to find ways outsiders can create meaningful campaign reform. Spanning eight years, “PAY 2 PLAY” dissects Big Money’s effects in politics, connecting the dots between the hurdles to fair and open elections. The doc also illustrates how people power has had a provable impact, citing the Occupy Movement and high profile Street Art.

Ennis presents an imperative argument for the American people to overturn the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and why there should be a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 26 to October 31, 2014 - Update #10


NEWS:

From Hitflix via YahooTV:  Terminator: Genisys makes "pop culture."

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From Variety:  American Gigolo the television series... from Jerry Bruckheimer.

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From Salon:  5 reasons everyone needs to see Dear White People.

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From Variety via YahooMovies:  Meet Chadwick Boseman the Black Panther.

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From YahooMovies:  Marvel Studios' movies from Avengers: Age of Ultron through May 2019:

May 1, 2015: Avengers: Age of Ultron
·        July 17, 2015: Ant-Man
·        May 6, 2016: Captain America: Civil War
·        Nov. 4, 2016: Doctor Strange
·        May 5, 2017: Guardians of the Galaxy 2
·        July 28, 2017: Thor: Ragnarok
·        Nov. 3, 2017: Black Panther
·        May 4, 2018: Avengers: Infinity Wars Part I
·        July 6, 2018: Captain Marvel
·        Nov. 2, 2018: Inhumans
·        May 3, 2019: Avengers: Infinity Wars Part II

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From YahooMovies:  Jake Gyllenhaal talks about his career highlights, including Brokeback Mountain.

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From YahooMovies:  What can be learned from Vulture's Hollywood MVP list.

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From BusinessInsider:  Marvel is holding a secret press event tomorrow (Tuesday, October 25, 2014), which doesn't seem so secret now.  This article contains speculation about the huge announcement that is supposed to be made at the event.

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From THR:  The new, micro-budgeted horror film, Ouija, won the October 24th to 26th, 2014 weekend box office with an estimated gross of $20 million.  In second place was John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves, with an estimated take of $14.2 million.


COMIC BOOKS - Movies and Books:

From YahooMovies:  Marvel "secret event" happened.  Chadwick Boseman (who has famous black people on screen, such as Jackie Robinson and James Brown) is the Black Panther.

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From Deadline:  Marvel wants Benedict Cumberbatch to play Doctor Strange.


STAR WARS:

From IBT:  Descriptions about the filming of a scene involving actor Boyega and reveals about his character in Star Wars 7.

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From YahooParenting:  Dad plays Princess Leia to his daughter's Han Solo.


REVIEWS:

Dear White People by TheVillageVoice.

Negromancer's Fave Poli-Reads - October 2014 Edition - Update #26


From YahooNews:  Finally, Senator Landrieu tells the truth about something.

From YahooNews:  Surprising Israeli political cartoon about Israeli=U.S. relations.

From RollingStone: Paul Krugman - "In Defense of Obama"

From TheDailyBeast:  The suicide of Israeli soldiers after recent Gaza incursion.

From TheNewYorker:  Andy Borowitz says billionaires to retain control of congress after the midterms.

From NewYorkMagazine:  Can Elizabeth Warren (via Jeanne Shaheen) beat Scott Brown again.

From the GuardianUK:  A controversial book about the Matthew Shepard murder.

From ThinkProgess:  Yes, let's soak the 1 percent with a 90 percent tax rate.

From Prospect:  The making of Ferguson.

From TheGuardian:  Four Blackwater mercenaries/employees found guilty in Nisour Square massacre.

From TheGuardian:  Gamergate.

From ThinkProgress:  This judge is a prick for not granting maternity leave.

From RSN:  Mumia and the commencement speech that cause police to go nuts.

From the GuardianUK:  Matt Taibbi on the justice divide between Wall Street and Ferguson.

From SPLC via RSN:  How Cliven Bundy won and is still winning.

From Consortium News via RSN:  The Washington Post strikes back at Gary Webb revival.

From Consortium News via RSN:  Robert Parry talks about Ronald Reagan's CIA and the contra-cocaine saga.

From TheIntercept:  The neocon-UAE-Iraeli plot to declar Qatar a supporter of terror.
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From TheNewYorkTimes:  Why is President Obama continuing the embargo of Cuba.
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From Consortium News via RSN:  Robert Parry on the mainstream media's tepid response to the ghost of Gary Webb rising again with the release of the film, Kill the Messanger.
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From Think Progress via RSN:  The one time the U.S. had "universal childcare."
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From Reuters:  Sweden to recognize the state of Palestine.
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From the GuardianUK: Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi win the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.

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From YahooNews:  10 States with the worst quality of life... Yes, Louisiana makes the cut.  And her current governor, Bobby Jindal (once called "the little majaraja") thinks his performance makes him a great U.S. presidential candidate for 2016.

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From Truthout:  John Cleese weighs in on FOX News and stupidity.

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From Salon:  The South (Southern states) has a victim complex.

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From MotherJones:  An Alabama law provides lawyers for fetuses.

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From Reuters:  The Supreme Court dodges gay marriage.

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From Truthout:  Funny Obamacare cartoon.

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From Slate via RSN:  (in)Justice Scalia's favorite murderer is innocent.  You just have to laugh.

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From Consortium News via RSN:  The New York Times admits that the Contra-Cocaine story was true... belatedly and relatively hidden.

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From Politico:  "Something is Rotten in the Secret Service" - includes the author's now infamous line about it being Obama's own fault if he is assassinated.

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From the NewYorkTimes:  Our Invisible Rich by Paul Krugman

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From RollingStone and RSN: Koch Bros. toxic empire.

From Rolling Stone via RSN:  Koch's respond to Rolling Stone.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Production Begins on Shane Black's "The Nice Guys"

Silver Pictures’ “The Nice Guys” in Production

Cameras roll on Shane Black’s detective thriller starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, with additional cast set to star, including Matt Bomer, Kim Basinger and more

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography has begun on Silver Pictures’ upcoming detective thriller “The Nice Guys,” from director Shane Black (“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” “Iron Man 3”). The film, which stars Oscar winner Russell Crowe (“Gladiator,” “Man of Steel”) and Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling (“Half Nelson,” “Drive,” “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”), is shooting in Atlanta and Los Angeles. It is being produced by Joel Silver (“Non-Stop,” “The Matrix” series, the “Sherlock Holmes” series).

Recently added to the cast are Matt Bomer (“Magic Mike,” HBO’s “The Normal Heart”), Oscar winner Kim Basinger (“L.A. Confidential”), Angourie Rice (“These Final Hours”), Beau Knapp (“Super 8”), Keith David (“Pitch Black,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”) and Margaret Qualley (HBO’s “The Leftovers”).

“The Nice Guys” takes place in 1970s Los Angeles, when down-on-his-luck private eye Holland March (Gosling) and hired leg-breaker Jackson Healy (Crowe) must work together to solve the case of a missing girl and the seemingly unrelated death of a porn star. During their investigation, they uncover a shocking conspiracy that reaches up to the highest circles of power.

Black directs from an original screenplay he wrote with Anthony Bagarozzi. Silver is producing under his Silver Pictures banner, with Ken Kao of Waypoint Entertainment, Hal Sadoff, and Michael Malone serving as executive producers. Waypoint is co-financing, and Alex Walton and Ken Kao’s BLOOM is handling international sales.

The creative team behind “The Nice Guys” includes director of photography Philippe Rousselot (the “Sherlock Holmes” series, “Big Fish”), production designer Richard Bridgland (“Serena,” “Unknown”), editor Joel Negrón (“21 Jump Street”), and costume designer Kym Barrett (“The Matrix” series).

“The Nice Guys,” set for release on June 17, 2016, will be distributed in North America by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.


About Silver Pictures
Joel Silver’s Silver Pictures is one of Hollywood’s leading producers of action motion pictures. The company’s most recent project, “Non-Stop,” starring Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore and directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, opened in February 2014. The film has earned more than $200 million at the worldwide box office. Silver Pictures recently wrapped production on the much buzzed about “Autobahn,” starring Nicholas Hoult, Felicity Jones, Anthony Hopkins and Ben Kingsley. Additionally, the company is currently in post-production on “The Gunman,” starring Sean Penn, Javier Bardem and Idris Elba and directed by Pierre Morel. In 2012, Silver signed a 5-year non-exclusive distribution deal with Universal Pictures. Silver has produced more than 70 films which have earned more than $13 billion in worldwide revenue. Past credits include the “Sherlock Holmes” franchise, starring Robert Downey Jr., which has earned more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office, the Academy Award-winning “The Matrix” trilogy, the blockbuster “Lethal Weapon” franchise and seminal action films “Die Hard” and “Predator.”

About Waypoint Entertainment
Waypoint Entertainment is a film and television development, production, and finance company cofounded by Ken Kao in 2010. Waypoint’s upcoming slate includes Martin Scorsese’s “Silence,” starring Liam Neeson, Andrew Garfield, Andrew Driver and Ken Watanabe, and Terrence Malick’s next two films, “Knight of Cups,” with Christian Bale, Natalie Portman and Cate Blanchett, and an untitled film featuring Michael Fassbender, Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman and Cate Blanchett.

About BLOOM
BLOOM represents and curates a diversified slate of films ranging from commercial, talent-driven, wide release movies, to specialty films from proven and trusted filmmakers, all the while keeping an eye towards fresh and emerging talent. Alex Walton and financier and producer Ken Kao partnered to form BLOOM, a sales, production and financing outfit which launched just prior to Cannes with two-time Academy Award nominee Gus Van Sant’s “Sea of Trees,” starring Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey, Academy Award nominees Ken Watanabe and Naomi Watts, which recently wrapped principal photography. Upcoming projects include Michael Apted’s “Unlocked,” starring Noomi Rapace, Academy Award winner Michael Douglas, and Orlando Bloom; Renny Harlin’s “Skiptrace,” starring Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville; and “The Hunters,” which will be directed by John Moore. The existing slate includes Gillian Flynn’s best-selling novel “Dark Places,” starring Charlize Theron; “A Walk Among the Tombstones,” starring Liam Neeson; “The Woman in Black: Angel of Death”; “Pele,” the biopic about the legendary Brazilian soccer player; “Jane Got a Gun,” starring Natalie Portman; and “Out of the Dark,” starring Julia Stiles and Scott Speedman.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Teaser Trailer Released for "The Gambler" Starring Mark Wahlberg


THE ONLY WAY OUT IS ALL IN.

Watch the red-band teaser and read an interview with star and producer Mark Wahlberg:
https://www.yahoo.com/movies/mark-walhberg-the-gambler-preview-weight-100665948362.html

Jim Bennett (Academy Award®-nominee Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Academy Award®-winner Jessica Lange) in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett’s future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance…

THE GAMBLER in select theaters starting December 19th

Official site: www.TheGamblerMovie.com
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGamblerMovie

Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGamblerMovie
#THEGAMBLER

"Z Nation" Creator Launches New H.P. Lovecraft Comic Book

Creator of Syfy’s Hit Show ‘Z Nation’ Launches Lovecraft Kickstarter Comic for Halloween

Craig Engler, the co-creator/writer/co-executive producer of Syfy’s new hit series “Z Nation,” launched a Kickstarter project to create a new comic series based on the work of famous horror author H.P. Lovecraft. The project went live yesterday morning and within 24 hours was already 73% funded.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/4480776/lovecraft-the-blasphemously-large-first-issue

“Halloween week is the perfect time to launch ‘Lovecraft: The Blasphemously Large First Issue,’ the start of a new series we’re working on that completely reinvents H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos,” Engler said. “The story is set in the present day and recasts Lovecraft as the world’s foremost alchemist and a magician who guards a secret library of forbidden knowledge, which includes books like the Necronomicon.”

In this world magicians are a secret culture within our culture constantly vying for control over ancient magickal tomes and the power they wield. That leads to magickal feuds and wars that can unleash unspeakable terrors in the world. When that happens, Lovecraft is the guy who cleans things up.

Engler (Z Nation, Zombie Apocalypse) is writing the story with pencils and inks by Daniel Govar (DC, Marvel), colors by Matheus Lopes (Image, Dark Horse, IDW) and a special limited-edition cover by red hot artist Lewis LaRosa (Valiant). The first issue will be 48 pages long, including 6 pages of Lovecraft pinups by some fantastic guest artists:

Brian Hurtt (The Sixth Gun),
Dennis Calero (X-Men: Noir)
John Bivens (Dark Engine)
Lukas Ketner (Witch Doctor)
Richard Luong (Cthulhu Wars)
Jamie Tanner (The Dark Well)

The Kickstarter will also feature a special green foil variant cover that’s only being offered during the 28 day campaign.

Engler is a former Syfy executive who left the network last year to create his own TV series and launch other creative projects. Z Nation debuted on September 12 and airs Friday nights. It has consistently been one of Syfy’s highest rated series and was recently picked up for a second season.


Tyler Mane to Appear at Los Angles Comikaze Expo 2014

Darby Pop Publishing announced today that Tyler Mane – none other than “Michael Myers” himself from Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN -will be appearing at their booth (#806) during the Los Angeles Comikaze Expo on Friday, October 31st and Saturday, November 1st, 2014.

Mane, also known for his role as “Sabretooth” in X-MEN, as well as featured parts in TROY and SCORPION KING, will be signing photos and other memorabilia throughout the weekend. Photo ops will also be available, as will DVDs of COMPOUND FRACTURE, the inaugural film from Mane’s recently-formed shingle Mane Entertainment.

Darby Pop Publishing, an L.A.-based comic book company distributed worldwide by IDW, is about to celebrate its first anniversary. With five original series already in print, Darby Pop has been aggressive about creating both high-quality content and unique opportunities for reader interaction.

Renae Geerlings, who serves as both Mane Entertainment President and Darby Pop Publishing Managing Editor, explained: “Having both companies join forces seemed like a no-brainer, and a fun way for us – and fans of all stripes — to celebrate the holiday together.”

Mane added: “Halloween is obviously my favorite time of year, and I love supporting local shows. Darby Pop has published some outstanding books, and I’m looking forward to hanging out with them for a couple of days and meeting fans of all genres!”

ABOUT Darby Pop Publishing
Founder and Emmy-winning writer/producer Jeff Kline (Transformers: Prime, G.I. Joe: Renegades) created Darby Pop Publishing in 2013 with the goal of telling all-new stories crafted by a small circle of friends. Darby Pop Publishing’s ever-growing array of original titles includes INDESTRUCTIBLE, CITY: THE MIND IN THE MACHINE, THE 7TH SWORD, DOBERMAN, and DEAD SQUAD, all distributed worldwide by IDW. For more information, visit darbypop.com.

ABOUT Mane Entertainment
Founded in 2010, Mane Entertainment, LLC, is a Los Angeles-based production company founded by actor/producer Tyler Mane. Mane Entertainment is committed to producing high-quality films that build on Mane’s cache as a horror icon. Visit Mane Entertainment online at www.maneentertainment.com.

ABOUT Stan Lee's Comikaze
Stan Lee’s Comikaze is Los Angeles’ first and only large-scale, multi-media pop culture convention. Held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Comikaze assembles the most exciting and innovative in comics, video games, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and all things pop-culture. Partnering with comic legend Stan Lee himself and Elvira Mistress of the Dark, Comikaze is the only pop-culture convention owned and operated by true pop-culture icons. Check http://comikazeexpo.com for more info.

Mark Rylance Cast as Title Character in Steven Spielberg's "The BFG"

“The BFG” Has Found Its Big Friendly Giant in Mark Rylance

Three-Time Tony Award Winner and Two-Time Olivier Award Winner Has Been Cast as Title Character in Spielberg Film

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DreamWorks Studios announced today that three-time Tony Award winner and two-time Olivier Award winner Mark Rylance has been cast as the title character in “The BFG.” Steven Spielberg will direct the adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved classic children’s novel. Published in 1982, “The BFG” tells the tale of a young girl, the Queen of England and a benevolent giant known as the BFG, who set out on an adventure to capture the evil, man-eating giants who have been invading the human world.

    “As I witnessed on stage, Mark Rylance is a transformational actor”

“As I witnessed on stage, Mark Rylance is a transformational actor,” said Steven Spielberg. “I am excited and thrilled that Mark will be making this journey with us to Giant Country. Everything about his career so far is about making the courageous choice and I'm honored he has chosen ‘The BFG’ as his next big screen performance.”

Luke Kelly, Managing Director of the Roald Dahl Literary Estate and Roald Dahl's grandson, said, “We are ecstatic at this choice. Mark is incredibly talented, one of the great British actors working today. I've had the privilege of seeing Mark perform, and the thought of watching him transform into ‘the only nice and jumbly Giant in Giant Country' is, as The BFG himself might say, absolutely phizz-whizzing.”

Mark Rylance is currently working with Steven Spielberg on the Untitled Cold War Spy Thriller, which stars Tom Hanks. His other upcoming projects include “The Gunman,” “Days and Nights,” and the lead role in the much-anticipated BBC adaptation of “Wolf Hall.” Rylance’s three Tony Awards were for his roles in “Boeing Boeing,” “Jerusalem” and Twelfth Night.” He earned his two Olivier Awards for his roles in “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Jerusalem.” He has appeared in such films as “The Other Boleyn Girl” and “Angels and Insects.” Rylance is represented by Hamilton Hodell and Peikoff Mahan Law Office.

DreamWorks acquired the rights to the book in 2010 after Kathleen Kennedy brought it to the company. Melissa Mathison, who last teamed with Spielberg and Kennedy on "E.T.," has written the screenplay. Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Sam Mercer will produce while Kennedy, John Madden and Michael Siegel are on board as Executive Producers. Kristie Macosko Krieger and Adam Somner are Co-Producers.

Spielberg will begin production on "The BFG" in early 2015 and it will open in U.S. theaters on July 1, 2016. The Walt Disney Company is distributing the film in the U.S. and select international territories while Mister Smith Entertainment is handling distribution in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. DreamWorks’ partner, Reliance, will distribute the film in India.

About DreamWorks Studios
DreamWorks Studios is a motion picture company formed in 2009 and led by Steven Spielberg in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The company’s recent releases include Spielberg's "Lincoln," starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones. The film has grossed over $180 million at the U.S. box office and was nominated for twelve Academy Awards® with Daniel Day-Lewis winning for Best Actor. Other releases include “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” starring Helen Mirren, Steven Spielberg’s "War Horse," based on Michael Morpurgo’s award-winning book and was nominated for six Academy Awards® including Best Picture, and "The Help," which resonated with audiences around the country and earned over $200 million at the box office and received four Academy Award® nominations with Octavia Spencer winning for Best Supporting Actress.

DreamWorks Studios can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DreamWorksStudios and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dw_studios.

About "The BFG"
First published in 1982, "The BFG" was Roald Dahl’s own favorite of his stories. Today, the book is published in 38 foreign languages, including Vietnamese, Korean, Ukrainian, Indonesian, Albanian, Estonian, Hebrew and Welsh.

“The BFG” will be the latest Roald Dahl title to be adapted for stage and screen, following major films including “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971), “James and the Giant Peach” (1996), “Matilda” (1996), “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005) and “Fantastic Mr Fox” (2009). The phenomenally successful award-winning “Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical” continues playing to packed audiences in the West End and on Broadway. In 2015, the show is set to open in Sydney and begin touring the USA. Additionally, over a million people have seen the West End musical production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” since its opening in June 2013.

About Roald Dahl and his legacy
Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was one of the world’s most inventive, mischievous and successful storytellers. His stories are currently available in 58 languages, and, by conservative estimate, he has sold more than 200 million books. Ten percent of all the Roald Dahl royalties are donated to the two Roald Dahl charities - Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity and The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre. Roald Dahl Day is marked annually all over the world on Roald Dahl’s birthday, September 13th, and in 2016 there will be global celebrations for the Centenary of his birth, which will coincide with the release of “The BFG” movie.

For further information on “The BFG” and the wonderful world of Roald Dahl please visit:

www.roalddahl.com
www.facebook.com/TheBFGByRoaldDahl
www.twitter.com/roald_dahl

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Production Begins on Paramount Pictures' "Same Kind of Different as Me"

GREG KINNEAR, RENEE ZELLWEGER, DJIMON HOUNSOU AND JON VOIGHT TO STAR IN PARAMOUNT PICTURES’ “SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME”

PRODUCTION BEGAN OCTOBER 27TH IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

Paramount Pictures today announced that Academy Award®-nominees Greg Kinnear and Djimon Hounsou and Academy Award®-winners Renee Zellweger and Jon Voight will star in “SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME,” based on the best-selling nonfiction book by Ron Hall and Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent, author of the bestselling book Heaven Is for Real.

Michael Carney will make his directorial debut from a screenplay he co-wrote with Alexander Foard and Ron Hall. Mary Parent and Cale Boyter will produce through Disruption Entertainment, alongside Darren Moorman, Stephen Johnson and Ron Hall. The executive producers are Chris Bancroft, Hans Graffunder, Michael Carney and Foard.

Principal photography began October 27th in Jackson, Mississippi.

“SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME” is the story of an international art dealer Ron Hall (Kinnear) who must befriend a dangerous homeless man (Hounsou) in order to save his struggling marriage to his wife (Zellweger), a woman whose dreams will lead all three of them on the most remarkable journey of their lives. Voight plays Hall's father, with whom he reconciles thanks to the revelations of his new life.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

"Ladies Night" at Soul Train Awards 2014

Missy Elliott, Lil’ Kim and Da Brat Reunite to Revive “Ladies Night” at Soul Train Awards 2014

Kool & the Gang Honored with the Legend Award During the Ceremony, Premiering November 30th on CENTRIC and BET Networks

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--It’s ladies night at SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2014! Today, CENTRIC announced that the Grammy Award-winning Queen Bee herself, Lil’ Kim; Grammy Award-winning double platinum artist, Missy Elliott; and the first female solo rapper to ever go platinum, Da Brat, will join the list of all-star performers and presenters at this year’s awards show. Also new to the performance lineup are music fan favorites Tamar Braxton, Bobby Brown, Tank and Sevyn Streeter, who join previously announced hit-makers Chris Brown, Ma$e, Aloe Blacc and Nico & Vinz. Additions to the roster of presenters are LisaRaye McCoy, Bill Bellamy, Keith Sweat and Leon, who will be joining Wendy Williams at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on November 7, 2014. The show airs on CENTRIC and BET Networks on November 30, 2014 at 8PM ET/PT.

    “We are humbled to honor Kool & the Gang with the Legend Award this year. They’ve set music trends that are sampled still today, and I know they, along with the other performers, will bring the Celebration to Vegas throughout the weekend!”

Funk icons Kool & the Gang will be honored with the Legend Award, which recognizes individuals for their outstanding achievements and contribution to soul music. There’s no better way to pay homage to one of the most-sampled bands in history than with top notch performances. Get ready, because hip hop’s legendary MC’s Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliott and Da Brat will perform their 1996 platinum single, “Not Tonight,” the remix from Kool & the Gang’s first platinum album and same-titled single, “Ladies Night.” The tribute also includes a performance by soulful singer Joe. In addition to the celebration during the awards show, Kool & the Gang will headline a live musical event during Centric Presents: The Soul Train Review on Sunday, November 9, 2014.

“We are keeping the momentum going with hit-making musical acts from different decades and are thrilled Missy Elliott, Lil Kim and DaBrat chose SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2014 for their reunion,” said Paxton Baker, General Manager and Executive Vice President, CENTRIC. “We are humbled to honor Kool & the Gang with the Legend Award this year. They’ve set music trends that are sampled still today, and I know they, along with the other performers, will bring the Celebration to Vegas throughout the weekend!”

This year’s theme will celebrate the history of dance, from the classic Soul Train line and the electric slide, to the Dougie and this year’s breakout, the Nae Nae. To keep the party going throughout the show, international DJ and King of Crunk, Lil Jon, has been tapped as the house DJ. His voice has been heard over radio waves for decades, so it only makes sense to have Big Tigger as this year’s official celebrity announcer.

SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2014 is directed by Tony McCuin and produced by BET Event Productions and Sunseeker Media. Executive producers of the network telecast are as follows: Paxton Baker, Tami Arasli, Derek Lewis from Centric; Bart Phillips from Sunseeker and David Koff and Jerry Letter from Soul Train Holdings; Doug E. Fresh; Kevin Hunter and Wendy Williams from Wendy Williams Productions, Inc.

For show information, please visit BET.com/SoulTrain, the official site for SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2014.

Follow Centric on Twitter (@CentricTV), Instagram (@CentricTV) and Facebook.com/CentricTV

Be a part of the Soul Train Awards conversation using #SoulTrainAwards

To apply for credentials to cover the SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2014 red carpet, please apply here.

SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2014 is part of Centric’s Soul Train Weekend at the Orleans Hotel & Casino. The weekend includes the following events:

  •     Thursday, November 6: Kick-Off Reception with meet and greets featuring SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2014 and Comedy All Stars Show talent
  •     Friday, November 7: SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2014 with host Wendy Williams
  •     Saturday, November 8: Centric Comedy All Stars Show hosted by Bill Bellamy featuring comedic geniuses Kim Coles, Faizon Love, Donnell Rawlings, Malik S. and Cocoa Brown
  •     Sunday, November 9: Centric Presents: The Soul Train Review, a live musical event with Kool & the Gang
  •     Opportunities to watch a live rehearsal and access the red carpet at SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2014

For additional information and to purchase tickets for all of the exciting events, visit www.SoulTrainWeekend.com or call 888-234-2334.

*All talent subject to change

About CENTRIC
Centric is a 24-hour music and entertainment channel that reflects the lifestyle and sophistication of today's African-American and multicultural adult viewer. With a finger on the pulse of an ever-changing beat, its compelling music content fuses Soul, R&B, Neo-Soul, Hip Hop, Reggae, Gospel, Jazz, Old School, New School and everything in between with today's hottest artists. It is a unique of mix of music, culture and lifestyle programming that embodies the lives, tastes and aspirations of the CENTRIC viewer.

About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

About Soul Train Holdings
SOUL TRAIN HOLDINGS, LLC was formed in May 2008 and is owned by InterMedia Partners and a partnership between Magic Johnson Enterprises and Ron Burkle's investment firm, The Yucaipa Companies. The iconic franchise and catalog consists of more than 1,100 episodes and 40 specials from Don Cornelius Productions, Inc. Soul Train is the longest running, first-run, nationally syndicated music program in television history. During its 35-year run, the show featured lasting innovations such as the Soul Train line and the legendary sign off “Love, Peace and Soul.” At the heart of the show was Don Cornelius, the dancers and influential artists such as James Brown, Al Green, Ike & Tina Turner, Hall & Oates, Donna Summer, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Prince, Run D.M.C. and Destiny’s Child.

About the Orleans Arena
The Orleans Arena, a Boyd Gaming facility located just west of the Las Vegas Strip, is one of the nation’s leading multi-purpose sports and entertainment facilities and the 2014 recipient of the Venue Excellence Award from the International Association of Venue Managers. In addition, the Orleans Arena is one of only a handful of arenas in the United States to achieve LEED Gold Certification and is part of the largest company in Nevada to achieve SHARP Certification for commitments to safe venue operations. According to Venues Today magazine, the Orleans Arena, which hosts more than 200 events each year, consistently ranks in the Top 10 for ticket sales in the United States and internationally among venues of similar size. These events include nationally touring concerts, NCAA basketball conference tournaments, family shows, motorsports and other unique events. For more information, call 702-365-7469 or visit www.OrleansArena.com. Stay connected to the Orleans Arena on Facebook (www.facebook.com/orleansarena) and on Twitter (@orleansarena).

Monday, October 27, 2014

Columbia Pictures Begins Production on Film Adaptation of "The 5th Wave"

PRODUCTION BEGINS ON "THE 5TH WAVE"

First Novel in Franchise Series by Rick Yancey Stars Chloë Grace Moretz For Director J Blakeson
Moviegoers Follow the Action on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @5thWaveMovie


Principal photography has commenced on the highly anticipated motion picture The 5th Wave, Columbia Pictures’ adaptation of the bestselling young adult novel. The action-adventure film is directed by J Blakeson, with a screenplay by Susannah Grant, based on the book by Rick Yancey. The producers are Tobey Maguire, Graham King, Lynn Harris, and Matthew Plouffe. Denis O’Sullivan and Richard Middleton are the executive producers.

Slated for domestic release on January 29, 2016, The 5th Wave stars Chloë Grace Moretz as Cassie, Nick Robinson as Ben Parish aka "Zombie," Ron Livingston as Dad/Oliver, Maggie Siff as Mom/Lisa, Alex Roe as Evan Walker, Maika Monroe as Ringer, Zackary Arthur as Sam, and Liev Schreiber as Vosch.

In The 5th Wave, set in the present day, four waves of increasingly deadly attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Against a backdrop of fear and distrust, 16-year-old Cassie is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother. As she prepares for the inevitable and lethal 5th wave, Cassie meets a young man who may become her final hope.

Throughout photography, fans will have unrivaled access to the production, including a wealth of behind-the-scenes photos, interaction with cast and crew, and on-set updates via social media. "One of the ways Rick Yancey made The 5th Wave so special is that it feels like it’s happening right now – and the characters react as teenagers today would react,”"said Dwight Caines, president, Theatrical Marketing for Sony Pictures. "To stay faithful to that, we are making sure fans are on the inside from Day One."

Moviegoers can stay up-to-date on all things 5th Wave by following the movie and interacting on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @5thWaveMovie.

Blakeson’s production team includes Enrique Chediak as the Director of Photography, Jon Billington as the Production Designer, Paul Rubell as the Editor, and Sharen Davis as the Costume Designer.

The 5th Wave is a phenomenon in young adult literature, with 21 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers list, nearly 300,000 hardcover units sold, and 80,000 e-books sold. The novel, which has also had tremendous crossover appeal with adults, was honored with the 2014 Red House Children’s Book Award in the UK. The second book in Yancey’s planned trilogy, The Infinite Sea, was published last month.

Hannah Minghella and Andrea Giannetti will oversee the project for the studio.


About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.

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Saturday, October 25, 2014

Billy Boyd Sings End Title Song, "The Last Goodbye," in Third "Hobbit" Film

“The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy’s Billy Boyd Performs Song in “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”

Actor Co-Wrote Song with “Hobbit” Filmmakers

Song To Be Included on Soundtrack

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gearing up for the December 17, 2014, release of “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”—the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien—filmmakers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens announced today that Billy Boyd will perform the film’s end title song, “The Last Goodbye,” which he co-wrote with the filmmakers.

In making the announcement, the filmmakers stated, “It is hard, after 16 years and six films, to know exactly how to say goodbye. We knew that we wanted to speak directly to all those who have taken this journey with us, especially to the fans whose love of these films has so often kept us going. This is why we asked Billy Boyd, who has been with us from the very beginning, and whose portrayal as Peregrin Took in ‘The Lord of The Rings’ films is so beloved, to help write and perform the final song in this trilogy. Billy is not just a wonderful actor but also an extremely accomplished singer/songwriter—we are so glad he agreed once again to share his talent with us.

“There is always something simple and truthful and heartfelt running through even the grandest of the tales of Professor Tolkien. As Thorin tells Bilbo at the end of The Hobbit, if the world valued song and cheer above gold it would be a merrier place. As much as ‘The Battle of the Five Armies’ is an epic story about war and sacrifice and loss, it is also a personal tale about the importance of friendship and family and home.

“‘The Last Goodbye,’ performed by Billy Boyd, is both a farewell to Middle-earth and it is also our leave-taking of the audience. We cannot imagine a more perfect voice to carry us away from the shores of Middle-earth...one last time.”

Billy Boyd reflects, “I wanted the song to be a goodbye to all the fans who have been part of this amazing journey and to the whole world of Tolkien as it has been told in the cinema for our generation. No one knows the world of Tolkien better than Peter, Fran and Philippa, and I feel incredibly touched and honored to be asked to write and perform this song, and to be at the start and end of these beautiful, historic stories. To once again work so closely with them has been one of the true honors of my working life.”

The soundtrack to “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” featuring “The Last Goodbye” performed by Billy Boyd, is available now for preorder at Amazon.com.

About “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”:

Directed by Peter Jackson, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” features a screenplay by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson also produced the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Philippa Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.

New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Present a Wingnut Films Production, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.” The film is a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing production. The film will be released worldwide on December 17, 2014, with select international territories releasing on December 10, 2014. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM. www.thehobbit.com

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of October 19th to 25th, 2014 - Update #15


NEWS:

From YahooTV:  "Manhattan Love Story" becomes the first new show of the 2014-15 television season to get cancelled.  Yahoo has a list of other endangered shows.

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From TheWrap:  2014 Gotham Film Awards nominations announced.

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From YahooMovies:  Keanu Reeves laments that studios no longer offer him big budget films.

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From YahooCelebrity:  A bit of news of the Renee Zellwegger "new face" freakout.

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From Time:  Halle Berry's child support fight.

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From TheWrap:  Patrick Stewart, of X-Men and Star Trek fame, to play a white supremacist in crime thriller, Green Room.

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From Variety:  The new film, "Fury" takes the top spot at the October 17th to 19th, 2014 weekend box office with an estimated gross of $23.5 million dollars.


COMIC BOOKS - Movies and Books:

From YahooMovies:  "Avengers: Age of Ultron" trailer debuts.

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From CheatSheet:  Here is Jena Malone, rumored to be the female Robin in "Batman Vs. Superman."

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From TheWrap:  Collin Farrell and Keanu Reeves among those being considered for Marvel's "Doctor Strange."

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From IGN:  And the new Robin (in the Batman comic books) is... someone who was previously Robin.

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From NerdReactor:  Zach Snyder is a genius... well, at least someone think so.

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From YahooMusic:  Adam McKay reveals changes he made to the "Ant-Man" screenplay.

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From TheVerge:  9 Avengers rumors, plus one about Ryan Gosling.


STAR WARS:

From Flickeringmyth:  More alleged "Star Wars 7" set photos.

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From the HuffingtonPost:  5 plot holes in Star Wars that you might have missed.


MISC:

From GMA:  President Obama has odd, funny encounter while taking advantage of early voting.

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From Deadspin:  Nobody wants to play with Kobe!


Friday, October 24, 2014

2014 Gotham Awards Nominations - Complete List

by Leroy Douresseaux

Honoring independent films, the Gotham Awards are the first major awards of the film awards season.  This year, the 2014 edition kicks off the 2014-15 season.  The Gotham Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, December 1, 2014 at Cipriani Wall Street.

Richard Linklater's Boyhood leads the 24th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards by IFP with four nominations, including “Best Feature.”

The 2014/24th Annual Gotham Independent Film Award nominations are:

Best Feature:

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, director; Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole, producers (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Boyhood
Richard Linklater, director; Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, producers (IFC Films)

The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson, director; Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson, producers (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Love Is Strange
Ira Sachs, director; Lucas Joaquin, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Ira Sachs, Jayne Baron Sherman, producers (Sony Pictures Classics)

Under the Skin
Jonathan Glazer, director; Nick Wechsler, James Wilson, producers (A24)

Best Documentary:

Actress
Robert Greene, director; Douglas Tirola, Susan Bedusa, Robert Greene, producers (The Cinema Guild)

CITIZENFOUR
Laura Poitras, director; Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky, producers (RADiUS, Participant Media, and HBO Documentary Films)

Life Itself
Steve James, director; Zak Piper, Steve James, Garrett Basch, producers (Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films)

Manakamana
Stephanie Spray & Pacho Velez, directors; Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Véréna Paravel, producers (The Cinema Guild)

Point and Shoot
Marshall Curry, director; Marshall Curry, Elizabeth Martin, Matthew Van Dyke, producers (The Orchard and American Documentary / POV)

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award:
Ana Lily Amirpour for A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (Kino Lorber)
James Ward Byrkit for Coherence (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
Dan Gilroy for Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
Eliza Hittman for It Felt Like Love (Variance Films)
Justin Simien for Dear White People (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions)

Best Actor*
Bill Hader in The Skeleton Twins (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions)
Ethan Hawke in Boyhood (IFC Films)
Oscar Isaac in A Most Violent Year (A24)
Michael Keaton in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Miles Teller in Whiplash (Sony Pictures Classics)

* The 2014 Best Actor nominating panel also voted to award a special Gotham Jury Award jointly to Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, and Channing Tatum for their ensemble performance in Foxcatcher(Sony Pictures Classics).

Best Actress
Patricia Arquette in Boyhood (IFC Films)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Beyond the Lights (Relativity Media)
Julianne Moore in Still Alice (Sony Pictures Classics)
Scarlett Johansson in Under the Skin (A24)
Mia Wasikowska in Tracks (The Weinstein Company)

Breakthrough Actor:
Riz Ahmed in Nightcrawler (Open Road Films)
Macon Blair in Blue Ruin (RADiUS)
Ellar Coltrane in Boyhood (IFC Films)
Joey King in Wish I Was Here (Focus Features)
Jenny Slate in Obvious Child (A24)
Tessa Thompson in Dear White People (Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions)

Spotlight on Women Filmmakers ‘Live the Dream’ Grant:
For the fourth consecutive year, IFP is proud present the euphoria Calvin Klein Spotlight on Women FilmmakersLive the Dream’ grant, a $25,000 cash award for an alumna of IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs. This grant aims to further the careers of emerging women directors by supporting the completion, distribution and audience engagement strategies of their first feature film.

The nominees are:
Garrett Bradley, director, Below Dreams
Claire Carré, director, Embers
Chloé Zhao, director, Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Gotham Independent Film Audience Award:
New this year, IFP members will have a voice in determining the 5th Annual Gotham Independent Film Audience Awardwith nominees comprised of the 15 nominated films in the Best Feature, Best Documentary, and Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award categories. All IFP current, active members at the Individual Level and above will be eligible to vote.  Voting will take place online from November 19th at 12:01 AM EST and conclude on November 26th at 5:00 PM EST. In addition, IFP will be scheduling screenings of many of the nominated films for IFP members in the theater at the Made in NY Media Center by IFP in Brooklyn. These screenings will take place from November 5-12. The winner of the Audience Award will be announced at the Gotham Awards Ceremony on December 1, 2014.

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2014 Gotham Award Nominations Announced; "Boyhood" Leads with Four Nominations

Press release:

NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR 24TH ANNUAL GOTHAM INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS BY IFP by Erik Luers on October 23, 2014

New York, NY (October 23, 2014) – The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), the nation’s premier member organization of independent storytellers, announced today the nominees for the 24th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards by IFP.  The Gotham Awards is one of the leading awards for independent film and signals the kick-off to the film awards season. For 2014, the seven competitive awards include Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Actor, Best Actress (presenting sponsor euphoria Calvin Klein), Breakthrough Actor, the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director award, and the Gotham Audience Award. In addition to the competitive awards, Gotham Award Tributes will be given to actor Tilda Swinton, director Bennett Miller and Industry Tribute recipient Netflix’s Ted Sarandos.

As the first major awards ceremony of the film season, the Gotham Independent Film Awards by IFP provide critical early recognition and media attention to worthy independent films. The awards are also unique for their ability to assist in catapulting award recipients prominently into national awards season attention, including recent winners and ultimate Oscar® contenders.

Twenty-four films received nominations this year. In addition, the nominating committee for the Best Actor category voted to award a Special Jury Award jointly to the three leading actors in Foxcatcher – Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, and Channing Tatum – for their ensemble work.

This year the Gotham Audience Award nominees are comprised of the 15 films nominated for Best Feature, Best Documentary, and the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award. The winner will be selected by online voting of IFP members. Voting for that award begins November 19th at 12:01 AM EST and concludes on November 26th at 5:00 PM EST.

“Each year the Gotham Awards honor the best work from our independent storytellers and help new audiences discover their work. We congratulate this year’s nominees, from the master film artists to the talented newcomers, a true representation of the rich and diverse range of today’s independent filmmaking,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of IFP and the Made in NY Media Center. “We are grateful to our nominating committees of film critics, journalists, programmers and film curators for their dedication to selecting the nominees from so many worthy submissions.”

Nominees are selected by committees of film critics, journalists, festival programmers, and film curators. Separate juries of writers, directors, actors, producers, editors and others directly involved in making films will determine the final Gotham Award recipients.

The Gotham Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, December 1st at Cipriani Wall Street.

Twenty writers, critics and programmers participated in the nomination process, considering 199 eligible submissions. The Nominating Committees for the 2014 Gotham Independent Film Awards were:

Nominating Committee for Best Feature and Breakthrough Director:
Justin Chang, Chief Film Critic, Variety
Eric Kohn, Lead Film Critic, Indiewire
Christy Lemire, Film Critic, ChristyLemire.com and co-host, What the Flick?!
Andrew O’Hehir, Film Critic, Salon.com
Joshua Rothkopf, Film Editor, Time Out New York

Nominating Committee for Best Documentary:
Charlotte Cook, Director of Programming, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
Bilge Ebiri, Film Critic, New York Magazine and Vulture
Cynthia Fuchs, Film-TV Editor, PopMatters
Tom Hall, Executive Director, Montclair Film Festival
Sky Sitney, Visiting Artist, Georgetown University Film and Media Studies Department

Nominating Committee for Best Actor and Best Actress:
Mark Harris, Editor-at-Large, Entertainment Weekly and columnist, Grantland
Ann Hornaday, Film Critic, The Washington Post
Glenn Kenny, Critic, RogerEbert.com; author, Anatomy of an Actor: Robert De Niro
David Rooney, Film & Theater Critic, The Hollywood Reporter
Elizabeth Weitzman, Film Critic, New York Daily News

Nominating Committee for Breakthrough Actor:
Sam Adams, Editor of Criticwire, Indiewire
A.A. Dowd, Film Editor, The A. V. Club
Sheila O’Malley, Film Critic, RogerEbert.com
Ronnie Scheib, Film Critic, Variety
Stephen Whitty, Film Critic, Newark Star-Ledger

Sponsors
The Premier Sponsor of the 24th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards is The New York Times and the Platinum Sponsor is euphoria Calvin Klein. Additionally, the awards will be promoted nationally in an eight-page special advertising section in The New York Times in November 2014.


News Round-up: The Death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri Update #72


GoFundMe page for Mike Brown's family

From TheIntercept via RSN:  Klan jury... I mean grand jury in Mike Brown's shooting began Wednesday, August 20th, 2014.

Michael Brown, 18, was shot to death, reportedly by police officer Darren Wilson, on Saturday, August 9th, 2014 at approximately 2:15 pm on Canfield Drive in Ferguson, Missouri.  Ferguson is a small city in St. Louis County.  The shooting of the unarmed Brown sparked a furious backlash and days of protests, some violent and involving looting.  What follows is a list of links to news articles about the shooting and related matters:

From the StLouisPostDispatch:  An early article about the Michael Brown shooting

From the LosAngelesTimes:  This is the earliest (or oldest) article that I could find about the Michael Brown shooting.

From HuffingtonPost:  Another early article about the local African-American community's reaction to the shooting of Brown

From PrisonCulture:  A searing image of Michael Brown's father

From the WashingtonPost via RSN:  More of Darren Wilson's history and background emerges; it seems that he was previously associated with another police department that had a bad relationship with the local black folks.

From  Al Jazeera via RSN:  Darren Wilson: Judge, jury, and executioner.

From YahooNews via CSM and the AP:  Shooter a.k.a. Darren Wilson tells his "side" of the story about how he shot an unarmed black man to death.

Updated Shooting Timeline:  The AP via YahooNews.

UPDATED LINKS SECTION:

From YahooNews:  Why is the Justice Department surprised by anything Ferguson and St. Louis investigators do.

From Reuters:  Amnesty International: Police in Ferguson committed human rights abuses.

From YahooNews:  The results of a government autopsy of Mike Brown leaked to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

From Guardian UK via RSN:  Young people resist older generation's call for "peace."

From YahooNews:  A weekend of resistance.

From the Guardian UK via RSN:  Ours sons could be the next Michael Brown.

From RSN:  The much-talked about grand jury tweet.

From Esquire via RSN:  Another black teenager shot by a you-know-what.

From Reuters via RSN:  Missourri planning for riots.

From ABC News via YahooNews:  There is a night of unrest after police kills black teen.

From Truthout:  The fault lines of Obama's "My Brother's Keeper."

From The Feminist Wire via Truthout:  Black women on the front lines of Ferguson.

From the AP via RSN:  Ferguson price-gouging media and other entities seeking files, records and information connected to Darren Wilson's killing of Mike Brown.

From Truthout:  Facism 101 - Police and media control.

From the USA Today via RSN:  Voter registration surges in Ferguson post-Mike Brown killing.

From the AP via RSN:  President Obama says mistrust of police is corroding America.

From Reuters via RSN:  People shooting at Ferguson police officers.  I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner.  Of course, this may not be linked to the Mike Brown shooting...

From YahooNews:  Mike Brown's parents ain't buyin' your bull, Chief/Grand Dragon Tom Jackson!

From Salon via RSN:  Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson attempts to join protest march calling for his resignation.

From YahooNews:  The Justice Department asked the Ferguson Police Department to order its officers to stop wearing "I am Darren Wilson: bracelets.

From YahooNews:  The Department of Justice begins interviews in its investigation of the Ferguson Police Department.

From NPR via RSN:  The 11-year-old who shocked the St. Louis County Council.

From YahooNews:  Slide-show about tensions in Ferguson.  The real treat is the string of anti-Black racists posts in the comments section.

From YahooNews:  More looting after a Mike Brown memorial is burned.

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch via RSN:  Mike Brown's killer, Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson testifies before grand jury.  Mike Brown was also scheduled to testify, but he failed to appear because he is dead... because of Darren Wilson, who was able to testify because no one has killed him... yet.

From YahooNews:  Protestors renew calls for D.A. Bob McCullogh's recusal, as judge gives klan jury... I mean grand jury until January to complete is cover-up... I mean complete its inquiry.

From Salon via RSN:  Hands up! Don't shoot!

From Salon via RSN:  There's a cover-up in  Ferguson.

From CSM via RSN:  When respect goes down, shootings go up.

From the WashingtonPost via RSN:  Protests in Ferguson continue; 38 arrested in act of civil disobedience to have Bob McCulloch removed as the prosecutor in the Mike Brown shooting.

From Rolling Stone via RSN:  Grammy-winning rapper and actor, T.I., speaks about the Mike Brown shooting - America has created a monster.

From the AP via RSN:  Ferguson, MO elected leaders are met with protests and anger during a Tuesday, September 9, 2014 meeting with the public.

From StLouisToday: New witnesses that Mike Brown has his hands up.

From Truthout:  St. Louis area cops loved shooting Black males before Mike Brown.

From Truthout:  Black men share their stories of abuse at the hands of the Ferguson (my term) "klops," klan cops.

From The Nation via Truthout:  A former Marine explains the weapons of war used by the Ferguson police.

From The Feminist Wire via Truthout:  The price of blackness

From Public Radio International via RSN:  In 2013, British police fired guns three times.

From the IrishTimes:  African-American men at risk...

From MTV:  Ma$e drops rhymes about Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown.

From RSN:  Why the grand jury will love the killer Darren Wilson.

From the AP via RSN:  The outrageous behavior of a killer cop and his cohorts has united victims of police violence nationwide.

From TIME via RSN:  Hilary finally speaks on Mike Brown shooting.

From TPM:  Protesters sue Missouri police.

From Yes! Magazine via Truthout:  The #FergusonSyllabus

From YahooNews:  2 law enforcement officers who acted up during Mike Brown/Ferguson protests are out of jobs - one resigned and the other was fired.

From Boston.com:  Jordan Lebeau on being "no angel."

From TheDailyBeast:  Shocker!  The Koch Bros. take on the militarization of police.

From RSN:  The New York Times called out for its dishonest of its "Ferguson shooting" story by many including Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC and William Boardman of RSN.

From TheWeek:  Jon Stewart returns to "The Daily Show," and talks FOX News, Ferguson, and race; FOX doesn't get the best of that.

From Reuters via RSN:  Coverage of Mike Brown's funeral.

From the HuffingtonPost and TheVox:  The New York Times draws criticism for calling Mike Brown, "no angel."  The killer, Police Officer Darren Wilson, was described as "well-mannered" in the same article.

From the HuffingtonPost: NYT and Uncle Tom back down on "no angel."

From the HuffingtonPost:  The always presumptuous Sean Klannity... I mean Sean Hannity gets schooled by Ferguson democratic politician, Patricia Bynes, in not backing down from a paternalistic white bully.

From TheVillageVoice:  The difference between the outrage over Mike Brown and over Eric Garner.

From the NewYorkTimes:  The secret to raising big money on crowdfunding sites is to kill a black male... apparently.

From YahooNews:  Two rallies, one racial divide over Ferguson shooting

From The Wire via RSN:  I bet he does represent quite a bit of the rank-and-file St. Louis County Police Department

From RSN:  The Ferguson police have a card up their sleeves

From CommonDreams via RSN:  10 Facts about police violence in Ferguson on Sunday night, August 17th, 2014

From RSN:  D.A. Bob McCulloch stalls for time:  A woman who served on McCulloch's grand jury for eighteen Wednesdays said that the vast majority of witnesses McCulloch uses are police officers. "He relies on them to make his cases. They are his allies...He can present the case against Wilson any way he wants to get the outcome he wants."

From Truthdig via RSN:  The ghost of Dred Scott

From MotherJones:  Not surprisingly, racists donate to Darren Wilson

From Esquire via RSN:  A body does not lie in the street for four hours... not in an advance society

From YahooNews:  Autopsy vs. autopsy

From Truthout: How the mainstream media killed Michael Brown - by helping to spread the "official account" when cops kill Black men

From TheGuardianUK:  The ghost of Mike Brown

From The Daily Beast via RSN:  Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson has a history of supervising cops that shoot unarmed men.

From RSN:  Police kill mentally ill woman in Arizona

From RSN:  An account of the night police fired rubber bullets at protesters

From the WashingtonPost: Reporter Wesley Lowery's story of being arrested at a McDonald's in Ferguson

From RSN:  Did you know an unarmed black man was also shot by police in Los Angeles?
From Reuters via RSN:  Protest of that killing continue

From HuffingtonPost:  Veteran Cop:  If you don't want to get shot -- shut up

From Inquisitr:  The "bum rush" theory

From YahooNews:  Police mistrust among minorities still prevalent years later

From The Feminist Wire via Truthout:  Dancing While Lying Dead in the Street: Michael's body lying in street as the spectacle of lynching

From Truthout:  The Militirization of Racism and Neoliberal Violence by Henry A Giroux

From Time via RSN:  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on what a coming race war will really be about.

From Fox2Now of St. Louis:  The Baden autopsy press conference - Brown could have survived all the shots, except the last one, says Dr. Baden

From the NewYorkTimes:  The autopsy of Michael Brown - the results by Dr. Michael M. Baden, the former chief medical examiner of the City of New York.

From HuffingtonPost:  A Klan-like rally in support of killer-cop, Darren Wilson.

From NBCNews:  First photographic images of police officer Darren Wilson who killed Michael Brown.

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From YahooNews:  At Greater Grace Church in St. Louis:

Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson, a natural and adept, soft-spoken but firm performer, also spoke about his own son who, he said, wears his pants saggy, his hat crooked, and has tattoos running up his arm.

“And that’s my baby! That’s my son,” the police captain said, to raucous applause.

Al Sharpton: “Nobody can go to the White House until they stop by our house!”

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From YahooNews: Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson earned police honor before killing Michael Brown

From TheGuardian:  St. Louis Country prosecutor furious over transfer in leadership

From Huffington Post:  Darren Wilson is the police officer who killed Michael Brown.

From HuffingtonPost:  Missouri governor did not know who killed Michael Brown.

Conflicting information about the cop who killed Michael Brown:  RT, Wonkette, and TheWire.

From YahooNews:  Police defend use of tear gas, smoke at protests.

From TheGuardian via RSN: St. Louis County officer shoots "second man" in Ferguson, where police officers shot 18-year-old African-American man, Michael Brown, dead.

From TheGuardian:  ACLU may sue to obtain the name of the police officer who (which has not been revealed as of this post) shot Michael Brown dead.

From The Guardian:  They shot another young black man in America.



Thursday, October 23, 2014

Dark Horse Graphic Novel, "Polar," May Become a Movie

CONSTANTIN FILM AND DARK HORSE ENTERTAINMENT JOIN FORCES ON “POLAR”

Constantin Film and Dark Horse Entertainment are joining forces to bring POLAR to the big screen. Based on the popular Dark Horse Comics graphic novel “Polar: Came from the Cold” by Victor Santos, Constantin Film has pre-emptively purchased the spec, “Polar″ written by Jayson Rothwell.

The adrenaline-pumping action-thriller tells the story of Black Kaiser, a master assassin forced out of retirement when he finds himself the target of a motley crew of new generation hitmen. But Kaiser’s gun-blazing and bloody universe is at odds with the doting and protective relationship he has with the child of one of his former marks. Faced with the ultimate battle for survival, Kaiser must choose between saving his life and saving his soul.

Constantin Film and Dark Horse Entertainment are currently out to directors with the aim of shooting POLAR in the spring of 2015. Constantin Film’s Robert Kulzer will be producing along with Jeremy Bolt as well as Dark Horse Entertainment’s Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg. Rothwell is also writing an Untitled Heist Thriller for Thunder Road. He is repped by WME.


About Constantin Film
Constantin Film has been synonymous with quality and success for over 30 years. It has played a crucial role in establishing German cinema both nationally and internationally. Between 1977, when Bernd Eichinger established the company, and 2009, when it was integrated into media
conglomerate Constantin Medien AG, Constantin Film has emerged as the most successful independent production and distribution company in the German media industry. Constantin Film’s operations include German and English language motion picture theatrical production, theatrical distribution, home entertainment distribution, licensing and television production.
Constantin Film’s diverse slate includes box office hits and award-winning films alike, ranging from comic book to literary adaptations, historical dramas, action and genre, among them THE NEVERENDING STORY, THE FANTASTIC FOUR film franchise, THE NAME OF THE ROSE,
WICKIE THE MIGHTY VIKING, NOWHERE IN AFRICA, DOWNFALL, THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX, POPE JOAN, THE HOUSE OF SPIRITS, the RESIDENT EVIL film franchise, THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES, TARZAN®, POMPEII, FACK JU GOETHE, one of the biggest ever German box office hits, and the forthcoming LOVE, ROSIE adapted from the bestselling Cecelia Ahern novel “Where Rainbows End”. TARZAN® Owned By Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. And Used By Permission

About Dark Horse Entertainment
Dark Horse Comics Founder Mike Richardson determined early on that great stories are great stories, no matter the medium in which they’re told. This belief led the publisher to explore the world of filmmaking and started him on the path to Hollywood, where he established his own filmmaking company, Dark Horse Entertainment, in 1992. The company’s first two major films --
THE MASK, starring Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz, and TIMECOP, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme -- were based on Richardson's creations and premiered to enthusiastic audiences. Under his leadership Dark Horse has produced over two dozen films and television projects since 1994,
including ALIEN VS PREDATOR, MYSTERY MEN, RIPD, Fox Kids’ Saturday-morning flagship cartoon series THE BIG GUY AND RUSTY THE BOY ROBOT, the HELLBOY film series helmed by acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro, and the Emmy Award–winning Don Rickles documentary, MR. WARTH. Richardson is currently producing TARZAN for Warner Bros. starring Alexander Skarsgard, Sam Jackson, Margot Robbie, Christophe Waltz, and directed by David Yates.

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