Everything is Still Awesome, as Rob Schrab is Set to Direct “The LEGO® Movie Sequel”
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the “Master Builders” of the first blockbuster hit, are writing and will produce the sequel together with Dan Lin and Roy Lee
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Director Rob Schrab (TV’s “Community,” “The Mindy Project”) will mark his feature directorial debut overseeing construction on “The LEGO® Movie Sequel,” the eagerly awaited follow-up to the worldwide sensation “The LEGO Movie.” The announcement was made by Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who wrote and directed “The LEGO Movie,” are writing the new feature based on a story by Lord, Miller, Jared Stern and Michelle Morgan. In addition, Lord and Miller will serve as producers, alongside returning producers Dan Lin and Roy Lee.
Silverman stated, “‘The LEGO Movie’ captivated critics and audiences on a global scale with its irresistible blend of humor, imagination and fun. Warner Bros. is excited to build our relationship with The LEGO Group with this new adventure, and we join them in welcoming the multi-talented Rob Schrab to the LEGO family as he takes the helm of ‘The LEGO Movie Sequel.’”
In a joint statement, Lord and Miller said, “We are so excited to collaborate with Rob. He is a comedy genius, a visual savant, and we have been stalking him for years. No one works harder than Rob, and his aesthetic, combined with his sense of humor, bring a strong, unique, thoughtful, and passionately nerdy voice to this project. People who know him are slapping their foreheads today and saying, ‘Of course!’”
Schrab has recently directed episodes of such hit series as “Community,” “The Mindy Project” and “Parks and Recreation.” He also wrote, directed and executive produced “The Sarah Silverman Program,” for which he gained a WGA Award nomination. He previously earned a 2007 Annie Award nomination for Best Writing in an Animated Feature Production, for the Oscar-nominated comedy “Monster House.” In addition, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, and received an additional nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special for his work on the 81st Annual Academy Awards.
“The LEGO Movie Sequel” is another piece of the Studio’s growing LEGO film franchise, also including the upcoming “Ninjago,” slated for a September 23, 2016, release, and an as-yet-untitled BatmanTM LEGO feature, due out in May 2017.
LEGO, the LEGO logo, Ninjago, the minifigure and the brick and knob configuration are trademarks of The LEGO Group. ©2015 The LEGO Group. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Negromancer's Fave Poli-Reads - February 2015 Edition - Update #8
From NewYorkTimes: It is racist because you are a racist, Giuliani.
From RollingStone: Matt Taibbi dogs Rudy Giuliani.
From Reuters via RSN: Kate Brown, the new governor of Oregon, becomes the first openly bisexual governor in U.S. history.
From RawStory: I am always amazed by Sarah Palin's ability to be both pimp and prostitute at the same time.
From Esquire: Charles Pierce - Why didn't Scott Walker graduate from college.
From Reuters: John Stewart is leaving "The Daily Show."
From YahooNews. The racist senior advisor to Rep. Aaron Schock (R. Ill) resigns.
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From The Intercept via RSN: Glenn Greenwald on whiny, privileged celebrity journalists.
From NewYorkMag: Greenwald's target.
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From RSN: President Barack Obama: Blueprint for Middle-Class Economics
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
"Selma" Dominates 2015 Black Reel Awards - Complete Winners List
The Black Reel Awards annually honor African-Americans in feature, independent, and television film. The awards also take notice of the work in film by people of color throughout the African Diaspora. The awards were launched in 2000, and this is the 15th year the awards will be handed out. The Black Reel Awards are now given out by the Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF).
The 15th Annual Black Reel Awards winners were announced on Friday, February 20, 2015. The Black Reel Awards are comprised of more than 60 voters across the country. The voters annually select and spotlight films and performances featuring African-Americans, as well as people of color throughout the African Diaspora.
Selma won 8 awards, tying the film with last year's 12 Years a Slave for the most Black Reel Award wins in a single year.
2015 / 15th Annual Black Reel Awards Winners:
Outstanding Motion Picture
Selma | Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner & Christian Colson (Paramount)
Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture
David Oyelowo | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture
Gugu Mbatha-Raw | Belle (Fox Searchlight)
Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture
Wendell Pierce | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture
Carmen Ejogo | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Director, Motion Picture
Ava DuVernay | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Screenplay, Motion Picture
Chris Rock | Top Five (Paramount)
Outstanding Documentary
Anita: Speaking Truth to the Power | Freida Lee Mock
Outstanding Ensemble (Awarded to Casting Directors)
Selma | Aisha Coley (Paramount)
Outstanding Foreign Film
Fishing Without Nets (Kenya) | Cutter Hodierne (Drafthouse Films)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
Tyler James Williams | Dear White People (Lionsgate/ Roadside Attractions
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
Teyonah Parris | Dear White People (Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions)
Outstanding Voice Performance
Morgan Freeman | The LEGO Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Score
Jason Moran | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Original Song
“Glory” from Selma | Performed by: John Legend & Common;
Written by: John Legend, Common & Che Smith (Paramount)
INDEPENDENT:
Outstanding Independent Feature
The Retrieval | Chris Eska
Outstanding Independent Documentary
25 to Life | Mark Brown
Outstanding Independent Short
#AmeriCan | Nate Parker
TELEVISION:
Outstanding Television Documentary or Special
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown | Alex Gibney (HBO)
Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series
The Trip to Bountiful | Bill Haber, Cicely Tyson, Hallie Foote & Jeff Hayes (Lifetime)
Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Larenz Tate | Gun Hill (BET)
Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Cicely Tyson | The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Blair Underwood | The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Anika Noni Rose | A Day Late and a Dollar Short (Lifetime)
Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Reggie Rock Bythewood | Gun Hill (BET)
Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Reggie Rock Bythewood | Gun Hill (BET)
----------------
The 15th Annual Black Reel Awards winners were announced on Friday, February 20, 2015. The Black Reel Awards are comprised of more than 60 voters across the country. The voters annually select and spotlight films and performances featuring African-Americans, as well as people of color throughout the African Diaspora.
Selma won 8 awards, tying the film with last year's 12 Years a Slave for the most Black Reel Award wins in a single year.
2015 / 15th Annual Black Reel Awards Winners:
Outstanding Motion Picture
Selma | Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner & Christian Colson (Paramount)
Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture
David Oyelowo | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture
Gugu Mbatha-Raw | Belle (Fox Searchlight)
Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture
Wendell Pierce | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture
Carmen Ejogo | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Director, Motion Picture
Ava DuVernay | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Screenplay, Motion Picture
Chris Rock | Top Five (Paramount)
Outstanding Documentary
Anita: Speaking Truth to the Power | Freida Lee Mock
Outstanding Ensemble (Awarded to Casting Directors)
Selma | Aisha Coley (Paramount)
Outstanding Foreign Film
Fishing Without Nets (Kenya) | Cutter Hodierne (Drafthouse Films)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
Tyler James Williams | Dear White People (Lionsgate/ Roadside Attractions
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
Teyonah Parris | Dear White People (Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions)
Outstanding Voice Performance
Morgan Freeman | The LEGO Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Score
Jason Moran | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Original Song
“Glory” from Selma | Performed by: John Legend & Common;
Written by: John Legend, Common & Che Smith (Paramount)
INDEPENDENT:
Outstanding Independent Feature
The Retrieval | Chris Eska
Outstanding Independent Documentary
25 to Life | Mark Brown
Outstanding Independent Short
#AmeriCan | Nate Parker
TELEVISION:
Outstanding Television Documentary or Special
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown | Alex Gibney (HBO)
Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series
The Trip to Bountiful | Bill Haber, Cicely Tyson, Hallie Foote & Jeff Hayes (Lifetime)
Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Larenz Tate | Gun Hill (BET)
Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Cicely Tyson | The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Blair Underwood | The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Anika Noni Rose | A Day Late and a Dollar Short (Lifetime)
Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Reggie Rock Bythewood | Gun Hill (BET)
Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Reggie Rock Bythewood | Gun Hill (BET)
----------------
Amazon Studios Greenlights Second Seasons of Its Original Kids Series
Amazon Studios Greenlights Second Seasons of Original Kids Series Tumble Leaf, Creative Galaxy, Annedroids and Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street
Growing original kids programming slate also includes Wishenpoof! and recently greenlit series Just Add Magic and The Stinky & Dirty Show
Returning series come from accomplished creators Drew Hodges (Saturday Night Live, Community), J.J. Johnson (Dino Dan), Angela C. Santomero (Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood), and first-time creator greenlit from studio’s open-door pilot submissions process, David Anaxagoras
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ:AMZN)— Amazon Studios today announced it has renewed second seasons of its current kids series: Creative Galaxy, Annedroids, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, and recent Annie Award winner, Tumble Leaf. All four series will return exclusively to Prime Instant Video for Prime members to stream and enjoy as part of their membership. Amazon Original kids series are among the top kids titles across all of Prime Instant Video, with Creative Galaxy, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street and Tumble Leaf delivering some of the most-streamed kids seasons on Amazon. These shows, along with Annedroids, have recently been honored by the Parents’ Choice Foundation.
“Tumble Leaf, Creative Galaxy, Annedroids and Gortimer have all experienced a tremendous response from our customers and we’re excited to bring them back for another season”
“Tumble Leaf, Creative Galaxy, Annedroids and Gortimer have all experienced a tremendous response from our customers and we’re excited to bring them back for another season,” said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming for Amazon Studios. “Working with such remarkably talented and impactful creators in both the preschool and kids six to 11 space, it’s exciting to see where the storylines and characters will take us for another season.”
Annecy International Festival and Annie award-winning series, Tumble Leaf was created by Drew Hodges (Saturday Night Live, Community) and executive produced by Hodges and Kelli Bixler (Saturday Night Live, The Roadents) of award-winning studio Bix Pix Entertainment. Created for preschool-aged children, each episode of the stop-motion world of Tumble Leaf follows Fig, a delightfully curious blue fox, and his best friend Stick, a quirky caterpillar, as they embark on a fun and nature-filled adventure, learning science through their natural play. The series features voice work from newcomers Christopher Downs as Fig, Brooke Wolloff as Maple, Zac McDowell as Hedge, Addie Zintel as Pine, and Alex Trugman as Ginkgo.
Creative Galaxy, from Out of the Blue Enterprises, with Angela C. Santomero (Blue’s Clues, Super Why! Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) serving as Creator and Executive Producer, and Samantha Freeman as Executive Producer, is a make-along, create-along art adventure series for preschool-aged children. The series, animated by 9 Story Entertainment, features Arty, an adorable alien artist, and Epiphany, his inspirational side-kick, on their adventures through the Creative Galaxy solving problems through art. To give kids and parents the real-life tools they need to recreate Arty’s experience, a live-action piece at the end of each animated episode takes families through the craft project Arty showcased in the galaxy. Creative Galaxy features vocal talent from Christian Distefano (PAW Patrol) as Arty, Kira Gelineau (Dear Viola) as Epiphany, and guest stars Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), Jason Jones (The Daily Show), Cloris Leachman (Malcolm In the Middle), Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills 90210) and Brooke Shields (Lipstick Jungle).
Annedroids, created by Emmy-nominated J.J. Johnson (Dino Dan) and Sinking Ship Entertainment, is a kids six to 11 live-action adventure series about Anne, a young female scientist, her human friends and their android assistants, and the amazing scientific discoveries they make while undertaking the biggest experiment of them all: growing up. The series spotlights, through trial and error, how science, technology, engineering, the arts and math (STEAM) can inspire children to do great things. Annedroids stars Addison Holley (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) as Anne, Adrianna Di Liello (Stage Fright) as her friend Shania, and Jadiel Dowlin as Nick. The series also features vocal talent from Millie Davis (Orphan Black) as Pal.
Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, created by first-time writer David Anaxagoras and executive produced by Oscar winner Luke Matheny (God of Love), stars Sloane Morgan Siegel (Partners), Ashley Boettcher (Aliens in the Attic), Drew Justice (The Little Rascals Save the Day), and Robyn Lively (Saving Grace, Twin Peaks). The series, for kids six to 11, is a coming-of-age tale of friendship that centers around Gortimer (Siegel) and the bond with his two best friends Ranger (Justice) and Mel (Boettcher), as they chronicle their adventures on Normal Street—an ordinary suburban neighborhood that has a hint of something unexpected just beneath the surface. Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street is the first kids series to receive a greenlight from Amazon Studios’ open-door pilot submissions process. Anaxagoras, a preschool teacher, was one of many aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters who submitted their ideas for original series through AmazonStudios.com, and whose concept moved forward as a pilot that debuted on Amazon Instant Video in February 2014.
Prime members can now watch episodes from the first seasons of Tumble Leaf, Creative Galaxy, Annedroids and Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street as often as they would like with the Amazon Instant Video app for TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online at amazon.com/originals, at no additional cost to their membership. Customers who are not already a Prime member can sign up for a free trial at amazon.com/prime. Additionally, apps for Tumble Leaf and Annedroids, exclusively for Fire devices, are available to download for free at the Amazon App Store. Tumble Leaf, Creative Galaxy, Annedroids, and Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street are also available as part of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, the all-you-can-eat subscription service designed from the ground up for kids—FreeTime Unlimited is available exclusively on Amazon devices including Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets, and a year-long subscription is included with every Fire HD Kids Edition.
About Amazon Studios
Amazon Studios most recently debuted its first live-action series for kids six to 11, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street. The studio has also launched three additional children’s series, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival Award-winning and Annie Award-winning Tumble Leaf from Bix Pix Entertainment; Creative Galaxy from Angela C. Santomero and Out of the Blue Enterprises, the creators of Blue’s Clues; and Annedroids, from Emmy nominated Sinking Ship Entertainment. All four children’s series have been honored by the Parents’ Choice Foundation. The studio has also debuted dramatic comedy Mozart in the Jungle from Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Paul Weitz, John Strauss and Alex Timbers and Jill Soloway’s multi-Golden Globe Award-winning dark comedy Transparent; as well as a second season of the Garry Trudeau political comedy Alpha House.
Amazon Studios has also recently greenlit full seasons of two kids series Just Add Magic based on Cindy Callaghan’s young adult book and adapted by Joanna Lewis & Kristine Songco; and The Stinky & Dirty Show based on the “I Stink!” book series by Kate & Jim McMullan and written by Guy Toubes; along with The Man in the High Castle, based on the Philip K. Dick alternative history novel executive produced by Frank Spotnitz, Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Christian Baute, Stewart Mackinnon, Isa Dick Hackett and Christopher Tricarico and co-executive produced by Kalen Egan and Jordan Sheehan; hour-long dark comedy Mad Dogs created by Cris Cole and executive produced by Cole, Shawn Ryan, Marney Hochman, Andy Harries, Suzanne Mackie and Charles McDougall; and docu-series The New Yorker Presents executive produced by Academy Award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney and Dawn Ostroff and co-produced by Condé Nast Entertainment and Jigsaw Productions.
Three additional original series will also debut in 2015, including kids series Wishenpoof! from Angela C. Santomero and Out of the Blue Enterprises; Hand of God from Marc Forster and Ben Watkins; and Red Oaks from Steven Soderbergh, David Gordon Green, Greg Jacobs and Joe Gangemi; as well as a second season of Transparent.
In 2015 Amazon Studios will begin to produce and acquire original movies for theatrical release, followed by early window distribution on Prime Instant Video.
Amazon Studios launched in 2010 as a new way to develop feature films and episodic series—one that’s open to great ideas from creators and audiences around the world. Anyone can upload a script online and Amazon Studios will read and review all submissions. Those who choose to make their projects public can also receive feedback from the Amazon Studios community.
About Prime Instant Video
Amazon Prime members have instant access to stream tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes, including award-winning Amazon Original Series, available on Prime Instant Video at no additional cost to their membership. In addition, new release movies like Gone Girl, Boyhood and Birdman along with in-season shows like The Walking Dead, Scandal and Better Call Saul are also available for rent or purchase on Amazon Instant Video for all customers to stream and enjoy.
Customers can watch shows and movies with the Amazon Instant Video app. The Amazon Instant Video app is available on hundreds of devices including connected TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Xbox and PlayStation, as well as on mobile devices like Fire phone, Fire tablets, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Customers can also watch online at Amazon.com/PIV. Prime Instant Video is also the only U.S. online-only subscription streaming service that enables offline viewing—on a plane, on vacation, and anywhere else where you may not have Wi-Fi.
Amazon Prime members have exclusive access to popular TV series at no additional cost to their membership. Prime members can enjoy binge-worthy TV shows including Amazon Original Series’ airing now such as multi-Golden Globe winning series, Transparent, the hour-long drama, Bosch, based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling books, the Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman comedy, Mozart in the Jungle and the political comedy starring John Goodman, Alpha House, in addition to HBO favorites like The Sopranos, True Blood and Six Feet Under, and popular primetime series including 24, Covert Affairs, Downtown Abbey, Extant, Falling Skies, Grimm, Hannibal, Justified, Orphan Black, Teen Wolf, The Americans, Under the Dome and Veronica Mars. Prime members also have access to an exclusive collection of kids shows now airing including Amazon Original Series’ Annedroids, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street and the Annecy International Animated Film Festival Award-winning and Annie Award-winning Tumble Leaf, as well as popular shows from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Team Umizoomi, Blue’s Clues and The Bubble Guppies.
Comprehensive cast and crew information, including bios and filmographies, is available on Amazon's IMDb (www.imdb.com), the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content.
About Amazon
Amazon.com opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire phone, Fire tablets, and Fire TV are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.
-----------------
Growing original kids programming slate also includes Wishenpoof! and recently greenlit series Just Add Magic and The Stinky & Dirty Show
Returning series come from accomplished creators Drew Hodges (Saturday Night Live, Community), J.J. Johnson (Dino Dan), Angela C. Santomero (Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood), and first-time creator greenlit from studio’s open-door pilot submissions process, David Anaxagoras
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ:AMZN)— Amazon Studios today announced it has renewed second seasons of its current kids series: Creative Galaxy, Annedroids, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, and recent Annie Award winner, Tumble Leaf. All four series will return exclusively to Prime Instant Video for Prime members to stream and enjoy as part of their membership. Amazon Original kids series are among the top kids titles across all of Prime Instant Video, with Creative Galaxy, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street and Tumble Leaf delivering some of the most-streamed kids seasons on Amazon. These shows, along with Annedroids, have recently been honored by the Parents’ Choice Foundation.
“Tumble Leaf, Creative Galaxy, Annedroids and Gortimer have all experienced a tremendous response from our customers and we’re excited to bring them back for another season”
“Tumble Leaf, Creative Galaxy, Annedroids and Gortimer have all experienced a tremendous response from our customers and we’re excited to bring them back for another season,” said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming for Amazon Studios. “Working with such remarkably talented and impactful creators in both the preschool and kids six to 11 space, it’s exciting to see where the storylines and characters will take us for another season.”
Annecy International Festival and Annie award-winning series, Tumble Leaf was created by Drew Hodges (Saturday Night Live, Community) and executive produced by Hodges and Kelli Bixler (Saturday Night Live, The Roadents) of award-winning studio Bix Pix Entertainment. Created for preschool-aged children, each episode of the stop-motion world of Tumble Leaf follows Fig, a delightfully curious blue fox, and his best friend Stick, a quirky caterpillar, as they embark on a fun and nature-filled adventure, learning science through their natural play. The series features voice work from newcomers Christopher Downs as Fig, Brooke Wolloff as Maple, Zac McDowell as Hedge, Addie Zintel as Pine, and Alex Trugman as Ginkgo.
Creative Galaxy, from Out of the Blue Enterprises, with Angela C. Santomero (Blue’s Clues, Super Why! Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) serving as Creator and Executive Producer, and Samantha Freeman as Executive Producer, is a make-along, create-along art adventure series for preschool-aged children. The series, animated by 9 Story Entertainment, features Arty, an adorable alien artist, and Epiphany, his inspirational side-kick, on their adventures through the Creative Galaxy solving problems through art. To give kids and parents the real-life tools they need to recreate Arty’s experience, a live-action piece at the end of each animated episode takes families through the craft project Arty showcased in the galaxy. Creative Galaxy features vocal talent from Christian Distefano (PAW Patrol) as Arty, Kira Gelineau (Dear Viola) as Epiphany, and guest stars Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), Jason Jones (The Daily Show), Cloris Leachman (Malcolm In the Middle), Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills 90210) and Brooke Shields (Lipstick Jungle).
Annedroids, created by Emmy-nominated J.J. Johnson (Dino Dan) and Sinking Ship Entertainment, is a kids six to 11 live-action adventure series about Anne, a young female scientist, her human friends and their android assistants, and the amazing scientific discoveries they make while undertaking the biggest experiment of them all: growing up. The series spotlights, through trial and error, how science, technology, engineering, the arts and math (STEAM) can inspire children to do great things. Annedroids stars Addison Holley (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) as Anne, Adrianna Di Liello (Stage Fright) as her friend Shania, and Jadiel Dowlin as Nick. The series also features vocal talent from Millie Davis (Orphan Black) as Pal.
Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, created by first-time writer David Anaxagoras and executive produced by Oscar winner Luke Matheny (God of Love), stars Sloane Morgan Siegel (Partners), Ashley Boettcher (Aliens in the Attic), Drew Justice (The Little Rascals Save the Day), and Robyn Lively (Saving Grace, Twin Peaks). The series, for kids six to 11, is a coming-of-age tale of friendship that centers around Gortimer (Siegel) and the bond with his two best friends Ranger (Justice) and Mel (Boettcher), as they chronicle their adventures on Normal Street—an ordinary suburban neighborhood that has a hint of something unexpected just beneath the surface. Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street is the first kids series to receive a greenlight from Amazon Studios’ open-door pilot submissions process. Anaxagoras, a preschool teacher, was one of many aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters who submitted their ideas for original series through AmazonStudios.com, and whose concept moved forward as a pilot that debuted on Amazon Instant Video in February 2014.
Prime members can now watch episodes from the first seasons of Tumble Leaf, Creative Galaxy, Annedroids and Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street as often as they would like with the Amazon Instant Video app for TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online at amazon.com/originals, at no additional cost to their membership. Customers who are not already a Prime member can sign up for a free trial at amazon.com/prime. Additionally, apps for Tumble Leaf and Annedroids, exclusively for Fire devices, are available to download for free at the Amazon App Store. Tumble Leaf, Creative Galaxy, Annedroids, and Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street are also available as part of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, the all-you-can-eat subscription service designed from the ground up for kids—FreeTime Unlimited is available exclusively on Amazon devices including Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablets, and a year-long subscription is included with every Fire HD Kids Edition.
About Amazon Studios
Amazon Studios most recently debuted its first live-action series for kids six to 11, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street. The studio has also launched three additional children’s series, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival Award-winning and Annie Award-winning Tumble Leaf from Bix Pix Entertainment; Creative Galaxy from Angela C. Santomero and Out of the Blue Enterprises, the creators of Blue’s Clues; and Annedroids, from Emmy nominated Sinking Ship Entertainment. All four children’s series have been honored by the Parents’ Choice Foundation. The studio has also debuted dramatic comedy Mozart in the Jungle from Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Paul Weitz, John Strauss and Alex Timbers and Jill Soloway’s multi-Golden Globe Award-winning dark comedy Transparent; as well as a second season of the Garry Trudeau political comedy Alpha House.
Amazon Studios has also recently greenlit full seasons of two kids series Just Add Magic based on Cindy Callaghan’s young adult book and adapted by Joanna Lewis & Kristine Songco; and The Stinky & Dirty Show based on the “I Stink!” book series by Kate & Jim McMullan and written by Guy Toubes; along with The Man in the High Castle, based on the Philip K. Dick alternative history novel executive produced by Frank Spotnitz, Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Christian Baute, Stewart Mackinnon, Isa Dick Hackett and Christopher Tricarico and co-executive produced by Kalen Egan and Jordan Sheehan; hour-long dark comedy Mad Dogs created by Cris Cole and executive produced by Cole, Shawn Ryan, Marney Hochman, Andy Harries, Suzanne Mackie and Charles McDougall; and docu-series The New Yorker Presents executive produced by Academy Award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney and Dawn Ostroff and co-produced by Condé Nast Entertainment and Jigsaw Productions.
Three additional original series will also debut in 2015, including kids series Wishenpoof! from Angela C. Santomero and Out of the Blue Enterprises; Hand of God from Marc Forster and Ben Watkins; and Red Oaks from Steven Soderbergh, David Gordon Green, Greg Jacobs and Joe Gangemi; as well as a second season of Transparent.
In 2015 Amazon Studios will begin to produce and acquire original movies for theatrical release, followed by early window distribution on Prime Instant Video.
Amazon Studios launched in 2010 as a new way to develop feature films and episodic series—one that’s open to great ideas from creators and audiences around the world. Anyone can upload a script online and Amazon Studios will read and review all submissions. Those who choose to make their projects public can also receive feedback from the Amazon Studios community.
About Prime Instant Video
Amazon Prime members have instant access to stream tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes, including award-winning Amazon Original Series, available on Prime Instant Video at no additional cost to their membership. In addition, new release movies like Gone Girl, Boyhood and Birdman along with in-season shows like The Walking Dead, Scandal and Better Call Saul are also available for rent or purchase on Amazon Instant Video for all customers to stream and enjoy.
Customers can watch shows and movies with the Amazon Instant Video app. The Amazon Instant Video app is available on hundreds of devices including connected TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Xbox and PlayStation, as well as on mobile devices like Fire phone, Fire tablets, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Customers can also watch online at Amazon.com/PIV. Prime Instant Video is also the only U.S. online-only subscription streaming service that enables offline viewing—on a plane, on vacation, and anywhere else where you may not have Wi-Fi.
Amazon Prime members have exclusive access to popular TV series at no additional cost to their membership. Prime members can enjoy binge-worthy TV shows including Amazon Original Series’ airing now such as multi-Golden Globe winning series, Transparent, the hour-long drama, Bosch, based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling books, the Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman comedy, Mozart in the Jungle and the political comedy starring John Goodman, Alpha House, in addition to HBO favorites like The Sopranos, True Blood and Six Feet Under, and popular primetime series including 24, Covert Affairs, Downtown Abbey, Extant, Falling Skies, Grimm, Hannibal, Justified, Orphan Black, Teen Wolf, The Americans, Under the Dome and Veronica Mars. Prime members also have access to an exclusive collection of kids shows now airing including Amazon Original Series’ Annedroids, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street and the Annecy International Animated Film Festival Award-winning and Annie Award-winning Tumble Leaf, as well as popular shows from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Team Umizoomi, Blue’s Clues and The Bubble Guppies.
Comprehensive cast and crew information, including bios and filmographies, is available on Amazon's IMDb (www.imdb.com), the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content.
About Amazon
Amazon.com opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire phone, Fire tablets, and Fire TV are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.
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Happy Birthday, Laura!
Happy _ _ th Birthday, dear sister. Have a great day. Have many, many, many more Happy Birthdays.
Monday, February 23, 2015
The 87th Academy Awards - Complete Winners List
The 87th Oscars were held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood. The ceremony was televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars were produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron and hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. The ceremony was televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
The 87th Academy Award winners for the 2015 Oscars:
Best Picture of 2014:
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, and James W. Skotchdopole, Producers
Director:
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Actor:
Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything”
Supporting Actor:
J.K. Simmons in “Whiplash”
Actress:
Julianne Moore in “Still Alice”
Supporting Actress:
Patricia Arquette in “Boyhood”
Animated Feature:
“Big Hero 6” Don Hall, Chris Williams and Roy Conli
Adapted Screenplay:
“The Imitation Game” Written by Graham Moore
Original Screenplay:
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bo
Cinematography:
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Emmanuel Lubezki
Costume Design:
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Milena Canonero
Documentary Feature:
“CitizenFour” Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky
Documentary Short Subject:
“Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1” Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry
Film Editing:
“Whiplash” Tom Cross
Foreign Language Film:
“Ida” Poland
Makeup and Hairstyling:
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier
Original Score:
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Alexandre Desplat
Original Song:
“Glory” from “Selma”
Music and Lyric by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn
Production Design:
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
Animated Short Film:
“Feast” Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed
Live Action Short Film:
“The Phone Call” Mat Kirkby and James Lucas
Sound Editing:
“American Sniper” Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
Sound Mixing:
“Whiplash” Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley
Visual Effects:
“Interstellar” Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher
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The 87th Academy Award winners for the 2015 Oscars:
Best Picture of 2014:
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, and James W. Skotchdopole, Producers
Director:
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Actor:
Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything”
Supporting Actor:
J.K. Simmons in “Whiplash”
Actress:
Julianne Moore in “Still Alice”
Supporting Actress:
Patricia Arquette in “Boyhood”
Animated Feature:
“Big Hero 6” Don Hall, Chris Williams and Roy Conli
Adapted Screenplay:
“The Imitation Game” Written by Graham Moore
Original Screenplay:
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bo
Cinematography:
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Emmanuel Lubezki
Costume Design:
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Milena Canonero
Documentary Feature:
“CitizenFour” Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky
Documentary Short Subject:
“Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1” Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry
Film Editing:
“Whiplash” Tom Cross
Foreign Language Film:
“Ida” Poland
Makeup and Hairstyling:
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier
Original Score:
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Alexandre Desplat
Original Song:
“Glory” from “Selma”
Music and Lyric by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn
Production Design:
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
Animated Short Film:
“Feast” Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed
Live Action Short Film:
“The Phone Call” Mat Kirkby and James Lucas
Sound Editing:
“American Sniper” Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
Sound Mixing:
“Whiplash” Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley
Visual Effects:
“Interstellar” Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher
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Sunday, February 22, 2015
"Birdman" Wins Oscar as Best Picture of 2014
Best Picture:
“American Sniper” Clint Eastwood,
Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan,
Producers
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of
Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher and James W.
Skotchdopole, Producers WINNER
“Boyhood” Richard Linklater and
Cathleen Sutherland, Producers
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Wes
Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson, Producers
“The Imitation Game” Nora Grossman,
Ido Ostrowsky and Teddy Schwarzman, Producers
“Selma” Christian Colson, Oprah
Winfrey, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers
“The Theory of Everything” Tim
Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce and Anthony McCarten, Producers
“Whiplash” Jason Blum, Helen
Estabrook and David Lancaster, Producers
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