Karen O at the Oscars to Perform "The Moon Song"

Karen O To Perform "The Moon Song" On The Oscars®

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Singer-songwriter Karen O will, for the first time, perform the Oscar®-nominated original song “The Moon Song” for a global television audience on the Oscars®, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, will air on Sunday, March 2, live on ABC.

“The Moon Song,” with music by Karen O and lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze, was written for the film “Her,” directed by Jonze. The three other nominated songs are “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2,” “Let It Go” from “Frozen” and “Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.”

Karen O is the lead singer of the band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which has released four albums, three of which have been nominated for Grammy Awards®. She previously co-wrote original songs for the soundtrack of Jonze’s 2009 film “Where the Wild Things Are,” receiving a Grammy nomination for the featured song “All Is Love.” Karen O has performed on numerous other soundtracks, including those for “Frankenweenie” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and “I’m Not There”.

Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscars, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

"12 Years a Slave" Has Record Night at Black Reel Awards

by Leroy Douresseaux

The evening of Thursday, February 13, 2014 in the Nation’s Capital (Washington D.C., for some of you), the 14th Annual Black Reel Awards ceremony took place.  The Black Reel Awards handed out their prizes for the finest accomplishments and achievements of African-Americans and people of the African Diaspora in feature and independent films and television in 2013.

The runaway winner of the night was 12 Years a Slave.  Directed by Steve McQueen, the film is a harrowing story of a free black man who is kidnapped from his Northern home and family and forced into more than a decade of slavery.  The film won 8 awards, besting previous record-holder, Precious, which won 7 Black Reel Awards out of 10 nominations at the 2010 awards.

12 Years a Slave’s wins included “Outstanding Motion Picture,” “Outstanding Actor” for Chiwetel Ejiofor (who also won “Outstanding TV Movie Actor” for Dancing on the Edge), “Outstanding Supporting Actress” for newcomer Lupita Nyong’o (who also won “Outstanding Female Breakthrough Performance”), “Outstanding Director” for Steve McQueen, “Outstanding Screenplay” for John Ridley, “Outstanding Ensemble,” and “Outstanding Score,” an apparently unexpected win for maestro Hans Zimmer.

Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series was awarded to Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, which also an earned an “Outstanding Director, TV Movie” award for Spike Lee.

2014 / 14th BLACK REEL AWARDS WINNERS (for the year in film and television 2013):

Outstanding Motion Picture
12 Years a Slave

Outstanding Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor | 12 Years a Slave

Outstanding Actress
Danai Gurira | Mother of George

Outstanding Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi | Captain Phillips

Outstanding Supporting Actress
Lupita Nyong’o | 12 Years a Slave

Outstanding Director
Steve McQueen | 12 Years a Slave

Outstanding Screenplay
John Ridley | 12 Years a Slave

Outstanding Documentary
20 Feet From Stardom | Morgan Neville

Outstanding Ensemble
12 Years a Slave | Francine Maiser

Outstanding Foreign Film
War Witch | Canada

Outstanding Score
Hans Zimmer | 12 Years a Slave

Outstanding Original Song
“Desperation” by Judith Hill | 20 Feet From Stardom

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
Barkhad Abdi | Captain Phillips

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
Lupita Nyong’o | 12 Years a Slave

Outstanding Voice Performance
Samuel L. Jackson | Turbo

Outstanding Independent Feature
Blue Caprice | Alexandre Moors

Outstanding Independent Documentary
The New Black | Yoruba Richen

Outstanding Independent Short
Black Girl in Paris | Kiandra Parks

Outstanding Television Documentary
Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley | Whoopi Goldberg

Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series
Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth

Outstanding TV Movie Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor | Dancing on Edge

Outstanding TV Movie Actress
Anika Noni Rose | The Watsons Go to Birmingham

Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie
Omari Hardwick | Being Mary Jane

Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie
Octavia Spencer | Call Me Crazy: A Five Film

Outstanding Director, TV Movie
Spike Lee | Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth

Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie
Mara Brock Akil | Being Mary Jane

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U2 to Rock the Oscars Ceremony with "Ordinary Love"

U2 to Perform "Ordinary Love" On The Oscars®

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — World-renowned rock band U2 will perform their Oscar®-nominated song, “Ordinary Love” for a global audience at the Oscars®, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. U2’s exclusive Oscar show performance will be the first time the band will perform the song live. The Oscars, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, will air on Sunday, March 2, live on ABC.

“Ordinary Love” was written by the group for “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” and is nominated for Original Song. The three other nominated songs are “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2,” “Let It Go” from “Frozen” and “The Moon Song” from “Her.”

U2 has sold more than 150 million records worldwide since its formation in 1976. The group has won 22 Grammy® Awards—more than any other band—and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, its first year of eligibility. The band’s 110-show, 26-month U2360° tour, which ended in July 2011, played to over 7 million fans in 30 countries on 5 continents and was the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. The band is currently in the studio working on a new album.

Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscars, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

X-Men Screenwriter Directs Werewolf Action-Thriller, "Wolves"

KETCHUP ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES DAVID HAYTER’S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT, WOLVES

WRITTEN BY HAYTER, ACTION-THRILLER STARS LUCAS TILL, STEPHEN MCHATTIE AND JASON MOMOA

Ketchup Entertainment today announced the acquisition of U.S. rights to WOLVES, the directorial debut of screenwriter David Hayter (X-Men, X2, Watchmen). The werewolf action-thriller, written by Hayter, stars Lucas Till (X-Men: First Class), Stephen McHattie (Immortals, Watchmen) and Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones, Conan the Barbarian).  The film is produced by Copperheart Entertainment’s Steve Hoban (Splice, Ginger Snaps), with makeup effects by Oscar-winning creature designers Dave Elsey and Lou Elsey (The Wolfman, X-Men: First Class).

WOLVES follows the story of Cayden Richards (Till) - a handsome eighteen year-old with a dark secret.  Forced to hit the road after the brutal murder of his parents, Cayden finds himself turning into a savage wolf and is thrust between two warring clans of werewolves fighting for control of the ominous town of Lupine Ridge.

Ketchup CEO Gareth West stated “From the first time we saw Wolves, we knew audiences would be swept up in the exciting action and powerful storytelling. We are thrilled to be working with such a talented group of filmmakers and actors, and feel that Wolves is a great addition to the Ketchup slate.”

David Hayter said, "I am so pleased to partner with Ketchup Entertainment for the U.S. theatrical release of WOLVES.  My producers and I have worked for years to make WOLVES something special and unique, and I am confident that we have found committed partners who share that vision."

WOLVES was financed by Copperheart Entertainment, TF1 International and Telefilm Canada.  The cast also includes Merritt Patterson (“Ravenswood”) and John Pyper-Ferguson (“Burn Notice,” Drive).

The deal was negotiated by Ketchup Entertainment’s CEO Gareth West and Head of Acquisitions Stephen Stanley with UTA Independent Film Group and executive producer Benedict Carver on behalf of the filmmakers.  WOLVES is eyeing a Summer 2014 theatrical release.

About Ketchup Entertainment
Founded in 2008 by principals Gareth West, Artur Galstian, and Vahan Yepremeyan as a private equity and senior lending fund, Ketchup Entertainment launched a domestic distribution division in May of 2012 and is actively acquiring and distributing films across all media with direct outputs across various platforms including VOD, Netflix, DVD, Digital, television and theatrical.

Ketchup Entertainment is focused on working with established filmmakers and emerging talents. Recent acquisitions and releases include the upcoming comedy LOVE PUNCH starring Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson, actioner VEHICLE 19 starring Paul Walker, the Hunger Games spoof THE STARVING GAMES, the Jeremy Lin documentary LINSANITY and the drama BIG SUR starring Kate Bosworth and Josh Lucas.

Industrial Light and Magic Announces Expansion and New Talent

Industrial Light & Magic Grows Global Operations Adding Key Talent and New/Expanded Offices

Industry-leading visual effects studio announces key talent hires, a new U.K. office, expansion in Vancouver and a new building in Singapore

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) today announced the expansion of its global operations with the opening of ILM London in the United Kingdom, the growth and relocation of ILM Vancouver and the relocation of ILM Singapore to the newly constructed ‘Sandcrawler’ building located in the Fusionopolis business district. Coupled with the new and expanded facilities, the company has hired key talent to staff the offices. ILM president and general manager, Lynwen Brennan, made the announcement.

“We continue to embrace the global opportunities that have come with advances in technology while maintaining a strong operation here in the U.S.,” noted Brennan, “ILM has always prided itself on having the industry’s top creative talent. The difference now is that we can access incredible talent where they live and countries such as Singapore, Canada and the United Kingdom have a great deal to offer.”

Located in Central London, ILM London’s creative team will be led by creative director Ben Morris and animation director Michael Eames. The studio’s director of operations, Sue Lyster will oversee all London-based operations. ILM London will be working with ILM’s existing offices in San Francisco, Singapore and Vancouver on a number of high profile releases at launch including the highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII and Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, the sequel to the 2012 blockbuster film, The Avengers.

Founded in 2006, ILM Singapore is the company’s second largest studio. Recently relocated to the newly constructed Sandcrawler building the location will also serve as the regional headquarters for Lucasfilm Singapore, The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) and ESPN Asia Pacific. ILM Singapore, under Colin Brown, general manager and former head of the U.K. Film Commission, will continue to work on high profile Hollywood films including the upcoming Star Wars films, regional projects and feature animation.

In 2011, ILM established its second international office in Vancouver, British Columbia. Initially planned as a temporary, production-based facility ILM has seen great success both in terms of attracting high-level talent and producing impressive visual effects work.

This success has led to ILM making Vancouver a permanent studio; one that will soon relocate to a larger facility in the historic Gastown section of the city. Randal Shore has joined the studio as supervising producer and will manage day-to-day operations. The new facility will officially open in March and allow the company to accommodate the planned expansion of its Canadian workforce to meet the needs of future projects including Star Wars, World of Warcraft and Tomorrowland. The studio’s current projects include Transformers: Age of Extinction and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Work created across ILM’s global studios in 2013 has received two Academy Award™ nominations for Star Trek Into Darkness and The Lone Ranger and British Academy Award (BAFTA) nominations for Pacific Rim and Star Trek Into Darkness. Additionally, ILM’s breakthrough technological innovations continue to be recognized within the industry. In February, two of the company’s key technologies will receive Technical Academy Awards in recognition of their impact on the industry at large. The first, ILM Plume, simulates and renders fire, smoke and explosions utilizing cutting-edge GPU technology. The second award recognizes the architecture and development of ILM’s Zeno application framework. For more than a decade, Zeno’s flexible and robust design has allowed the creation of a broad range of Academy Award-winning visual effects toolsets at the company. These two awards mark the company’s 25th and 26th Academy Awards for advances in Science and Technology in its 38-year history.

About Industrial Light & Magic
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a division of Lucasfilm Ltd, has become synonymous with groundbreaking visual effects work and the company continues to be a recognized leader in the field. ILM, headquartered in San Francisco, also has operations in Singapore, Vancouver and London – the facilities work hand in hand to produce cutting edge visual effects work for feature films and themed entertainment. ILM has been awarded 15 Academy Awards® for Best Visual Effects and 26 Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. To learn more, visit ILM online at http://www.ilm.com.

Lucasfilm Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. Industrial Light & Magic, the ILM logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks in the United States and/or in other countries of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © 2013 Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. or Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

Idina Menzel to "Let It Go" for Oscars Ceremony

Idina Menzel To Perform On The Oscars®

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Tony Award®-winning singer, songwriter and actress Idina Menzel will, for the first time, perform the Oscar®-nominated song “Let It Go” for a global television audience at the Oscars®, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, will air on Sunday, March 2, live on ABC.

“Let It Go,” written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez for “Frozen,” is nominated for Original Song. The three other nominated songs are "Happy" from "Despicable Me 2," "Ordinary Love" from "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" and "The Moon Song" from "Her."

Menzel won a Tony Award for her performance as Elphaba in the original Broadway production of Wicked. She received a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut in Rent and earned a Drama Desk nomination for her performance in Manhattan Theater Club’s Off-Broadway musical The Wild Party. In March, Menzel will star in If/Then, a new Broadway musical about a woman moving back to New York City for a fresh start. In addition to “Frozen,” in which she voices the character of Elsa, Menzel’s film appearances include “Enchanted,” “Ask the Dust” and “Rent.”

Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscars, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

Warner Bros. Bringing Tarzan Back to the Big Screen in 3D

Warner Bros. Pictures Swings into a New Big-Screen Tarzan Adventure, Slated for a July 1, 2016 Release

Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, and Christoph Waltz are starring under the direction of David Yates, with Jerry Weintraub producing

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that the Studio has entered into pre-production on a new live-action 3D Tarzan action adventure, bringing Edgar Rice Burroughs’ legendary character back to the big screen. The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, also announced that the film has been slated to open domestically on July 1, 2016.

Alexander Skarsgård (HBO’s “True Blood”) has been set to star as the man who was orphaned as a baby and raised in the jungle, later to return to the urban jungle of London. The film also stars Oscar® nominee Samuel L. Jackson (“Pulp Fiction”); Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), as Jane Porter, who becomes the love of Tarzan’s life; and two-time Academy Award® winner Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds,” “Django Unchained”).

David Yates, who helmed the last four “Harry Potter” blockbusters, will direct the new feature from a screenplay based on the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Jerry Weintraub production, the film is being produced by Weintraub (“Behind the Candelabra,” the “Ocean’s” trilogy), together with David Barron and Alan Riche.

In making the announcement, Silverman said, “We have assembled a phenomenal international cast to tell this extraordinary story. Warner Bros. has also enjoyed long and successful collaborations with both David Yates and Jerry Weintraub, and we look forward to seeing what they and the entire team have in store for this timeless tale.”

Kroll added, “Tarzan has been an enduring and enigmatic figure in literature and cinema for more than a century. The adventures of a man who was torn between two worlds has entertained and intrigued people young and old, and we are excited to bring him to the screen for a new generation.”

Fellman stated, “This is a perfect entry for the summer movie season corridor, with a terrific combination of action, adventure, romance and suspense that is sure to appeal to a broad audience.”

Jerry Weintraub added, “I am so pleased to be reuniting with the team at Warner Bros. on this thrilling project. David Yates and I are going to be using the best of today’s technology in creating this new adventure, and we can’t wait to get started.”