Stephen Frears' "The Program" Closes 2015 Austin Film Festival

Austin Film Festival Announces Stephen Frears’ Lance Armstrong Film, The Program, as Closing Night Film

Additional Marquee Programming to Feature The 33, Love the Coopers, and Retrospective Screening of Lone Star Presented by Chris Cooper

Confirmed guests include Kristen Connolly, Estelle Parsons, Mary Kay Place, Steve Nicolaides, Caroline Thompson, and a special Skype conversation with TV Legend Carl Reiner

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Austin Film Festival & Screenwriters Conference (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing the writers’ contributions to film, television, and new media, released today their final program additions, including new marquee films and special guests. The 22nd Annual Austin Film Festival kicks off on Thursday, October 29 and runs through Thursday, November 5, 2015.

The Program joins the Festival as the 2015 Closing Night Selection, held at the historic Paramount Theatre. From Academy Award®-nominated director Stephen Frears (The Queen, Philomena), comes the true story of the meteoric rise and fall of one of the most celebrated and controversial men in recent history: Lance Armstrong, the world-renowned Tour de France champion. Written by John Hodge (Trainspotting), The Program features Ben Foster, Chris O'Dowd, Guillaume Canet, Dustin Hoffman, and Jesse Plemons.

The Festival revealed new marquee titles, including Love the Coopers and The 33, and a retrospective screening of Lone Star presented by AFF’s Extraordinary Contribution to Film – Actor award recipient, Chris Cooper.

Confirmed guests recently slated to attend the 2015 Festival & Conference:

•     Mary Kay Place will present AFF’s 2015 “Outstanding Television Writer” award to Norman Lear
•     Kristen Connolly joins the cast for the staged script reading of Rosaline, an unproduced screenplay written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars)
•     James Moll (Foo Fighters: Back and Forth, The Last Days) joins the Conference’s Independent Filmmaking Track for a discussion on documentary filmmaking
•     Steve Nicolaides will present the 2015 “Extraordinary Contribution to Film” award to John Singleton
•     Caroline Thompson (writer Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas) will participate as a panelist in the Screenwriters Conference

Austin Film Festival will also present a special Skype conversation with TV Legend Carl Reiner, focusing on his work on "The Dick Van Dyke Show," on Saturday, October 31, 2015 during the Screenwriters Conference.

The full Film and Conference schedule, and more information on Badges and Passes, can be found at www.austinfilmfestival.com.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 11th to 17th, 2015 - Update #24

Support Leroy on Patreon.

NEWS:

From WeGotThisCovered:  Rosario Dawson will voice Batgirl in the LEGO Batman movie.

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From IndieWire:  John Carpenter wins a plagiarism lawsuit in France against Luc Besson.  It involved the film "Lockout" starring Guy Pearce being a rip off of Carpenter's films, "Escape from New York" and "Escape from LA."

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From CinemaBlend:  More on "Die Hard" prequel.

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From TheWrap:  New Die Hard movie being developed.  It would feature both a young John McClane and an older one (Bruce Willis).  Len Wiseman developing...

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From TheWrap:  "Godzilla vs. Kong" in 2020.

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From Variety:  James Cameron's name has long been attached to a film adaptation of the manga, "Battle Angel Alita."  Now, word is that Cameron will produce and Robert Rodriguez will direct.

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From IndieWire:  Johnny Depp does not want to win an Oscar... he says.  He has been nominated three times, and he says being nominated is enough.

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From DigitalSpy:  The creator of the popular British television series, "Luther," is writing the remake to Escape From New York.

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From InContention:  Quentin Tarantino has cut two version of "The Hateful Eight."

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From Variety:  M. Night Shyamalan's low-budget career rival continues with a new thriller featuring James McAvoy.

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From Deadline:  John Ridley to write and direct a film about the L.A. riots of 1992.

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From IndieWire:  Guillermo del Toro's next film could be about a Mexican wrestler fighting vampire politicians.  I'm in!

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From THR:  "The Martian" wins the 10/9 to 10/11/2015 weekend box office with an estimated take of $37 million.  Warner Bros.' "Pan" bombs with an estimated haul of $15.5 (against a production that cost $150 million).

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From Vulture:  A "Firefly" reunion at New York Comic Con 2015.

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From IMDb:  Ahead of the Season 6 debut of "The Walking Dead," a Norman Reedus exclusive.


HARD NEWS:

From TheRoot:  Two white men argue over who owes whom for gentrification.

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From the AP via YahooNews:  Two reports say incompetent rookie Cleveland cop, Timothy Loehmann, was justified in killing 12-year-old, Tamir Rice.

From TheRoot:  "Reasonable..."
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COMICS:

From ComicBookMovie:  Mark Ruffalo to appear as Hulk in "Thor Ragnarok."

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From HitFix:  Drew McWeeny says FF to Marvel rumors are nonsense and explains why.

From DenofGeek:  Updates on the news that Marvel may have gotten the rights to the Fantastic Four back from FOX, in relation to the X-Men TV deal.

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From BleedingCool:  FOX announces to television series based on the X-Men comic book franchise - one about the Hellfire Club (seen in "X-Men: First Class") and one about "Legion" (Charles Xavier's son).

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From Vulture:  Paul Reubens (aka "Pee-Wee" Herman) will play the father of Oswald's "Penguin" Cobblepot on FOX's "Gotham."  Reubens also played the elder Cobblepot in Tim Burton's film, Batman Returns (1992).

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From Variety:  Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad" wants to be a Marvel baddie.


MISC:

From YahooNews:  Photos seems to be only the second photographic image of Billy the Kid.

Legendary and Warner Bros. Unite Godzilla and King Kong

Legendary and Warner Bros. Pictures Announce Cinematic Franchise Uniting Godzilla, King Kong and Other Iconic Giant Monsters

KONG: SKULL ISLAND confirmed for 2017, GODZILLA 2 for 2018, GODZILLA VS. KONG for 2020

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following Legendary’s and Warner Bros. Pictures’ 2014 success with the global reinvention of the Godzilla franchise, the companies have come together to create an epic, new shared cinematic franchise. All-powerful monsters become towering heroes for a new generation, revealing a mythology that brings together Godzilla and Legendary’s King Kong in an ecosystem of other giant super-species, both classic and new. Monarch, the human organization that uncovered Godzilla in the 2014 film, will expand their mission across multiple releases.

    “Working with our partners at Legendary, we enjoyed tremendous creative and commercial success with `Godzilla,’”

The announcement that the reinvention of monsters continues was made today by Legendary CEO, Thomas Tull, and Kevin Tsujihara, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. The initial trio of films are 2017’s KONG: SKULL ISLAND; GODZILLA 2 in 2018; and then GODZILLA VS. KONG, arriving in theaters in 2020. While Legendary maintains its new home at Universal Pictures, the GODZILLA films remain in partnership with Warner Bros., who will now also distribute KONG as a part of this franchise. Production on KONG: SKULL ISLAND begins October 19th, 2015.

Warner Bros. and Legendary released Godzilla in May 2014 with an agreement to release Godzilla 2 on June 8, 2018. Both films feature the human Monarch organization. Shortly following Legendary's pact with NBC Universal, Legendary acquired rights to additional classic characters from Toho's Godzilla universe, including Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah. This paved the way for developing a franchise centered around Monarch and anchored by Godzilla, King Kong, and other famous creatures.

When Legendary announced films centered on Godzilla and Kong, fans all over the world speculated these two characters might one day meet in the same film. Classic Toho monsters including King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Rodan, as announced at Comic-Con 2014, may also join the Legendary pantheon of giant monster mayhem going forward.

“Audiences really responded to Godzilla,” stated Tull. “Today, I’m excited to reveal that film was only the beginning of an epic new entertainment universe. As a lifelong fan of these characters, I’ve always wanted to see the ultimate showdown, and today we’re pleased to be announcing that and more.”

“Working with our partners at Legendary, we enjoyed tremendous creative and commercial success with `Godzilla,’” said Tsujihara. “It’s great to be able to revisit these characters and help create a franchise with so many creative possibilities for filmmakers. Fans love these big, globally iconic films and it doesn’t get any bigger than this.”


About the Productions:
KONG: SKULL ISLAND stars Tom Hiddleston, Sam Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman, Tian Jing, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, John Ortiz, Shea Whigham, and Toby Kebbell. Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts and written by Max Borenstein, John Gatins, Dan Gilroy, and Derek Connolly, KONG: SKULL ISLAND will fully immerse audiences in the mysterious and dangerous home of the king of the apes as a team of explorers ventures deep inside the treacherous, primordial island. Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni will produce with Mary Parent. Alex Garcia and Eric McLeod will executive produce. Warner Bros. will distribute the film in 3D and IMAX 3D on March 10, 2017.

GODZILLA 2 will be written by Max Borenstein and directed by Gareth Edwards. Legendary is producing with Mary Parent, and Alex Garcia will executive produce. The film is set to be released by Warner Bros. on June 8, 2018.

GODZILLA VS. KONG will be released in 2020.

About Legendary Entertainment
Legendary Entertainment is a leading media company with film (Legendary Pictures), television and digital (Legendary Television and Digital Media) and comics (Legendary Comics) divisions dedicated to owning, producing and delivering content to mainstream audiences with a targeted focus on the powerful fandom demographic. Through complete or joint ownership, Legendary has built a library of marquee media properties and has established itself as a trusted brand which consistently delivers high-quality, commercial entertainment including some of the world's most popular intellectual property. In aggregate, Legendary Pictures-associated productions have realized grosses of more than $12 billion worldwide at the box office. To learn more visit: www.legendary.com.

Upcoming Legendary releases via its home at Universal Pictures include CRIMSON PEAK and KRAMPUS in 2015 and WARCRAFT in 2016.

About Warner Bros. Entertainment
Warner Bros. Entertainment is a global leader in all forms of entertainment and their related businesses across all current and emerging media and platforms. A Time Warner Company, the fully integrated, broad-based studio is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature film, television and home entertainment production and worldwide distribution to DVD and Blu-ray, digital distribution, animation, comic books, video games, product and brand licensing, and broadcasting. Warner Bros. Pictures has been at the forefront of the motion picture industry since its inception and continues to be a leading creative force in the industry.

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"Sailor Moon Crystal" Heads to Hulu in November - With New English Dub

VIZ MEDIA AND HULU ANNOUNCE NOVEMBER PREMIERE OF SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL, FEATURING A BRAND NEW ENGLISH DUB

Hulu Will Be the Exclusive Streaming Destination for the New English Dubbed Episodes For The Reboot Of The Legendary Anime Series

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America and Hulu announced that the SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL anime series featuring an all new English dub will premiere exclusively on Hulu this November.

All episodes will be available to stream with a Hulu subscription for $7.99 per month with limited commercials or $11.99 per month with no commercials on all Hulu-enabled devices. Episodes will also be made available to stream on laptops and PCs on the free Hulu.com.

Based on Naoko Takeuchi’s legendary manga (graphic novel) series, the SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL (rated ‘TV-PG’) anime saga, retells the story of Sailor Moon as she searches for her fellow Sailor Guardians and the Legendary Silver Crystal to stop the dark forces of Queen Beryl. VIZ Media has given the 26-episode sci-fi action series a fresh English dialogue track featuring a cast of some of the most talented anime voice actors in the business.

The SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL English Cast Includes:
Usagi Tsukino / Sailor Moon – Stephanie Sheh
Ami Mizuno / Sailor Mercury – Kate Higgins
Rei Hino / Sailor Mars – Christina Vee
Makoto Kino / Sailor Jupiter – Amanda Miller
Minako Aino / Sailor Venus – Cherami Leigh
Mamoru Chiba / Tuxedo Mask – Robbie Daymond

The SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL Supporting Cast Includes:
Luna – Michelle Ruff
Artemis – Johnny Yong Bosch
Naru Osaka – Danielle Nicole
Gurio Umino – Ben Diskin
Ikuku Tsukino – Tara Platt
Kenji Tsukino – Keith Silverstein
Shingo Tsukino – Nicolas Roye
Queen Beryl – Cindy Robinson
Jadite – Todd Haberkom
Nephrite – Liam O’Brien
Zoicite – Lucien Dodge
Kunzite – Patrick Seitz

Fans can also catch newly subtitled and English dubbed episodes of the original SAILOR MOON anime series that are available now on Hulu and also on NeonAlley.com, VIZ Media’s consolidated online destination for FREE streaming anime content in the U.S. that is embedded within the Hulu player.

The original smash hit SAILOR MOON anime series was inspired by the bestselling manga (graphic novel) series created by Naoko Takeuchi (published in North America by Kodansha). In the series, Usagi Tsukino is a clumsy but kindhearted teenage girl who transforms into the powerful guardian of love and justice, Sailor Moon. Meeting allies along the way who share similar fates, Usagi and her team of planetary Sailor Guardians fight to protect the universe from forces of evil and total annihilation!

Additional information on Neon Alley is available at: www.NeonAlley.com.

For more information on SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL, please visit www.VIZ.com or Hulu.com/sailor-moon-crystal.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

About Hulu
Hulu is a premium streaming TV destination that offers hundreds of thousands of hours of the best of current season programming, premium original content, films and full seasons of hit series to subscribers with limited commercials for $7.99 per month or commercial free for $11.99 per month. Hulu is the only streaming subscription service that offers current season content from 5 of the 6 largest U.S. broadcast networks. Since its launch in 2008, Hulu has been at the forefront of entertainment and technology and continues to redefine TV by connecting viewers with the stories they love.

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2015 BET "Hip Hop Awards" Winners Announced

Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Big Sean Are the Big Winners of the Night as They Tie with Three Wins at the 2015 BET “Hip Hop Awards”
J. Cole Wins “Album of the Year” and “Best Live Performer”

“I Am Hip Hop” Icon Award Recipient Scarface is Speechless as He Recieves the Biggest Honor of the Night

#HipHopAwards

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hosted by none other than Uncle Snoop at the Boisfeuillet Jones Civic Center in Atlanta, Georgia, the BET “Hip Hop Awards” 2015 delivered yet another notable year of celebrating hip hop’s most influential artists as well as featured performances by some of the hottest names in hip hop.

Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Big Sean tie with three wins each – Drake wins “MVP of the Year”, “Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse” and “People’s Champ Award” for “Blessings”; Kendrick Lamar wins “Best Hip Hop Video”, “Lyricist of the Year” and “Impact Track”; Big Sean wins “Best Collabo, Duo or Group”, “Best Club Banger” and “People’s Champ Award” for “Blessings,” while J. Cole wins big for “Album of the Year” and “Best Live Performer.” Viewers were treated to show-stopping performances throughout the night by Future, Sean “Diddy” Combs aka Puff Daddy, Lil Kim, T.I., Young Dro, Dej Loaf, Kid Ink, Rich Homie Quan, iHeartMemphis and Travis Scott closing out the show.

Ludacris presented the “I Am Hip Hop” Award, which recognizes legends in hip hop music, to legendary rapper Scarface. And the highly anticipated BET “Hip Hop Awards” cyphers brought the heat with cyphers featuring Redman, Erick Sermon, Keith Murray, Doug E. Fresh, Rahzel, Black Thought, Vince Staples, Casey Veggies, Tink and more, as well as return of the live cypher performance on stage featuring Charlie Clips, Rain 910, K-Shine, DNA and T-Top.

The 2015 complete list of BET “Hip Hop Awards” winners are:

Best Hip Hop Video
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”

Best Collabo, Duo or Group
Big Sean f/ Drake & Kanye West – “Blessings”

Best Live Performer
J. Cole

Lyricist of the Year
Kendrick Lamar

Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom

DJ of the Year
DJ Mustard

Producer of the Year
DJ Mustard

MVP of the Year
Drake

Track of the Year
“Trap Queen” – Produced By Tony Fadd (Fetty Wap)

Album of the Year
J. Cole – “2014 Forest Hills Drive”

Who Blew Up Award
Fetty Wap

Hustler of the Year
Dr. Dre

Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style)
Dej Loaf

Best Hip Hop Online Site
Worldstarhiphop.com

Best Club Banger
Big Sean f/ E-40 – “IDFWU”

Best Mix Tape
Future – “56 Nights”

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
Drake – “My Way Remix” (Fetty Wap f/ Drake)

Impact Track
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”

People’s Champ Award
Big Sean f/ Drake & Kanye West – “Blessings”

Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment will serve as Executive Producer of The BET Hip Hop Awards along with Stephen G. Hill, BET’s President of Programming, Connie Orlando, BET’s Senior Vice President of Music and Specials and Lynne Harris Taylor, BET’s Vice President of Specials.

Taping of the awards show took place at Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta, GA on Friday, October 9, 2015 at 9:00 p.m. ET and premiered on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

BET.com/HipHopAwards is the official site for the BET “HIP HOP AWARDS” 2015 where fans can visit to get up-to-date info on this year's show and take a look back on past BET Hip Hop Awards. In the coming weeks, BET.com will launch a series of interactive timelines, exclusive video content, games and quizzes leading up to the show.

BET “HIP HOP AWARDS” is fresh, legendary and, as always, a memorable night that you don’t want to miss!

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to BET’s multiple social media platforms:

    On BET.com: http://www.bet.com/shows/hip-hop-awards.html
    On Twitter by using hashtag: #HipHopAwards; follow us @HipHopAwards and @BET
    On Facebook by liking the fan page at facebook.com/HipHopAwards

Follow Snoop Dogg on Twitter (@SnoopDogg), Instagram (@SnoopDogg), Facebook.com/SnoopDogg, YouTube.com/WestFestTV and SnoopDogg.com.


ABOUT BET NETWORKS:
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ:VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

ABOUT BET “HIP HOP AWARDS”:
BET “Hip Hop Awards” is an annual celebration that pays homage to a culture that changed the world while highlighting the best in hip hop music. Year after year, BET Networks delivers the best in hip-hop for an unforgettable night of performances, cyphers and tributes honoring hip-hop legends that have and continue to make hip-hop culture a global force.

ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT:
Jesse Collins Entertainment is a full service television and film production company founded by entertainment industry veteran Jesse Collins. For more than a decade, Collins, the company’s CEO, has played an integral role in producing some of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. Formerly Executive Producer/EVP of Cossette Productions, Collins has produced ground-breaking and award winning television programming including the BET Awards, the GRAMMY Awards, BET Honors, The UNCF Evening of Stars and the BET Hip Hop Awards. Collins currently Exec. Produces “The Real Husbands of Hollywood,” (now going into its 4th hit season) alongside industry Icons Stan Lathan and Ralph Farquhar; and has worked with superstar talent such as Will Smith, Chris Rock, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Prince, Mariah Carey and many more.

ABOUT SNOOP DOGG AKA UNCLE SNOOP:
An entertainment icon and with more than 20 years in the business, Snoop continues to pave the way in the hip-hop industry, serving as a mentor to many new and established artists. Snoop stands at the forefront of popular culture with award-winning and multi-platinum albums and songs, critically acclaimed films and television shows, lifestyle products, philanthropic efforts and tech and digital ventures, including his YouTube original series “GGN News,” and his best-selling app, Snoopify. Snoop defines hip-hop history. He’s set records with his seminal album Doggystyle, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 800,000 copies in the first week. Throughout his career, Snoop’s produced chart-topping hits including “Gin & Juice,” “Who Am I? (What’s My Name?),” “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang,” “Next Episode,” “Beautiful,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Signs,” “Sensual Seduction” and “I Wanna Rock.” BUSH, Snoop’s latest album via Columbia Records and executive produced by Pharrell Williams, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album Chart, marking Snoop’s sixth chart topping hit. Snoop’s non-profit work in the community is commendable, as he established the Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL) in 2005 to give children between the ages of five and 13 the opportunity to participate in youth football and cheer. SYFL teaches them the values of teamwork, good sportsmanship, discipline, and academics.

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Team Behind "Paranormal Activity" Franchise to Be Honored

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY TEAM TO BE HONORED AT THE SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL

OREN PELI TO RECEIVE THE TRAILBLAZER AWARD; JASON BLUM TO ACCEPT THE FUTURE ICON AWARD ON BEHALF OF BLUMHOUSE PRODUCTIONS

SCREAMFEST TO SHOW THE ORIGINAL “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY,” FOLLOWED BY A Q&A WITH OREN PELI

HOLLYWOOD, CA – Screamfest Horror Film Festival, the largest and longest running horror film festival in the U.S., will honor “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” director Oren Peli and production company Blumhouse at this year’s festival at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

Jason Blum will accept the Future Icon Award on behalf of Blumhouse during Opening Night on Tuesday, October 13th, 2015. Oren Peli will be honored with the Trailblazer Award at the Closing Night screening of “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION” on Thursday, October 22nd, 2015, which marks the series’ return to the festival where the first “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” film made its debut in 2007.

“Screamfest has played such an important part in the ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’ franchise so it’s only natural that we end it where it all began,” said Blum. “Our company loves making all things scary so we are so grateful to receive this award and hope that the fans have an amazing time at the festival.”

“It’s an honor to receive the Trailblazer Award from Screamfest, which has supported independent films and filmmakers, all trailblazers in their own right, for years,” said Peli. “The original ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’ had its world premiere at Screamfest eight years ago, which led to the film’s distribution and the creation of the franchise. I am thankful to Screamfest for its hand in launching the franchise and, after five sequels, I can’t think of a more fitting closure than to come full circle for the screening of the final ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’ film.”

Commented Rachel Belofsky, Screamfest Founder and Festival Director: “Jason Blum and Blumhouse Productions have revitalized the horror genre by consistently delivering quality films that have turned into successful franchises, such as ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY,’ ‘THE PURGE,’ and ‘INSIDIOUS.’ By empowering filmmakers and giving them creative freedom, Blumhouse has quickly established itself as an icon in the genre and we look forward to its many future hits.

“Oren Peli changed the trend in the horror genre with his first film, ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY,’ which spurred a huge franchise. As a trailblazer, he created one of the most terrifying films to date and helped forge the found footage subgenre. We are excited to honor him eight years after the original ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’ premiered and was honored at our festival in 2007.”

In addition to screening the latest film on Closing Night, Screamfest will host a special screening of the original “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” on Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 at the TCL Chinese 6, followed by Q&A with Oren Peli.

As a tribute to the original film’s most passionate fans, for the first time ever, Screamfest will expand nationwide with special advance screenings of “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION” in the 12 markets in which the first film opened with “Demand It” fan screenings before its theatrical run in 2009. The new film will play in Ann Arbor, MI; Baton Rouge, LA; Boulder, CO; Columbus, OH; Durham, NC; Lincoln, NE; Madison, WI; Orlando, FL; Santa Cruz, CA; Seattle, WA; State College, PA; and Tucson, AZ on October 22nd.

See the unseen in “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION” – the horrifying conclusion to the “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” films in theaters on October 23rd. The film is produced by Jason Blum and Oren Peli, based on the film “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” by Oren Peli. Story by Brantley Aufill and Jason Harry Pagan & Andrew Deutschman, with a screenplay by Jason Harry Pagan & Andrew Deutschman and Adam Robitel & Gavin Heffernan. Directed by Gregory Plotkin. Starring Chris J. Murray, Brit Shaw, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Dan Gill, Ivy George, Jessica Brown, Chloe Csengery, Don McManus, Hallie Foote and Cara Pifko.

The 2015 Screamfest Film Festival will run October 13th through October 22ndat the TCL Chinese Theater. Tickets are available at http://screamfestla.com.

Screamfest Film Festival premieres and showcases new work from American and international independent horror filmmakers. Many of the filmmakers have garnered distribution and representation as a result of the festival. Film entries are accepted in the categories of Best Feature, Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Special Effects and Musical Score. In addition, there are special categories for Best Animation, Best Short, Best Documentary and Best Student Film.

Screamfest was formed in August 2001 by film producers Rachel Belofsky and Ross Martin in order to give filmmakers and writers in the horror/sci-fi genres a venue to have their work showcased to people in the industry.


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.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION is in theaters October 23, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/paranormalactivity
https://twitter.com/tweetyourscream
https://www.youtube.com/user/ParanormalActivity
https://instagram.com/paranormalmovie/

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VIZ Media Announces Seven New Manga Series at 2015 NYCC

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES EXCITING NEW MANGA SERIES ACQUISITIONS FOR 2016 RELEASE

Seven Exciting New Series Join VIZ Media’s Manga Roster For 2016 Including New Fantasy/Action, Sports And Shojo Manga Titles

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, delivered a special sneak preview of forthcoming manga (graphic novel) titles as it announced the acquisition of several notable new series during its official panel held this past weekend at the 2015 New York Comic Con.

VIZ Media delighted a packed audience at New York Comic Con, the East Coast’s largest pop culture event, as it detailed 7 newly acquired series for the company’s popular Shonen Jump, Shonen Jump Advanced, VIZ Media, and Shojo Beat imprints. The new titles will launch during the Spring and Summer of 2016 and will include the supernatural/fantasy/action series 7TH GARDEN, BLACK CLOVER and MONSTER HUNTER, the sports series HAIKYU!! and KUROKO’S BASKETBALL, and a pair of shojo series, EVERYONE’S GETTING MARRIED and YONA OF THE DAWN.

“We are super excited to expand our shonen and shojo publishing catalogs next year with these new titles. Manga readers will want to jump into the assortment of fantasy, action/adventure, shojo romance and sports-themed releases we have planned for 2016,” says Hope Donovan, Managing Editor. “Stay tuned as we release additional information on each of these new series as the respective launch dates draw closer.”

New VIZ Media Manga Acquisitions:

7TH GARDEN · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · Debuting Summer 2016

In this series by Mitsu Izumi, Awyn Gardner will do anything to protect the beautiful mistress of the equally beautiful estate gardens he lovingly tends...even enslave himself to an also beautiful demon bent on world domination! The fight is on between angels and demons and humans for the world…and Awyn’s heart!

BLACK CLOVER · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · Debuting Summer 2016

SHONEN JUMP's breakaway hit of 2015, a fantasy action-adventure about mastering magical powers. Asta is a young boy who dreams of becoming the greatest mage in the kingdom. Only one problem – he can't use any magic! Luckily for Asta, he receives the incredibly rare five-leaf clover grimoire that gives him the power of anti-magic. Can someone who can't use magic really become the Wizard King? One thing's for sure – Asta will never give up! The series is also currently featured in WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP magazine.

EVERYONE’S GETTING MARRIED · Rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers · Debuting Summer 2016

In this new Shojo Beat manga series by Izumi Miyazono, successful career woman Asuka Takanashi has an old-fashioned dream of getting married and becoming a housewife. After her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her to pursue his own career goals, she encounters Ryu Nanami, a popular newscaster at PTV. Asuka and Ryu get along well, but the last thing he wants is to ever get married. This level-headed pair who want the opposite things in life should never get involved, except...   

HAIKYU!! · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · Debuting Summer 2016

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as the "Little Giant" compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has aimed to be the best volleyball player ever! He decides to join the team at the high school the Little Giant went to – and then surpass him. Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

KUROKO’S BASKETBALL: 2-IN-1 EDITION · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · Debuting Summer 2016

Kuroko Tetsuya doesn't stand out much. In fact, he's so plain that people hardly ever notice when he's around. Though he’s just as unremarkable on the basketball court, that’s where his plainness gives him an unexpected edge – one that lets him execute awesome moves without others noticing! And now that he's a high school student, he's on a mission to defeat each member of his legendary middle school team, known as the Miracle Generation.

MONSTER HUNTER · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · Debuting Spring 2016

In this new series based off the popular Monster Hunter video games, our heroes live in an age when monsters rule the world: soaring through the sky, treading the earth and filling the seas. Humanity survives on the fringes, relying on a special kind of hero to defend the people from danger – the Monster Hunter!

YONA OF THE DAWN · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · Debuting Summer 2016

The fantasy adventure shojo manga series that also inspired the fan favorite anime about a princess who’s on a quest to reclaim her throne! Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Soo-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when she witnesses her father’s murder!

For more information on manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

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