Negromancer News Bits and Bites from November 20th to 30th, 2022 - Update #22

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

TELEVISION/STREAMING - From Deadline:  Layoffs are underway at CBS Studios and at Paramount TV Studios.

AWARDS - From Deadline:  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins the "Best Feature" award at the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards, one of two wins for the film.

From IndieWire:  The nominations for the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced.   "Everything Everywhere All at Once" leads with eight nominations.  The winners will be announced March 4th, 2023.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards were announced a month ago.  Todd Field's "Tar" leads with five nominations.  The winners will be announced Monday, November 28th.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 11/25 to 11/27/2022 Thanksgiving weekend box office is Disney/Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" with an estimated take of 45.9 million dollars.

From Here:  Leroy Douresseaux's review of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Antonio Banderas, who has played the character, "Zorro," in two films, says that if there is a reboot he would like to see "Spider-Man" actor, Tom Holland, take the role.

SPORTS - From Deadline: Thursday's (11/24/2022) Thanksgiving Day game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, who won 28-20, is the most watched regular season NFL game ever.  42 million viewers apparently tuned into the game broadcast on FOX.

HISTORY - From Deadline:  Friday, November 25, 2022 marked the 75th anniversary of the birth of the "Hollywood Blacklist," which began with the "Waldorf Declaration" on November 25, 1947.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Ice Cube lost a $9 million dollar payday because he didn't want to get the required COVID vaccination for the film, "Oh Hell No."

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Director James Mangold says that actor Harrison Ford was "de-aged" for "Indiana Jones 5" so that he could look like he did in the first three films from the 1980s.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From Variety:  Quentin Tarantino says that actors in Marvel Studios are not movie stars and that, for instance, Captain America is the star.

DISNEY - From Variety:  Bob Chapek is out as CEO of The Walt Disney Company.  After three years of retirement, Bob Iger, has been reinstated as CEO of Disney.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 11/18 to 11/20/2022 weekend box office is Disney/Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" with an estimated take of 67.3 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Actor John Leguizamo said that he based his character, "George Diaz," from the new film, "The Menu," on action movie star Steven Seagal, says "He's kind of a horrible human."

WALKING DEAD - From Deadline:  The lawsuit over profits from "The Walking Dead" television series that pit the series' network, AMC, against the series' original showrunner, Frank Darabont, and his talent agency, CAA, has come to an end. According to Deadline: “The Settlement Agreement provides for a cash payment of $200 million (the “Settlement Payment”) to the plaintiffs and future revenue sharing related to certain future streaming exhibition of The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead...”

RUST - From Deadline:  The police report produced by the Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office on its investigation into the shooting on the New Mexico set of the Western, "Rust," has been made public.  Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed after being shot by an accidental discharge from a pistol held by actor Alec Baldwin.

OBITS:

From Variety:  English musician and singer-songwriter, Christine McVie, has died at the age of 79, Wednesday, November 30, 2022.  She was best known for her association with the British-American rock band, Fleetwood Mac, and was a member during the band's greatest success and greatest sales.  As a member of the band, she shared the 1978 Grammy Award for "Album of the Year" for the album, "Rumors" (1977).  McVie also released four solo albums.

From Deadline:  Film and television actor and theater professor, Clarence Gilyard, Jr., has died at the age of 66, Monday, November 28, 2022.  Gilyard was best known for playing the role of "Conrad McMasters" on NBC's former mystery legal drama, "Matlock" (1989-93) and for the role of "Ranger James Trivette" on CBS' former action-crime drama, "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993-2001).  His best known film roles were playing Tom Cruise's co-pilot in "Top Gun" (1986) and playing "Theo" a terrorist computer expert in "Die Hard" (1988).

From THR:  Hawaiian-born, American film director, Albert Pyun, has died at the age of 69, Saturday, November 26, 2022.  He was known for directing, low-budget, high-concept films that became cult classics, such as the sword and sorcery film, "The Sword and the Sorcerer" (1982).  His best known film may be the 1989 Jean-Claude van Damme martial arts/sci-fi film, "Cyborg."  He is also known for directing the low-budget 1990 film, "Captain America," based on the Marvel Comics character.

From Variety:  Actress, singer, and songwriter, Irene Cara, has died at the age of 63, Friday, November 25, 2022.  Cara appeared in the 1980 film, "Fame," and sang the title song, "Fame," which won the "Best Song" Oscar for its songwriters.  Later, Cara would win an Oscar for co-writing the song, "Flashdance... What a Feeling" from the film, "Flashdance" (1983).  She also won two Grammys for her work on "Flashdance... What a Feeling."

From Deadline:  Former child actor, Mickey Kuhn, has died at the age of 90, Sunday, November 20, 2022.  Kuhn was the last surviving credited-cast member of  the legendary film, "Gone with the Wind."  Kuhn worked in the film industry from 1934 to 1956 before leaving for good.

From Deadline:    The actor Jason David Frank has died at the age of 49, Saturday, November 19, 2022.  Frank was best known for playing the role of Tommy Oliver" the "Green Ranger"/"White Ranger" on the the TV series, "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" (1993-96).  He also appeared in several other TV series in the "Power Rangers" franchise.

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BRITTNEY GRINER:

From NBCNews:   Brittney Griner will enter a system of isolation, grueling labor and psychological torment when she is transferred to a penal colony, the successor to the infamous Russian gulag, to fulfill a nine-year sentence handed down Tuesday in Moscow, former prisoners and advocates said.

From NBCNews:  A Russian court has rejected Brittney Griner's appeal of her nine-year prison sentence on (fake) drug charges.

From Reuters:  Russia says that it is ready to talk prisoner swamp for Brittney Griner and U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, but also scolds the U.S. Embassy.

From TheDailyBeast:   Legendary NBA bad boy and champion (Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls), Dennis Rodman claims that he has been given permission to go to Russia and help free imprisoned hostage, WNBA star, Brittney Griner.

From Vox:  Vox's Jonathan Guyer talks the Brittney Griner case with Danielle Gilbert, a Dartmouth professor who is writing a book about states and rogue actors that take hostages.

From ESPN:   A Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison Thursday, Aug. 4th.  Griner was arrested Feb. 17 for bringing cannabis into the country and pleaded guilty July 7, though the case continued under Russian law.

From ESPN:  The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

From RSN:  "Will Support From LeBron James, Joe Rogan, Kim Kardashian, and Other Celebrities Help Free Brittney Griner From a Russian Prison?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar via Substack

From ESPN:  Detained WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty on Thursday to bringing hashish oil into Russia, telling a judge that she had done so "inadvertently" while asking the court for mercy.

From CBSSports:  The Brittney Griner situation explained.

From RSN:  According to The Washington Post Editorial Board: "Brittney Griner is a hostage, plain and simple."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from December 26th to 31st, 2021 - Update #12

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

REVIEW - From Negromancer:  My review of "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

MOVIES - From Variety:   Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has publicly declined Vin Diesel's invitation to rejoin the "Fast Saga" mainline franchise for the supposed finale, "Fast 10."

COVID-19 - From Deadline:  On Tuesday (12/28/2021), the United States recorded 512,553 daily new COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. That is, by far, the single highest daily case number recorded during the entire COVID-19 pandemic. 

From RSN:  According to the Associated Press, "FEMA Wants to Give Families Up to $9,000 for COVID Funerals, but Many Don't Apply"

MOVIES - From HotNewHipHop:  Ice Cube reveals why actor Chris Tucker did not return for "Next Friday" (2000), the first of two sequels to the cult hit film, "Friday" (1995).  It was for religious reasons.

BOX OFFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:   The winner of the 12/24 to 12/26/2021 weekend box office is Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios' "Spider-Man: No Way Home" with an estimated take of 81.5 million dollars.

From THR:   "Spider-Man: No Way Home" is now Sony Pictures' all-time top-grossing film at the U.S. box office with a total to date of 405.5 million dollars.  The previous champ was "Jumanji: Welcome to to the Jungle" (2017) with a domestic total of 404.5 million.

From THR:  On Sunday, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" passed the billion-dollar mark in global box office.  It is the first film to do so in the pandemic era.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Actor Michael B. Jordan talks about getting directing advice from Denzel Washington as Jordan prepares to direct "Creed III."

OBITS:

From THR:   American animal advocate and beloved television actress and comedienne, Betty White, has died at the age of 99, Friday, December 31, 2021.  A five-time Emmy winner, White starred on CBS's "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" from 1973 to 1977, NBC's "The Golden Girls" (1985-92), and TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland" (2010-15).

From Variety:  Former NFL coach and retired sportscaster, John Madden, has died at the age of 85, Tuesday, December 28, 2021.  Madden won Super Bowl XI (Jan. 1977) as head coach of the Oakland Raiders.  He was the Raiders head coach from 1969 to 1978.  Madden was a color commentator for CBS from 1979 to 1993, for Fox from 1994 to 2001, for ABC Sports from 2002 to 2005, and for NBC Sports from 2006 to 2008.  In 1988, Madden lent his name, voice, and personality to EA Sports sports video game, "John Madden Football" (1988-94), which has been best known as "Madden NFL."  Madden was "Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2006."

From Deadline:  Canadian director and screenwriter, Jean-Marc Vallée, has died at the age of 58, Sunday, December 26, 2021.  Among his best known directorial efforts are the Oscar-winning films, "Young Victoria" (2009) and "Dallas Buyers Club" (2013) and the Oscar-nominated "Wild" (2014).  He also directed the first season of the HBO TV series, "Big Little Lies."

From TheNewYorkTimes:   Archbishop Desmond Tutu has died at the age of 80, Sunday, December 26, 2021.  A South African Anglican bishop, Tutu was known as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist.  He was one of the most prominent opponents of South Africa's apartheid system of racial segregation and white minority rule.  He was a key figure in apartheid's dismantling and in South Africa's transition away from it.  Tutu appeared in over a hundred television, film, and video documentaries and TV specials and series to discuss his work and beliefs.

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AWARDS:

From Deadline:  The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the "Best Picture" of 2021.

From Deadline:  The 2022 / 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards have announced their nominations. "Zola" leads with six nominations. The winners will be announced Sun., March 6, 2022.

From THR:  The 2022 / 79th Golden Globes Awards nominations have been announced.  "Belfast" and "The Power of the Dog" lead with seven nominations each.  Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From GoldDerby:   The 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations have been announced. "Belfast" and "West Side Story" leads with 11 nominations each. Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From Deadline:   The American Film Institute announced the "2021 AFI Awards" Top 10 list, and the list includes "Dune," "The Tragedy of Macbeth," and "West Side Story."

From THR:  Director Aleem Khan's "After Love" tops the 2021 British Independent Film Awards, winning six awards, including "Best Film of 2021."

From Variety:   The New York Film Critics Circle has named the Japanese drama, "Drive My Car," as the "Best Film of 2021."

From Deadline:  The National Board of Review hands director Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza" it "Best Film" and "Best Director" awards.  Will Smith picks up the "Best Actor" award for "King Richard."

From THR:  Netflix’s "The Lost Daughter," directed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, dominated the 2021 Gotham Awards in New York on Monday night (Nov. 29th).  The film won in four of the five categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Feature."

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"RUST" ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING DEATH:

From Deadline:  This link will take you to Deadline's Halyna Hutchins page, which articles related to everything about her shooting death on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Variety:  One of the producers of tragic Western film, Rust, Emily Salveson, pushes tax shelters and hid income.

From THR:  "I let go of the hammer and 'Bang,' the gun goes off" says Alec Baldwin says in his first interview of the moment when a gun he was holding accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin will sit down with ABC's news-reading clown George Stephanopoulos for a one hour special tomorrow night to talk about what happened on the set of the movie "Rust."  It will be Baldwin’s first extensive interview about the shooting.

From Deadline:  Industry veteran, Thall Reed, the father of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the Western, "Rust," may have handed the police a tip on why the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot to death on the set.

From THR:  A search warrant affidavit filed Tuesday for a prop shop sheds light on how alleged live ammunition ended up on the set of the Western film, "Rust," where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in October.

From Deadline:  A month after cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot and killed on the New Mexico set the movie Western, "Rust," by a prop gun “discharged” by Alec Baldwin, those closest to the cinematographer held a private ceremony and interred her ashes at an unknown location.

From Deadline:  Actor Daniel Baldwin defends his brother, Alec Baldwin, in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film, "Rust."  "Someone loaded that gun improperly," Daniel says.

From Deadline:  The newest lawsuit involving the tragic shooting on the set of the Western film, "Rust," has been filed by the film's script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell, against Alec Baldwin, the producers, the production company, armorer Hanna Gutierrez Reed, and others.

From Deadline:  Serge Svetnoy, the gaffer on "Rust," has filed a lawsuit against several parties related to the film, including the production, the financiers, star Alec Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, and first Assistant Director David Halls.

From THR:   In the wake of the tragic accidental shooting on the set of his film, "Rust," Alec Baldwin on Monday took to social media to urge Hollywood to employ a police officer on every film and TV set that uses guns.

From THR:   The budget for "Rust" - Alec Baldwin was set to earn $150,000 as lead actor and $100,000 as producer, while $7,913 was earmarked for armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and $17,500 was set aside for the rental of weapons and $5,000 for rounds.

From Deadline:  Attorneys for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the film, "Rust," said that they’re looking into whether a live bullet was placed in a box of dummy rounds with the intent of  “sabotaging the set.”

From THR:   Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the film, "Rust," released a statement through her lawyers.  She says she had “no idea where the live rounds came from” that were recovered by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's during the investigation of the accidental on-set shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.

From Jacobin:  An opinion piece says that cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death on the set of the film, "Rust," was not a freak accident, but was about Alec Baldwin and his fellow producers' cost-cutting decisions.  Baldwin accidentally fired the gun that killed Hutchins.

From Deadline:   Two of executive producers on "Rust," Allen Cheney and Emily Salveson, disavow responsibility for the film's troubled production.

From THR:   Iconic "Ghostbusters" actor Ernie Hudson is reeling from the news of the death of Halyna Hutchins, like the rest of Hollywood. Hudson also appeared in the film, "The Crow," the film in which its star, Brandon Lee, was killed because of an on-set accidental shooting.  He also agrees with the call to ban real guns from movie sets.

From THR:  The Sheriff of Sante Fe County says that his office has recovered three guns and 500 rounds of ammunition from the set of the movie "Rust" where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed.

From Deadline:  Regarding criminal charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust," District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis, "all options are on the table - no one has been ruled out."

From THR:  Does Hollywood Need Guns? Will new regulations lead to an overreactions to a tragedy.

From Deadline:   "Rust" producers have opened an internal investigation into the fatal shooting on the set of the Western film.  They have hired outside lawyers to conduct interviews with the film's production crew.

From Deadline:  "Rust's" AD (assistant director), Dave Halls, has come under scrutiny in the wake of the on-set shooting death of the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The affidavit of Sante Fe Sheriff's Department Detective Joel Cano has been made public. It can be read at "Deadline."  The affidavit was for a search warrant from the property were the Western, "Rust," was being filmed.

From THR:  The production company behind "Rust" has shut the film down until the police investigation into the fatal, on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is through.  The Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office has also revealed a timeline of the shooting.

From Deadline:  The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday night that Alec Baldwin “discharged” a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the movie, "Rust."  As a result, one crew member, director of photography Halyna Hutchins, was killed and director Joel Souza was injured and remains in a local hospital - his condition unknown.

From THR:  "Rust" director, Joel Souza, who was wounded in the accidental on-set shooting, says that he is "gutted" by the death of his cinematographer on the film, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The fatal shooting on the set of "Rust" may have been "recorded" according to detective for Santa Fe Sheriff's Department.

From Deadline:  The production company behind the film, "Rust," will launch an internal safety review after the fatal accident that killed Halyna Hutchins; possible prior gun incidents; and a camera crew walkout.

From CNN:   Crew member yelled "cold gun" as he handed Alec Baldwin prop weapon, court document shows.

From Variety:  Actor Alec Baldwin releases statement on the death of Halyna Hutchins: "There are no words to convey my shock and sadness."

From Variety:  The prop gun that killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on during an on-set accident on Thursday contained a “live single round,” according to an email sent by IATSE Local 44 to its membership.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 20th to 30th, 2020 - Update #39

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

Support Leroy on Patreon:

TELEVISION - From Variety:  NBC has set the cast for Dwayne Johnson's comedy about his younger years, "Young Rock."  Adrian Groulx will play 10-year-old Dwayne.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Netflix has published the first stills of Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher and newcomer Emma Corrin as Princess Diana in Season 4 of The Crown.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Dozens of organizations are appealing to the Congress of the United States to help save the movie theater business.

MOVIES - From Deadline:   Oscar-winning director, Barry Levinson ("Rain Man"), has a new film, "Francis and the Godfather," about the making of the legendary, Oscar-winning film, "The Godfather."  Oscar Isaac will play the film's director, Franics Ford Coppola, and Jake Gyllenhaal will play the film's producer, Robert Evans.

COVID-19 - From Deadline:   Emmy-winning actor Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory") has revealed that both he and his husband, Todd Spiewak, was diagnosed with COVID-19 back in March.

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Amazon has bought Sacha Baron Cohen's sequel to his 2006 film, "Borat."  It will debut on Amazon in late October 2020.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney will produce a sequel to it hit, live-action version of "The Lion King."  Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins will direct the sequel.

AVATAR - From Deadline:   Director James Cameron says that his "Avatar 2" is 100 percent complete and that "Avatar 3" is 95 percent finished.

CHADWICK BOSEMAN - From Deadline:   Sienna Miller has said that the late actor Chadwick Boseman ("Black Panther") raised her salary on their film, "21 Bridges," by giving up part of his.

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  A Netflix price hike is "probable."

MOVIES - From THR:   Director M. Night Shyamalan reveals the title ("Old") and artwork for his new film.

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:   The winner of the 9/25 to 9/27/2020 weekend box office is "Tenet" with an estimated take of $3.4 million.

MUSIC - From YahooLife:   Sign O' The Times: how Prince created a masterpiece – and ruined his career

STREAMING - From Deadline:   Apple has apparently bought directors Joe and Anthony Russo's film, "Cherry," starring Tom Holland ("Spider-Man: Homeing") and Ciara Bravo.

POLITICS - From YahooEntertainment:   Dwayne Johnson, a political independent who has voted for both Democratic and Republican candidates, has made his first ever presidential endorsement, choosing the Democratic presidential tickets of Joe Bidden and Kamala Harris.

ANIMATION - From Deadline:   YouTube star Arif Zahir will replace Mike Henry as the voice of "Cleveland Brown" on Fox's long-running animated series, "Family Guy."

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Ice Cube to star in an untitled science fiction film for director Rich Lee with Timur Bekmambetov and Patrick Aiello producing.

MOVIES - From CBR:  Well, bless his heart - is what you're going to say after reading this "analysis" of the great film director, the late Stanley Kubrick.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Disney moves Marvel Studios' "Black Widow" release date to May 2021, a full year after its original release date, the latest in release date changes due to the COVID-19 shutdown of movie theaters.  However, Disney holds Pixar's "Soul" to its original release date (Nov. 20th, 2020) and also decides not to move it to Disney+ for streaming.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Bradley Cooper has chosen Oscar-nominated actress, Carey Mulligan, to play Leonard Bernstein's wife, Felicia, in his Netflix film about Leonard, "Maestro."

LGBTQ - From MensHealth:   16 bisexual movies you need to see.

FILM FESTIVALS - From blogTO:  The blog lists its 10 best films at this year's "Toronto International Film Festival."

STREAMING - From EW:  "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance" won recently won an Emmy ("Outstanding Children's Program"), but Netflix has cancelled it after one season.

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:  The winner of the 9/18 to 9/20/20 weekend box office is "Tenet" with an estimated take of 4.7 million dollars. 

From CNBC:  Movie theater stocks tank after another disappointing box office weekend.

EMMYS - From Deadline:  If you care, this article has a full list of winners at the 2020 / 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

From EW:  If you care, this article has a full list of winner at the 2020 / 72nd Annual Creative Arts Emmy Awards. 

From YahooEntertainment:  Last night's Emmy winters delivered impassioned pleas for social reform and for voting.

From Billboard:  Records were set at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Zendaya, at 24, being the youngest actress to win "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" (for HBO's "Euphoria") and "Schitt's Creek" being the first comedy series to sweep all seven major awards in the comedy category.

From Deadline:  Actor Ron Cephas Jones and his daughter, Jasmine Cephas Jones, become the first father and daughter to win an Emmy the same year.  Ron won for "Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series" (This is Us"), and Jasmine won for "Best Actress in a Short From Comedy or Drama" (for Quibi's "#FreeRayshawn").

From YahooEntertainment:  Every year, there is controversy during the Emmy's "In memoriam" segment.

OBITS:  

From ESPN:  Hall of Fame NFL offensive player, Gale Sayers, has died at the age of 77, Wednesday, September 23, 2020.  A halfback, Sayers was known as the "Kansas Comet," and played seven seasons for the Chicago Bears.  Sayers is also famous for his friendship with his cancer-stricken teammate, Brian Piccolo (who died in 1970), and Sayers' biography was the basis for the beloved 1971 TV Emmy Award-winning movie, "Brian's Song."

From WashPost:   Brian Piccolo's eldest daughter, Lori Piccolo, remembers Gale Sayers and his relationship with her late father.

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From THR:   Astrologer and dancer, Jackie Stallone, has died at the age of Monday, September 21, 2020.  Stallone was also the mother Hollywood superstar, Sylvester Stallone, and singer-actor, Frank Stallone, and the late actress, Toni D'Alto.

From YahooSports:   Hall of Fame NFL defensive player, Larry Wilson, has died at the age of 82, Thursday, September 17, 2020.  Playing at the position of "safety," Wilson played all 13 of his NFL seasons (1960-72) with the St. Louis Cardinals (now Arizona Cardinals).  He was the 1966 "NFL Defensive Player of the Year."  He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978.

CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 NEWS:

From CDC:   The Centers for Disease Control has a "COVID Data Tracker."

From YahooNews:  Why does COVID-19 kill some people and hardly affects others?

From YahooNews:  Yahoo has a dedicated page of links updating news about COVID-19.

From Deadline:  The news site "Deadline" has a dedicated page for news about coronavirus and the film, TV, and entertainment industries.

From TheNewYorker:  The venerable magazine has a dedicate COVID-19 page free to all readers.

From YahooNews:  Re: the federal government's response to COVID-19: What if the most important election of our lifetime was the last one - 2016?

From YahooLife:  What is "happy hypoxia?"  And do you have this COVID-19 symptom?

From JuanCole:  Remember when President Donald went crazy and suggested that we ingest household cleaning supplies and UV light to fight COVID-19.  Here is the video and commentary from Juan Cole.

From TheIntercept:  The federal government has ramped up security and police-related spending in response to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, including issuing contracts for riot gear, disclosures show. The purchase orders include requests for disposable cuffs, gas masks, ballistic helmets, and riot gloves...

From TheAtlantic:  The Coronavirus Was an Emergency Until Trump Found Out Who Was Dying. The pandemic has exposed the bitter terms of our racial contract, which deems certain lives of greater value than others.

From ProPublica:  Hospital's Secret COVID-19 Policy Separated Native American Mothers From Their Newborns

From TheGuardian:  More than 20 million Americans could have contracted COVID-19, experts say.

From RSN/WashPost:  The COVID-19 mutation that has taken over the world.

7/13 - From YahooSports:  Maybe a pandemic means that there will not be college football this fall.

7/13- From YahooNews:  The CDC adds four new symptoms (including nausea and purple or blue lesions on feet and toes) to the list of COVID-19 symptoms.

7/19 - From YahooFinance:  Harvard Public Health professor Dr. Howard Koh says the U.S. "needs to regroup" to find COVID-19.

7/22 - From YahooNews:  A public health employee predicted Florida's coronavirus catastrophe — then she was fired.

7/22 - From YahooLifestyle:  Florida mom loses son, 20, to coronavirus, and then days later, her daughter.

7/23 - From TheWrap:  The site has a list of movie and TV stars, entertainment and sports figures who have tested positive for COVID-19

From Bloomberg:  Will the COVID-19 pandemic turn Millennials into socialists?

7/27 - From CNN:   Chief of critical care at Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center, Dr. Joseph Costa, passes away due to Covid-19 complications... after treating the hospital's sickest COVID-19 patients.  He was 56 and leaves behind family, including a husband of 28 years.

7/30 - From Deadline:  Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") reveals that he had a bout with COVID-19.

7/31 - From YahooEntertainment:  Writer and actress, Lena Dunham, creator of HBO's "Girls, reveals that she contracted COVID-19 and the symptoms she experiences and still experience.

7/30 - From YahooGMA:  In their bid to crackdown on illegal gatherings amid COVID-19, New York authorities break up an alleged sex party.

7/31 - From Slate:  COVID-19 is airborne - for reals!

8/2 - From TheDailyBeast:  In Mississippi, COVID-19 has coroners terrified.

8/6 - From YahooNews:  Testing everyone constantly could stop the spread of COVID-19... according to this article.

8/8 - From YahooNYT:  The coronavirus is new, but your immune system might recognize it.

8/8 - From YahooNBC:  They thought COVID-19 was a hoax, and they almost died from it or are watching family and loved ones suffer with it or die from it.

8/9 - From YahooNews:  The rest of the world is incredulous at the pitiful U.S. response to COVID-19.

8/9 - From YahooAFP:  According to the real-time tally kept by John Hopkins University, the United States has hit 5 million cases of COVID-19.

8/16 - From Truthout: COVID Deaths Continue to Surge in Countries Led by Far Right Authoritarians

9/19 - From WashPost:  U.S. coronavirus death toll reaches 200,000

9/23 - From CNBC:  Mark Cuban, who owns the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and star of ABC's "Shark Tank," suggests that every household in American get a $1000 check every two weeks for the next two months.

9/28 - From Deadline:  John Hopkins University's coronavirus tracker reports that over 1 million people have died of COVID-19 worldwide.

BLACK LIVES MATTER:

From RSN:   Judge's Blistering Opinion Says Courts Have Placed Police Beyond Accountability

From TheGuardian:  Yusef Salaam, one of the "Central Park Five," says in an interview, "Trump would have had me hanging from a tree in Central Park."

From NPR:  Prosecutors' plea deal required drug suspect to name Breonna Taylor a "co-defendant."

From ChicagoSunTimes:  Rev. Jesse Jackson: America has millions of people in poverty because Americans choose not to demand the policies that would lift them out of poverty.

From APNews:  No one will be held accountable for the killing of Louisville African-American resident, Breonna Taylor.

From Channel4:  Revealed: Trump campaign strategy to deter millions of Black Americans from voting in 2016

Image Comics Announces "Black History in Its Own Words

BLACK HISTORY IN ITS OWN WORDS HITS STORES THIS FEBRUARY

Just in time to celebrate Black History Month

Image Comics is pleased to announce BLACK HISTORY IN ITS OWN WORDS by Ronald Wimberly (PRINCE OF CATS) which will hit stores this February 2017—just in time to celebrate Black History Month.

A look at Black History framed by those who made it, BLACK HISTORY IN ITS OWN WORDS presents quotes of dozens of black luminaries with portraits & illustrations by Ronald Wimberly. Featuring the memorable words and depictions of Angela Davis, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kanye West, Zadie Smith, Ice Cube, Dave Chappelle, James Baldwin, Spike Lee, and more.

The book has been a long time coming with Wimberly’s mission for the project aimed at shining a light on black people’s stories and their woeful underrepresentation.

“In January 2014, Matt Bors asked me to pick some quotes and illustrate eight of them for the Nib for Black History Month. I chose quotes ranging from the casual to the profound from luminaries both past and present. I had so much fun I did 4 extra (12 in total) and continued to do 12 more the subsequent year. This book collects those first 24 works as well as 14 new works,” said Wimberly.

Wimberly took a unique approach to the project and opted for people based not only on historical precedence but on their punk spirit and existential bravery; people whose words and lives spoke to him personally.

Wimberly added: “I was inspired by the aesthetic discipline of Emory Douglas and Bruno Paul to work in graphic reduction and a limited palette inspired by national colors of the black diaspora. I hope that these images of black luminaries and their words will inspire readers to further research and be emboldened to live life as they have.”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN ITS OWN WORDS, 8 x 8 inch trim size hardcover for $16.99 hits stores on Wednesday, February 8th, 2016. The final order cutoff for comics retailers is Monday, January 16th, 2016.


ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

--------------------

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 23rd to 31st, 2016 - Update #34

Support Leroy on Patreon.

CULTURE - From YahooMovies:  Elvira Mistress of the Dark, the iconic horror hostess, talks about her regrets in regards to being sexy.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 10/28 to 10/30/2016 weekend box office is "Boo! A Madea Halloween" with an estimated take of $16.67 million.

From Variety:  Marvel's "Doctor Strange" makes its debut overseas with an international box office haul of $86 million.

----------
SPORTS - From YahooSports:  At the Nebraska-Washington college football game, a fan wears a racist President Obama costume that included a rope around his neck.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  At the 14th Morelia International Film Festival, the top prize goes to the film, "El Vigilante," the debut film of Diego Ros.

----------
ECO - From Time:  Actress and activist Shailene Woodley tells the truth about her arrest during the #NoDAPL protests.

----------
COMICS - From Variety:  Frank Miller talks Batman movie and Superman's origins.

----------
MOVIES - From FlickeringMyth:  David Leitch,who co-directed surprise hit, John Wick, may replace Tim Miller on "Deadpool 2."

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TELEVISION - From YahooTV:  Here's an "American Horror Story: Roanoke" Chapter 7 recap if you need it.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  6 mind-bending facts about "Donnie Darko" on its 15th anniversary.

----------
ECO - From EcoWatch:  Mark Ruffalo and Native Renewables deliver solar panels to #NoDAPL protest site.

From TheGuardian:  Guards who deployed attack dogs against #NoDAPL protestors could face criminal charges.

----------
TELEVISION - From YahooTV:  Let's revisit SNL's "Count Trump-ula."

----------
TELEVISION - From Variety:  Talks are under way for a possible revival of hit NBC TV series, "Will & Grace."

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Warner Bros. and Robert Downey, Jr.'s people have announced the writing staff for a third "Sherlock Holmes" movie.

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OBIT - From NYTimes:  Author, social and political activist, and politician, Tom Hayden, died at the age of 76, Sunday, October 23, 2016.  Some may remember him as a former husband of Jane Fonda, with whom he had a son, actor Troy Garity.

----------
POLITICS - From TheVillageVoice:  Peering into the souls of white folk.


PIXAR - From YahooMovies:  "Toy Story 4" and "The Incredibles 2" switch release dates.  2018 for "The Incredibles 2" and 2019 for "Toy Story 4."

----------
ECO - From EcoWatch: Leo DiCaprio's documentary, "Before the Flood," exposes destruction of rain forests for palm oil.

----------
OBIT - From Variety:  One of the Emmy-winning writers of "The Simpsons," Kevin Curran, has died at the age of 59, Tuesday, October 25, 2016.

----------
MOVIES - From RollingStone:  Ice Cube to play "Fagin" in a contemporary film take on "Oliver Twist."

----------
ECO - From teleSUR:  Mark Ruffalo and Susan Sarandon join anti-Dakota Pipeline protests.

----------
MOVIES - From TheWrap:  A tale of two different visions for "Deadpool 2."

----------
TELEVISION - From YahooTV:  17 million people watch Negan get his kill on in seventh season opener of "The Walking Dead."

----------
MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  Spoilers for "Alien: Covenant."

----------
OBIT - From TheWrap:  Singer and celebrity, Peter Burns, has died at the age of 57, Sunday, October 23, 2016.  Burns was the founder and lead singer of the band, "Dead or Alive," known for the 1985 hit, "You Spin Me Right Round (Like a Record)."

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Margot Robbie in talks to join "Peter Rabbit."  Yeah, no Margot Robbie fatigue... yet.

----------
TELEVISION - From THR:  FX's "The People vs. O.J. Simpson" smash miniseries almost did not happen.

----------
TELEVISION - From RollingStone:  5 things Negan's kills (as seen in Episode 1 of Season 7) mean for "The Walking Dead."

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 10/21 to 10/23/2016 weekend box office is Tyler Perry's "Boo! A Madea Halloween."

From YahooMovies:  Madea scares off Jack Reacher at the weekend box office.

----------
MOVIES - From IndieWire:  Joss Whedon says his next film may be a World War II historical/horror drama.

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MOVIES - From IndieWire:  Tom Cruise says that work is still ongoing to get "Top Gun 2" going.

----------
SPORTS - From YahooSports:  After 71 years, Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs return to the World Series.  Game 1 in Cleveland, Ohio vs the Cleveland Indians, Tuesday, October 23, 2016.

----------
ECO - From RollingStone:  Inside Leo DiCaprio's crusade to save the world.

TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  Final trailer for the sci-fi thriller, "Arrival," which opens November 11, 2016.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 16th to 22th, 2016 - Update #24

Support Leroy on Patreon.

MEDIA - From TheWrap:  AT&T has bought Time Warner for 85 billion dollars.

----------
OBIT - From BleedingCool:  The comic book artist, Steve Dillon, has died at the age of 54, Saturday, October 22, 2016.  A Brit, his best known work to American fans includes Preacher (co-created with Garth Ennis) and The Punisher.

From BleedingCool:  The comic book community remembers Steve Dillon, acclaimed comic book artist and creator.

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STAR WARS - From YahooMovies:  Donald Glover will be Lando Calrissian in "Young Han Solo" movie.

----------
COMICS-FILM - From Variety:  "Deadpool" director Tim Miller has left the "Deadpool 2" sequel over creative differences with star Ryan Reynolds.

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OBIT - From YahooTV:  The actor and comedian, Kevin Meaney, has died at the age of 60, Friday, October 21, 2016.

----------
ANIMATION - From THR:  Tom Hiddleston joins Aardman's animated film, "Early Man," which is to be directed by multiple Oscar winner, Nick Park.

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SPORTS - From YahooSports:  The Los Angeles Sparks win the 2016 WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) championship title.

----------
MOVIES - From Variety:  Gugu Mbatha-Raw joins Avu DuVernay's "A Wrinkle in Time."

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COMICS-FILM - From CinemaBlend:  Early reviews for Marvel Studio's "Doctor Strange" are in.

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MOVIES - From Variety:   Colin Firth in talks to star in Disney's "Mary Poppins Returns."

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MOVIES - From TheGuardian:  Leonardo DiCaprio looking to star in real-life tale of Jim Crow and Black children used as circus freak.

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MUSIC - From YahooMusic:  Eminem releases an 8-minute diss track of Donald Trump.

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MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  Warner Bros. is working on a new Willy Wonka movie.  Even with all the praising of Gene Wilder following his recent passing, I knew someone was plotting to revive Wilder's signature role (according to some) in a new movie.

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MOVIES - From THR:  Michael Moore has apparently revealed a surprise Donald Trump film.

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MOVIES - From Deadline:  Disney is producing a live-action version of its 1998 animated film, Mulan.  Sony is producing a competing live-action version of the tale of Mulan, and they have hired, Alex Graves, who has directed episodes of "Games of Thrones."

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BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  Thanks to billion dollar hits like "Captain America: Civil War" and "Finding Dory," Disney sets a record for international box office, which they already held from 2015.

----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The #1 movie at the 10/14 to 10/16/2016 weekend box office is "The Accountant" (starring Ben Affleck) with an estimated take of $24.7 million.

----------
OBIT - From ESPN:  The former NFL player, Dennis Byrd, has died at the age of 50, Saturday, October 15, 2016.  Byrd broke his neck in a 1992 game and despite odds learned to walk again.

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MOVIES - From BleedingCool:  "Jurassic World 2" will be "scarier and darker." Better would be good, too.

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COMICS-FILM - From Variety:  The new Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Tom Holland, dishes on "Spider-Man: Homecoming."

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MOVIES - From EW:  There will be a "Ride Along 3" with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube, says director.

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ECO - From RSN:  Actor Mark Ruffalo and rocker Neil Young were arrested  during protests to free a journalist.

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MOVIES - From TheGuardian:  Oliver Stone says the U.S. government lies all the time.

TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  The first official trailer for the third Wolverine movies, "Logan," which is due March 3rd.

From YouTube:  First trailer for "The Boss Baby," from DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 10th to 16th, 2016 - Update #64

Support Leroy on Patreon.

SPORTS - From YahooSports:  Disney is interested in the story of TCU quarterback, Bram Kohlhausen, and his heroics at the recent Alamo Bowl.

---------------
TV - From RollingStone:  Tracy Morgan will return to television in a series written by Jordan Peele of "Key & Peele."

---------------
OSCARS:  From EW:  Will Packer, one of the producers of "Straight Outta Compton," calls this year's Oscar nominations embarrassing.

---------------
OBIT - From YahooTV:  The actor, Dan Haggerty, has died (Friday, January 15, 2016).  Haggerty was best known for his starring role on the television series, "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams."

---------------
CULTURE - From BET:  Kendrick Lamar met President Barack Obama.

----------------
TRAILER - From YouTube:  Debut trailer of "10 Cloverfield Lane."

---------------
TV - From  MyPinkFriday:  James Corden and Adele in car - rapping Nicki Minaj.

---------------
TV - From TheWrap:  USA picks up Gale Anne Hurd's "Falling Waters."

---------------
TV - From YahooTV:   Adam Lambert added to FOX's "Rocky Horror Picture Show" remake, set to debut Fall 2016.

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POLITICS - From RSN:  Bitter, losing judge strikes back at winning attorney via payment.

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OBIT:  From TheGuardian:  The actor, Alan Rickman, died Thursday, January 14, 2016, at the age of 69.  He was a giant of the British stage and screen.  He was best known for his roles in Die Hard (1988), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), and in the Harry Potter films ("Professor Snape").  I offer my condolences to his family.  R.I.P. Alan.  I love you, man.

From IMDb:  An Alan Rickman photo gallery.

---------------
OSCARS - From YahooTV:  2016 Oscar nominations - full list

From Deadline:  Nominees respond to receiving 2016 Oscar nods; my favorite is Ennio Morricone who received a nomination for score for "The Hateful Eight."

From YahooMovies:  Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs is frustrated.

From WaPo:  8 great choices... if Oscars-were-so-white.

From YahooMovies:  Ice Cube says he is OK with it (lack of noms for "Straight Outta Compton").

From YahooMovies:  2016 Oscar snubs and surprises.

From EW:  Jennifer Jason Leigh reflects on first Oscar nominations.

From YahooMovies:  Another Oscar record for Jennifer Lawrence.

From Deadline:  More on 2016 Oscar snubs.

From InContention:  Variety's "In Contention" announces its final Oscar nomination predictions.  The nominations will be announced tomorrow morning, Thursday, Jan. 14th.

From GoldDerby:  Their Oscar predictions, both nominations AND wins.

From ThePlaylist:  They offer their Oscar nominations predictions.

---------------
MOVIES:  From ThePlaylist:  "The Chronicles of Narnia" film franchise will be restarted or rebooted.  I look forward to it.  I really like "Prince Caspian" and "Voyage of the Dawn Treader."

---------------
CULTURE - From Deadspin:  Behind the photo that changed the Boston Marathon forever.

---------------
FILMS - From DGA:  2016 Directors Guild Award nominations have been announced.

---------------
COMICS -  From DenofGeek:  Ryan Coogler confirmed by Marvel as helmsman of their "Black Panther" film, scheduled for 2018.

---------------
COMICS -  From ThePlaylist:  67 characters confirmed to appear in the "Avengers: Infinity War" films.

---------------
POLITICS -  From NYT:  Barack Obama: "Guns are our shared responsibility."

---------------
CULTURE - From NYDailyNews:  Teacher fired over her "Central Park Five" lesson plan.

---------------
POLITICS - From EcoWatch:  Ever heard of "welfare ranching?" Seems it is related to the armed occupation at Malheur federal wildlife preserve in Oregon.

From RollingStone:  Matt Taibbi on the Malheur stand-off.

From Gizmodo:  Did you know that Oregon was founded as a white racist utopia?

---------------
TRAILERS - From YouTube:  International trailer for "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi."

---------------
MOVIES - From Variety:  "Creed" sequel due November 2017.

---------------
CULTURE - From RollingStone:  El Chapo Speaks by Sean Penn.

---------------
MOVIES -  From Variety:  Darren Aronofsky - Jennifer Lawrence film lands at Paramount.

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MOVIES -  From Variety:  There is a shit list... I mean short list for the role of Han Solo in spin-off movie.

---------------
MOVIES - From RSN:  A very bad idea in Oregon.

---------------
POLITICS - From RSN:  Now, there is sympathy from Republicans for drug addicts.

---------------
SPORTS - TheWashPost:   NCAA exploits unpaid labor of Black athletes.

---------------
COMICS -  From CinemaBlend:  New "Batman vs. Superman" TV clip.

---------------
SPORTS -  From NFL:  Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, believed to have a strained AC joint.

---------------
OBIT - From TheWrap: Singer, songwriter, recording artist, actor, artist, and more - David Bowie died on Sunday, January 10, 2016.  He had apparently been battling cancer for 18 months.  I woke up this morning wondering why the network news readers were talking about his new album...  I send condolences to Bowie's family.  R.I.P. Thin White Duke

OBIT - From IMDb:  A David Bowie photo gallery.

---------------
MOVIES -  From BET:  Black stars at the Golden Globes.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Denzel Washington speechless at receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

MOVIES: From YahooNews:  See Leo's reaction to his "brush" with Lady Gaga.

Golden Globe winners in select categories:

• Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Kate Winslet for "Steve Jobs"
• Best Original Score - Motion Picture: "The Hateful Eight" - Ennio Morricone
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Matt Damon for "The Martian"
• Best Animated Film: "Inside Out"
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Sylvester Stallone for "Creed"
• Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: "Steve Jobs" - Aaron Sorkin
• Best Foreign Language Film: Saul fia ("Son of Saul") from Hungary
• Best Original Song - Motion Picture: "Writing's On The Wall" written by Sam Smith and James Napier from the movie "Spectre"
• Best Director - Motion Picture: Alejandro González Iñárritu for "The Revenant"
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: Taraji P. Henson for "Empire"
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Jennifer Lawrence for "Joy"
• Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: "The Martian"
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: Brie Larson for "Room"
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: Leonardo DiCaprio for "The Revenant"
• Best Motion Picture - Drama: "The Revenant"

MOVIES - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 1/8 to 1/10/2016 weekend box office is "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" with an estimated take of $41.6 million.  "The Revenant" with Leonardo DiCaprio finished second with $38 million.

---------------
From GoldDerby:  A Golden Globe categories and the presenters for each category.

---------------
MOVIES - YahooTV:  Although he is nominated in two categories, Idris Elba has been ordered by his doctor not to attend tonight's Golden Globes.

---------------
COMICS:  From Diamond:  Here are the books and merchandise scheduled to be in comic book shops on Wednesday, Jan. 13th, 2016.

---------------
MOVIES: From Negromancer:  2016 Golden Globe nominations.

---------------
MOVIES: From Variety:  The Revenant and "The Force Awakens" are locked in a battle to be the weekend's #1 film.

---------------
POLITICS - From ThinkProgress:  Poor residents had to have sex with Baltimore public housing officials in order to get basic repairs.

---------------
MOVIES - TheVillageVoice:  An article about IFC's retrospective on the films of Charlotte Rampling.

----------------
POLITICS - TheVillageVoice:  Donald Trump's toy facism.

---------------
BLM - From TheWashPost:  The police officer who arrested Sandra Bland has been indicted on a perjury charge and will be fire.

---------------
POLITICS - From MichaelMoore:  Gov. Rick Snyder should be impeached at the very least.

---------------
BLM:  From TheWashPost:  Cleveland school police officer or resource officer attack Tamir Rice's mother via his Facebook posts and is now the subject of an investigation.

-------------
From TheVillageVoice:  Former Ohio prosecutor talks about her Tamir Rice rant.

---------------
CULTURE - From YahooMusic:  More on the saga of Marie Holmes, the Powerball winner, who has spent millions to keep her drug-dealing baby daddy, Lamar "Hot Sauce" McDow, out of jail.

---------------
TRAILER - From YouTube:  First trailer for new film starring Matthew McConaughey, "Free State of Jones."

Black Film Critics Circle Name "Creed" Best Picture of 2015

The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) was founded in 2010 and is a membership organization.  Its membership is comprised of film critics of color from daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, magazines, radio, and television and also from qualifying on-line publications.

2015 Black Film Critics Circle Awards:

Best Picture: “Creed”

Best Directing: George Miller “Mad Max: Fury Road”

Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan “Creed”

Best Actress: Brie Larson “Room”

Best Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone “Creed”

Best Supporting Actress: Tessa Thompson “Creed”

Best Screenwriting (Original Screenplay): “Straight Outta Compton”

Best Screenwriting (Adapted Screenplay): “The Martian”

Best Cinematography: “Mad Max: Fury Road”

Best Foreign Language Film: “Son of Saul” (Hungary)

Best Documentary Feature: “What Happened, Miss Simone?”

Best Animated Feature: “Inside Out”

Best Ensemble Performance: “Straight Outta Compton”

Pioneer Award: Ice Cube

Rising Star: Abraham Attah

Special Mention: Beasts of No Nation


BFCC’s Top 1o Films of 2015 are as follows in order of distinction:

1. “Creed”

2.  “Mad Max: Fury Road”

3. “Straight Outta Compton”

4. “Spotlight”

5. “The Martian”

6. “Room”

7. “Beasts of No Nation”

8. “The Hateful Eight”

9. “The Big Short”

10. “Ex Machina”

-----------------------

New Line Cinema Filming "Fist Fight" with Ice Cube and Charlie Day

Ice Cube and Charlie Day Square Off in the New Line Cinema Comedy “Fist Fight,” Now in Production

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Production is now underway on location in Atlanta, Georgia, on New Line Cinema’s comedy “Fist Fight,” starring Ice Cube and Charlie Day as high school teachers prepared to solve their differences the hard way. The film is being directed by Richie Keen (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”).

On the last day of the year, mild-mannered high school English teacher Andy Campbell (Charlie Day) is trying his best to keep it together amidst senior pranks, a dysfunctional administration and budget cuts that put jobs on the line. But things go from bad to worse when he accidentally crosses his much tougher and deeply feared colleague, Ron Strickland (Ice Cube), who challenges Campbell to an old-fashioned throwdown after school. News of the fight spreads like wildfire and ends up becoming the very thing this school, and Campbell, needed.

“Fist Fight” also stars Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”), Jillian Bell (“22 Jump Street”), Dean Norris (“Breaking Bad”), Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”), Dennis Haysbert (“The Unit”), and JoAnna Garcia Swisher (“The Astronaut Wives Club”).

The screenplay is written by Evan Susser & Van Robichaux (Funny or Die’s “What’s Going On? With Mike Mitchell”). “Fist Fight” is produced by Shawn Levy, Max Greenfield, and John Rickard. Serving as executive producers are Charlie Day, Ice Cube, Dan Cohen, Billy Rosenberg, and Marty Ewing.

Keen’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Eric Edwards (“Knocked Up”), production designer Chris Cornwell (“Ride Along,” “The Wedding Ringer”), editor Matthew Freund (Comedy Central’s “The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail”) and costume designer Denise Wingate (“Wedding Crashers”).

Principal photography will be take place primarily in and around Atlanta.

A New Line Cinema presentation, “Fist Fight” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

------------------------------

Negromancer News Bits and Bites for August 23rd to August 31st, 2015 - Update #16

Support Leroy on Patreon.

NEWS:

From THR:  Famed film writer/director, Wes Craven, has died of brain cancer, Sunday, August 30, 2015.

---------------
From BoxOfficeMojo:  "Straight Outta Compton" is the #1 movie at the box office for the 8/28 to 8/30/15 weekend.  This is the film's third consecutive week at #1.

---------------
From DigitalSpy:  Tid bits on "Jurassic World" sequel.

---------------
From CinemaBlend:  Woody Allen replaces Bruce Willis with Steve Carell.

---------------
From Deadline:  Lee Daniels' Richard Pryor biopic is apparently a go with a list of hot stars.

---------------
From YahooMovies:  Six actors who sabotaged their own careers.

---------------
From Variety:  Amazon preps TV series based on "Galaxy Quest."

---------------
From InformedComment and IReadsYou:  Natalie Portman on genocide.

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From SlashFilm:  Vin Diesel confirms xXx sequel to start filming in December.

---------------
From BoxOfficeMojo:  "Straight Outta Compton" wins the 8/21 to 8/23/15 weekend box office with an estimated take of $26.8 million dollars.

---------------
From Variety:  Universal and Disney dominate Summer 2015 box office, leaving not much for the other studios.


COMICS - Films and Books:

From CinemaBlend:  Guardians of the Galaxy spinoffs.

---------------
From Variety:  In an exclusive story, Variety is reporting that Marvel is courting Mads Mikkelsen to play a villain in Doctor Strange.

---------------
From SlashFilm:  The "Blade" film franchise may be revived, but focus on Blade's daughter, Fallon Grey.  Grey is supposed to be the lead in an upcoming Blade comic book revival from Marvel Comics.


REVIEWS:

From VillageVoice:  A review of "Z for Zachariah" by Stephanie Zacharek.


OBITS:

From ESPN:  Former NBA basketball player, Darryl Dawkins, died Thursday, August 27, 2015.  Known as "Chocolate Thunder," Dawkins is remembered for his backboard-shattering dunks and also for the naming of the dunks.  I thought that he was so cool and that he remained cool in retirement.  Negromancer sends condolences to his family.  R.I.P. Mr. Dawkins.