Monday, January 19, 2015

MTV Turns Black and White for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

MTV to Air in Black and White for the First Time in Network History, Share Artist, Politician and Audience Perspectives on Race on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Through New Initiative #TheTalk, MTV to Engage its Audiences in a “Color Brave” Conversation Led by Cultural Figures Including Kendrick Lamar, Common, Big Sean, Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo, Penn Badgley, Jordin Sparks, Pete Wentz, Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. John Lewis, Sen. Cory Booker and more

MTV to air in black and white for the first time in its history on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as part of anti-bias effort #TheTalk.


NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MTV announced an expansion of its Look Different anti-bias campaign called #TheTalk, a multiscreen effort to encourage its audience to have candid, confident and “color brave” conversations on race with family and friends. According to a 2014 MTV study*, 73% of Millennials believe having more open constructive conversations about bias would help people become less prejudiced.

    “To be color blind is not a thing I think that one should boast about. See color and celebrate it. See our differences and celebrate it. When someone says to me ‘I’m color blind, I don’t see color’, I’m thinking they’re missing out...”

“Millennials believe strongly in fairness, but they can also find it difficult to talk openly about race – to be not simply ‘color blind’ but ‘color brave,’” said Stephen Friedman, President of MTV. “Our audience is looking for a way to bring the national conversation on race into their homes and this campaign will give them a forum to express true color bravery.”

#TheTalk will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET/PT on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day when MTV will kick off a 12-hour period in which all programming will air in black and white for the first time in the network’s history. Every commercial block will begin with personal reflections on race from luminaries including Kendrick Lamar, Common, Big Sean, Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo, Penn Badgley, Jordin Sparks, Pete Wentz, Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. John Lewis, Sen. Cory Booker and more.

An excerpt from MTV’s “Talk” with Ava DuVernay:

“To be color blind is not a thing I think that one should boast about. See color and celebrate it. See our differences and celebrate it. When someone says to me ‘I’m color blind, I don’t see color’, I’m thinking they’re missing out...”

On-air creative on MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Hits, MTV Jams and a comprehensive editorial push across MTV’s online, mobile and social platforms will encourage audience members to share their own reflections using the #thetalk and get involved through the Look Different website, LookDifferent.org. MTV will share many of the audience contributions on-air and online.

MTV’s Look Different campaign launched in April 2014, and continues to be shaped by the network’s research and insights on young people and race, gender and sexual orientation. According to the same 2014 MTV study*, many Millennials were raised to believe they shouldn’t acknowledge racial differences with 84% saying their family taught them that everyone should be treated the same, regardless of race.

However, this well-intentioned approach has its drawbacks. Millennials often feel blinded to lingering historical inequities because they’ve so seldom discussed race openly. The MTV study found that 63% of Millennials rarely talk with their family about race and 54% agree that it is hard to have a respectful conversation about bias in person or online. However, 69% of Millennials would love the opportunity to have an open respectful and judgment-free conversation about bias. These findings, coupled with the recent events in Ferguson, Cleveland, New York and elsewhere, inspired the creation of The Talk.

To learn more about #TheTalk and view embeddable video testimonials from artists and activists, please visit MTVNews.com and Lookdifferent.org/videos/the-talk. LookDifferent.org will also provide resources for learning more about racial stereotypes, tips on how to take action on issues of racial bias, and different conversations other young people have had on race. Resources include an Implicit Bias Quiz, shareable media and opportunities to get involved with leading organizations fighting bias.

*2014 MTV/David Binder Research Study. For full results, please click here.

About MTV:
MTV is the world's premier youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of more than a half-billion households, MTV is the cultural home of the Millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its Emmy®, Grammy® and Peabody® award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile. MTV's sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unparalleled customized content for young males, music fans and college students, and its online hub MTV.com is a leading destination for music, news and pop culture. MTV, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. For more information, go to www.mtvpress.com.

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Sunday, January 18, 2015

"Selma," 275,000 Donated Tickets and Growing for #SelmaForStudents

275,000 STUDENTS RECEIVE FREE TICKETS TO ACADEMY AWARD®-NOMINATED “SELMA”

12 MORE CITIES JOIN THE MOVEMENT

“SELMA” IS NOMINATED FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD® FOR BEST PICTURE AND BEST ORIGINAL SONG FOR “GLORY” BY COMMON & JOHN LEGEND


An additional 12 locations have joined the growing movement lead by African-American business leaders to raise funds for students across the country to see the Academy Award®-nominated film “SELMA,” expanding the first-of-its-kind campaign to 25 locations nationwide.  

Due to the generous contributions by so many of the country’s most prominent African-American business leaders, more than 275,000 middle and high school students across the U.S. will experience the critically acclaimed film for free at participating theaters while supplies last.

The new locations joining the movement are Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Central Florida/Orlando, Connecticut, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Montgomery, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and St. Louis.

“Paramount Pictures is extremely proud of this film, which is so clearly resonating with audiences young and old,” said Megan Colligan, President, Worldwide Distribution and Marketing, Paramount Pictures. “It’s a testament to the extraordinary talents of Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and the entire cast and crew that ‘SELMA’ is being celebrated by communities all over the country.”

The business leaders who are leading the efforts in the new locations are:

·      Dr. Meria Carstarphen, Superintendents, Atlanta Public Schools; Dr. Michael Lomax, President & CEO, United Negro College Fund; Hala Moddelmog, President & CEO, Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, President, Morehouse College, in Atlanta

“This movie is an educational moment for more than 10,000 Atlanta Public Schools students who we are inviting to see this film. I am proud and humbled by the immediate outpouring of support from our Atlanta community who has joined this growing national movement,” said Meria J. Carstarphen, superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools and Selma, Alabama native. “Our Atlanta education partners believe in our students, and I am grateful for the opportunity they are providing our students to see one of the most pivotal moments in American history.”

“‘SELMA’ is such an important film for young people to see now in the wake of Ferguson, Cleveland and New York. The struggle for justice is a long one, and Selma is history that a new generation needs to know more fully,” said Lomax. “So, I felt it was imperative to join with others around the country who were raising funds so middle and high school students can see the film, learn their history and be inspired to make the civil rights and justice lifelong pursuits.”

·      Robert F. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, in Austin

“It is of the utmost importance to expose our young people to the courage, compassion and integrity that is brought to life in the film ‘SELMA.’ It illuminates a period of American history that is very relevant today,” said Smith. “Dr. King has been a source of inspiration for me and for many people of all races and ethnicities. I consider this not just an opportunity, but a responsibility, to bring his message and his dream to the students of Austin.”

·      Sylvia Brown, Board Member, John Hopkins Healthcare Advisory Board, in Baltimore

“Baltimore is proud to be a part of this wonderful effort. We hope that young audiences find inspiration and encouragement in the film and in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s story,” said Brown.

·      Grant Hill, former NBA player; Harold Mills, Chief Executive Officer, ZeroChaos; Clarence Otis, retired Chairman & CEO, Darden Restaurants; and Ron Williams, former Chairman & CEO of Aetna in Central Florida/Orlando

“The story of Dr. King’s historic journey in Alabama is one that students all over the country should know intimately,” said Otis. “It’s an honor to provide the opportunity for students in Central Florida to see Ava DuVernay’s beautiful film.”

·      Dr. Laurence C. Morse, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Fairview Capital Partners, Inc., in Connecticut

“I am privileged to have been able to join with an extraordinary group of concerned, civic- minded individuals in the State of Connecticut to provide an opportunity for a number of young people who might not otherwise have been able to do so, to see and experience this deeply moving, engaging film about a critically important period in our nation's recent history, and in the continuing evolution of our democracy,” said Morse.

·      Faye Alexander Nelson, President, DTE Energy Foundation; Tonya Allen, President & CEO, The Skillman Foundation; Lisa Dancsok, Vice President, Quicken Loans; Mariam C. Noland, President, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan; Vivian R. Pickard, President, General Motors Foundation; Laura Trudeau, Managing Director, Detroit, Kresge Foundation; and Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation in Detroit

“Detroit students will have the opportunity to join with students across the country to view ‘SELMA’ thanks to the generosity of a group of national and local foundations and corporations. We are pleased to help coordinate the generous commitments of the DTE Energy Foundation, Ford Foundation, General Motors Foundation, Kresge Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, and Quicken Loans,” said Noland.

·      T. Warren Jackson, Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer, DIRECTV, and Debra Martin Chase, CEO, Martin Chase Productions, in Los Angeles

“It’s important that the civil rights struggle depicted in ‘SELMA’ reach as many young people as possible so that the enduring lessons of the civil rights movement can be harnessed to inspire them to transform their lives and communities. We appreciate the support of the California Endowment, and have enlisted the Constitutional Rights Foundation to work with the schools in creating a broader educational program to insure just that,” said Jackson.

“As a filmmaker, I recognize the transformative power of film; that’s why the overwhelming response to the ‘SELMA’ initiative here in Los Angeles and across the nation is so heartening. It’s a reminder of the importance of voting and civics engagement and demonstrates how anything can be accomplished through creativity and collective effort,” said Martin Chase.

·      Gayle S. Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Electronic Vaulting Services, in Memphis

“On behalf of former Congressman Harold Ford, Jr., and Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr., we are thrilled to provide 10,000 7th, 8th and 9th grade Memphis students the gift of this film and what history has to teach us,” said Rose. “We thank Paramount Pictures, Malco Theaters, and many generous donors who made this happen in a matter of days. This is a testament to the charitable nature of our people.”

·      Ira D. Hall, resident of Miami Beach, FL, and Dr. Sherrlyn Scott, Supervisor, Department of Social Sciences Miami-Dade County Public Schools, in Miami

“Over 5,500 Miami Dade and Ft. Lauderdale students can now see for free ‘SELMA,’ the movie that so powerfully portrays the courage, tenacity, humanity and moral strength of Alabama citizens, combined with the extraordinary brilliance and moral conviction of key civil rights and national leaders. That unstoppable coalition jointly fought for and won the rights of African Americans to vote! It is wonderful that students today can feel and sense this history so strikingly brought to life in ‘SELMA,’” said Hall. 

“We are thankful to our contributors in Miami who quickly organized to support such a worthy endeavor,” said Scott. “Their generosity will make a lasting impact on the students in our community.”

·      Alden McDonald, President, Liberty Bank, and Neill Wright, First Tuskegee Bank President, in Montgomery

“This effort is an integral part of our corporate philosophy of linking our heritage to our vision of true equality for all the people we serve,” said McDonald.

“In as much as Montgomery is part of the journey we took as a people to gain voting rights in the 1960s, we have joined with other business leaders and concerned citizens to provide free access to the ‘SELMA’ film for local students. We believe that we continue to make the historical connections for this generation to ‘keep the dream’ of true equality alive and well,” said Wright.

·      Dr. Eugene Flood, Jr., EVP and President of Diversified Financial Services, TIAA-CREF, in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill

“We are pleased to support this unprecedented program for North Carolina students to be able to see this remarkable film,” said Flood.

·      Rev. Starsky Wilson, President & CEO of the Deaconess Foundation, in St. Louis

“It is important that St. Louis students are informed about this moment in history its connections to the challenges they face today,” said Rev. Wilson. “We are grateful for Darren Walker, the Ford Foundation and African American leaders joining us in this effort. We believe this experience will nurture civic engagement among young people and give them hope that systemic change is possible through cooperative, intentional, and well-planned efforts.”

These business leaders are following the lead of those in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sarasota, FL, Washington D.C. and Westchester.

“This was an important opportunity to educate our children about the heroes of the civil rights movement and keep an important legacy intact. I am proud that our community seized the moment,” said Fletcher “Flash” Wiley, Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, who helped to organize the efforts in Boston.

The nationwide efforts are inspired by the success of the program in New York City, in which 27 African-American business leaders created a fund for 27,000 of the city’s 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to see the film for free. Due to the overwhelming demand, the New York City effort sold out in the very first weekend and was expanded to 75,000 tickets.

Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, which is distributing “SELMA,” is coordinating the programs with participating theaters in the U.S.  For a list of participating theaters in select cities offering free admission to students during this program and for information on group sales, visit www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets

The students who present a current student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater will receive free admission while tickets last.

To help get the word out about the program, tweet using the hashtag #SelmaForStudents.

Directed by DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., “SELMA” is nominated for Academy Awards® for Best Picture and Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Song for “Glory” and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.

Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films present “SELMA.” Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.

“SELMA” is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”

“SELMA” is playing in theaters nationwide. To learn more about the film, go to http://www.selmamovie.com

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 Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

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Saturday, January 17, 2015

Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of January 11th to 17, 2015 - Updated #24


NEWS:

From YahooMovies:  Cheryl Boone Isaacs address #OscarsSoWhite and diversity in this AP exclusive.

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From YahooMovies:  Spike Lee talks movies, Eric Garner, Oscars, distribution, etc.

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From Hitfix:  On #OscarsSoWhite with a clip of Jessica Chastain's 2015 Critics' Choice Awards speech.

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From Vulture:  Where did Selma's Oscar campaign go wrong.

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From People:  On #OscarsSoWhite, Selma, and other Black actors from 2014 who were little talked about.

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From Vulture:  Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs downplays #OscarsSoWhite furor.

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From YahooFinance:  Al Sharpton enters the all-white Oscar nominees fray.

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From TheHollywoodReporter:  More on the all-white Oscar nominees.

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From BusinessInsider:  Funny #OscarsSoWhite tweets.

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From YahooFinance:  James Gunn slams Oscar snubs, including those of his own film, Guardians of the Galaxy.

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From TheOscars:  87th (2015) Oscar nominations page with all the nominees and credits.

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From HitFix:  Louis Vertel ranks the 9 actors who are double Oscar winners in the "Best Actor" category.

From HitFix:  Vertel did the same for the 13 women who are double winners in the "Best Actress" category.

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From HitFix:  "Twin Peaks" is coming back... on Showtime

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From AnneThompson:  Her final Oscar nomination predictions.

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From YahooMovies:  Meryl Streep was too ugly for King Kong - according to producer Dino DeLaurentiis.

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From Variety:  6 lessons from the 2015 Golden Globes.

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From Variety:  Did not know this:  "Transparent (available online through Amazon Prime) is the first online series to win a "best series" award at the Golden Globes.

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From TheWrap:  The winner of the January 9th to 11th, 2015 weekend box office is Taken 3 with an estimated take of $40.4 million.


COMIC BOOKS:

From LatinoReview:  Spider-Man in Marvel Studios movies and more news/rumors.

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From YahooFinance:  The art of Chris Voss influenced the look of Guardians of the Galaxy, according to director James Gunn.

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From TheVox:  Second Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer.

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From EW:  CBS reveals new details about its "Supergirl," which does not have a release date.

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From YahooTV:  "Flash" and "Arrow" have helped The CW network experience a ratings recovery.

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From TheBeat:  Marvel Comics has a ton of book collections due in the May to August 2015 period.


STAR WARS:

From Wochit:  George Lucas reveals that he was finally able to do the the one thing about Star Wars that he had never been able to do - watch it as a fan.  Also, he had plans to direct Episode 7 before he sold Lucasfilm to Disney.

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From YahooMovies:  7 things about the new Star Wars comic book from Marvel Comics.


MISC:

From YahooNews:  A cool story about a 12-year-old and the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

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From YahooSports:  The Steelers "Coach Dad," Dick LeBeau, has suddenly resigned.

From YahooNews:  Kevin Butler replaces LeBeau.

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From YahooSports:  Keith Olbermann says close the Baseball Hall of Fame and start over.

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From YahooHealth:  Another loose-that-belly-diet.


PREVIEWS:

From 20thCenturyFox:  The new film from director Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy is a spy-comedy called, "Spy."

2015 Directors Guild Award Nominations - Feature Film Category

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is the entertainment labor union that represents film and television directors.  The DGA gives out the Directors Guild of America Award each year to honor outstanding achievement.

Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay announced the five nominees for the “DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2014” on Tuesday, January 13, 2015.

“In a year full of excellent films, DGA members have nominated a stellar group of passionate filmmakers,” said Barclay. “Inspiring and artistic, these five directors made films that left an indelible impact not only on their fellow directors and members of the director’s team, but on audiences around the world. Congratulations to all of the nominees for their terrific work.”

Negromancer covers five DGA Award categories:  Feature Film, Documentary Films and the television categories:  Dramatic Series, Comedy Series, and Movies for Television and Mini-Series.  There are five other television categories that Negromancer does not cover:  Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regular, Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials, Reality Programs, Children's Programs, Commercials

The DGA Award winners will be named at the 67th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

2015 / 67th DGA Award in Feature Film the nominees for the year 2014 (in alphabetical order):
   
WES ANDERSON
The Grand Budapest Hotel
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Mr. Anderson’s Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: Miki Emmrich
    First Assistant Director: Josh Robertson
    Second Assistant Director: Ben Howard

This is Mr. Anderson’s first DGA Award nomination.

CLINT EASTWOOD
American Sniper
(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Mr. Eastwood’s Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: Tim Moore
    First Assistant Director: David M. Bernstein
    Second Assistant Director: Paula Case
    Second Second Assistant Director: Clark Credle
    First Assistant Director (Morocco Unit): Ahmed Hatimi
    Second Assistant Director (Morocco Unit): Yann Mari Faget
    Second Second Assistant Directors (Morocco Unit): Andrew Madden, Khalil Zghayou

This is Mr. Eastwood’s fourth DGA Award nomination, all in this category. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for Million Dollar Baby in 2004 and for Unforgiven in 1992. He was also nominated in this same category for Mystic River in 2003. Mr. Eastwood was honored with the DGA Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film in 2006.

ALEJANDRO G. IÑÁRRITU
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Mr. Iñárritu’s Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Managers: James W. Skotchdopole, Robert Graf
    First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn
    Second Assistant Director: Amy Lauritsen
    Second Second Assistant Director: Catherine Feeny
    Location Manager: Joaquin Prange

This is Mr. Iñárritu’s third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this category for Babel in 2006. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for “Best Job” (Proctor and Gamble) in 2012.
   
RICHARD LINKLATER
Boyhood
(IFC Films)

Mr. Linklater’s Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: Cathleen Sutherland
    First Assistant Director: Vince Palmo Jr.
    Second Assistant Directors: Susana Jasso, Kathleen Tull
    Second Second Assistant Directors: Mary Beth Chambers, Brian Franklin

This is Mr. Linklater’s first DGA Award nomination.

MORTEN TYLDUM
The Imitation Game
(The Weinstein Company)

Mr. Tyldum’s Directorial Team:
    Production Manager: Suzie Shearer
    First Assistant Director: Phil Booth
    Second Assistant Director: James Manning

This is Mr. Tyldum’s first DGA Award nomination.

The winner in the Feature Film category will be announced at the 67th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday evening, February 7, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. The DGA Awards will be hosted by actor Jane Lynch.

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2015 Directors Guild Awards Nominations - Documentary Feature Category

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is the entertainment labor union that represents film and television directors.  The DGA gives out the Directors Guild of America Award each year to honor outstanding achievement.

Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay announced the DGA’s nominees for “Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary” for 2014 on Wednesday, January 14, 2015

The nominees for the "Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary" for 2014 are (in alphabetical order):

DAN KRAUSS

The Kill Team
Oscilloscope Laboratories
ITVS
f/8 Filmworks, Ltd
Motto Pictures
          
This is Mr. Krauss 's first DGA Award nomination.

JOHN MALOOF and CHARLIE SISKEL

Finding Vivian Maier
Sundance Selects
Ravine Pictures
          
This is Mr. Maloof's first DGA Award nomination.
          
This is Mr. Siskel's first DGA Award nomination.


JESSE MOSS

The Overnighters
Drafthouse Films
Mile End Films
Al Di La Films
Impact Partners
          
This is Mr. Moss's first DGA Award nomination.

LAURA POITRAS

Citizenfour
RADiUS
Praxis Films
Participant Media
HBO Documentary Films
Bertha Foundation | BRITDOC Circle | Channel 4
Norddeutscher Rundfunk NDR
Bayerischer Rundfunk BR
Deutscher Filmförderfonds
          
This is Ms. Poitras's first DGA Award nomination.

ORLANDO von EINSIEDEL

Virunga
Netflix
Bertha Foundation
BRITDOC Foundation
Violet Films
Appian Way
Grain Media

This is Mr. von Einsiedel's first DGA Award nomination.

The winners in all categories will be announced at the 67th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

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2015 Directors Guild Awards Nominations - Television Categories

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is the entertainment labor union that represents film and television directors.  The DGA gives out the Directors Guild of America Award each year to honor outstanding achievement.

Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay today announced the DGA’s nominees for “Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary” for 2014 on Wednesday, January 14, 2015.

The nominees for the “Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2014” are (in alphabetical order):

DAN ATTIAS
Homeland, "13 Hours in Islamabad"

(Showtime)

Mr. Attias's Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Managers: Angela Phillips, Michael Klick
    First Assistant Director: Nick Heckstall Smith
    Second Assistant Director: Wendy Bledsoe

This is Mr. Attias's fourth DGA Award nomination. He previously won in this category in 2008 for The Wire, “Transitions.” He was also nominated in 2002 for Six Feet Under, “Back to the Garden” and in 1999 for The Sopranos, “46 Long.”

JODIE FOSTER
House of Cards, "Chapter 22"

(Netflix)

Ms. Foster's Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: Boris Malden
    First Assistant Director: Christo Morse
    Second Assistant Director: Annie Tan
    Second Second Assistant Director: Tim Blockburger

Ms. Foster was nominated twice this year and these are her first DGA Award nominations. She is also nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for Orange is the New Black, "Thirsty Bird."

CARY JOJI FUKUNAGA
True Detective, "Who Goes There"

(HBO)

Mr. Fukunaga's Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: Carol Cuddy
    First Assistant Director: Jon Mallard
    Second Assistant Director: Scott August
    Second Second Assistant Director: Cali Pomés
    Additional Second Assistant Director: Nathan Parker
    Location Manager: Batou Chandler

This is Mr. Fukunaga's first DGA Award nomination.

LESLI LINKA GLATTER
Homeland, "From A to B and Back Again"

(Showtime)

Ms. Glatter’s Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Managers: Angela Phillips, Michael Klick
    First Assistant Director: Nick Heckstall Smith
    Second Assistant Director: Wendy Bledsoe

This is Ms. Glatter's fifth DGA Award nomination. She previously won in this category in 2009 for Mad Men, “Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency.” She was also nominated in 2013 and 2012 for Homeland episodes “The Star” and “Q & A,” as well as in 1990 for Twin Peaks, “Episode 32006.”

ALEX GRAVES
Game of Thrones, “The Children”

(HBO)

This is Mr. Graves's second DGA Award nomination. He previously was nominated in this category in 2002 for The West Wing, “Posse Comitatus.”

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The nominees for the “Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2014” are (in alphabetical order):

LOUIS C.K.
Louie, "Elevator: Part 6"

(FX)

Mr. C.K.'s Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: M. Blair Breard
    First Assistant Director: Adam Escott
    Second Assistant Director: Nick Vanderpool
    Location Manager: Jeff Caron

This is Mr. C.K.'s third DGA Award nomination. He previously was nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials in 2013 for Louis C.K.: Oh My God and for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series in 2012 for the “New Year’s Eve” episode of Louie.

JODIE FOSTER
Orange is the New Black, "Thirsty Bird"

(Netflix)

Ms. Foster's Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Managers: David Price, Neri Kyle Tannenbaum
    First Assistant Director: Robert C. Albertell
    Second Assistant Director: Joseph Turner
    Second Second Assistant Director: Emily Evashevski
    Location Manager: Lauri Pitkus

Ms. Foster was nominated twice this year and these are her first DGA Award nominations. She is also nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for House of Cards, “Chapter 22.”

MIKE JUDGE
Silicon Valley, "Minimum Viable Product"

(HBO)

Mr. Judge's Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: Chrisann Verges
    First Assistant Director: Nicholas Mastandrea
    Second Assistant Director: Yumiko Takeya
    Second Second Assistant Directors: Heidi Hinzman, Jessica Faires

This is Mr. Judge's first DGA Award nomination.

GAIL MANCUSO
Modern Family, "Vegas"

(ABC)

Ms. Mancuso's Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: Sally Young
    First Assistant Director: Alisa Statman
    Second Assistant Director: Helena Lamb
    Second Second Assistant Director: Matthew W. Heffernan

This is Ms. Mancuso's second DGA Award nomination. She was nominated in this same category last year for the “My Hero” episode of Modern Family.

JILL SOLOWAY
Transparent, "Best New Girl"

(Amazon Prime)

Ms. Soloway's Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: Victor Hsu
    First Assistant Director: Bill Purple
    Second Assistant Director: Allan Monteiro Fortes

This is Ms. Soloway's first DGA Award nomination.

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The nominees for the “Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series for 2014” are (in alphabetical order):

ROB ASHFORD (Directed by)
GLENN WEISS (Live Television Direction By)
Peter Pan Live!

(NBC)

Directorial Team:
    Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Susan Kopensky                       
    Key Stage Manager: Lynn Finkel
    Stage Managers: Peter Epstein, Jeffry Gitter, Andrew Gottlieb, Isiah James, Jeff Markowitz, Bill Miller, Cyndi Owgang, Jeffrey L. Pearl, Annette Powlis, Elise Reaves, Lauren Class Schneider, Tom Ucciferri, Karen Tasch Weiss

This is Mr. Ashford's second DGA Award nomination. He was nominated in this category last year, together with Beth McCarthy-Miller, for The Sound of Music Live!

This is Mr. Weiss's twelfth DGA Award nomination. He is also nominated this year for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials for The 68th Annual Tony Awards. He previously won the DGA Award in 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 for the 61st, 64th, 65th, 66th, and 67th Annual Tony Awards. He was also nominated in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2008 for the 55th, 56th, 59th, 60th, and 62nd Annual Tony Awards.

LISA CHOLODENKO
Olive Kitteridge

(HBO)

Ms. Cholodenko's Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: David Coatsworth
    First Assistant Director: Jesse Nye
    Second Assistant Director: Mark Constance
    Second Second Assistant Director: Elizabeth MacSwan

This is Ms. Cholodenko's first DGA Award nomination.

ULI EDEL
Houdini

(History Channel)

This is Mr. Edel's second DGA Award nomination. He previously was nominated in this category in 1996 for Rasputin.

RYAN MURPHY
The Normal Heart

(HBO)

Mr. Murphy's Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Managers: Scott Ferguson, Erica Kay
    First Assistant Director: Leo Bauer
    Second Assistant Directors: Becky Chin, Amy Lauritsen
    Second Second Assistant Directors: Heather Verbeke, Josh Muzaffer, Travis Rehwaldt, Brian Papworth
    Location Manager: Kip Davis Myers

This is Mr. Murphy's third DGA Award nomination. He previously was nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series in 2009 for the Glee pilot and in 2010 for “The Power of Madonna” episode.

MICHAEL WILSON
The Trip to Bountiful

(Lifetime)

Mr. Wilson's Directorial Team:
    Unit Production Manager: Dominic Cancilla
    First Assistant Director: Bobby Bastarache
    Second Assistant Director: Rhonda Guthrie

This is Mr. Wilson's first DGA Award nomination.

The winners in all categories will be announced at the 67th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

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Friday, January 16, 2015

Disney Consumer Products Preps for Pixar's Big 2015


Disney Consumer Products Gears Up for a Powerful Year from Pixar

Innovative New Toy Lines from TOMY Supporting Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur Unveiled Ahead of Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair

GLENDALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Disney Consumer Products today unveiled exclusive details about the new global toy lines celebrating Disney∙Pixar’s Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur, debuting theatrically in the U.S. on June 19, 2015, and Nov. 25, 2015, respectively. Both movies will have robust toy lines from best-in-class licensee TOMY, whose innovative approach, strength in international markets and ability to reflect Pixar’s unique storytelling in its product lines made them the ideal choice for Pixar Animation Studios’ most exciting year yet.

    “When I visited TOMY's headquarters in Japan, I was impressed by their commitment to quality and craftsmanship. The toys they've created for Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur are fantastic—they've truly brought our characters to life.”

"We put our hearts into these films, so it's incredibly important to us that our toy-making partners care about and do justice to these characters we know so well," said John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. "When I visited TOMY's headquarters in Japan, I was impressed by their commitment to quality and craftsmanship. The toys they've created for Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur are fantastic—they've truly brought our characters to life.”

TOMY’s toy line for Inside Out is inspired by the humor, visual style and whimsical elements within the film. The poseable character figures have light up features and all of the toys allow for self-expression and re-creation of key movie moments. The broad toy range for The Good Dinosaur appeals to kids of all ages, for both action figure play and more sophisticated remote control walking and talking. The unique characteristics of the film’s dinosaurs, such as how they move and run, are reflected in the toy line, and several working models were built and shared with filmmakers to get the movements just right. Additionally, RFID technology allows the characters to interact as they do in the film, bringing their unique personalities and stories to life.

“With the debut of Cars in 2006, we introduced personality and humor to toy vehicles adding a new dimension of storytelling to an established play pattern, and lifting the entire category at retail. Dinosaurs have always fascinated kids and we believe Pixar’s unique take on our prehistoric friends will have a similar impact on the way they play with them in the future,” said Josh Silverman, executive vice president global licensing, Disney Consumer Products.

Pixar films have a strong track record of success at the box office and at retail. 20 years after the theatrical release of Toy Story in 1995, a film that transformed the animation industry and jumpstarted a billion dollar toy franchise, Pixar stories and characters hold a unique place in audiences’ hearts and kids’ toy boxes. Toy Story 3 holds the title of the second biggest animated film of all time reaching more than $1 billion in global box office sales. The iconic 12 inch Buzz Lightyear action figures have sold in excess of 10 million units globally over the past decade.

This summer Disney Consumer Products will roll out a special toy line to celebrate Toy Story’s 20th anniversary that will include a broad assortment of characters in a collectible figure range, favorite characters in action figure form and true-to-film talking versions of Buzz, Woody and Jessie.

About Inside Out
From an adventurous balloon ride above the clouds to a monster-filled metropolis, Academy Award®-winning director Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc., Up) has taken audiences to unique and imaginative places. In Disney∙Pixar’s original movie Inside Out, he will take us to the most extraordinary location of all—inside the mind.

Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it's no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley's main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.

About The Good Dinosaur
The Good Dinosaur asks the generations-old question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? In theaters November 25, 2015, the film is a humorous and exciting original story about Arlo, a lively Apatosaurus with a big heart. After a traumatic event unsettles Arlo’s family, he sets out on a remarkable journey, gaining an unlikely companion along the way—a human boy. The Good Dinosaur is an extraordinary journey of self-discovery full of thrilling adventure, hilarious characters and poignant heart.

About Disney Consumer Products
Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) that delivers innovative and engaging product experiences across thousands of categories from toys and apparel to books and fine art. As the world's largest licensor, DCP inspires the imaginations of people around the world by bringing the magic of Disney into consumers' homes with products they can enjoy year-round. DCP is comprised of three business units: Licensing, Publishing and Disney Store. The Licensing business is aligned around five strategic brand priorities: Disney Media, Classics & Entertainment, Disney & Pixar Animation Studios, Disney Princess & Disney Fairies, Lucasfilm and Marvel. Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the world's largest publisher of children's books, magazines, and digital products and also includes an English language learning business, consisting of Disney English learning centers across China and a supplemental learning book program. DPW's growing library of digital products includes best-selling eBook titles and original apps that leverage Disney content in innovative ways. The Disney Store retail chain operates across North America, Europe and Japan with more than 350 stores worldwide and is known for providing consumers with high-quality, unique products. Disney's official shopping portals online are www.DisneyStore.com and www.DisneyStore.co.uk. For more information, please visit Disney Consumer Products www.DisneyConsumerProducts.com or follow us at www.YouTube.com/DisneyLiving, www.Facebook.com/DisneyLiving, www.Twitter.com/DisneyLiving and www.Pinterest.com/DisneyLiving andwww.Instagram.com/DisneyLiving.

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