"Ben-Hur" Remake Begins Principal Photography

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURES AND PARAMOUNT PICTURES ANNOUNCE THE START OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON “BEN-HUR”

Directed By Timur Bekmambetov

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom, Inc., announced today that principal photography has begun on “BEN-HUR” starring Jack Huston (“American Hustle”) as Judah Ben-Hur, Morgan Freeman (“The Shawshank Redemption”) as Ilderim, Toby Kebbell (“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”) as Messala, and Nazanin Boniadi (“HOMELAND”) as Esther.

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov (“WANTED”) and written by Keith Clarke (“The Way Back”) and John Ridley (“12 Years a Slave”), the film is based on Lew Wallace’s epic novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of The Christ. The producers are Sean Daniel (“THE MUMMY” franchise), Mark Burnett (“SON OF GOD”), Joni Levin (“THE WAY BACK”) and Duncan Henderson (“MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD”). Serving as executive producers are Roma Downey (“THE BIBLE”), Keith Clarke, John Ridley and Jason Brown. Filming will take place in Rome and Matera, Italy with the film set for release February 26, 2016.

“BEN-HUR” also stars Rodrigo Santoro (“300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE”) as Jesus Christ, Sofia Black D’Elia (“GOSSIP GIRL”) as Tirzah, Ayelet Zurer (“MAN OF STEEL”) as Naomi, Moises Arias (“ENDER’S GAME”) as Gestas and Pilou Asbæk (“LUCY”) as Pontius Pilate.

“You could not have imagined a more perfect location to shoot this epic than Italy. We can’t wait to get started,” said Bekmambetov.

The film returns to the heart of Lew Wallace’s epic novel focusing on the nature of faith. The story follows a falsely accused nobleman who survives years of slavery to take vengeance on his best friend who betrayed him. Both must come to choose between retribution or forgiveness.

Behind the scenes, the creative team includes Director of Photography, Oliver Wood (“THE BOURNE IDENTITY”), Production Designer, Naomi Shohan (“AMERICAN BEAUTY”), Costume Designer, Varvava Avdyushko (“WANTED”), Visual Effects Supervisor, Academy Award® Winner Jim Rygiel (“THE LORD OF THE RINGS” Franchise) and Special Effects Supervisor, Andy Williams (“FURY”).

MGM will handle production with Jonathan Glickman, President, Motion Picture Group and Matt Dines, Vice President, Production, overseeing the project on behalf of the studio. The film will be distributed worldwide theatrically and on home entertainment by Paramount Pictures, with select international territories as well as all television distribution to be handled by MGM.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and distribution of film and television content globally. The company owns one of the world’s deepest libraries of premium film and television content.  In addition, MGM has investments in domestic and international television channels and is the majority owner of and distributor for United Artists Media Group (UAMG). For more information, visit www.mgm.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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35th London Critics' Circle Film Award Nominations - Complete List

The London Film Critics’ Circle is part of a larger organization, The Critics’ Circle, which makes an annual award for Services to the Arts.  This circle is comprised of the five sections:  dance, drama, film, music, and visual arts.

The London Critics’ Circle Film Section announced nominations for its 35th annual film awards on December 16, 2014.  The winners were announced January 19, 2015.

2015 / 35th London Critics' Circle Film Award Nominees:

FILM OF THE YEAR
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ida
Leviathan
Mr Turner
Nightcrawler
The Theory of Everything
Under the Skin
Whiplash

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
Ida
Leviathan
Norte, The End of History
Two Days, One Night
Winter Sleep

BRITISH FILM OF THE YEAR
The Imitation Game
Mr Turner
Pride
The Theory of Everything
Under the Skin

DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
20,000 Days on Earth
Citizenfour
Manakamana
Next Goal Wins
Night Will Fall

ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Benedict Cumberbatch - The Imitation Game
Jake Gyllenhaal - Nightcrawler
Michael Keaton - Birdman
Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything
Timothy Spall - Mr Turner

ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Marion Cotillard - Two Days, One Night
Essie Davis - The Babadook
Scarlett Johansson - Under the Skin
Julianne Moore - Maps to the Stars
Julianne Moore - Still Alice

SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Riz Ahmed - Nightcrawler
Ethan Hawke - Boyhood
Edward Norton - Birdman
Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher
JK Simmons - Whiplash

SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Patricia Arquette - Boyhood
Marion Bailey - Mr Turner
Jessica Chastain - A Most Violent Year
Agata Kulesza - Ida
Emma Stone - Birdman

BRITISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Benedict Cumberbatch - The Imitation Game
Tom Hardy - Locke, The Drop
Jack O'Connell - Starred Up, '71 & Unbroken
Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything
Timothy Spall - Mr Turner

BRITISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Emily Blunt - Into the Woods & Edge of Tomorrow
Felicity Jones - The Theory of Everything
Keira Knightley - The Imitation Game, Begin Again & Say When
Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Belle
Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl & What We Did on Our Holiday

YOUNG BRITISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Daniel Huttlestone - Into the Woods
Alex Lawther - The Imitation Game
Corey McKinley - '71
Will Poulter - The Maze Runner & Plastic
Saoirse Ronan - The Grand Budapest Hotel

DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Jonathan Glazer - Under the Skin
Alejandro G Iñárritu - Birdman
Richard Linklater - Boyhood
Mike Leigh - Mr Turner

SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Damien Chazelle - Whiplash
Dan Gilroy - Nightcrawler
Alejandro G Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris & Armando Bo - Birdman
Richard Linklater - Boyhood

BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH FILMMAKER
Hossein Amini - The Two Faces of January
Elaine Constantine - Northern Soul
Yann Demange - '71
Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard - 20,000 Days on Earth
James Kent - Testament of Youth

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
'71 - Chris Wyatt, editing
Birdman - Emmanuel Lubezki, cinematography
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Joe Letteri, visual effects
The Grand Budapest Hotel - Adam Stockhausen, production design
Inherent Vice - Mark Bridges, costumes
Leviathan - Mikhail Krichman, cinematography
Mr Turner - Dick Pope, cinematography
A Most Violent Year - Kasia Walicka-Maimone, costumes
Under the Skin - Mica Levi, score
Whiplash - Tom Cross, editing

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2014 Florida Film Critics Circle Award Nominations - Complete List

The Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) was founded in 1996 is comprised of writers from various state-based publications.

The Florida Film Critics Circle Award (FFCC) nominations were announced on December 16, 2014.

2014 Florida Film Critics Circle nominees:

BEST PICTURE
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST ACTOR
Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler
Michael Keaton – Birdman
Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything

BEST ACTRESS
Julianne Moore – Still Alice
Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon – Wild

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Edward Norton – Birdman
Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons – Whiplash

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Patricia Arquette – Boyhood
Jessica Chastain – A Most Violent Year
Emma Stone – Birdman

BEST ENSEMBLE
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST DIRECTOR
Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu – Birdman
Richard Linklater – Boyhood

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Gone Girl
Inherent Vice
The Theory of Everything

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Birdman
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Interstellar

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Guardians of the Galaxy
Interstellar

BEST ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Interstellar
Into the Woods

BEST SCORE
Gone Girl
Interstellar
Under the Skin

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Citizenfour
Life Itself
Jodorowsky’s Dune

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
Ida (Poland)
Force Majeure (Sweden)
The Raid 2 (Indonesia)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Big Hero 6
How to Train Your Dragon 2
The Lego Movie

PAULINE KAEL BREAKOUT AWARD
Jennifer Kent – The Babadook
Damien Chazelle – Whiplash
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle/Beyond the Lights

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2015 USC Scripter Award Goes to "The Imitation Game"

‘The Imitation Game’ Outplays Competition to Win USC Libraries Scripter Award

Graham Moore and Andrew Hodges take the 27th-anniversary honor.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Screenwriter Graham Moore and author Andrew Hodges received the 27th-annual USC Libraries Scripter Award for “The Imitation Game.” Selection committee chair Howard Rodman announced the winners at the black-tie event on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 at USC’s historic Doheny Memorial Library.

    “Our Cinematic Arts Library is a tangible embodiment of cinema history and of the cultural history of the world”

Moore based his adaptation on “Alan Turing: The Enigma,” a 1983 biography by Hodges of the brilliant British World War II code-breaker and computer pioneer who was later persecuted for his homosexuality. Rodman accepted the award on behalf of Hodges, who teaches mathematics at Oxford University’s Wadham College.

“Alan Turing never got to stand on a stage and hear people applaud his name,” Moore said in his acceptance speech. “And I do right now, and that is a profound injustice. All that I can do is spend the rest of my life endeavoring to repair it.”

“The Imitation Game’s” Scripter win adds to the accolades for the Weinstein Co. film, which has been nominated for eight Academy Awards and eight BAFTAs.

Scripter, established by the Friends of the USC Libraries in 1988, honors the screenwriter of the year’s most accomplished cinematic adaptation as well as the author of the written work upon which the screenplay is based. Scripter is the only award of its kind that recognizes authors of the original work alongside the adapting screenwriters.

USC Libraries Dean Catherine Quinlan welcomed the attendees gathered in the Los Angeles Times Reference Room of Doheny Memorial Library, and noted that the proceeds from the night’s event benefited the USC Cinematic Arts Library.

“Our Cinematic Arts Library is a tangible embodiment of cinema history and of the cultural history of the world,” Quinlan said. “It connects our students and scholars from near and far with knowledge that exists nowhere else but here, knowledge that makes possible their discoveries in the art, craft, and business of making films.”

Chaired by USC screenwriting professor and vice president of the Writers Guild of America, West, Howard Rodman, the Scripter selection committee chose “The Imitation Game” from a field of 97 eligible films.

Rodman also presented writer Walter Mosley with the Literary Achievement Award for his prizewinning career encompassing a range of genres from mystery to science fiction, erotica to nonfiction.

Mosley, a native of Southern California, has set much of his work there, including his “Easy” Rawlins series that features a black detective working in post-war Los Angeles. He is currently working on a Broadway version of his first novel, “Devil in a Blue Dress,” which was adapted in 1995 into a film starring Denzel Washington.

“In one stroke, Walter stood the crime genre on its head,” Rodman said. “And in doing so, over the course of a 25-year career, has triumphantly turned the world 180 degrees.”

In receiving the award, Mosley credited libraries for their central role in guaranteeing intellectual freedom and a civil society, “By making libraries stronger we make America stronger.”

This year’s event featured a silent auction, the proceeds of which support the renovation of USC’s Cinematic Arts Library. In-kind donors to the event and auction included AOC, Actuant Corporation, Al Brooks Tickets, Alexander Denk, Allison Adato, Alma Books Ltd., American Eye Institute, Anchor Distilling Company, Ann Hill, Anthony Solorzano, At Your Side Private Exercise, Averill's Flathead Lake Lodge, Bacara Resort & Spa, Badgley Mischka, BENJAMIN with Negin Zand, Bennett Farms, Bonny Doon Vineyard, Bouchon Bistro, Broadway Books, Burton Morris, Carol Muske-Dukes, Carol Soucek King, Richard King, Chris Lahti, Christine Ofiesh, Cynthia Baseman, Daryle Ann and Mark Giardino, David Lebovitz, David St. John, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and the San Diego County Fair, Faith & Flower, Feld Entertainment, Final Draft, Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, Fred Kayne, Gearys Beverly Hills, Geffen Playhouse, Glenn Sonnenberg, Gloria Kaplan, Hang Zhang, Hayley Kaplan, Health Allie, Hector Aguilar, Hotel Del Coronado, Hotel Indigo Del Mar, Hotel Kabuki, Howard Rodman, Jack Lindquist, Jar, Joel Prell, Jon Summers, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Kenneth Breisch, KFK Jewelers, LA Contemporary Dance Company, LA Opera, LA Phil, LACMA, Laila Lalami, Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, Laura Casner, Left Brain Travel, Leo Braudy, Lisa Barkett, Lisa Dixon, Loews Regency Hotel, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Dodgers, M. Kantor & Associates, Mark Danielewski, Mark Koenig, Matthew Kenney Cuisine, Maureen Furniss, Michael Kheshvadjian, Motif Seattle and Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails, Myrna Oken and Montage Hotels & Resorts, Neal Baseman and Twentieth Century Fox Television, Oheka Castle Hotel & Estate, Oliverio at Avalon Hotel, One of A Kind Glass Designs and Patsy Dewey, Osteria Mozza, Pacific Dining Car, Penguin Books, Piel Skin Care, Porta Via, Pro SUP Shop, Richelle Gribble, Robert Plumleigh, Sandra Tsing Loh, Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) San Diego, Seattle Seahawks, Shelley Berman, Silver King, South Beverly Grill, St. Regis San Francisco, Stephen's Hay and Grain, Steven Travers, T.C. Boyle, Tank Town USA, Ted Ushirogata and the Academy of Magical Arts, Inc., The Belvedere at the Peninsula Hotel, The Fearey Group, The Kitchen for Exploring Foods, The Rosenzweig Company, The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, The Weinstein Company, U.S. Senator Dean Heller, United Artists Media Group, USC Athletics, USC Office of the President, Villa Aurora, Warner Bros. Pictures, Will Ferrell, Wilshire Center Dental Group, and Wine of the Month Club.

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"How to Train Your Dragon 2" Wins "Best Animated Feature" at 42nd Annie Awards

ASIFA-Hollywood, the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Society, presents the Annie Awards.  The Annie honors achievements in animation as a whole, including current animated productions, as well as career and lifetime achievements.  These awards were created in 1972 by veteran voice talent, June Foray.

The 42nd Annie Awards winners were announced at a black tie ceremony on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.  DreamWorks Animation’s hit sequel, How To Train Your Dragon 2, won the “Best Animated Feature” award.  Written and directed by Dean DeBlois, Dragon 2 also scored a leading six trophies, including “Best Director.”

2015/42nd Annie Awards winners:

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature
How to Train Your Dragon 2 - DreamWorks Animation

Best Animated Special Production
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey - Voyager Pictures LLC

Best Animated Short Subject
Feast
- Walt Disney Animation Studios

Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial
Flight of the Stories - Aardman Animations

Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
Tumble Leaf
- Amazon Studios

Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children’s Audience
Gravity Falls - 
Disney Television Animation

Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production
The Simpsons
 - The Simpsons

Best Animated Video Game
Valiant Hearts: The Great War - Ubisoft

Best Student Film
My Big Brother 
- Jason Rayner

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Michael Kaschalk, Peter DeMund, David Hutchins, Henrik Falt, John Kosnik - Big Hero 6 - Walt Disney Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
Steve Avoujageli, Atsushi Ikarashi, Pawel Grochola, Paul Waggoner, Viktor Lundqvist - Edge of Tomorrow - Sony Pictures Imageworks

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Justin Nichols - Wander Over Yonder - Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Feature Production
Fabio Lignini - How to Train Your Dragon 2 
- DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Live Action Production
Daniel Barrett, Paul Story, Eteuati Tema, Alessandro Bonora, Dejan Momcilovic - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
 - Weta Digital

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Video Game
Mike Mennillo - Assassin's Creed Unity - Ubisoft

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Benjamin Balistreri - Wander Over Yonder 
-  Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
Paul Sullivan, Sandra Equihua, Jorge R. Gutierrez - The Book of Life - Reel FX 

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Aaron Springer - Disney Mickey Mouse 
- Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production
Dean DeBlois - How to Train Your Dragon 2
 - DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Christopher Willis - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated Feature Production
John Powell, Jónsi - How to Train Your Dragon 2
 - DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Narina Sokolova - Mickey Shorts
- Disney

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
Paul Lasaine, Tom McClure & August Hall - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Joaquim Dos Santos - Legend of Korra -Nickelodeon Animation Studio

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
Truong "Tron" Son Mai - How to Train Your Dragon 2
 - DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Bill Farmer as the voices of Goofy and Grandma - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
Sir Ben Kingsley as the voice of Archibald Snatcher - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika

Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Darrick Bachman - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Phil Lord & Christopher Miller - The Lego Movie
 - Warner Bros. Pictures

Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Illya Owens - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
John K. Carr - How to Train Your Dragon 2 - DreamWorks Animation


JURIED AWARDS

Winsor McCay Award – Didier Brunner, Don Lusk and Lee Mendelson for their career contributions to the art of animation

June Foray Award – Charles Solomon for his significant and benevolent or charitable impact on the art and industry of animation

Ub Iwerks – DreamWorks Animation's Apollo Software for technical advancement that has made a significant impact on the art or industry of animation

Special Achievement Award – The Walt Disney Family Museum recognizing the unique and significant impact on the art and industry of animation


www.annieawards.org

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Negromancer Loves February 2015

Super Bowl Sunday.  Valentine's Day.  And, of course, Black History Month!  Welcome to Negromancer 2.0.  This is the rebirth of Negromancer, the former movie review website as a new movie review and movie news site.

All images and text appearing on this blog are © copyright and/or trademark their respective owners.

Oklahoma Film Critics Name "Boyhood" Best Picture of 2014

The Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) is the statewide group of professional film critics.  OFCC members are Oklahoma-based movie critics who write for print, broadcast and online outlets that publish or post reviews of current film releases.

The OFCC announced its 9th annual awards list in early January of 2015.

Oklahoma Film Critics Circle 2014 Winners:

Best Picture: “Boyhood.”

Best Actor: Michael Keaton, “Birdman.”

Best Actress: Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl.”

Best Animated Film: “The LEGO Movie.”

Best Body of Work: Christopher Miller and Phil Lord “The Lego Movie” and “22 Jump Street.”

Best Director: Richard Linklater, “Boyhood.”

Best Documentary: “Life Itself.”

Best First Feature: “Nightcrawler.”

Best Foreign Language Film: “Force Majeure.”

Best Guilty Pleasure: “Edge of Tomorrow.”

Not So Obviously Worst Film: “Monuments Men.”

Obviously Worst Film: “Transformers: Age of Extinction.”

Best Original Screenplay: “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

Best Adapted Screenplay: Gillian Flynn, “Gone Girl.”

Best Supporting Actor: Edward Norton, “Birdman.”

Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood.”

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