Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for March 24, 2021

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

OCT201540    2000 AD #2212 XMAS 2020 SPECIAL    $13.00
SEP201390    2000 AD NOV 2020 PROG PACK    $28.60
OCT201538    2000 AD PROG #2210    $6.50
OCT201539    2000 AD PROG #2211    $6.50
NOV200980    21ST CENTURIONS #4    $5.95
JAN211498    AGENT 9 GN VOL 01 FLOOD A GEDDON    $12.99
JAN211499    AGENT 9 HC GN VOL 01 FLOOD A GEDDON    $18.99
OCT201501    AGGRETSUKO HC MEET HER FRIENDS (MR)    $11.99
JAN211372    ALLERGIC GN    $12.99
JAN211373    ALLERGIC HC GN    $24.99
DEC201188    AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY MONSTERS #3 CVR A WOLFER (MR)    $3.99
DEC201189    AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY MONSTERS #3 CVR B RACY LTD ED (MR)    $9.99
JAN211109    ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #318    $7.99
DEC201973    BEAUTY AND FEAST GN VOL 01    $12.99
NOV201647    BELLE THUNDER OF GODS CVR A SPAY    $5.99
NOV201648    BELLE THUNDER OF GODS CVR B VITORINO    $5.99
NOV201649    BELLE THUNDER OF GODS CVR C RUFFINO    $5.99
OCT201535    BEST OF SUGAR JONES TP    $13.99
JAN211611    BIANCA TP (MR)    $18.00
OCT201763    BL FANS LOVE MY BROTHER GN    $12.99
DEC201940    BL METAMORPHOSIS GN VOL 04    $13.99
JAN211568    BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #2 CVR A HERNANDEZ    $3.99
JAN211569    BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #2 CVR B MOMOKO    $3.99
JAN211570    BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #2 CVR C DAGNINO    $3.99
JAN211571    BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #2 CVR D HACK    $3.99
JAN218706    BLADE RUNNER ORIGINS #2 CVR E FOC MOMOKO SKETCH    $3.99
NOV201602    BLOODSHOT 50 PROJECT TP    $9.99
JAN211526    BOOK OF LYAXIA #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN211523    CATDAD & SUPERMOM AN ELEPHANT NEVER FORGETS    $3.99
JAN211379    COLD DEAD WAR #1 (OF 4) (RES) (MR)    $3.99
NOV201447    DANCE CLASS HC VOL 11 DANCE WITH ME    $10.99
JAN211440    DEEP BLUE #3 (MR)    $3.99
NOV201423    DELICATES TP    $14.99
NOV201250    DF KING IN BLACK #2 CATES SGN    $49.99
OCT201286    DISTANT WORLDS GN VOL 05 EPISODE 5    $11.95
DEC201943    DRUGSTORE IN ANOTHER WORLD CHEAT PHARMACIST GN VOL 01    $12.99
DEC201595    DRYAD #9    $3.99
JAN211482    EDWARD HOPPER GN    $24.95
OCT201117    EXCITING COMICS #8    $3.99
JAN211513    FRANK AT HOME ON THE FARM #3    $3.99
JAN211470    GERONIMO STILTON REPORTER HC VOL 07 GOING DOWN TO CHINATOWN    $9.99
DEC201944    GHOSTLY THINGS GN VOL 03    $12.99
AUG201100    GIRL GENIUS SECOND JOURNEY GN VOL 06 SPARKS AND MONSTERS    $25.00
AUG201101    GIRL GENIUS SECOND JOURNEY HC VOL 06 SPARKS AND MONSTERS    $50.00
JAN211394    GREETINGS FROM WASTELAND HC    $25.00
JAN211006    GUNG HO SEXY BEAST #3 CVR A SEGOVIA (MR)    $3.99
JAN211007    GUNG HO SEXY BEAST #3 CVR B JAE KWANG PARK (MR)    $3.99
JAN211008    GUNG HO SEXY BEAST #3 CVR C MEYNET (MR)    $3.99
JAN211009    GUNG HO SEXY BEAST #3 CVR D KUMMANT (MR)    $3.99
JAN211430    GUNLAND GN VOL 03 CODA    $19.99
FEB211171    HEIR GN VOL 01 (OF 2)    $25.00
DEC201945    HIGH RISE INVASION GN VOL 09 (COLLECTS VOL 17 & 18) (MR)    $19.99
DEC201946    HIMOUTO UMARI CHAN GN VOL 13    $12.99
JAN218619    HOLLOW HEART #1 CVR F 2ND PTG    $3.99
JAN211391    HOUSE WITHOUT WINDOWS TP    $19.99
DEC201947    HOW TO TREAT MAGICAL BEASTS GN VOL 05    $12.99
DEC201666    I FEEL LOVE GN (MR)    $22.99
JAN211329    I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN HC (MR)    $24.99
JAN211701    IN SPECTRE GN VOL 13    $10.99
JAN211530    LADY FREEDOM #1 (OF 5)    $3.99
JAN211807    LAST ROUND ARTHURS GN VOL 02    $13.00
JAN211474    LOUD HOUSE SC VOL 12 CASE STOLEN DRAWERS    $7.99
DEC201902    LOVE & HEART GN VOL 01    $13.00
OCT201287    LUCKY LUKE TP VOL 77 COWBOY IN HIGH COTTON    $11.95
DEC201951    MADE IN ABYSS GN VOL 09    $13.99
JAN211358    MAKER COMICS GN BUILD A ROBOT    $12.99
JAN211359    MAKER COMICS HC GN BUILD A ROBOT    $19.99
JAN211111    MICHAEL TURNER CREATIONS HC    $125.00
JAN211052    MISKATONIC #5    $3.99
DEC201955    MISS KOBAYASHIS DRAGON MAID GN VOL 10    $12.99
OCT201537    MISTY WINTER SPECIAL 2020 ONESHOT    $11.00
AUG201732    MORRISON HOTEL GN    $19.99
JAN211085    MUTTS GO GREEN TP    $11.99
JAN211227    NECROMORFUS TP (MR)    $14.99
JAN211410    NINJAS & ROBOTS #5 CVR A ERIK KLAUS    $4.99
JAN211411    NINJAS & ROBOTS #5 CVR B STEVE MANNION    $4.99
FEB210978    NORTH STAR ONE SHOT    $6.95
JAN211425    PANTOMIME #5 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN211368    PARAKEET GN    $21.95
JAN211228    PARANORMAL HITMEN #2 (OF 4) (MR)    $3.99
DEC201959    PRECARIOUS WOMAN MISS BLACK GENERAL GN VOL 06 (MR)    $12.99
JAN211516    PROVENANCE OF MADNESS TP CVR A PAUL JACKSON    $19.99
JAN211517    PROVENANCE OF MADNESS TP CVR B CHRISTIAN DIBARI    $19.99
OCT201529    PS ARTBOOKS KONA MONARCH MONSTER ISLE SOFTEE VOL 01    $24.99
JUL201361    PS ARTBOOKS MAGAZINE ANARCHO DICTATOR OF DEATH    $13.99
NOV201063    PUNCHLINE #12 CVR A    $3.99
NOV201064    PUNCHLINE #12 CVR B BACK TO BACK VAR    $9.99
JAN211518    RABID WORLD #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
JAN211519    RECOUNT #3    $3.99
JAN211327    RED ROCK BABY CANDY HC    $29.99
SEP201396    RETURN OF SEXTON BLAKE ONESHOT    $15.99
NOV201856    ROLL OVER AND DIE GN VOL 01    $12.99
DEC201864    ROSE OF VERSAILLES GN VOL 04 (RES)    $38.99
OCT201288    ROUTE 66 LIST GN VOL 04 OKLAHOMA  TEXAS    $11.95
NOV200895    SEEN ORIGINAL GN RACHEL CARSON    $5.99
JAN211047    SHADOW DOCTOR #2    $3.99
JAN211362    SHADOW LIFE GN    $24.99
DEC201816    SHAMAN KING OMNIBUS TP VOL 01    $19.99
JAN211347    SHERLOCK BONES GN VOL 09 SEA CREATURE FEATURE    $7.99
JAN211348    SHERLOCK BONES HC VOL 09 SEA CREATURE FEATURE    $17.99
AUG201523    SILVER AGE CLASSICS KONA MONARCH MONSTER ISLE HC VOL 01    $46.99
AUG201524    SILVER AGE CLASSICS KONA SLIPCASE VOL 01    $56.99
AUG201525    SILVER AGE CLASSICS SPACE ADVENTURES HC VOL 06    $46.99
AUG201526    SILVER AGE CLASSICS SPACE ADVENTURES SLIPCASE ED VOL 06    $56.99
JAN211820    SO IM SPIDER SO WHAT LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 11    $14.00
JAN211492    STAR WARS MANDALORIAN SCREEN COMIX TP VOL 01 SEASON 1 (RES)    $14.99
JAN211229    STEAMBOUND #3 (MR)    $3.99
SEP201397    STRONTIUM DOG SEARCH AND DESTROY HC (RES)    $26.99
JAN211385    TAARNA (2020) #4 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN211528    THE EDGE #1    $3.99
JAN211798    TOILET BOUND HANAKO KUN GN VOL 08    $13.00
JAN211369    TWISTER GN    $17.50
JAN211230    VIETNAM HORROR #1 (MR)    $3.99
JAN211441    WOMEN DISCOVERERS GN    $19.99
JAN211222    YEAR ZERO VOL 2 #5 CVR A ANDREWS (MR)    $3.99
JAN211223    YEAR ZERO VOL 2 #5 CVR B ROSANAS (MR)    $3.99

MAGAZINES

JAN211275    COMIC SHOP NEWS [90CT BUNDLE] #1753    $PI
NOV201446    DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #559    $13.50
OCT201541    JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE #427    $13.00
NOV201511    SCREAM MAGAZINE #64 (MR)    $9.99

BOOKS

JAN211508    ART SLEEVES ALBUM COVERS BY ARTISTS HC    $50.00
JAN211395    BACK TO THE FUTURE DELOREAN TIME MACHINE USERS MANUAL    $29.99
JAN211823    BOTTOM-TIER CHARACTER TOMOZAKI LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 06    $14.00
DEC201916    DATE A LIVE LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 01    $15.00
JAN211827    DIRTY WAY DESTROY GODDESS HEROES NOVEL SC VOL 06    $15.00
JAN211367    DISNEY RAYA & LAST DRAGON LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK    $5.99
FEB211170    EYES OF GREEN ART OF RB WHITE SC    $25.00
JAN211586    FIREFLY ARTBOOK HC    $50.00
JAN211821    GOBLIN SLAYER LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 11 (MR)    $15.00
DEC201968    GRIMGAR OF FANTASY & ASH LIGHT NOVEL VOL 14.5    $17.99
JAN211826    KID FROM DUNGEON BOONIES MOVED STARTER TOWN NOVEL SC VOL 05    $15.00
JAN211824    LAST ROUND ARTHURS LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 04    $15.00
JAN211825    MAGICAL GIRL RAISING PROJECT LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 11    $15.00
DEC201970    MUSHOKU TENSEI JOBLESS REINCARNATION LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 09 (    $13.99
JAN211032    TERRY MOORE HOW TO DRAW EXPANDED ED SC (RES)    $18.99
JAN211830    WORLD STRONGEST REARGUARD LABYRINTH NOVICE NOVEL SC VOL 05 (    $15.00

DC Comics New Releases from Lunar Distributors for March 23, 2021

DC COMICS:

Action Comics #1029 (Cover A Phil Hester & Eric Gapstur), $4.99
Action Comics #1029 (Cover B Julian Totino Tedesco), AR
Batman Arkham Talia al Ghul TP, $29.99
Batman Black And White #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Becky Cloonan), $5.99
Batman Black And White #4 (Of 6)(Cover B Gabriele Dell’Otto), $5.99
Batman Black And White #4 (Of 6)(Cover C Simone Bianchi Two-Face Variant), $5.99
Batman Detective Comics Volume 5 The Joker War HC, $29.99
Batman Superman #16 (Cover A Ivan Reis & Danny Miki), $3.99
Batman Superman #16 (Cover B Greg Smallwood), AR
Batman White Knight Presents Harley Quinn #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Sean Murphy), $4.99
Batman White Knight Presents Harley Quinn #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Matteo Scalera), $4.99
DC Connect Checklist Poster #10, AR
DCeased TP, $19.99
Detective Comics #1034 (Cover A Dan Mora), $4.99
Detective Comics #1034 (Cover B Lee Bermejo Card Stock Variant), AR
Future State Teen Titans Ruins #1 (Cover A Rafa Sandoval), $5.99
Harley Quinn #1 (Cover A Riley Rossmo), $3.99
Harley Quinn #1 (Cover B Derrick Chew Card Stock Variant), AR
Harley Quinn #1 (Cover C Blank Card Stock Variant), AR
Harley Quinn #1 (Cover D Yoshitaka Amano Team Card Stock Variant), AR
Harley Quinn And The Birds Of Prey The Hunt For Harley HC, $24.99
Swamp Thing The New 52 Omnibus HC, $125.00
Teen Titans Academy #1 (Cover A Rafa Sandoval), $3.99
Teen Titans Academy #1 (Cover B Jamal Campbell), AR

Women Make History with Walt Disney's "Raya and the Last Dragon"

Press release:

Making History While Making "Raya and the Last Dragon"

The warrior at the center of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ newest film, Raya and the Last Dragon, is brave and resilient; Sisu, the titular dragon of legend, is also a bold hero in her own right, filled with optimism, hope and a disarming sense of humor. These strong women have been brought to life in the film—which debuted in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access Friday, March 5, 2021—by a talented team of writers, artists and technologists anchored by women leaders who are pretty inspiring themselves. Produced by Osnat Shurer, Raya and the Last Dragon was developed under the leadership of Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer, Jennifer Lee; with co-writer Adele Lim, head of story Fawn Veerasunthorn and co-head of animation Amy Smeed among the women leading the creative charge. Additionally, the film boasts an all-female technical leadership team led by technical supervisor, Kelsey Hurley, and associate technical supervisors, Gabriela Hernandez and Shweta Viswanathan.

The creative, technology and production leads on Raya and the Last Dragon were the best in their areas, Shurer states, and she believes that diversity in leadership “behind the camera” at Disney Animation is essential. She praises the studio’s efforts to increase representation on its films, noting, “The more people of different genders, backgrounds and ethnicities are in the room, the more of ourselves we’ll see on the screen, which is incredibly exciting. There is so much we can learn from each other, which in turn serves to deepen our empathy for one another, and our ability to all work together, embracing our unique contributions, to make a better world. What could be a more timely message?”

The technical leadership team oversees all technology needs for the film, ensuring the artists have the tools and technical resources they need to achieve the directors’ vision. “Our job is a bit behind- the-scenes but just as important,” Hernandez says. “It feels nice when that comes across in the artists’ gratitude when working together.”

“As technical supervisor, it’s my job to ensure we have everything we need from a technical standpoint to create the film. This ranges from making sure we have the tool sets needed, to making sure we have enough render capacity and disk space,” Hurley explains. Along with Hernandez and Viswanathan, the women lead a team of technical directors (TDs) who provide troubleshooting support for artists as well as develop new tools for them.

Raya and the Last Dragon takes viewers to the fantasy world of Kumandra—whose five lands are all filled with their own distinct cultures and creatures. “Each has a unique look and feel, and one of the challenges we faced was representing how large this world really is,” Hurley explains. “Raya brings together all the technologies we’ve created over the last 10 years together. Using Hyperion (our in-house renderer) that we first saw on Big Hero 6, fur simulation made for Zootopia, water tools from Moana and an upgraded volumetric system and environment toolset from Frozen 2, we are able to showcase a large world with a diverse set of characters and landscapes.”

While the technologists were able to draw from previous films to inspire innovations on screen in Raya and the Last Dragon, there was no reference for the shift they had to orchestrate when the pandemic forced production to continue remotely. “The entire team had to hit the ground running. We’re fortunate that our studio already enabled us to work from home to promote work-life balance. The main problem that needed to be solved was with regards to scale—we never had the entire studio need to log on at the same time before,” Hurley recalls. “Within just two weeks, we went from needing to have a rotation for when artists could work, to enabling the entire studio to log on all at once. The technology team at Disney did quick, amazing work which let the movie continue without missing a beat.”

Hurley describes being part of an all-female technology leadership team as “an incredible experience. Not long ago our TD department only had a few women, and now we’re at about equal gender representation in the department and in leadership,” she says. Viswanathan concurs, sharing, “I feel fortunate to have joined Disney, and honestly to have started working at a time where there isn’t a lot of emphasis on my gender, and my success and advancement is purely based on my merit.”

As Hurley, Hernandez and Viswanathan have grown in their tech careers, they praise the studio for fostering an environment that’s collaborative and rich with opportunities to learn from their fellow employees. “There are still some days where I wake up and I am just so stunned to work here alongside folks who made the movies I grew up on, folks whose works we studied in CG courses at university,” Viswanathan shares. “And now, nearly a decade later, I feel so blessed to be able to be here and make my own mark here. The studio truly is so collaborative, nothing is about the ‘I,’ but rather how ‘we’ can all work together to bring the movie to the world.”

Hernandez is grateful to her fellow technology leads for their mentorship and partnership in making Raya, and tried to pay that forward on her own team. “It was my first time being a supervisor, and Kelsey and Shweta always had my back. They trusted me, gave me the space to find my voice and style, and were there if I ever needed them. We grew together,” she says, adding, “I hope the team feels the same. It was very important to me and was one of my goals to give the TDs the best opportunities to grow and shine, too.”

“It’s inspiring working with all the artists and technologists in the studio,” Hurley says. “As someone with a computer science background, I love seeing our work translate to making a movie.” The technologist says she always had an interest in art and computers, but only discovered while she was in college that it was possible to pursue a career that combined the two seemingly disparate fields. “While I love art, I’m not a strong artist, so when I found out that this job acts as a bridge between art and technology, I felt like it was the perfect fit,” she notes.

Hernandez also discovered computer science in college. “That’s when I realized that I love problem solving and creative environments. Being a TD at Disney is perfect for that. Every day there’s a new problem to solve,” she recalls. “Growing up as a Dominican girl from The Bronx and watching Disney movies, I never imagined I would be working at Walt Disney Animation Studios.”

When asked what words of encouragement she has for women who are thinking of pursuing a similar path in animation technology, Hernandez urges, “Don’t be afraid to speak up and take up space. Believe in yourself. We, too, deserve a seat at the table.”

Viswanathan acknowledges the importance of a programming background—essential in building the tools that allow the artists to create—but also stresses, “Be curious and open-minded, and don’t be afraid to ask questions, because that’s a great way to learn. Having mentoring or tutoring experience also goes a long way, since a lot of our day is people-facing; having good soft skills is a huge plus.”

“Be confident in yourself and find your voice,” Hurley stresses. “Those are the two things that have changed my life and let me go out for different opportunities, even when they scared me.”

Shurer, who joined Disney Animation in 2012 and who previous produced the Oscar®-nominated Moana, underscores the importance of perseverance, especially when things are difficult. Her advice to women who are just starting out in animation is, “If you encounter setbacks along the way, take a moment to feel what you feel, and then get back into it,” she says. “Your story, our stories, are valuable and important and need to be told, and your voice in shaping these stories is essential.”

Disney Animation has a long history of stories featuring women in aspirational roles, Shurer points out, and it excites her to see an ever-growing number of equally strong women working behind the scenes at the studio. She shares, “As we move forward, our studio—led creatively by Jenn Lee, a woman who is a creative force in her own right, joined by women in leadership at every level—continues to lead the way towards greater inclusion on the screen and behind the camera. How cool is that?!”

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Nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards Have Been Announced

93RD OSCARS® NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

Actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas and singer, songwriter and actor Nick Jonas announced the 93rd Oscars® nominations Monday, March 15, 2021, live from London, via a global live stream on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, the Academy’s digital platforms, an international satellite feed and broadcast media.

Chopra Jonas and Jonas announced the nominees in 23 categories at 5:19 a.m. PT. For a complete list of nominees, visit the official Oscars website, www.oscar.com.

Academy members from each of the 17 branches vote to determine the nominees in their respective categories – actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, etc. In the Animated Feature Film and International Feature Film categories, nominees are selected by a vote of multi-branch screening committees. All voting members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees.

Active members of the Academy are eligible to vote for the winners in all 23 categories beginning Thursday, April 15, through Tuesday, April 20, 2021.

The 93rd Oscars will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2021, at Union Station Los Angeles and the Dolby® Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

Nominations for the 2021 / 93rd Academy Awards:

Best motion picture of the year:

•     "The Father" David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi and Philippe Carcassonne, Producers
•     "Judas and the Black Messiah" Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, Producers
•     "Mank" Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth and Douglas Urbanski, Producers
•     "Minari" Christina Oh, Producer
•     "Nomadland" Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloé Zhao, Producers
•     "Promising Young Woman" Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, Producers
•     "Sound of Metal" Bert Hamelinck and Sacha Ben Harroche, Producers
•     "The Trial of the Chicago 7" Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, Producers

Performance by an actor in a leading role:

    Riz Ahmed in "Sound of Metal"
    Chadwick Boseman in "Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom"
    Anthony Hopkins in "The Father"
    Gary Oldman in "Mank"
    Steven Yeun in "Minari"

Performance by an actor in a supporting role:

    Sacha Baron Cohen in "The Trial of the Chicago 7"
    Daniel Kaluuya in "Judas and the Black Messiah"
    Leslie Odom, Jr. in "One Night in Miami..."
    Paul Raci in "Sound of Metal"
    Lakeith Stanfield in "Judas and the Black Messiah"

Performance by an actress in a leading role:

    Viola Davis in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
    Andra Day in "The United States vs. Billie Holiday"
    Vanessa Kirby in "Pieces of a Woman"
    Frances McDormand in "Nomadland"
    Carey Mulligan in "Promising Young Woman"

Performance by an actress in a supporting role:

    Maria Bakalova in "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"
    Glenn Close in "Hillbilly Elegy"
    Olivia Colman in "The Father"
    Amanda Seyfried in "Mank"
    Yuh-Jung Youn in "Minari"

Best animated feature film of the year:

    "Onward" Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae
    "Over the Moon" Glen Keane, Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou
    "A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon" Richard Phelan, Will Becher and Paul Kewley
    "Soul" Pete Docter and Dana Murray
    "Wolfwalkers" Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young and Stéphan Roelants

Achievement in cinematography:

    "Judas and the Black Messiah" Sean Bobbitt
    "Mank" Erik Messerschmidt
    "News of the World" Dariusz Wolski
    "Nomadland" Joshua James Richards
    "The Trial of the Chicago 7" Phedon Papamichael

Achievement in costume design:

    "Emma" Alexandra Byrne
    "Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom" Ann Roth
    "Mank" Trish Summerville
    "Mulan" Bina Daigeler
    "Pinocchio" Massimo Cantini Parrini

Achievement in directing

    "Another Round" Thomas Vinterberg
    "Mank" David Fincher
    "Minari" Lee Isaac Chung
    "Nomadland" Chloé Zhao
    "Promising Young Woman" Emerald Fennell

Best documentary feature

    "Collective" Alexander Nanau and Bianca Oana
    "Crip Camp" Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht and Sara Bolder
    "The Mole Agent" Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibáñez
    "My Octopus Teacher" Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster
    "Time" Garrett Bradley, Lauren Domino and Kellen Quinn

Best documentary short subject

    "Colette" Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard
    "A Concerto Is a Conversation" Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
    "Do Not Split" Anders Hammer and Charlotte Cook
    "Hunger Ward" Skye Fitzgerald and Michael Scheuerman
    "A Love Song for Latasha" Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan

Achievement in film editing

    "The Father" Yorgos Lamprinos
    "Nomadland" Chloé Zhao
    "Promising Young Woman" Frédéric Thoraval
    "Sound of Metal" Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
    "The Trial of the Chicago 7" Alan Baumgarten

Best international feature film of the year

    "Another Round" Denmark
    "Better Days" Hong Kong
    "Collective" Romania
    "The Man Who Sold His Skin" Tunisia
    "Quo Vadis, Aida?" Bosnia and Herzegovina

Achievement in makeup and hairstyling

    "Emma" Marese Langan, Laura Allen and Claudia Stolze
    "Hillbilly Elegy" Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle and Patricia Dehaney
    "Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom" Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
    "Mank" Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri and Colleen LaBaff
    "Pinocchio" Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli and Francesco Pegoretti

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

    "Da 5 Bloods" Terence Blanchard
    "Mank" Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
    "Minari" Emile Mosseri
    "News of the World" James Newton Howard
    "Soul" Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

    "Fight For You" from "Judas and the Black Messiah" Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
    "Hear My Voice" from "The Trial of the Chicago 7" Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
    "Husavik" from "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson
    "Io Sì (Seen)" from "The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)" Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
    "Speak Now" from "One Night in Miami..." Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth

Achievement in production design

    "The Father" Production Design: Peter Francis; Set Decoration: Cathy Featherstone
    "Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom" Production Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara and Diana Stoughton
    "Mank" Production Design: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale
    "News of the World" Production Design: David Crank; Set Decoration: Elizabeth Keenan
    "Tenet" Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas

Best animated short film

    "Burrow" Madeline Sharafian and Michael Capbarat
    "Genius Loci" Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise
    "If Anything Happens I Love You" Will McCormack and Michael Govier
    "Opera" Erick Oh
    "Yes-People" Gísli Darri Halldórsson and Arnar Gunnarsson

Best live action short film

    "Feeling Through" Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski
    "The Letter Room" Elvira Lind and Sofia Sondervan
    "The Present" Farah Nabulsi
    "Two Distant Strangers" Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe
    "White Eye" Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman

Achievement in sound

    "Greyhound" Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman
    "Mank" Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance and Drew Kunin
    "News of the World" Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller and John Pritchett
    "Soul" Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker
    "Sound of Metal" Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh

Achievement in visual effects

    "Love and Monsters" Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt and Brian Cox
    "The Midnight Sky" Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins
    "Mulan" Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury and Steve Ingram
    "The One and Only Ivan" Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones and Santiago Colomo Martinez
    "Tenet" Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher

Adapted screenplay:

•     "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad
•     "The Father" Screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller
•     "Nomadland" Written for the screen by Chloé Zhao
•     "One Night in Miami..." Screenplay by Kemp Powers
•     "The White Tigers" Written for the screen by Ramin Bahrani

Original screenplay:

•     "Judas and the Black Messiah" Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
•     "Minari" Written by Lee Isaac Chung
•     "Promising Young Woman" Written by Emerald Fennell
•     "Sound of Metal" Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance
•     "The Trial of the Chicago 7" Written by Aaron Sorkin

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NatGeo Rolls Out Spring 2021 Content with "Genius: Aretha" Sun., March 21st

National Geographic Announces Spring 2021 Content Rollout at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour

STORYTELLING THROUGH THE EYES OF …

PREMIERES INCLUDE
‘Genius: Aretha’ Premieres Sunday, March 21;

ADVENTURE NIGHT:
Returning Series ‘Running Wild with Bear Grylls’ and New Series ‘Race to the Center of the Earth’ Premiere Monday, March 29;

‘National Geographic Presents: IMPACT with Gal Gadot’ Digital Series Premieres April 19;

Disney+ Original Series ‘Secrets of the Whales’ Premieres Earth Day, April 22;

PERSONALITY NIGHT:
Returning Series ‘Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted’ and New Series ‘Breaking Bobby Bones’ Premiere Memorial Day

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Geographic President of Content Courteney Monroe unveiled the spring schedule of premieres for National Geographic’s premium science, adventure and exploration content at the Television Critics Association Virtual Winter Press Tour.

“In the wake of this extraordinary and unprecedented year, we remain focused at National Geographic on telling stories that remind us that beauty and wonder still exist in our world,” said Monroe. “From ‘IMPACT with Gal Gadot’ to ‘Secrets of The Whales’ and the return of ‘Uncharted with Gordon Ramsay,’ National Geographic transports audiences around the globe, inspiring a new generation of explorers and adventurers.”

Highlights of National Geographic Content’s new premieres include the highly anticipated March 21 debut of “Genius: Aretha” starring Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin; March 29 premiere of a night of adventure with new series “Race to the Center of the Earth,” from “The Amazing Race” producers, paired with a new season of fan-favorite adventure series “Running Wild with Bear Grylls”; Memorial Day premiere of new personality-driven series “Breaking Bobby Bones” paired with a new season of “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted”; new digital doc shorts series “National Geographic Presents: IMPACT with Gal Gadot” dropping on April 19 across National Geographic digital and social platforms; and the Disney+ Earth Day premiere of the original series “Secrets of the Whales,” from executive producer James Cameron and featuring National Geographic Photographer Brian Skerry.

Full press releases and trailers for “Genius: Aretha,” “Running Wild with Bear Grylls,” “Race to the Center of the Earth,” “National Geographic Presents: IMPACT with Gal Gadot,” “Secrets of the Whales,” “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted,” “Breaking Bobby Bones” and “Red Summer” can be found at natgeotvpressroom.com.

National Geographic Content - NEW PREMIERE DATES (U.S. ONLY):

MARCH

OWN THE ROOM on Disney+ from National Geographic Documentary Films (NEW DOC)
Premieres Friday, March 12

Five students from disparate corners of the planet take their big ideas to Macau, China, host of one of the most prestigious entrepreneurship competitions in the world, the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards. Santosh is from a small farming town in Nepal; Alondra works the register at her family’s bakery in Puerto Rico; Henry is a programming wiz from Nairobi; Jason is a marketing machine from Greece; and Daniela is an immigrant escaping the crisis in Venezuela, taking on the chemical industry from her lab at NYU. They’ve each overcome immense obstacles in pursuit of their dreams, from hurricanes to poverty to civil unrest. Their ideas have already changed their own lives, but are they ready to change the world?

DR. OAKLEY, YUKON VET on Nat Geo WILD (Returning Series)
Premieres Saturday, March 13, 9/8c
All previous seasons of “Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet” are available to stream on Disney+

Every day is a unique challenge for Dr. Michelle Oakley, the only all-species vet for hundreds of miles across the Great North. Whether wrestling bison, tracking ibex in the mountains, performing surgery on a wolverine, or braving fierce landscapes to return moose calves to the wild, Dr. Oakley will do whatever it takes to keep the animals in her charge safe and healthy.

GENIUS: ARETHA on National Geographic (New Season of Anthology Series)

(Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, Clive Davis, 20th Television, MWM Studios and EUE/Sokolow)

Four-night Television Event Premieres Sunday, March 21 at 9/8c, with back-to-back episodes, available next day on Hulu

“Genius” is National Geographic's critically acclaimed anthology series that dramatizes the fascinating stories of the world’s most brilliant innovators, their extraordinary achievements and their volatile, passionate and complex personal relationships. This third season will explore Aretha Franklin’s musical genius and incomparable career, as well as the immeasurable impact and lasting influence she has had on music and culture around the world. Franklin was a gospel prodigy, an outspoken civil rights champion and is widely considered to be the greatest singer of the past 50 years, receiving countless honors throughout her career. Starring double-Oscar® nominee Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin and Emmy®-award winning Courtney B. Vance as C.L. Franklin, “Genius: Aretha” will be the first-ever, definitive and only authorized scripted series on the life of the universally acclaimed Queen of Soul. Previous seasons, “Genius: Einstein” and “Genius: Picasso” are available to stream on Hulu.

RUNNING WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS on National Geographic (Returning Series)
Premieres Monday, March 29 at 9/8c
The previous Nat Geo season of “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” is available to stream on Disney+

National Geographic is officially the new home of the wildly popular hit series “Running Wild with Bear Grylls.” In its second season on National Geographic, world-renowned survivalist Bear Grylls returns to the wilderness eager to push the mental and physical limits of a brand-new slate of celebrities in the hit adventure series “Running Wild with Bear Grylls.” Hollywood’s fan favorites come along for another adventurous ride to join Grylls in new challenges that make even the bravest shudder. Each week, a new celebrity guest leaves the luxury of their homes to venture into some of the most extreme environments in the world to conquer fears, test their limits and sometimes dabble in nature’s not-so-tasty delicacies. Continuing to push superstars’ comfort levels, this season Grylls travels the globe from the deserts of Utah to the Dolomites of Italy and the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California for more epic, life-changing adventures. This season’s celebrities include: Anthony Mackie (“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”), Bobby Bones (“Breaking Bobby Bones,” “American Idol”), Terry Crews (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Deadpool”), Gina Carano (“The Mandalorian”), Keegan-Michael Key (“Brain Games,” “Prom”), Danica Patrick (former professional racing driver), Danny Trejo (“Machete,” “Sons of Anarchy”) and Rainn Wilson (“The Office,” “Utopia”).

RACE TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH on National Geographic (New Series)
Premieres Monday, March 29 at 10/9c

The epic seven-part series, created by award-winning producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, is an adrenaline-fueled global competition that pits four teams of three against one another in a nonstop sprint across the globe for a $1 million prize. “Race to the Center of the Earth” is an extreme non-elimination competition that follows four groups of adventurers, each starting from different corners of the earth, as they race to a buoy holding the grand prize. Racing from different corners of the planet — South America, Russia, Canada and Southeast Asia, the teams will face untamed jungles, frozen arctic, arid deserts, bustling cities, treacherous mountains and vast oceans to reach the location where all four routes intersect. The first team to arrive at the buoy claims it all. Embarking on the adventure of a lifetime, these adventurous teams, made up of friends and co-workers, are confident their bond is what will lead them to the finish line.

APRIL

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PRESENTS: IMPACT WITH GAL GADOT on National Geographic digital and social platforms (New Digital Series)
Premieres weekly beginning Monday, April 19

In the heart of some of the most difficult circumstances in the world, there exist beacons of hope. National Geographic Presents: IMPACT with Gal Gadot is a compelling new six-part short-form documentary series from executive producers Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”), Jaron Varsano (“Cleopatra”), Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth (“Freeheld”), Entertainment One’s (eOne) Tara Long (Emmy®-nominated “L.A. Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later”) and RPC’s Ryan Pallota, that follows the powerful stories of resilient young women around the globe who overcome obstacles and do extraordinary things.

SECRETS OF THE WHALES on Disney+ (New Series)
Four-Part Event Series Premieres Earth Day, April 22
(From executive producer James Cameron and featuring National Geographic Explorer and Photographer Brian Skerry)

Epic, revealing and emotional, that’s what you get when immersed in the secretive world of whales and see life and love from their perspectives. From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker and conservationist James Cameron, “Secrets of the Whales” plunges viewers deep within the epicenter of whale culture to experience the extraordinary communication skills and intricate social structures of five different whale species: orcas, humpbacks, belugas, narwhals and sperm whales. Featuring the expansive knowledge and skill of acclaimed National Geographic Explorer and Photographer Brian Skerry, the four-part Earth Day special-event series unveils new science and technology to spotlight whales as they make lifelong friendships, teach clan heritage and traditions to their young, and grieve deeply for the loss of loved ones. Filmed over three years in 24 global locations, throughout this epic journey, we learn that whales are far more complex and more like us than ever imagined. Narrated by award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver (“Alien,” “Avatar,” “Gorillas in the Mist”), this is a personal story that very few are lucky enough to witness … until now.

In addition, National Geographic magazine’s May issue (available online at natgeo.com mid-April) will be a single topic Earth Day issue showcasing Skerry’s bold new photography. Skerry’s latest work will also be featured in the National Geographic book “Secrets of the Whales,” timed to the series (on sale April 6).

KINGDOM OF THE POLAR BEARS on Nat Geo WILD (New Special)
Two-hour Special Premieres Earth Day, April 22 at 8/7c

As the Arctic changes faster than ever, Dennis Compayre, a veteran polar bear guide, makes an epic first-time journey following his beloved bears through the brutal Canadian winter and onto the frozen waters of Hudson Bay. In this high-stakes, high-reward venture, the team documents the secret world of polar bears and the mysterious and disappearing kingdom of ice that sustains them. The winter hunting and birthing season is a critical time for these bears and is largely undocumented, deemed too difficult and dangerous for humans to follow … until now. The team, armed with traditional ecological knowledge and the latest 4K camera technology, witnesses never-before-seen seal-hunting strategies and documents rapid adaptations to climate change, including whale predation and open-water hunting.

MAY

CRITTER FIXERS: COUNTRY VETS on Nat Geo WILD (Returning Series)
Premieres Saturday, May 22, 9/8c
Season one of “Critter Fixers: Country Vets” is available to stream on Disney+

Dr. Hodges and Dr. Ferguson are two lifelong friends who own and operate Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospitals, located 100 miles south of Atlanta. Together with their loving staff, these physicians bring real heart, soul and a lot of humor to their treatment and care of more than 20,000 patients a year across their two locations. Between emergency visits to the office and farm calls throughout rural Georgia, this special team is constantly bombarded with unique cases. From adhering Tilapia scales to save an attacked dog to assembling a splint on a rare South American bird, for the Critter Fixer team, there is no such thing as “normal.”

GORDON RAMSAY: UNCHARTED New Episodes on National Geographic (Returning Series)
Eight-Part Third Season Premieres Monday, May 31 at 9/8c, Available Next Day on Disney+
Seasons one and two of “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted” are also available to stream on Disney+

Gordon Ramsay laces his boots, grabs his knives and buckles up as he hits the road to embark on exhilarating adventures, exploring world cultures through food in National Geographic’s “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted.” The multi-Michelin-star chef and Ironman athlete feasts his way around the globe – risking life and limb in daring missions – in pursuit of culinary inspiration and edible excellence. Under the guidance of local experts and food legends he meets along the way, Ramsay will partake in culinary customs, learn about delicious delicacies and taste fresh flavors unique to each region. In the upcoming third season, Ramsay goes off the grid and off recipe as he feasts his way through Texas, Portugal, Croatia, Puerto Rico, Iceland, Maine, the Smoky Mountains and Mexico.

BREAKING BOBBY BONES on National Geographic (New Series)
Premieres Monday, May 31 at 10/9c, with two back-to-back episodes, then moves to Sundays at 10/9c with two new episodes premiering each week

In each half-hour episode of “Breaking Bobby Bones,” Bobby Bones pursues his own mantra—Fight. Grind. Repeat.—by traveling to far-flung destinations across the country to find people with unique jobs, skills, hobbies and abilities. Upon arrival, he meets local everyday heroes who challenge him to conquer (or at least attempt) the tricks of their trades while exploring the triumphs and tragedies that made these heroes who they are today. Through their joint experiences, viewers come along for the ride learning what it’s like to become a tenacious stunt artist, kayak the Colorado River blindfolded and play para hockey on a sled. It’s an action-packed celebration of Americans who work hard, play hard and, above all, take pride in everything they do.

JUNE

RED SUMMER (w.t.) on National Geographic (New Documentary Film)
Premieres June 2021

National Geographic Documentary Films partners with acclaimed filmmaker Dawn Porter ("The Way I See It," "Good Trouble: John Lewis") and Trailblazer Studios on a documentary special that sheds new light on a century-old period of intense racial conflict. “Red Summer” (working title) comes 100 years on from the two-day Tulsa Massacre in 1921 that led to the murder of as many as 300 Black people and left as many as 10,000 homeless and displaced. The film will premiere in June on National Geographic, commemorating Juneteenth when the last Black slaves in the U.S. heard of their emancipation. Award-winning Washington Post journalist and Tulsa native DeNeen Brown is at the heart of the film, reporting on the search for mass graves in her hometown. Digging into the events that lead to one of the worst episodes of racial violence in America's history, Brown uncovers new insights into this early 20th century period known as the Red Summer. Brown is uniquely placed to explore today's new civil rights movement in the context of the Tulsa Massacre and the Red Summer. With inside access to family members of those killed, law enforcement, archeologists and historians, Brown makes sense of the science and the politics intertwined throughout the search for Tulsa's mass grave. Leaving no stone unturned, “Red Summer” also untangles the role the media played in covering events at the time in order to reveal the full extent of the nation's buried past.

AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS: ANIMAL EDITION on Nat Geo WILD (New Series)
Premieres Sunday, June 20 at 8/7c

“America’s Funniest Home Videos” has been a household staple since its inception, providing hilarious entertainment from some of the most happy coincidences and epic fails in television history. But there’s no question that animal videos featuring furry friends and scaly celebrities are the most entertaining yet. A spinoff of the ABC hit, “America’s Funniest Home Videos: Animal Edition” presents knee-slapping, tear-jerking animal humor to Nat Geo WILD!


About National Geographic Partners:
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 133 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching millions of people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 14th to 20th, 2021 - Update #19

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS: 

CRIME - From YahooNews:   The "Atlanta spa shooting" - here is what is known about the victims.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   The pressure mounts on the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) and the Golden Globes as broadcast partner, NBCUniversal, says that it plans to encourage to the HFPA to make whatever changes are necessary in regards to diversity.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   A technical crew member on ABC's "The Conners," has died after a "fatal medical event."

TELEVISION - From Deadline: HBO is considering three new ideas for "Game of Thrones" spinoffs.

MOVIES - From Deadline:   Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, January Jones, Maika Monroe, and Andrew Dice Clay are set to star in action-thriller God Is A Bullet, from director Nick Cassavetes.

ANIMATION - From ShadowandAct:  CBS Studios is planning an animated reboot of the late UPN/The CW live-action sitcom, "Everybody Hates Chris" (2005-09).

NEWS - From YahooNews:   Ronald DeFeo, Jr., the man convicted of slaughtering his parents and four siblings in a home in Amityville, Long Island in 1974, has died at the age of 69.  The murders and the home later inspired author Jay Anson's 1977 book, “The Amityville Horror," and the movies spawned from the book, beginning with 1979's "The Amityville Horror."

GOLDEN GLOBES - From Deadline:   Facing a boycott, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which awards the "Golden Globes" commits to "at least 13% black membership."

CAPITOL RIOT - From APNews:    Two men, George Tanios, 39, of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Julian Khater, 32, of Pennsylvania, were arrested Sunday, March 13th and charged with assaulting U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick with bear spray during the Jan. 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol Building.  Officer Sicknick later died.

OSCARS - From Deadline:  Here is the complete list of nominees for the 2021 / 93rd Academy Awards. 

From RollingStone:   Oscar 2021: The site lists its biggest Oscar snubs.

From THR:   Oscars 2021 is a year of historic firsts and notable nominations.

From YahooLATimes:   The record for oldest Oscar nominee is now a three-way tie

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GRAMMYS - From YahooEntertainment:  Beyonce sets a few records at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.  She became the most honored singer, female or male, with her 28th Grammy win.  "Album of the Year" went to Taylor Swift's "Folklore."  Swift became the first woman and fourth person to win the award three times.

From Variety:   Variety is updating its nominee list with the winners, as the winners of the pre-show Grammy categories are already being announced.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:   The winner of the 3/12 to 3/14/2021 weekend box office is Disney's "Raya and the Last Dragon" with an estimated take of 5.5 million dollars.

MOVIES - From THR:  Because of a re-release in China, James Cameron's legendary 2009 film, "Avatar," reclaims its place as the all-time highest grossing film in terms of global box office.  It's gross is 2.8 billion dollars vs. "Avengers: Endgame" at 2.797 billion.

OBITS:

From CBSBoston:   Triathlete and Boston Marathon icon, Dick Hoyt, has died at the age of 80, Wednesday, March 17, 2021.  Hoyt was best known as one-half of "Team Hoyt," with his son, Rick Hoyt.  Rick was born a "spastic quadriplegic."  Dick participated marathons and races by pushing Rick as he sat in front in a special seat of a bicycle.  The father and son were a fixture at the Boston Marathon from 1980 to 2014.

From THR:   The actor, Yaphet Kotto, has died at the age of 81, Monday, March 15, 2021.  He is best known for numerous roles.  He was the "Dr. Kananga"/"Mr. Big," the "Bond villain" in the 1973 James Bond film, "Live and Let Die" (the first to star the late actor Roger Moore in the lead role).  He played the role of "Parker" in the seminal science fiction film, "Alien" (1979).  He played "Lt. Al Giardello" in the long-running NBC police drama, "Homicide: Life on the Streets," and he wrote three episodes of the series.  Kotto was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 1977 for his role in the 1976 TV film, "Raid on Entebbe."  Kotto apparently turned down the roles of "Lando Calrissian" in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Captain Jean-Luc Picard" on "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

From Deadline:  American professional boxer and actor, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, has died at the age of 66, Saturday, March 13, 2021.  Born Marvin Nathaniel Hagler, he had his name legally changed to "Marvelous Marvin Hagler" in in 1982.  He reigned as undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, making twelve successful defenses of that title.  Hagler retired from boxing in 1987.  After retirement, he moved to Italy where he starred in a series of action films, including "Indio" and "Indio 2 - la rivolta."

Mattel and Nickelodeon Announces Plans for New "Monster High" Entertainment

Mattel Television and Nickelodeon Announce Plans to Produce an Animated Series and Live-action Television Movie Musical Based on Iconic Monster High Franchise

Share it: @Nickelodeon @NickAnimation @Mattel @MonsterHigh #Nickelodeon #MonsterHigh

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. & BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) and Nickelodeon announced plans to produce a new animated series and live-action television movie musical based on Monster High, the iconic franchise about the children of famous monsters and creatures.

    “Nickelodeon shares our passion for the brand and its purpose having worked on the franchise when it first launched more than a decade ago. They are the ideal partners to bring these beloved characters and their stories to life through episodic television and the live-action television movie.”

The new series follows fan-favorite characters Clawdeen Wolf, Draculaura, and Frankie Stein as they navigate the hilarity of high school in the hallowed halls of Monster High. The show, which will be available globally across Nickelodeon platforms, is scheduled to premiere in 2022. Similarly, the movie musical event, which marks the first time Monster High will be brought to life in live action, will be available on Nickelodeon platforms globally next year.

“Monster High’s strong message of inclusivity is more relevant than ever,” said Fred Soulie, General Manager, Mattel Television. “Nickelodeon shares our passion for the brand and its purpose having worked on the franchise when it first launched more than a decade ago. They are the ideal partners to bring these beloved characters and their stories to life through episodic television and the live-action television movie.”

“These classic monsters have always captured kids’ imaginations and we are so excited and proud to welcome Monster High to our brand for a new generation of kids,” said Ramsey Naito, President of Nickelodeon Animation. “We have terrific partners on board at Mattel to create original content in different formats, and, with the expertise of the Nick creative team helmed by Claudia Spinelli on the animation development side, and Zack Olin and Shauna Phelan on the live-action side, we can’t wait to showcase the comedy and adventure of these characters as they defy expectations and take on the world.”

“We could not be more excited to work with Ramsey, Claudia, Zack, Shauna, our writers and the entire Nickelodeon animation and live-action teams to introduce Monster High to a new audience,” added Adam Bonnet, Executive Producer, Mattel Television. “This property has always resonated deeply with fans and our reimagination of the franchise will focus on addressing important themes of identity and empowerment for kids today.”

The Monster High series and movie musical event join other Mattel Television content in production, including series and specials based on Barbie, Masters of the Universe, Thomas & Friends, Polly Pocket and Fireman Sam, to name a few.

The forthcoming Monster High series and movie underscore a key element of Nickelodeon’s content strategy, to build and expand the worlds of enormously popular franchises such as Star Trek, SpongeBob SquarePants, Henry Danger, Big Nate and Real Pigeons Fight Crime among others, to give audiences more of what they love. Nickelodeon’s new content slate is informed by the network’s ongoing research and insights into today's generation of kids, who are the most diverse generation ever and expect to see themselves authentically represented in media and in the world around them; want to make a positive difference in the world as they grow up; consider social media stars as their top role models, alongside their parents; and increasingly meet their much-desired need for family time by co-viewing entertainment content together.

Production on the Monster High animated TV series is overseen for Nickelodeon by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, Animation Development. Shea Fontana (Polly Pocket, DC Super Hero Girls) is serving as the showrunner. Jenny Jaffe (Big Hero 6: The Series, Rugrats) and the writing team of Greg Erb and Jason Oremland (Princess and the Frog, Playmobil: The Movie) have been tapped to write the Monster High live-action television movie. Production on the Monster High movie for Nickelodeon is overseen by Zack Olin, Senior Vice President, Live-Action and Shauna Phelan, Senior Vice President, Live-Action Scripted Content. Adam Bonnett, Executive Producer and Christopher Keenan, Senior Vice President of Content Development are overseeing the animated series for Mattel, and Bonnett is also overseeing the live-action movie for Mattel.

Monster High was first introduced in 2010 with a global fanbase embracing its message of inclusivity. Beginning in 2022, Mattel will be refueling the franchise and introducing Monster High to a whole new generation of kids.


About Mattel:
Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, UNO® and MEGA®, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

About Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 41st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq: VIACA, VIAC).

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