Saturday, June 14, 2014
Negromancer New Bits and Bites: June 8 to June 14, 2014 Update #6
OBIT:
From the New York Times and Variety: The Academy Award-nominated actress Ruby Dee died on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. She earned her lone Oscar nomination in 2008 for her turn as the feisty mother in American Gangster. She won an Emmy Award in 1991 for her role in the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" television movie, Decoration Day.
Dee is also best known her role as "Ruth Younger" in A Raisin in the Sun, both onstage, beginning in 1959, and in the 1961 film adaptation. Dee often worked with her late husband, Ossie Davis, who died in 2005. My heart is breaking, but I know Davis and Dee are together again. Negromancer sends condolences to her family and friends.
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MOVIE NEWS:
From Hitfix: Jason Momao, of the 2011 Conan the Barbarian remake and of "Game of Thrones" will apparently be playing Aquaman in "Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice."
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From The Hollywood Reporter: The Millennium Falcon apparently broke Han Solo.
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From Shadow and Act: A talk with Supremacy director, Deon Taylor.
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From Entertainment Weekly: Vincent D'Onofrio will play the villain "Wilson Fisk" in Marvel TV's 13-episode series, "Daredevil," that it is producing for Netflix. Daredevil is one of four series that Marvel is producing for Netflix. It is also producing a spinoff of "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD," entitled, Agent Carter, which will appear on ABC.
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From Shadow and Act: Wanna be an extra in Don Cheadle's Miles Davis biopic?
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From Variety: Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua are in early talks to team up for MGM's planned remake of The Magnificent Seven (which starred Steve McQueen and Yul Brenner). Washington and Fuqua first teamed on 2001's Training Day, for which Washington won a best actor Oscar. Their current team-up, The Equalizer (a remake of the 1980s TV series) is due this September.
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From Moviehole: Guillermo del Toro is working on a script for a sequel to Pacific Rim with Zak Penn.
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From BuzzFeed: Hugh Jackman has shaved his head to play Blackbeard in Pan. The photo is on Jackman's Instagram account.
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Care about the 2014 / 68th annual Tony Awards? Playbill has this article with a list of the winners, which also includes the nominees.
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"Tracy Morgan Crash" driver turned himself in and posted bail . Walmart is profoundly sorry.
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The Fault in Our Stars has the edge over Tom Cruise at the June 6-8, 2014 box office.
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Marvel officially announced that Peyton Reed (Bring It On, The Break-Up, Yes Man) will direct 2015's Ant-Man movie. Edgar Wright had been attached to the project since 2006, but recently walked away apparently due to creative differences with Marvel. Marvel's statement from its website:
When Marvel's "Ant-Man" hits theaters July 17, 2015, director Peyton Reed will help shepherd the hero into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a cast led by Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas, with writer Adam McKay contributing to the film's script.
Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang (Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
The Hollywood Reporter has more on the announcement, including news that Adam McKay (the Anchorman movies) will polish the script.
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How Seth Rogen makes movies from The Wrap.
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COMIC BOOKS:
From Newsarama: Frank Miller, the man who created and worked on such highly influential and/or memorable comic books as Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Daredevil, and Sin City (to name a few), would like to work on Captain America. Please, make it happen Marvel.
MISCELLANEOUS:
From HuffPost Science: Girth matters... apparently more than size/length.
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Apparently Dwayne Johnson wants you to follow the diet and fitness routine he used to become buff for the upcoming Hercules.
2015 Grammy Award Rule Changes Include Allowing Sampling in All Songwriting Categories
Samples to Be Allowed in All GRAMMY® Award Songwriting Categories, Including Song of the Year
New Rule is Among Many Updates as The Recording Academy® Approves Continuing Evolution of GRAMMY Awards® Categories and Process at Spring Trustees Meeting, with Changes Affecting Pop, Dance/Electronic, Gospel, American Roots Music, and Classical Fields
Total Number of Categories to be Recognized at 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 8, 2015, is 83
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of its recent annual spring Board of Trustees meeting, The Recording Academy®'s Trustees approved a number of changes to the GRAMMY Awards® process, including: allowing samples or interpolations of previously written songs in all songwriting categories, including Song Of The Year; establishing a new category for Best American Roots Performance in the American Roots Music Field; changing the name of the Dance/Electronica Field and album category to Dance/Electronic Music Field and Best Dance/Electronic Album; restructuring the categories of the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Field; renaming Best Pop Instrumental Album as Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, establishing a new Contemporary Instrumental Music Field, and moving Best Traditional Pop Album into the Pop Field; changing Best Classical Vocal Solo (album or tracks) to Best Classical Solo Vocal Album (albums only); and renaming and remaking the Best Instrumental Arrangement and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals categories as Best Arrangement, Instrumental Or A Cappella and Best Arrangement, Instruments And Vocals, respectively, such that vocal arrangers/arrangements are eligible to compete. In addition, a more official guideline has been established for the Alternative Music Field.
The total number of GRAMMY® categories that will be recognized at the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 8, 2015, is 83. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
“The Academy's Board of Trustees continues to demonstrate its passionate commitment to keeping The Recording Academy a relevant and responsive organization in our dynamic music community”
"The Academy's Board of Trustees continues to demonstrate its passionate commitment to keeping The Recording Academy a relevant and responsive organization in our dynamic music community," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "This year's changes to our Awards process are thoughtful, inclusive, and reflective of the current musical landscape, and we look forward to implementing them for the upcoming 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards."
Awards
To ensure the GRAMMY Awards process remains fluid and responsive, The Academy's Trustees have approved the following changes recommended by the Awards & Nominations (A&N) Committee:
*Samples or interpolations of previously written songs are now allowed in all songwriting categories: Song Of The Year, Best Rock Song, Best R&B Song, Best Country Song, Best Gospel Song, Best Contemporary Christian Music Song, Best American Roots Song, and Best Song Written For Visual Media. Previously, samples or interpolations were allowed in only one songwriting category: Best Rap Song, in recognition of the unique craft of writing rap songs.
*Best American Roots Performance has been added to the American Roots Music Field. An artist's award, it will encompass all of the subgenres of the Field (Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk, regional roots music), and recognizes singles/tracks only as well as solo artists/duos/groups/collaborations. This puts the Field in line with the Pop, Rock, Rap, R&B, Country, and Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Fields, all of which have performance categories.
*The name of the Dance/Electronica Field and Best Dance/Electronica Album category now change to Dance/Electronic Field and Best Dance/Electronic Album. The committees for this Field agreed that the title for this genre has evolved, and updating it more accurately represents the industry nomenclature of today.
*The categories of the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Field have been restructured as follows:
Previous Category Structure
Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
Best Gospel Song
Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
Best Gospel Album
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
New Category Structure
Best Gospel Performance/Song
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
Best Gospel Album
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Best Roots Gospel Album
The same number of categories remains in the Field (five), and now both the artist(s) and songwriter(s) of new material will be honored in the Best Gospel Performance/Song and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song categories. Changes to the Field were made in the interest of clarifying the criteria, representing the current culture and creative DNA of the gospel and Contemporary Christian Music communities, and better reflecting the diversity and authenticity of today's gospel music industry, including:
*Best Pop Instrumental Album has been renamed Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, a new Contemporary Instrumental Music Field has been established, and Best Traditional Pop Album now moves into the Pop Field. This new Field and category name will allow a broader umbrella for instrumental music than the former Best Pop Instrumental Album category and creates a more appropriate home and award for excellence in instrumental performance. In reviewing recent submissions, nominations and wins in this category, most projects are better categorized as "contemporary" music than "pop" music. Categorizing this award in a separate Field puts the emphasis on instrumental music, which provides for better representation of this particular craft, and allows for a more broadly defined category that can encompass all contemporary instrumental music without deference to a particular genre.
Changing the name of the Best Pop Instrumental Album category to Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and moving it out of the Pop Field into its own Field results in only three awards in Pop. Adding the Best Traditional Pop Album category to the Pop Field (and removing the standalone Traditional Pop Field) helps to maintain parity among the mainstream Fields.
*Best Classical Vocal Solo (album or tracks) now becomes Best Classical Solo Vocal Album (albums only). The Best Classical Vocal Solo category began in 1958 as an album category. When it was changed to accept tracks, the category also became a vocal solo category, removing collaborative recognition for essential musicians performing classical music. Orchestras, conductors, pianists, and chamber groups are equal and essential partners in the performance of classical vocal music. The history of this category has shown that with only a few, rare exceptions, the nominees in this category have been predominantly albums. In cases where albums contain mixed musical forms, these albums will now be eligible in the Best Classical Compendium category.
*Best Instrumental Arrangement and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals have been renamed Best Arrangement, Instrumental Or A Cappella and Best Arrangement, Instruments And Vocals, respectively, so that vocal arrangers/arrangements may now compete as well. Singles or tracks only are eligible in both categories. (Exception: If an album is one complete work [composition] it is eligible.)
*A more formal, official guideline for the Alternative Music Field has been established. The new guideline states that the Best Alternative Music Album category is intended for recordings that take as a starting point any existing musical genre or combination of genres, and expand and redefine the boundaries of those genres. Though there may be considerable overlap with the Alternative radio format, this category is not intended to mirror it.
Previously, this category was intended for recordings of a nontraditional form that exist (at least initially) outside of the mainstream music consciousness. Its avant-garde approach may utilize new technology or new production techniques and contain elements of rock, pop, dance, folk or even classical music styles.
Though the difference between the two may not appear to be particularly dramatic or significant, the new definition is more inclusive and foregoes references to any other particular genre, as well as clarifies the category's relationship to the radio format.
Click here to view the infographic regarding the GRAMMY Awards process.
The Trustees of The Recording Academy, along with Academy senior staff, Chapter Regional Directors, Executive Directors, and Chapter Presidents, met May 20 – 23 at the semiannual series of meetings with agendas designed to strategically chart the course of The Academy and its affiliate corporations.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.
New Rule is Among Many Updates as The Recording Academy® Approves Continuing Evolution of GRAMMY Awards® Categories and Process at Spring Trustees Meeting, with Changes Affecting Pop, Dance/Electronic, Gospel, American Roots Music, and Classical Fields
Total Number of Categories to be Recognized at 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 8, 2015, is 83
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of its recent annual spring Board of Trustees meeting, The Recording Academy®'s Trustees approved a number of changes to the GRAMMY Awards® process, including: allowing samples or interpolations of previously written songs in all songwriting categories, including Song Of The Year; establishing a new category for Best American Roots Performance in the American Roots Music Field; changing the name of the Dance/Electronica Field and album category to Dance/Electronic Music Field and Best Dance/Electronic Album; restructuring the categories of the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Field; renaming Best Pop Instrumental Album as Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, establishing a new Contemporary Instrumental Music Field, and moving Best Traditional Pop Album into the Pop Field; changing Best Classical Vocal Solo (album or tracks) to Best Classical Solo Vocal Album (albums only); and renaming and remaking the Best Instrumental Arrangement and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals categories as Best Arrangement, Instrumental Or A Cappella and Best Arrangement, Instruments And Vocals, respectively, such that vocal arrangers/arrangements are eligible to compete. In addition, a more official guideline has been established for the Alternative Music Field.
The total number of GRAMMY® categories that will be recognized at the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 8, 2015, is 83. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
“The Academy's Board of Trustees continues to demonstrate its passionate commitment to keeping The Recording Academy a relevant and responsive organization in our dynamic music community”
"The Academy's Board of Trustees continues to demonstrate its passionate commitment to keeping The Recording Academy a relevant and responsive organization in our dynamic music community," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "This year's changes to our Awards process are thoughtful, inclusive, and reflective of the current musical landscape, and we look forward to implementing them for the upcoming 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards."
Awards
To ensure the GRAMMY Awards process remains fluid and responsive, The Academy's Trustees have approved the following changes recommended by the Awards & Nominations (A&N) Committee:
*Samples or interpolations of previously written songs are now allowed in all songwriting categories: Song Of The Year, Best Rock Song, Best R&B Song, Best Country Song, Best Gospel Song, Best Contemporary Christian Music Song, Best American Roots Song, and Best Song Written For Visual Media. Previously, samples or interpolations were allowed in only one songwriting category: Best Rap Song, in recognition of the unique craft of writing rap songs.
*Best American Roots Performance has been added to the American Roots Music Field. An artist's award, it will encompass all of the subgenres of the Field (Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk, regional roots music), and recognizes singles/tracks only as well as solo artists/duos/groups/collaborations. This puts the Field in line with the Pop, Rock, Rap, R&B, Country, and Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Fields, all of which have performance categories.
*The name of the Dance/Electronica Field and Best Dance/Electronica Album category now change to Dance/Electronic Field and Best Dance/Electronic Album. The committees for this Field agreed that the title for this genre has evolved, and updating it more accurately represents the industry nomenclature of today.
*The categories of the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Field have been restructured as follows:
Previous Category Structure
Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
Best Gospel Song
Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
Best Gospel Album
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
New Category Structure
Best Gospel Performance/Song
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
Best Gospel Album
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Best Roots Gospel Album
The same number of categories remains in the Field (five), and now both the artist(s) and songwriter(s) of new material will be honored in the Best Gospel Performance/Song and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song categories. Changes to the Field were made in the interest of clarifying the criteria, representing the current culture and creative DNA of the gospel and Contemporary Christian Music communities, and better reflecting the diversity and authenticity of today's gospel music industry, including:
- Place the growing and increasingly popular rap and hip-hop music into the contemporary category where the industry and fans feel it belongs
- Provide a category for traditional Southern gospel and other "roots" gospel albums as both a protector of the heritage of this music and an acknowledgement of the growing interest and support of these genres
- Recognize the critical contribution of both songwriters and performers by combining songwriters and artists into the Best Gospel Performance/Song and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song categories
- Appropriately integrate artists, songwriters, albums and songs along creative and aesthetic lines.
*Best Pop Instrumental Album has been renamed Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, a new Contemporary Instrumental Music Field has been established, and Best Traditional Pop Album now moves into the Pop Field. This new Field and category name will allow a broader umbrella for instrumental music than the former Best Pop Instrumental Album category and creates a more appropriate home and award for excellence in instrumental performance. In reviewing recent submissions, nominations and wins in this category, most projects are better categorized as "contemporary" music than "pop" music. Categorizing this award in a separate Field puts the emphasis on instrumental music, which provides for better representation of this particular craft, and allows for a more broadly defined category that can encompass all contemporary instrumental music without deference to a particular genre.
Changing the name of the Best Pop Instrumental Album category to Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and moving it out of the Pop Field into its own Field results in only three awards in Pop. Adding the Best Traditional Pop Album category to the Pop Field (and removing the standalone Traditional Pop Field) helps to maintain parity among the mainstream Fields.
*Best Classical Vocal Solo (album or tracks) now becomes Best Classical Solo Vocal Album (albums only). The Best Classical Vocal Solo category began in 1958 as an album category. When it was changed to accept tracks, the category also became a vocal solo category, removing collaborative recognition for essential musicians performing classical music. Orchestras, conductors, pianists, and chamber groups are equal and essential partners in the performance of classical vocal music. The history of this category has shown that with only a few, rare exceptions, the nominees in this category have been predominantly albums. In cases where albums contain mixed musical forms, these albums will now be eligible in the Best Classical Compendium category.
*Best Instrumental Arrangement and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals have been renamed Best Arrangement, Instrumental Or A Cappella and Best Arrangement, Instruments And Vocals, respectively, so that vocal arrangers/arrangements may now compete as well. Singles or tracks only are eligible in both categories. (Exception: If an album is one complete work [composition] it is eligible.)
*A more formal, official guideline for the Alternative Music Field has been established. The new guideline states that the Best Alternative Music Album category is intended for recordings that take as a starting point any existing musical genre or combination of genres, and expand and redefine the boundaries of those genres. Though there may be considerable overlap with the Alternative radio format, this category is not intended to mirror it.
Previously, this category was intended for recordings of a nontraditional form that exist (at least initially) outside of the mainstream music consciousness. Its avant-garde approach may utilize new technology or new production techniques and contain elements of rock, pop, dance, folk or even classical music styles.
Though the difference between the two may not appear to be particularly dramatic or significant, the new definition is more inclusive and foregoes references to any other particular genre, as well as clarifies the category's relationship to the radio format.
Click here to view the infographic regarding the GRAMMY Awards process.
The Trustees of The Recording Academy, along with Academy senior staff, Chapter Regional Directors, Executive Directors, and Chapter Presidents, met May 20 – 23 at the semiannual series of meetings with agendas designed to strategically chart the course of The Academy and its affiliate corporations.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.
Friday, June 13, 2014
New Broadcast Networks, "Escape" and "Grit," Sign Deal with Warner Bros.
Escape & Grit Announce First Programming Agreement, Acquire Rights To 135 Motion Pictures From Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution
ATLANTA, June 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The country's first-ever female-centric and male-centric over-the-air broadcast television networks -- Escape (For Women) and Grit (For Men) -- have acquired the television rights to 135 demo-targeted motion pictures in a multi-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD), it was announced today.
Katz Broadcasting, a new company established by Bounce TV founder/COO and former Turner Broadcasting executive Jonathan Katz, will own and operate the ESCAPE and GRIT broadcast television networks launching this summer. Katz will serve as President and CEO while continuing as COO of Bounce TV.
Escape will target women 25-54 with a brand of programming anchored in stories of crime and mystery. Warner Bros. drama and thriller titles earmarked for Escape include: The contemporary classic Body Heat starring Kathleen Turner; Demi Moore in Disclosure; the Nicole Kidman thrillers Dead Calm and Malice; Kathy Bates creating Misery for James Caan, based on the Stephen King story; Bates in another King tale, Dolores Claiborne with Jennifer Jason Leigh; Copycat starring Sigourney Weaver; Blink with Madeline Stowe and Cate Blanchett as Charlotte Gray; John Grisham's Presumed Innocent; Michelle Pfeiffer in Tequila Sunrise; Star 80 and more.
Action-oriented Grit will reach men 25-54 and be built around the classic male hero archetype with a focus on western, war and action theatrical motion pictures. Among the stars and titles headed to Grit in the WBDTD agreement: Clint Eastwood - As Dirty Harry in Sudden Impact, leading the charge in Kelly's Heroes and also Bronco Billy; Arnold Schwarzenegger in Eraser; Sylvester Stallone in Cobra, Demolition Man and Victory; Jackie Chan starring in Rumble in the Bronx and Jackie Chan's First Strike; Steven Seagal (Hard to Kill, Fire Down Below, On Deadly Ground and Out of Reach); Denzel Washington (Fallen) and more.
Grit also lands such westerns as the John Wayne classics Cahill, U.S. Marshall, Chisum and The Cowboys; Young Guns and Young Guns 2; The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford starring Brad Pitt and such war and military movies as Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, Memphis Belle and Purple Hearts.
Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates television stations in major U.S. markets, will carry both Escape and Grit on stations representing more than 35% of U.S. television households, including in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Miami. More distribution will be announced shortly.
The two new networks are part of Katz Broadcasting, a new company established by former Turner Broadcasting executive Jonathan Katz.
ATLANTA, June 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The country's first-ever female-centric and male-centric over-the-air broadcast television networks -- Escape (For Women) and Grit (For Men) -- have acquired the television rights to 135 demo-targeted motion pictures in a multi-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD), it was announced today.
Katz Broadcasting, a new company established by Bounce TV founder/COO and former Turner Broadcasting executive Jonathan Katz, will own and operate the ESCAPE and GRIT broadcast television networks launching this summer. Katz will serve as President and CEO while continuing as COO of Bounce TV.
Escape will target women 25-54 with a brand of programming anchored in stories of crime and mystery. Warner Bros. drama and thriller titles earmarked for Escape include: The contemporary classic Body Heat starring Kathleen Turner; Demi Moore in Disclosure; the Nicole Kidman thrillers Dead Calm and Malice; Kathy Bates creating Misery for James Caan, based on the Stephen King story; Bates in another King tale, Dolores Claiborne with Jennifer Jason Leigh; Copycat starring Sigourney Weaver; Blink with Madeline Stowe and Cate Blanchett as Charlotte Gray; John Grisham's Presumed Innocent; Michelle Pfeiffer in Tequila Sunrise; Star 80 and more.
Action-oriented Grit will reach men 25-54 and be built around the classic male hero archetype with a focus on western, war and action theatrical motion pictures. Among the stars and titles headed to Grit in the WBDTD agreement: Clint Eastwood - As Dirty Harry in Sudden Impact, leading the charge in Kelly's Heroes and also Bronco Billy; Arnold Schwarzenegger in Eraser; Sylvester Stallone in Cobra, Demolition Man and Victory; Jackie Chan starring in Rumble in the Bronx and Jackie Chan's First Strike; Steven Seagal (Hard to Kill, Fire Down Below, On Deadly Ground and Out of Reach); Denzel Washington (Fallen) and more.
Grit also lands such westerns as the John Wayne classics Cahill, U.S. Marshall, Chisum and The Cowboys; Young Guns and Young Guns 2; The Assassination of Jessie James by the Coward Robert Ford starring Brad Pitt and such war and military movies as Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, Memphis Belle and Purple Hearts.
Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates television stations in major U.S. markets, will carry both Escape and Grit on stations representing more than 35% of U.S. television households, including in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Miami. More distribution will be announced shortly.
The two new networks are part of Katz Broadcasting, a new company established by former Turner Broadcasting executive Jonathan Katz.
Review: "Not Another Teen Movie" is Wacky (Happy B'day, Chris Evans)
Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
Running time: 89 minutes (1 hour, 29 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong crude sexual content and humor, language, and some drug content
DIRECTOR: Joel Gallen
WRITERS: Michael G. Bende, Adam Jay Epstein, and Andrew Jacobson and Phil Beauman and Buddy Johnson
PRODUCER: Neal H. Moritz
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Reynaldo Villalobos (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Steve Welch
COMPOSER: Theodore Shapiro
COMEDY
Starring: Chyler Leigh, Chris Evans, Jamie Pressly, Eric Christian Olsen, Mia Kirshner, Deon Richmond, Eric Jungmann, Ron Lester, Cody McMains, Sam Huntington, Joanna Garcia, Lacey Chabert, Samm Levine, Cerina Vincent, Beverly Polcyn, Ed Lauter, Paul Gleason, Mr. T, Molly Ringwald, Samaire Armstrong, Nectar Rose, and Randy Quaid with Nick Bakay, Melissa Joan Hart, and Sean Patrick Thomas
The subject of this movie review is Not Another Teen Movie, a 2001 comedy and parody film. Not Another Teen Movie is a send-up and spoof of the teen movies that came before it, especially those that appeared in the two decades proceeding Not Another Teen Movie’s release.
When a group of screenwriters is trying to write a movie script that parodies two decades of teen movies, the script could end up packed to the gills from too many film references, and that’s what happens to Not Another Teen Movie. This flick is a parody of teen movies going back to John Hughes’s Pretty in Pink (1986), but it especially focuses its satirical eye on the wave of the teen films that were released in the second half of the 1990’s.
That was a time when teenagers had so much disposable income because of a booming economy, and the entertainment, food, and apparel industries did everything they could to offer as many product choices as possible to these affluent and relatively affluent teenagers; there certainly was no shortage of films geared towards these youngsters.
In fact the high school that is central to the plot of Not Another Teen Movie, John Hughes High School, is named after filmmaker John Hughes, who came to prominence in the 1980’s with such popular teen flicks as Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club (1985). Not Another Teen Movie is a tale of high school melodrama and sexual shenanigans. Jake Wyler (Chris Evans, who is also currently playing “Johnny Storm” in Fantastic Four), handsome senior, but disgraced former starting quarterback, takes a bet that he can turn a homely, nerdy girl into the prom queen.
His choice for the girl to transform is Janey Briggs (Chyler Leigh), a dirty poor, white trash girl, who (of course) is extraordinarily beautiful once she’s cleaned up, takes of her glasses, and loosens her hair out of a long ponytail. They gradually fall for one another; now, Jake and Janey must travel from their inauspicious beginnings and go through 20 years of accumulated teen movie refuse in order to get to their teen movie happy ending.
Not Another Teen Movie parodies or references several John Hughes films and such teen classics as Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), The Goonies (1985), Can’t Hardly Wait (1998), She’s All That (1999), Varsity Blues (1999), plus Clueless, Never Been Kissed, Road Trip, and Ten Things I Hate About You. Like 2003’s Scary Movie 3 (and the entire Scary Movie franchise, for that matter), Not Another Teen Movie is full of hilarious scenes sprinkled generously over a piss-poor plot and a dead screenplay. Luckily some of the scenes are either super funny or so totally out of left field that they could blow minds: Chris Evans’ Jake Wyler singing Aerosmith’s “Janie’s Got a Gun;” Deon Richmond’s Malik, the token black guy running into Sean Patrick Thomas’ unnamed black guy at a party where Malik is supposed to be the only black guy there; and the prom night musical number that is actually sung by the cast.
Moviegoers who have seen at least one teen movie (whether they were a teen at the time or not) going back to Fast Times at Ridgemont High in 1982 will find something they recognize from that sub-genre of films that chronicle the wacky misadventures of high school students. That makes Not Another Teen Movie a must-see in spite of its flaws.
5 of 10
C+
Updated: Friday, June 13, 2014
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
"RANMA ½ Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set, Volume 2" Coming Soon
VIZ MEDIA RELEASES RANMA ½ ANIME SERIES VOLUME 2 LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY BOX SET
Don’t Miss The Legendary Martial Arts Comedy In Stunning High Definition In A 3-Disc Set Filled With Special Bonus Features And Extras; Standard Edition DVD Set Also Available
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, delivers the next installment of the celebrated return of the classic RANMA ½ anime series in new, digitally restored, High Definition Limited Edition Blu-ray and Standard Edition DVD Box Sets with the release of Volume 2 – covering Episodes 24-46 – on June 24th.
VIZ Media is releasing the revered gender-bending martial arts action comedy, based on the popular manga series created by Rumiko Takahashi, in its original Japanese series order across seven Limited Edition Blu-ray and DVD Box Sets. Each contains a wealth of special bonus features and other extras that fans will not want to miss. RANMA ½ is rated TV-14.
The RANMA ½ Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set, Volume 2 carries an MSRP of $54.97 U.S. / $66.15 CAN. The set features 23 episodes on 3 discs, presented for the first time ever in full 1080p High Definition resolution with the series’ original, un-cropped 4:3 aspect ratio. The Standard Edition DVD set is available with an MSRP of $44.82 U.S. / $43.24 CAN.
Guaranteed to become a highlight of any anime fan’s media collection, the Limited Edition Blu-ray Box Set comes packaged in a premium chipboard box with gold foil stamping that is beautifully illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi and also includes a 32-page booklet, complete episode guide, and a collectable full-color RANMA ½ art card. Special bonus features available exclusively on the Blu-ray edition include, ’We love Ranma’ Part 2 – Favorite Scenes,’ the continuation of an ongoing series of insightful interviews tracing the legacy and impact of the groundbreaking anime show.
The RANMA ½ Standard Edition DVD set features 23 episodes presented in HD with the original, un-cropped 4:3 aspect ratio, and bonus features that include clean openings and endings and trailers.
Dialogue options for both DVD and Blu-ray formats include original Japanese with accurate English subtitles or dubbed English audio, along with a secondary subtitle track for signs and songs.
The latest RANMA ½ box set continues the zany adventures of Ranma Saotome, the boy who turns into a girl with a splash of water and always has his hands full fending off enthusiastic admirers! One of the most enthusiastic is Shampoo, the powerful Amazon from China who wants to kill the girl Ranma and marry the boy Ranma! And when she falls into a cursed spring and turns into a cat, the claws come out! But Shampoo has a suitor of her own, Mousse, who shows up one day and challenges Ranma to a battle over…Ranma’s fiancée, Akane? Then, Ranma’s dad, Genma, and Akane’s dad, Soun, studied under the same master, Happosai, who happens to be a bit of a perv. Surely there could be no connection between his sudden appearance and the disappearance of some neighborhood ladies’ undies!
RANMA ½ manga creator Rumiko Takahashi is one of Japan’s most prolific and respected manga artists and is the creator of several long running series including MAISON IKKOKU, RANMA ½, and INUYASHA – all published in North America by VIZ Media. The spotlight on her prolific career began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan's annual New Comic Artist Contest for Those Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series, Urusei Yatsura, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and also spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another— MAISON IKKOKU ran from 1980 to 1987, RANMA ½ from 1987 to 1996, and INUYASHA from 1996 to 2008. Other notable works include MERMAID SAGA, RUMIC THEATER, ONE-POUND GOSPEL, and RIN-NE (all also published in North America by VIZ Media).
For more information on RANMA ½ and other Rumiko Takahashi titles published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.
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Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Review: Director Peyton Reed Brought It with "Bring It On"
Bring It On (2000)
Running time: 98 minutes (1 hour, 38 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sex-related material and language
DIRECTOR: Peyton Reed
WRITER: Jessica Bendinger
PRODUCERS: Marc Abraham and Thomas A. Bliss
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Shawn Maurer
EDITOR: Larry Bock
COMPOSER: Christophe Beck
Black Reel Awards winner
COMEDY
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, Gabrielle Union, Clare Kramer, Tsianina Joelson, Rini Bell, Nathan West, Shamari Fears, Natina Reed, Brandi Williams, Lindsay Sloane, Holmes Osborne, Sherry Hursey, and Cody McMains
The subject of this movie review is Bring It On, a 2000 high school sports comedy from director Peyton Reed. The film spawned four direct-to-DVD sequels and a stage musical. Bring It On (the original film) focuses on a head cheerleader who makes a shocking discovery just before the upcoming cheerleading championship tournament: the previous captain of her high school’s cheerleading squad stole their best cheer routines from an inner-city school.
All-American girl Torrance Shipman (Kirsten Dunst) sees her dream finally come true. She is now the head cheerleader of the Rancho Carne Toros, at her high school in suburban San Diego. The Toros have won The Nationals of the high school cheerleading championship the last five years, and Torrance is not about to let anything – her parents, her little brother, her grades, or her college future – get in the way of a sixth consecutive title.
The big shocker comes when Torrance learns that her predecessor was stealing the routines that earned the Toros their reputation from an inner-city high school hip-hop cheerleading squad, the Clovers of East Compton. And the Clovers and their captain, Isis (Gabrielle Union), are looking to get even with the Toros at the 2000 Nationals. Now, Torrance and her Toros are going to have to learn all-new routines, all while dealing with the trials and tribulations of high school life.
Bring It On was a hit with ‘tweens, teens, and 20-somethings back in 2000. Although it’s competently directed and the writing doesn’t do much in the character department, the Machiavellian-lite, cutthroat world of competitive youth events, in this case, the world of competitive cheerleading, provides this movie’s fireworks. It’s fun to watch the catfights, preening dumb jocks, and every kid with a smart aleck attitude.
The cheerleading performances, from the practices to the championship, are rousing enough to make you stand up and cheer. The acting isn’t all that great, and the script doesn’t give the black cheerleaders enough room to show that there is actually character behind their sass. Kirsten Dunst’s performance is serviceable for this flick, and Eliza Dushku’s hot babe, Missy Pantone, makes what started out as a dull Disney-like teen movie into a real movie the moment she struts on stage.
6 of 10
B
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Updated: Wednesday, June 11, 2014
NOTES:
2001 Black Reel Awards: 1 win: “Theatrical - Best Supporting Actress” (Gabrielle Union)
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Neil deGrasse Tyson Launches Speaking Tour in 2015
Announcing Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson U.S. Speaking Tour
Best-Selling Author and Host of COSMOS to Appear in LA, D.C., Chicago and More Tickets On Sale June 13
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Innovation Arts & Entertainment is proud to announce that Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, the Host of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Best Selling Author, and the Director of the Hayden Planetarium, will be appearing on a six-city U.S. speaking tour. The tour will be produced by Innovation Arts and Entertainment. Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has guided the Ship of the Imagination to transport viewers to the nucleus of an atom, and the farthest reaches of the universe as he explores humanity’s quest for understanding. The tour begins January 26, 2015 in Madison, WI, with dates also confirmed at Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre and Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre, among others.
Tickets are on sale Friday, June 13 and available at www.NeildeGrasseTysonLive.com.
Each family-friendly event features an engaging multi-media presentation bringing the expanses of modern science direct to audience members, and engages them in a Q&A that rivals the presentation itself. In the past, he’s been asked a myriad of questions about everything from television appearances and space elevators to parenting advice. He often takes questions from children since he is fascinated with young ones who are interested in science.
The New York City native is host of StarTalk Radio and FOX’s Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (season finale airs June 8); he is a New York Times bestselling author of 10 books and is also a frequent guest on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. President Bush appointed Tyson in 2001 and 2004 to serve on commissions studying the future of the U.S. aerospace industry and the implementation of the U.S. space exploration policy, respectively. Tyson is also the recipient of 18 honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given by NASA to non-government citizens.
For more information and tickets, visit www.NeildeGrasseTysonLive.com
A confirmed list of tour dates follows:
City - Date - Venue
Madison, WI - Monday, January 26 - Overture Center
Chicago, IL - Tuesday, January 27 - Auditorium Theatre
Denver, CO - Friday, January 30 - Temple Hoyne Buell
Los Angeles, CA - Monday, February 09 - Pantages Theatre
San Francisco, CA - Tuesday, February 10 - Orpheum Theatre
Washington D.C. - Thursday, February 26 - DAR Constitution Hall
More dates and cities will be announced in the coming weeks.
Innovation Arts & Entertainment (IAE) is a boutique producer of unique live entertainment experiences featuring intelligent, articulate, and engaging artists and authors. IAE is proud to be currently producing the United States book tour for Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Current and past tours featured David Sedaris, Anthony Bourdain, Garrison Keillor, & William Shatner to audiences across North America.
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Best-Selling Author and Host of COSMOS to Appear in LA, D.C., Chicago and More Tickets On Sale June 13
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Innovation Arts & Entertainment is proud to announce that Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, the Host of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Best Selling Author, and the Director of the Hayden Planetarium, will be appearing on a six-city U.S. speaking tour. The tour will be produced by Innovation Arts and Entertainment. Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has guided the Ship of the Imagination to transport viewers to the nucleus of an atom, and the farthest reaches of the universe as he explores humanity’s quest for understanding. The tour begins January 26, 2015 in Madison, WI, with dates also confirmed at Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre and Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre, among others.
Tickets are on sale Friday, June 13 and available at www.NeildeGrasseTysonLive.com.
Each family-friendly event features an engaging multi-media presentation bringing the expanses of modern science direct to audience members, and engages them in a Q&A that rivals the presentation itself. In the past, he’s been asked a myriad of questions about everything from television appearances and space elevators to parenting advice. He often takes questions from children since he is fascinated with young ones who are interested in science.
The New York City native is host of StarTalk Radio and FOX’s Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (season finale airs June 8); he is a New York Times bestselling author of 10 books and is also a frequent guest on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. President Bush appointed Tyson in 2001 and 2004 to serve on commissions studying the future of the U.S. aerospace industry and the implementation of the U.S. space exploration policy, respectively. Tyson is also the recipient of 18 honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given by NASA to non-government citizens.
For more information and tickets, visit www.NeildeGrasseTysonLive.com
A confirmed list of tour dates follows:
City - Date - Venue
Madison, WI - Monday, January 26 - Overture Center
Chicago, IL - Tuesday, January 27 - Auditorium Theatre
Denver, CO - Friday, January 30 - Temple Hoyne Buell
Los Angeles, CA - Monday, February 09 - Pantages Theatre
San Francisco, CA - Tuesday, February 10 - Orpheum Theatre
Washington D.C. - Thursday, February 26 - DAR Constitution Hall
More dates and cities will be announced in the coming weeks.
Innovation Arts & Entertainment (IAE) is a boutique producer of unique live entertainment experiences featuring intelligent, articulate, and engaging artists and authors. IAE is proud to be currently producing the United States book tour for Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Current and past tours featured David Sedaris, Anthony Bourdain, Garrison Keillor, & William Shatner to audiences across North America.
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