Paramount Animation Revs up “MONSTER TRUCKS” with Spin Master Toy Deal
Summer 2015 New Movie Franchise Gaining Traction with Licensees at Expo in Las Vegas
HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paramount Licensing is headed down the road of a major consumer products launch for next summer’s “MONSTER TRUCKS” movie, based on Paramount’s original idea, with today’s announcement of a master toy license deal with toy innovators Spin Master.
“The partnership to develop toys around Monster Trucks is a match made in toy heaven!”
This marks the first licensee partnership publicly announced in support of the high-octane family film “MONSTER TRUCKS,” from Paramount Animation, set for release on May 29, 2015. The live action film, utilizing state of the art CGI animation, is based on an original concept. Produced by Mary Parent, directed by Chris Wedge, with a screenplay by Matthew Robinson and Glenn Berger & Jonathan Aibel and Derek Connolly, the movie stars Lucas Till, Jane Levy, Barry Pepper, Amy Ryan, Rob Lowe, Danny Glover, Holt McCallany and Thomas Lennon, and is currently in production in Vancouver, B.C.
To roll the movie into the toy aisle of retailers, Paramount has partnered with leading toy manufacturer, Spin Master Ltd., to serve as the global master toy licensee for the franchise. Spin Master, having recently won multiple Toy of the Year Awards from the Toy Industry Association, will develop an extensive line up of vehicle-based products that will launch alongside the film.
“Spin Master is known for their innovation,” said LeeAnne Stables, President of Consumer Products and head of Paramount’s Marketing Partnerships. “They are the ideal partner to bring the incredible abilities of our Monster Trucks to life with fun, must-have toys consumers have never seen before. This line will be a major presence at retail and a cornerstone of our licensing program across all major categories.”
“We are thrilled to be working with Paramount on such an exciting, adrenaline-packed movie which has great toyetic appeal,” said Craig Sims, Vice President of Global Licensing and Business Development for Spin Master. “The partnership to develop toys around Monster Trucks is a match made in toy heaven!” added Krista DiBerardino, Chief Marketing Officer for Spin Master.
Paramount will be providing current and potential partners a closer look at the new franchise at Licensing Expo. Interested parties can stop by booth #S141.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB) (NASDAQ:VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
About Spin Master Ltd.
A multi-category children's entertainment company, Spin Master has been designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing consumer products for children around the world since 1994 and is recognized as a global growth leader within the toy industry. Spin Master is best known for such popular brands as boy's action phenomena and 2009-2010 Boy's Toy of the Year winner Bakugan Battle Brawlers™, and award-winning brands Air Hogs®, Aquadoodle™, Spin Master Games™ including the popular Hedbanz™, Tech Deck™, Zoobles™ and SpyGear™. The company has also marked an entry into children's media with the launch of Spin Master Entertainment, a subsidiary focusing on the design, development and production of television and other media properties. Spin Master employs over 900 people with offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Munich, and Milan. For additional information please visit: www.spinmaster.com.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco Announces Anime Lineup
2014 JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO ANNOUNCES A THRILLING ROSTER OF NEW AND FIRST-RUN ANIME FEATURE FILMS DEBUTING IN CONJUNCTION WITH 2014 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL
The 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, the first and only fully-dedicated Japanese film celebration for the S.F. Bay Area, will present an exciting slate of first-run anime feature films as part of its second annual week-long cinema extravaganza. Set to open in conjunction with the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival on Saturday, July 19th and running thru Sunday, July 27th, the 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF) complements its roster of live-action programs with the announcement of 5 additional anime features, several to be presented as first-run U.S. premieres.
The JFFSF has partnered with leading anime distributors Aniplex, Nippon Television, Sentai Filmworks, and VIZ Media to offer a must-see line-up that includes theatrical screenings of Anohana The Movie: The Flower We Saw That Day, Berserk The Golden Age Arc III: The Advent, Garden of Words, Hunter X Hunter: The Last Mission and Short Peace.
The 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco will take place at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema, located inside the NEW PEOPLE J-POP entertainment complex at 1746 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115. Tickets for anime programs are $13.00 each, unless otherwise noted. Film summaries, trailers, screening times and advance tickets are available at: www.JFFSF.org.
Special JFFSF Anime Screenings During 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival:
SHORT PEACE
Sunday, July 20th, 2:45pm
The inspiring anime omnibus SHORT PEACE finds a lone traveler confronted by unusual sprits inside an abandoned shrine in the film, POSSESSIONS, while a mysterious white bear defends the village from a red demon in the brutal short, GAMBO. Men battle deadly robotic tanks in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo in A FAREWELL TO ARMS, and a spectacular tale of love, honor and firefighting in ancient Japan unfolds in COMBUSTIBLE.
Additional Japan Film Festival of San Francisco Anime Screenings:
ANOHANA THE MOVIE: THE FLOWER WE SAW THAT DAY
Monday, July 21st, 8:15pm
Don't miss the last chance to see Anohana the Movie on the big screen! The film is a tale of five childhood friends that have drifted apart from one another following the tragic death of their mutual friend Meiko "Menma" Honma. When "Menma" appears as a ghost and says that she cannot pass onto afterlife unless she is granted one last wish, time that has stood still begins to slowly move again.
BERSERK THE GOLDEN AGE ARC III: THE ADVENT – U.S. PREMIERE!!!
Wednesday, July 23th, 7:00pm & Sunday, July 27nd, 7:00pm
The horrifying conclusion to the Golden Age anime trilogy unfolds in a magnificently violent nightmare, signifying the birth of new era where darkness outshines the light. It’s been a year since Griffith’s imprisonment by the Kingdom of Midland. Once praised as the saviors of the Midland, The Band of the Hawk has been on the run and is on the brink of breaking apart. Much to everyone’s surprise, Guts returns to the Hawks and the search for Griffith begins!
GARDEN OF WORDS – S.F. PREMIERE!!!
Monday, July 21st, 7:00pm & Wednesday, July 23th, 9:15pm
Directed by Makoto Shinkai, this poignant film captures glowing moments from rainy season in Tokyo, unfolding a gentle tale of youth, love and unspoken words. When Takao, a 15-year old high school student who dreams of becoming a show designer, decides to skip school one day in favor of sketching in a rainy garden, he has no idea how much his life will change when he encounters a mysterious older woman named Yukino.
HUNTER X HUNTER: THE LAST MISSION – U.S. PREMIERE!!!
Saturday, July 26th, 12:00pm
Based on the bestselling manga series by Yoshihiro Togashi (creator of YuYu Hakusho), Gon and his friends visit the Battle Olympia tournament at Heavens Arena, where there's an unexpected raid by an armed group called the Shadow Squad. The group's leader, Jed, wants payback for the murder of his men by Netero."Death to all Hunters!" declares Jed as he captures Netero. In order to rescue his friend, Gon must defeat Jed and his powerful mind force to unveil the Hunter Association's dark secret!
NEW PEOPLE Cinema is a 143-seat cinema located in the underground floor of NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco. Equipped with a cutting-edge HD digital projection and THX®-certified sound system, NEW PEOPLE Cinema is home for local film festivals and entertaining events. www.newpeoplecinema.com
About JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO
Launched in 2013, Japan Film Festival of San Francisco is the first and only fully-dedicated Japanese film event for the SF Bay Area, will feature a colorful mix of narratives, anime and documentary film premieres and exclusive screenings with special guest appearance at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema in SF Japantown from July 19 (Sat) through 27 (Sun), 2014. See more details and ticket information at www.jffsf.org
About J-POP SUMMIT Festival
Launched in 2009, J-POP SUMMIT Festival is an annual street fair held in San Francisco, CA that celebrates Japanese popular culture. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, film, art, fashion, gaming, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a prominent platform to showcase the latest pop trends and creative innovations from Japan.
The 5th annual J-POP SUMMIT held in July 2013 welcomed more than 80,000 attendees, making it one of the largest Japanese festivals in the United States. In addition to the original Festival held in Japantown, new attractions include the J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE concert in downtown San Francisco, the Bay Area’s premier dedicated Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, and sake-tasting and fine foods events at the POP GOURMET Food Festival, which have each further enriched the experience. Additional information about J-POP SUMMIT Festival is available at: J-POP.com.
"Transformers: Age of Extinction" Premieres in Hong Kong
Michael Bay’s “Transformers: Age of Extinction” Strides into Hong Kong for the City’s Historic First World Premiere of a Hollywood Blockbuster on June 19, 2014
HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paramount Pictures’ world premiere of Michael Bay's highly-anticipated film, “TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION,” will have its world premiere in Hong Kong at the Cultural Centre on Thursday, June 19th. The event will mark the biggest and first-ever global premiere of a Hollywood blockbuster staged in Hong Kong.
“We are very excited to be hosting the film’s world premiere in Hong Kong where we were welcomed with great enthusiasm during production”
Bay and his star-studded cast, including Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Li Bingbing, Han Geng and the band IMAGINE DRAGONS, will be in town to walk the red carpet. Fans from around the world can soon vie for places at this glamorous event bordering the magnificent Victoria Harbour. The red carpet event for “TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION” will begin at 4:30 p.m. (HKST) for spectators to cheer on the filmmakers, cast and crew to help celebrate the film’s first ever showing anywhere in the world. This latest installment in the TRANSFORMERS franchise has set yet another bar for cinematic innovation.
The premiere in Hong Kong is exciting not only for the local community, but also for fans and members of the press from all the over the world who are expected to flock to the city to witness and cover the activities. The premiere will also feature a 21-foot tall Optimus Prime robot that has never been displayed anywhere, which fans are not to miss!
“We are very excited to be hosting the film’s world premiere in Hong Kong where we were welcomed with great enthusiasm during production,” said director Michael Bay. “It's the perfect location to unveil the film ahead of its worldwide opening later this month. I hope the people of Hong Kong and China enjoy how we've showcased much of the region's unique and iconic scenery in the movie.”
Celebrating this movie milestone, the Grammy Award-winning band IMAGINE DRAGONS, who wrote the original song “BATTLE CRY” for “TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION,” will perform live on the rooftop of Harbour City following the film’s screening, with the world-renowned Victoria Harbour as the backdrop, on June 19th at 9:45 p.m. (HKST).
The red carpet session and the IMAGINE DRAGONS live performance will also be streamed on Yahoo (http://yhoo.it/1qTRu1G) in 24 markets, allowing fans across the globe to share in these first-ever moments held in Hong Kong.
“TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION” is the fourth film in director Michael Bay’s global blockbuster franchise. Produced By Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce. Based on Hasbro’s Transformers™ Action Figures. Written By Ehren Kruger. Directed By Michael Bay.
“TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION” is produced by Paramount Pictures, with production assistance in mainland China by 1905 (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd., China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises.
The film will release on Thursday, June 26th, 2014 in Hong Kong and on Friday, June 27th, 2014 in the U.S.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paramount Pictures’ world premiere of Michael Bay's highly-anticipated film, “TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION,” will have its world premiere in Hong Kong at the Cultural Centre on Thursday, June 19th. The event will mark the biggest and first-ever global premiere of a Hollywood blockbuster staged in Hong Kong.
“We are very excited to be hosting the film’s world premiere in Hong Kong where we were welcomed with great enthusiasm during production”
Bay and his star-studded cast, including Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Li Bingbing, Han Geng and the band IMAGINE DRAGONS, will be in town to walk the red carpet. Fans from around the world can soon vie for places at this glamorous event bordering the magnificent Victoria Harbour. The red carpet event for “TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION” will begin at 4:30 p.m. (HKST) for spectators to cheer on the filmmakers, cast and crew to help celebrate the film’s first ever showing anywhere in the world. This latest installment in the TRANSFORMERS franchise has set yet another bar for cinematic innovation.
The premiere in Hong Kong is exciting not only for the local community, but also for fans and members of the press from all the over the world who are expected to flock to the city to witness and cover the activities. The premiere will also feature a 21-foot tall Optimus Prime robot that has never been displayed anywhere, which fans are not to miss!
“We are very excited to be hosting the film’s world premiere in Hong Kong where we were welcomed with great enthusiasm during production,” said director Michael Bay. “It's the perfect location to unveil the film ahead of its worldwide opening later this month. I hope the people of Hong Kong and China enjoy how we've showcased much of the region's unique and iconic scenery in the movie.”
Celebrating this movie milestone, the Grammy Award-winning band IMAGINE DRAGONS, who wrote the original song “BATTLE CRY” for “TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION,” will perform live on the rooftop of Harbour City following the film’s screening, with the world-renowned Victoria Harbour as the backdrop, on June 19th at 9:45 p.m. (HKST).
The red carpet session and the IMAGINE DRAGONS live performance will also be streamed on Yahoo (http://yhoo.it/1qTRu1G) in 24 markets, allowing fans across the globe to share in these first-ever moments held in Hong Kong.
“TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION” is the fourth film in director Michael Bay’s global blockbuster franchise. Produced By Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce. Based on Hasbro’s Transformers™ Action Figures. Written By Ehren Kruger. Directed By Michael Bay.
“TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION” is produced by Paramount Pictures, with production assistance in mainland China by 1905 (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd., China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises.
The film will release on Thursday, June 26th, 2014 in Hong Kong and on Friday, June 27th, 2014 in the U.S.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
Warner Bros. to Co-Fiance and Co-Produce 3D Chinese Fantasy Adventure Film
Village Roadshow Pictures Asia and Warner Bros. Pictures Board Chinese 3D Fantasy Adventure ZHONG KUI: SNOW GIRL AND THE DARK CRYSTAL, Set for February 19, 2015 Release
SHANGHAI, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Village Roadshow Pictures Asia and Warner Bros. Pictures have signed on as co-financiers and co-producers of Desen International Media’s Chinese 3D fantasy adventure Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal, set for release in China on February 19, 2015, which is the first day of the 2015 Chinese New Year holiday. The two companies will have a significant participation in the film’s global revenues, including those earned in Mainland China and, in addition, Village Roadshow Pictures Asia will have distribution rights in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, and Warner Bros. Pictures will handle distribution in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Vietnam. Beijing Enlight Pictures has also joined the project as a co-financier and Mainland China co-distributor. Other Chinese co-financiers include actor Chen Kun’s production company K. Pictures and Shenzhen-based Wu’s Entertainment.
“Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal is an action-packed fantasy adventure, with dramatic twists and turns and a compelling love story at its core”
Directed by Zhao Tianyu (The Law of Attraction, Deadly Delicious), Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal stars Chen Kun (The Painted Skin, The Painted Skin 2, Bends), Li Bingbing (Transformers 4, Detective Dee), Winston Chao (Eat Drink Man Woman, The Wedding Banquet), Yang Zishan (So Young), Bao Bei-er (So Young) and Jike Junyi (Outcast). An Xiao Fen (Ip Man 2, Tiny Times, Tiny Times 2) and Oscar-winning cinematographer Peter Pau (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Forbidden Kingdom) are producing.
Shot in scenic locations in Mainland China, Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal depicts the story of Chinese legendary anti-hero Zhong Kui, a young man endowed with mysterious powers who is forced into a battle among the realms of Heaven, Earth and Hell in the course of his attempt to save his countrymen and the woman he loves. The film promises to be a visual feast, with producer Pau also serving as cinematographer and visual effects supervisor, as well as working with 3D stereographer Vincent E Toto (Dredd). Award-winning effects studio Weta Workshop is providing character and set design, while Korean VFX house Macrograph (Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons) will produce the visual effects. In addition to being one of the first Chinese films to be filmed in 3D, Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal is also one of the first to use full performance capture. Other behind-the-scenes talent includes action choreographer Jacky Yeung, production designer Kenneth Mak, costume designer Shirley Chan and editor David Wu.
“Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal is an action-packed fantasy adventure, with dramatic twists and turns and a compelling love story at its core,” said producer An Xiaofen. “With an incredible team of international talent both on screen and behind the camera, we’re confident that Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal will become a modern classic of Chinese cinema. We’re thrilled that Village Roadshow Pictures Asia and Warner Bros. Pictures have joined with us and our partner Enlight Films to help realize our creative vision and bring this film to audiences throughout the region and beyond.”
About Desen International Media
Founded in 2006 by renowned Chinese producer An Xiao Fen, Desen International Media is a leading filmed entertainment company in China. With a focus on the creation and commercial exploitation of quality film content, Desen has produced and distributed a wide range of motion pictures including Tiny Times, Tiny Times 2, Full Circle, Lee’s Adventure, Ip Man 2 and 14 Blades.
SHANGHAI, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Village Roadshow Pictures Asia and Warner Bros. Pictures have signed on as co-financiers and co-producers of Desen International Media’s Chinese 3D fantasy adventure Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal, set for release in China on February 19, 2015, which is the first day of the 2015 Chinese New Year holiday. The two companies will have a significant participation in the film’s global revenues, including those earned in Mainland China and, in addition, Village Roadshow Pictures Asia will have distribution rights in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, and Warner Bros. Pictures will handle distribution in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Vietnam. Beijing Enlight Pictures has also joined the project as a co-financier and Mainland China co-distributor. Other Chinese co-financiers include actor Chen Kun’s production company K. Pictures and Shenzhen-based Wu’s Entertainment.
“Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal is an action-packed fantasy adventure, with dramatic twists and turns and a compelling love story at its core”
Directed by Zhao Tianyu (The Law of Attraction, Deadly Delicious), Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal stars Chen Kun (The Painted Skin, The Painted Skin 2, Bends), Li Bingbing (Transformers 4, Detective Dee), Winston Chao (Eat Drink Man Woman, The Wedding Banquet), Yang Zishan (So Young), Bao Bei-er (So Young) and Jike Junyi (Outcast). An Xiao Fen (Ip Man 2, Tiny Times, Tiny Times 2) and Oscar-winning cinematographer Peter Pau (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Forbidden Kingdom) are producing.
Shot in scenic locations in Mainland China, Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal depicts the story of Chinese legendary anti-hero Zhong Kui, a young man endowed with mysterious powers who is forced into a battle among the realms of Heaven, Earth and Hell in the course of his attempt to save his countrymen and the woman he loves. The film promises to be a visual feast, with producer Pau also serving as cinematographer and visual effects supervisor, as well as working with 3D stereographer Vincent E Toto (Dredd). Award-winning effects studio Weta Workshop is providing character and set design, while Korean VFX house Macrograph (Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons) will produce the visual effects. In addition to being one of the first Chinese films to be filmed in 3D, Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal is also one of the first to use full performance capture. Other behind-the-scenes talent includes action choreographer Jacky Yeung, production designer Kenneth Mak, costume designer Shirley Chan and editor David Wu.
“Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal is an action-packed fantasy adventure, with dramatic twists and turns and a compelling love story at its core,” said producer An Xiaofen. “With an incredible team of international talent both on screen and behind the camera, we’re confident that Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal will become a modern classic of Chinese cinema. We’re thrilled that Village Roadshow Pictures Asia and Warner Bros. Pictures have joined with us and our partner Enlight Films to help realize our creative vision and bring this film to audiences throughout the region and beyond.”
About Desen International Media
Founded in 2006 by renowned Chinese producer An Xiao Fen, Desen International Media is a leading filmed entertainment company in China. With a focus on the creation and commercial exploitation of quality film content, Desen has produced and distributed a wide range of motion pictures including Tiny Times, Tiny Times 2, Full Circle, Lee’s Adventure, Ip Man 2 and 14 Blades.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
A Negromancer Father's Day 2014
Negromancer wants to wish a Happy Father's Day to all who qualify. That would be the fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers (and other greats), uncles, cousins, big brothers, stepfathers, surrogate dads, coaches, and others who act as stand-in father figures. That also includes all the women out there doin' the darn thing as a male role model and/or provider. Have a great day!
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.
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