VFX Firm Dneg Promotes Chas Jarrett to Creative Director
Dune and Tenet VFX firm Dneg has promoted Chas Jarrett to Creative Director. Jarrett, who is based out of London, joined Dneg as a Senior VFX Supervisor in 2019 and is an industry veteran with credits on films such as Aladdin (2019), Logan, Sherlock Holmes, and Sweeney Todd. He will take over the reins from incumbent Dneg Creative Director and two-time Oscar-winning VFX Supervisor Paul Franklin, who will continue on at the company as a Visual Effects Consultant. In a statement, Dneg Group President, VFX, and Stereo, Josh Jaggars said: “Congratulations to Chas on his well-deserved promotion to Creative Director of Dneg. He is an outstanding leader and a fine role-model for our creative teams, with a talent for developing strong relationships with filmmakers. Chas is an important addition to Dneg’s executive leadership team, and I am looking forward to working closely...
Dune and Tenet VFX firm Dneg has promoted Chas Jarrett to Creative Director. Jarrett, who is based out of London, joined Dneg as a Senior VFX Supervisor in 2019 and is an industry veteran with credits on films such as Aladdin (2019), Logan, Sherlock Holmes, and Sweeney Todd. He will take over the reins from incumbent Dneg Creative Director and two-time Oscar-winning VFX Supervisor Paul Franklin, who will continue on at the company as a Visual Effects Consultant. In a statement, Dneg Group President, VFX, and Stereo, Josh Jaggars said: “Congratulations to Chas on his well-deserved promotion to Creative Director of Dneg. He is an outstanding leader and a fine role-model for our creative teams, with a talent for developing strong relationships with filmmakers. Chas is an important addition to Dneg’s executive leadership team, and I am looking forward to working closely...
- 8/2/2022
- by Zac Ntim and Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros. Discovery U.K. has commissioned 149 hours of new and returning lifestyle shows in the U.K.
The programs include “The Big Body Clinic,” “The Edinburgh Auction House” and “Charlotte Church’s Dream Build,” and will air on Discovery’s stable of U.K. linear channels. They will also be made available on streaming service Discovery+.
The sheer volume of unscripted commissions for Warner Bros. Discovery’s linear channels in the U.K. sends a clear signal that the unscripted pipeline for the combined Discovery+ and HBO Max platform — when it does eventually launch — will largely stem from the Discovery side of operations.
Discovery+ launched in the U.K. in November 2020, but HBO Max has yet to roll out, due to the legacy output deal between HBO and Sky, which sews up the vast majority of HBO and some HBO Max content for Sky channels and its SVOD service Now TV.
The programs include “The Big Body Clinic,” “The Edinburgh Auction House” and “Charlotte Church’s Dream Build,” and will air on Discovery’s stable of U.K. linear channels. They will also be made available on streaming service Discovery+.
The sheer volume of unscripted commissions for Warner Bros. Discovery’s linear channels in the U.K. sends a clear signal that the unscripted pipeline for the combined Discovery+ and HBO Max platform — when it does eventually launch — will largely stem from the Discovery side of operations.
Discovery+ launched in the U.K. in November 2020, but HBO Max has yet to roll out, due to the legacy output deal between HBO and Sky, which sews up the vast majority of HBO and some HBO Max content for Sky channels and its SVOD service Now TV.
- 8/2/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran and Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
The BFI’s Missing Believed Wiped returns to BFI Southbank this December to present British television rediscoveries, not seen by audiences for decades, most since their original transmission dates…. The bespoke line-up of TV gems feature some of the countries most-loved television celebrities and iconic characters including Alf Garnett in Till Death Us Do Part: Sex Before Marriage, Cilla Black in her eponymous BBC show featuring Dudley Moore , Jimmy Edwards in Whack-o!, a rare interview with Peter Davison about playing Doctor Who, an appearance by future Doctor Who Patrick Troughton from ITV’s early police drama, No Hiding Place plus a significant screen debut from a young Pete Postlethwaite.
However for Nerdly readers, one of the real highlights of this edition of Missing Believed Wiped is the uncovering of TV horror Late Night Horror: The Corpse Can’t Play. Originally broadcast on 3 May, 1968 on BBC2 this is the only...
However for Nerdly readers, one of the real highlights of this edition of Missing Believed Wiped is the uncovering of TV horror Late Night Horror: The Corpse Can’t Play. Originally broadcast on 3 May, 1968 on BBC2 this is the only...
- 12/11/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Filtered through her experience as an unequalled comic performer, writer-director Elaine May scores a bulls-eye with this grossly underappreciated gem, fashioned in a style that could be called ‘black comedy lite.’ And that’s the release version mangled by the producer. What might it have been if May had been allowed to finish her director’s cut?
A New Leaf Olive Signature
Blu-ray
Olive Films
1971 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 102 min. / Street Date December 5, 2017 / available through the Olive Films website / 29.99
Starring: Walter Matthau, Elaine May, Jack Weston, George Rose, James Coco, Doris Roberts, Renée Taylor, William Redfield, David Doyle.
Cinematography: Gayne Rescher
Original Music: Neal Hefti
Written by Elaine May from a story by Jack Ritchie
Produced by Hilliard Elkins, Howard W. Koch, Joseph Manduke
Directed by Elaine May
Olive’s next title up for Signature Collection status is A New Leaf, the directing debut of comedienne-writer Elaine May. It’s certainly a worthy title.
A New Leaf Olive Signature
Blu-ray
Olive Films
1971 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 102 min. / Street Date December 5, 2017 / available through the Olive Films website / 29.99
Starring: Walter Matthau, Elaine May, Jack Weston, George Rose, James Coco, Doris Roberts, Renée Taylor, William Redfield, David Doyle.
Cinematography: Gayne Rescher
Original Music: Neal Hefti
Written by Elaine May from a story by Jack Ritchie
Produced by Hilliard Elkins, Howard W. Koch, Joseph Manduke
Directed by Elaine May
Olive’s next title up for Signature Collection status is A New Leaf, the directing debut of comedienne-writer Elaine May. It’s certainly a worthy title.
- 12/9/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Issa Rae admits that her first TV experience (at a broadcast network) didn’t go so well — but at HBO, she’s found her “Cinderella story.”
“That journey was definitely not overnight,” she said while speaking before the inaugural IndieWire Honors. “It was years in the making but [it’s gratifying] to be recognized for something I think had such a strong indie sensibility and to be able to do that for a larger network.”
Rae, who was awarded the Vanguard Award for her success in creating and starring in “Insecure” for HBO, created her first YouTube video in 2006 and her first web series in 2007. That evolved to “Awkward Black Girl,” the web series that put Rae on the map and eventually led to her deal with HBO.
“I maintained from the beginning, if I were to do a version of ‘Awkward Black Girl’ for television I didn’t want to take it...
“That journey was definitely not overnight,” she said while speaking before the inaugural IndieWire Honors. “It was years in the making but [it’s gratifying] to be recognized for something I think had such a strong indie sensibility and to be able to do that for a larger network.”
Rae, who was awarded the Vanguard Award for her success in creating and starring in “Insecure” for HBO, created her first YouTube video in 2006 and her first web series in 2007. That evolved to “Awkward Black Girl,” the web series that put Rae on the map and eventually led to her deal with HBO.
“I maintained from the beginning, if I were to do a version of ‘Awkward Black Girl’ for television I didn’t want to take it...
- 11/11/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
Kumail Nanjiani has gotten to have some experiences any pop culture nerd would envy over the years, most notably a guest-starring role on “The X-Files” when the series returned for a 10th season in 2016. However, don’t expect to see him in Season 11 (currently shooting now), or for him to resume his podcast “The X-Files Files.”
As he told IndieWire’s Mike Schneider during the IndieWire Honors ceremony last week, the character he played in “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-monster” had a pretty definite end, which also contributed to the ending of the podcast he started in 2014 to discuss episodes of the beloved Fox drama.
“I can’t really do the podcast anymore, because I feel like I’m a part of that world now,” he said.
Read More:Kumail Nanjiani Admits ‘The Big Sick’ Was Even More Personal Than He Expected
Fortunately, it’s not like he lacks...
As he told IndieWire’s Mike Schneider during the IndieWire Honors ceremony last week, the character he played in “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-monster” had a pretty definite end, which also contributed to the ending of the podcast he started in 2014 to discuss episodes of the beloved Fox drama.
“I can’t really do the podcast anymore, because I feel like I’m a part of that world now,” he said.
Read More:Kumail Nanjiani Admits ‘The Big Sick’ Was Even More Personal Than He Expected
Fortunately, it’s not like he lacks...
- 11/11/2017
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
As is often the case with Sean Baker’s films, the story of how “The Florida Project” came to be is almost as moving as the story told onscreen. Take its star, for instance: Bria Vinaite was found by Baker on Instagram, flown from Brooklyn to Orlando for an audition, and cast in one the most well-received movies of the year. She’s been making the festival rounds since “The Florida Project” premiered at Cannes in May, just one of many new experiences she never thought she’d have.
“I feel like I’m not a traditional person,” she said to Eric Kohn during the inaugural IndieWire Honors ceremony last week, “so I really appreciate the fact that Sean is so outside-the-box and does things in an unconventional way…you don’t need to do things in the typical way to get a beautiful result.”
Read More:Diane Kruger Didn...
“I feel like I’m not a traditional person,” she said to Eric Kohn during the inaugural IndieWire Honors ceremony last week, “so I really appreciate the fact that Sean is so outside-the-box and does things in an unconventional way…you don’t need to do things in the typical way to get a beautiful result.”
Read More:Diane Kruger Didn...
- 11/10/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Mary J. Blige didn’t want to be “just another singer that got a role” in a movie. She wanted to devote herself as fully to her performance as she does to her music, and the result is Florence Jackson in Dee Rees’ “Mudbound” — a character the singer-turned-actress feels a deep connection to.
Blige discussed that and more with IndieWire’s Eric Kohn during the inaugural IndieWire Honors ceremony last week, where she was presented with the Breakthrough Performance prize. Watch their full conversation below.
Read More:James Franco Reveals Why He Became ‘Frustrated’ After 10 Years of Acting and Had to Do More — Watch
Other than the power of the script, which tells of two families (one white, one black) on a farm in post–World War II Mississippi, Blige was drawn to the project by virtue of “being a fan of Dee Rees, period. I’ve seen ‘Pariah,’ I...
Blige discussed that and more with IndieWire’s Eric Kohn during the inaugural IndieWire Honors ceremony last week, where she was presented with the Breakthrough Performance prize. Watch their full conversation below.
Read More:James Franco Reveals Why He Became ‘Frustrated’ After 10 Years of Acting and Had to Do More — Watch
Other than the power of the script, which tells of two families (one white, one black) on a farm in post–World War II Mississippi, Blige was drawn to the project by virtue of “being a fan of Dee Rees, period. I’ve seen ‘Pariah,’ I...
- 11/10/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Diane Kruger stunned audiences with her turn in Fatih Akin’s hard-hitting terrorist drama “In the Fade,” which casts the German actress as a woman devastated by an attack that kills both her husband and young son. Kruger’s turn in the film was strong enough to earn her the Best Actress prize at the fest, and as she embarks on what will likely be a very busy awards season, she picked up yet another honor at the inaugural IndieWire Honors ceremony.
For Kruger, the role was one of her most demanding endeavors yet, one that required months of training of both the physical and emotional variety. As she told IndieWire’s Eric Kohn at last week’s ceremony, “I definitely wasn’t sure that I was going to be able to pull it off, it took many months for me to be comfortable with this role.
For Kruger, the role was one of her most demanding endeavors yet, one that required months of training of both the physical and emotional variety. As she told IndieWire’s Eric Kohn at last week’s ceremony, “I definitely wasn’t sure that I was going to be able to pull it off, it took many months for me to be comfortable with this role.
- 11/10/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The inaugural IndieWire Honors was certainly a night to remember: The glamorous shindig celebrated six of IndieWire’s most lauded stars of the year, hand-picked by IndieWire’s editorial team: Mary J. Blige, Kumail Nanjiani, Sterling K. Brown, James Franco, Diane Kruger, and Issa Rae. The evening was hosted by comedian Nick Thune.
Read More:Join Focus Features And IndieWire For a Special Screening of ‘Darkest Hour’
The honorees kept their acceptance speeches short and sweet. Sterling K. Brown was particularly happy for the chance to properly thank his wife, having been cut off early during his Emmys acceptance speech. Receiving the Creative Independence award, Kumail Nanjiani thanked his writing partner and wife Emily V. Gordon, joking: “I think at least 20 percent of this is yours. I know you have two master’s degrees, but I think this makes us even.”
Read More:Mary J. Blige, Kumail Nanjiani, and More Made...
Read More:Join Focus Features And IndieWire For a Special Screening of ‘Darkest Hour’
The honorees kept their acceptance speeches short and sweet. Sterling K. Brown was particularly happy for the chance to properly thank his wife, having been cut off early during his Emmys acceptance speech. Receiving the Creative Independence award, Kumail Nanjiani thanked his writing partner and wife Emily V. Gordon, joking: “I think at least 20 percent of this is yours. I know you have two master’s degrees, but I think this makes us even.”
Read More:Mary J. Blige, Kumail Nanjiani, and More Made...
- 11/10/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Surprises don’t alway work out so well for everyone, but “Broad City” co-creator and star Abbi Jacobson is pretty good about rolling with the punches these days. That includes both nice shockers, like her winning the Harold Ramis Film School Comedic Storytelling prize at this year’s inaugural IndieWire Honors — an honor that was unannounced before the event rolled out last week in Los Angeles — and also bad ones, like the election of Donald Trump over known “Broad City” icon Hillary Clinton.
As Jacobson told IndieWire’s Michael Schneider at last week’s ceremony, the events of last November irrevocably shaped the series, including the recent episode “Witches,” which directly deals with the fallout of the election on both Abbi (Jacobson) and her best pal Ilana (co-creator Ilana Glazer). As the pair had penned their episodes in the spring before going on hiatus — a rarity for the hard-working duo...
As Jacobson told IndieWire’s Michael Schneider at last week’s ceremony, the events of last November irrevocably shaped the series, including the recent episode “Witches,” which directly deals with the fallout of the election on both Abbi (Jacobson) and her best pal Ilana (co-creator Ilana Glazer). As the pair had penned their episodes in the spring before going on hiatus — a rarity for the hard-working duo...
- 11/9/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
After two Emmys and two hit shows, “This Is Us” star Sterling K. Brown has reached the point in his career where he gets to be selective in the projects he joins. And if he has his way, a reunion between Brown and his fellow “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” star Sarah Paulson appears inevitable.
Speaking beforehand at the IndieWire Honors event last week, Brown said he’s been talking to “American Crime Story” executive producer Ryan Murphy about potentially joining the anthology series’ third chapter, “Katrina.” Paulson is already on board.
“That needs to happen,” said Brown, who played Christopher Darden opposite Paulson’s Marcia Clark in “People v. O.J.,” which earned him his first Emmy in 2016. “I’m going to be reading the book that story is based off of [“Five Days at Memorial” by Sheri Fink] and offer whatever input I can to as to where I can fit in.
Speaking beforehand at the IndieWire Honors event last week, Brown said he’s been talking to “American Crime Story” executive producer Ryan Murphy about potentially joining the anthology series’ third chapter, “Katrina.” Paulson is already on board.
“That needs to happen,” said Brown, who played Christopher Darden opposite Paulson’s Marcia Clark in “People v. O.J.,” which earned him his first Emmy in 2016. “I’m going to be reading the book that story is based off of [“Five Days at Memorial” by Sheri Fink] and offer whatever input I can to as to where I can fit in.
- 11/9/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
Everyone knows James Franco likes to keep busy, but the reason why he wears so many hats is less apparent. The actor, writer, producer, and director spoke to IndieWire’s Eric Kohn about this and more during last week’s IndieWire Honors ceremony, revealing how acting left him “frustrated” after 10 years and he eventually “fell in love with the collaborative process.”
“I always loved movies from a very young age,” said Franco, who received the Vanguard Award (Film) last week. “I used to just be a watcher of movies; I didn’t really understand how they work. I thought all those kids in ‘Stand by Me’ and ‘The Goonies’ were just sort of born into it, and then as I got older I realized, ‘Oh, there are, you know, ways to sort of develop different sorts of crafts.”
Read More:Mary J. Blige, Kumail Nanjiani, and More Made the First...
“I always loved movies from a very young age,” said Franco, who received the Vanguard Award (Film) last week. “I used to just be a watcher of movies; I didn’t really understand how they work. I thought all those kids in ‘Stand by Me’ and ‘The Goonies’ were just sort of born into it, and then as I got older I realized, ‘Oh, there are, you know, ways to sort of develop different sorts of crafts.”
Read More:Mary J. Blige, Kumail Nanjiani, and More Made the First...
- 11/9/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Chicago – If you hear the sound of laughter from the vicinity of the Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago, then most likely it is coming from the New 400 Theater, the base for the 7th Chicago Comedy Film Festival. The Festival showcases features, shorts and experimental films in all styles of funny. It opens on Thursday, November 9th, 2017, with a program of Chicago Short Films at The Second City, and continues through Saturday, November 11th.
The 2017 Chicago Comedy Film Festival, November 9th-11th
Photo credit: ChicagoComedyFilmFestival.com
Founded in 2010 by Artistic Director Jessica Hardy, the Chicago Comedy Film Festival mission is to support comedy filmmaking as a vital and influential art form. Presenting films ranging from low budget to studio quality features, the fest champions strong voices in comedic storytelling.
The Festival made news last week when they decided to pull their Saturday spotlight film, a documentary about comedian Andy Dick, in...
The 2017 Chicago Comedy Film Festival, November 9th-11th
Photo credit: ChicagoComedyFilmFestival.com
Founded in 2010 by Artistic Director Jessica Hardy, the Chicago Comedy Film Festival mission is to support comedy filmmaking as a vital and influential art form. Presenting films ranging from low budget to studio quality features, the fest champions strong voices in comedic storytelling.
The Festival made news last week when they decided to pull their Saturday spotlight film, a documentary about comedian Andy Dick, in...
- 11/9/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Aidy Bryant is opening up about her past struggles with her weight and how her life changed once she stopped focusing on being skinny.
In a new interview with The Cut released on Monday, the Saturday Night Live comedian revealed that she spent most of her teenage years dieting and hoping to shed the pounds.
"I was spending so much energy on something that really, no matter what I did, wasn’t changing," Bryant expressed. "And I truly got to a breaking point. I was like, 'How much longer can I do this? Can I do this for the rest of my life?'"
"I finally was like, 'What if I put all of that energy into just trying to like myself and focus on the things I actually want to do as opposed to this thing that’s like a made-up concept?' And I’m not kidding, my entire life changed after I did that," she...
In a new interview with The Cut released on Monday, the Saturday Night Live comedian revealed that she spent most of her teenage years dieting and hoping to shed the pounds.
"I was spending so much energy on something that really, no matter what I did, wasn’t changing," Bryant expressed. "And I truly got to a breaking point. I was like, 'How much longer can I do this? Can I do this for the rest of my life?'"
"I finally was like, 'What if I put all of that energy into just trying to like myself and focus on the things I actually want to do as opposed to this thing that’s like a made-up concept?' And I’m not kidding, my entire life changed after I did that," she...
- 11/9/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Aidy Bryant says the body confidence she has today comes after years of trying to lose weight as a teenager.
The Saturday Night Live star spent her high school years trying to fit in with everyone in her skin-baring hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. But it was ruining her self-worth.
“I was spending so much energy on something that really, no matter what I did, wasn’t changing,” Bryant, 30, tells The Cut. “And I truly got to a breaking point. I was like, ‘How much longer can I do this? Can I do this for the rest of my life?’ ”
The...
The Saturday Night Live star spent her high school years trying to fit in with everyone in her skin-baring hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. But it was ruining her self-worth.
“I was spending so much energy on something that really, no matter what I did, wasn’t changing,” Bryant, 30, tells The Cut. “And I truly got to a breaking point. I was like, ‘How much longer can I do this? Can I do this for the rest of my life?’ ”
The...
- 11/8/2017
- by Julie Mazziotta
- PEOPLE.com
One comment kept getting repeated at the inaugural IndieWire Honors ceremony last night in Los Angeles: “This is so IndieWire.” It began with the venue — No Name, a hush-hush spot resembling a kind of gothic speakeasy where attendees are discouraged from taking too many photos, lest they give away its secrets — and continued with everything from the drink menu (New Fashioned Franco, Sparkling Kruger) to host Nick Thune’s jokes (“The venue has asked if anyone has an iPhone 4 — they’re just suggesting an upgrade”).
Indeed, the event bore only a superficial resemblance to most year-end soirées. The honorees — Mary J. Blige, Kumail Nanjiani, Sterling K. Brown, James Franco, Diane Kruger, and Issa Rae — had all been announced in advance, so there was no tension over whose names were sealed inside any envelopes. Guests weren’t seated in an auditorium or dining at luxe tables in a hotel ballroom; they...
Indeed, the event bore only a superficial resemblance to most year-end soirées. The honorees — Mary J. Blige, Kumail Nanjiani, Sterling K. Brown, James Franco, Diane Kruger, and Issa Rae — had all been announced in advance, so there was no tension over whose names were sealed inside any envelopes. Guests weren’t seated in an auditorium or dining at luxe tables in a hotel ballroom; they...
- 11/3/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Issa Rae is one of the six names in entertainment being celebrated at the inaugural IndieWire Honors on Nov. 2. Her voice and creativity showcased on HBO’s “Insecure” has earned her the Vanguard Award for television.
The success of Issa Rae takes on even more symbolism right now. Her HBO comedy “Insecure” is the story of a young woman, living in the big city, and trying to figure it all out — while often getting it wrong. Rae said she realized that the obstacles that come with being a woman in this society couldn’t be ignored on her show either.
According to Rae, her show’s writing staff has been sharing and discussing the recent litany of stories about how the industry’s misogynistic culture allowed for high-profile figures to commit sexual harassment and assault, and the unfair pressure put on women in Hollywood.
“In our writers’ room it’s mostly comprised of women,...
The success of Issa Rae takes on even more symbolism right now. Her HBO comedy “Insecure” is the story of a young woman, living in the big city, and trying to figure it all out — while often getting it wrong. Rae said she realized that the obstacles that come with being a woman in this society couldn’t be ignored on her show either.
According to Rae, her show’s writing staff has been sharing and discussing the recent litany of stories about how the industry’s misogynistic culture allowed for high-profile figures to commit sexual harassment and assault, and the unfair pressure put on women in Hollywood.
“In our writers’ room it’s mostly comprised of women,...
- 11/2/2017
- by LaToya Ferguson
- Indiewire
When it comes to real life tales of romance, Judd Apatow is an expert at finding and cultivating the ones that will resonate with audiences. And Apatow said he’d “never heard anyone tell a story” like the chain of events that led to Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon falling in love.
The writer/director/producer who shepherded projects like “Girls,” “Crashing,” and “Love” to the screen worked with Nanjiani and Gordon for years to develop the script that led to one of the year’s most well-received films. Both critically and commercially, audiences found great resonance in Nanjiani and Gordon’s story, which follows how their initial tentative romance was upended when a medical crisis led to Gordon being put in a medically induced coma.
Below, he tells IndieWire what was instrumental to making sure the collaboration between him, Nanjiani, and Gordon worked, why they actively developed the script without any studios involved,...
The writer/director/producer who shepherded projects like “Girls,” “Crashing,” and “Love” to the screen worked with Nanjiani and Gordon for years to develop the script that led to one of the year’s most well-received films. Both critically and commercially, audiences found great resonance in Nanjiani and Gordon’s story, which follows how their initial tentative romance was upended when a medical crisis led to Gordon being put in a medically induced coma.
Below, he tells IndieWire what was instrumental to making sure the collaboration between him, Nanjiani, and Gordon worked, why they actively developed the script without any studios involved,...
- 11/1/2017
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
Sterling K. Brown graduated to superstar status after his Emmy-winning turn as Christopher Darden on “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.” Executive producer and director Ryan Murphy remains tight with the star, who has even been advising him recently on how to live a vegan lifestyle.
Brown is busy starring in “This Is Us,” but the two are already discussing ways to work together again. “We’ve talked a lot about it,” Murphy said. “I’m trying to figure out a way to give America what they want, and reunite Sterling and Sarah Paulson. I would love for him to be a part of ‘Five Days at Memorial’ [the Hurricane Katrina-themed “American Crime Story” installment] that we’re doing. I always want to work with Sterling. I’m a busy guy, but he’s just as busy as hell. How are we gonna make it work? We will. We had a really great director/actor...
Brown is busy starring in “This Is Us,” but the two are already discussing ways to work together again. “We’ve talked a lot about it,” Murphy said. “I’m trying to figure out a way to give America what they want, and reunite Sterling and Sarah Paulson. I would love for him to be a part of ‘Five Days at Memorial’ [the Hurricane Katrina-themed “American Crime Story” installment] that we’re doing. I always want to work with Sterling. I’m a busy guy, but he’s just as busy as hell. How are we gonna make it work? We will. We had a really great director/actor...
- 11/1/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
Mary J. Blige is one of the six names in entertainment being celebrated at the inaugural IndieWire Honors on Nov. 2. While she is world-renowned as a singer, she has been generating acclaim for her supporting turn as Florence in Dee Rees’ Southern period drama “Mudbound” since the film premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. For more on Blige’s side of the story, go here. Rees shared these thoughts on what it was like to approach Blige for the part:
I grew up listening to Mary J. Blige’s music. When I initially met her, it was like, “Oh wow. I’m meeting this woman whose music was the soundtrack of my college years.” I’d seen her to do “The Wiz” live. To me, if you can do the Wicked Witch live, you can play anybody. There was a bit of awe with that. Her shows are like being...
I grew up listening to Mary J. Blige’s music. When I initially met her, it was like, “Oh wow. I’m meeting this woman whose music was the soundtrack of my college years.” I’d seen her to do “The Wiz” live. To me, if you can do the Wicked Witch live, you can play anybody. There was a bit of awe with that. Her shows are like being...
- 11/1/2017
- by Dee Rees
- Indiewire
James Franco is one of the six names in entertainment being celebrated at the inaugural IndieWire Honors on Nov. 2. His vision as a filmmaker and actor is showcased in “The Disaster Artist” as well as HBO’s “The Deuce,” and he’s receiving the Vanguard Award for film. Seth Rogen, who produced “The Disaster Artist” and has been friends with Franco for years, shares his thoughts here on collaborating with his actor friend:
So, before I start this story, I just wanna say that, first, I get that it kind of has an element of me, like, explaining that I thought of a funny joke. So I get that. I’m not, like, oblivious to that. But it’s mostly a story about how great Franco is and what he taught me and all that, so just hang tight.
We were filming “Pineapple Express” in 2007. I had first met James...
So, before I start this story, I just wanna say that, first, I get that it kind of has an element of me, like, explaining that I thought of a funny joke. So I get that. I’m not, like, oblivious to that. But it’s mostly a story about how great Franco is and what he taught me and all that, so just hang tight.
We were filming “Pineapple Express” in 2007. I had first met James...
- 11/1/2017
- by Seth Rogen
- Indiewire
James Franco is one of the six names in entertainment being celebrated at the inaugural IndieWire Honors on Nov. 2. Franco is recognized here for his transformative portrayal of the star and director of “The Room” in A24’s upcoming “The Disaster Artist” (In theaters nationwide December 8), which Franco also produced and directed. He will receive the IndieWire’s Vanguard Award (Film).
For a few years, James Franco was everywhere: Hosting the Oscars. Getting college degrees. Teaching college courses. Directing movies. Acting in movies. Writing about movies. Making art. Writing novels. Starting a band. Every now and then, he would penetrate the mainstream, with commercial releases like “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” and “The Interview.” By and large, however, the affable face from “Freaks and Geeks,” Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” movies, and “127 Hrs” had grown so ubiquitous it had become difficult to discern the big picture.
Now, he’s...
For a few years, James Franco was everywhere: Hosting the Oscars. Getting college degrees. Teaching college courses. Directing movies. Acting in movies. Writing about movies. Making art. Writing novels. Starting a band. Every now and then, he would penetrate the mainstream, with commercial releases like “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” and “The Interview.” By and large, however, the affable face from “Freaks and Geeks,” Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” movies, and “127 Hrs” had grown so ubiquitous it had become difficult to discern the big picture.
Now, he’s...
- 11/1/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Issa Rae is one of the six names in entertainment being celebrated at the inaugural IndieWire Honors on Nov. 2. Her voice and creativity showcased on HBO’s “Insecure” has earned her the Vanguard Award for television. Larry Wilmore, who co-created the series and co-write the pilot, shares his thoughts on collaborating with Rae, as told to IndieWire:
It was late spring of 2013, I believe. When I was asked about meeting with her from my manager, I wasn’t aware of her web series [“The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl”]. When they brought it up, I took a look at her web series, and it was one of those “fall in love at first sight” type of things. I just thought it was great. So much potential in it.
It was the way she chose to tell the story, and the tone that she struck, which is different than most people try to do. It was very quiet,...
It was late spring of 2013, I believe. When I was asked about meeting with her from my manager, I wasn’t aware of her web series [“The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl”]. When they brought it up, I took a look at her web series, and it was one of those “fall in love at first sight” type of things. I just thought it was great. So much potential in it.
It was the way she chose to tell the story, and the tone that she struck, which is different than most people try to do. It was very quiet,...
- 10/31/2017
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
Diane Kruger Is a Serious Actress Finally Getting the Respect She Deserves, Says Director Fatih Akin
Diane Kruger is one of the six names in entertainment being celebrated at the inaugural IndieWire Honors on Nov. 2. Kruger won the best actress prize at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival for her starring role in Fatih Akin’s “In the Fade,” in which she plays a woman whose husband and son are killed in a terrorist attack. Read more about Kruger’s experiences with the project here.
Akin shared these thoughts about how his collaboration with Kruger came together:
I first noticed Diane Kruger as an actress in “National Treasure,” but I was definitely not the audience for a film like that. It didn’t hook me. A couple of years later, I saw “Inglorious Basterds” in a movie theater in Germany. I liked the whole film, especially her small role. In 2007, I won the screenplay at Cannes for my film “The Edge of Heaven” and she was the mistress of ceremonies.
Akin shared these thoughts about how his collaboration with Kruger came together:
I first noticed Diane Kruger as an actress in “National Treasure,” but I was definitely not the audience for a film like that. It didn’t hook me. A couple of years later, I saw “Inglorious Basterds” in a movie theater in Germany. I liked the whole film, especially her small role. In 2007, I won the screenplay at Cannes for my film “The Edge of Heaven” and she was the mistress of ceremonies.
- 10/31/2017
- by Indiewire Staff
- Indiewire
Mary J. Blige is one of the six names in entertainment being celebrated at the inaugural IndieWire Honors on Nov. 2. Her leading role in Dee Rees’ “Mudbound” was a breakout at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, and shows that the singer has successfully transitioned into a serious acting career. She will receive the IndieWire Honor for Breakthrough Performance (Film).
In “Mudbound,” Florence Jackson is a character who sees everything, but says very little. Yet behind the quiet strength of the wife and mother of a family of sharecroppers – refusing to lose their dreams or dignity in the face of the South’s insurmountable racism – Mary J. Blige delivers a performance in which we see precisely what Florence is feeling and thinking.
“Mary’s able to affect this reserved exterior, but have this very empathetic, alive interior,” said “Mudbound” writer-director Dee Rees in an interview with IndieWire. “Her eyes always are thinking,...
In “Mudbound,” Florence Jackson is a character who sees everything, but says very little. Yet behind the quiet strength of the wife and mother of a family of sharecroppers – refusing to lose their dreams or dignity in the face of the South’s insurmountable racism – Mary J. Blige delivers a performance in which we see precisely what Florence is feeling and thinking.
“Mary’s able to affect this reserved exterior, but have this very empathetic, alive interior,” said “Mudbound” writer-director Dee Rees in an interview with IndieWire. “Her eyes always are thinking,...
- 10/31/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Enough time has passed since the preemptive demise of “The Dana Carvey Show” that Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Robert Smigel, and the comedian who gave the show its name can chuckle a bit. Twenty years after ABC pulled the plug on a subversive primetime sketch show, “Too Funny to Fail” revisits the meteoric rise and spectacular flameout that surrounded the show’s eight-episode run in the spring of 1996. Yet with decades of perspective, Josh Greenbaum’s documentary finds a surprising amount of fondness and wistfulness in a doomed project with such a public end.
Part of that bittersweet satisfaction comes from the retroactive knowledge that some of the major players in this saga would go on to shape the modern comedy landscape. Colbert and Carell got their first big breaks as “Dana Carvey Show” cast members, while Smigel would eventually go on to a vaunted comedy writing career (including being...
Part of that bittersweet satisfaction comes from the retroactive knowledge that some of the major players in this saga would go on to shape the modern comedy landscape. Colbert and Carell got their first big breaks as “Dana Carvey Show” cast members, while Smigel would eventually go on to a vaunted comedy writing career (including being...
- 10/21/2017
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Jordan Klepper is a comedian, television host, actor, writer, producer, and political commentator. He was born in Michigan on March 9, 1979. He grew up in a small town called Kalamazoo with his parents and younger siblings. He first started his career as a performer after graduating from college in 2001 when he moved to Chicago and joined ‘The Second City’ comedy ensemble. His fame grew when he began appearing on ‘The Daily Show’. He is now best-known for hosting his own show, ’The Opposition with Jordan Klepper’, which is aired on Comedy Central. Here are five things you do
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Jordan Klepper...
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Jordan Klepper...
- 10/7/2017
- by Nat Berman
- TVovermind.com
While Second City has birthed some of the great comedians in the industry, like Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, and Bill Murray, there are many comedic entertainers working who had no formal sketch-comedy or improv experience. In the video above, Second City alums Jason Sudeikis, Bob Odenkirk, Keegan Michael-Key, and more…
Read more...
Read more...
- 10/4/2017
- by Baraka Kaseko and Marah Eakin
- avclub.com
At Second City’s Roast Of George Wendt, we asked roastmaster and Wendt’s nephew Jason Sudeikis to recall his fondest childhood memory of his uncle, which involves a brand-new BMW and a near-death canyon car ride.
Read more...
Read more...
- 9/27/2017
- by Baraka Kaseko and Marah Eakin
- avclub.com
“Saturday Night Live” has added three new cast members ahead of Season 43, namely Heidi Gardner, Luke Null and Chris Redd.
Gardner was a member of the Groundlings main company in Los Angeles. She voices a role on the Crackle animated series “SuperMansion” and appears in the 2018 movie “Life of the Party” starring Melissa McCarthy.
Null is a Chicago-based musical comedian and improviser who performed at iO Chicago.
Redd is a comedian and rapper who performed at Chicago’s Second City.
Gardner was a member of the Groundlings main company in Los Angeles. She voices a role on the Crackle animated series “SuperMansion” and appears in the 2018 movie “Life of the Party” starring Melissa McCarthy.
Null is a Chicago-based musical comedian and improviser who performed at iO Chicago.
Redd is a comedian and rapper who performed at Chicago’s Second City.
- 9/26/2017
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Wrap
At Second City’s Roast Of George Wendt, we polled Jason Sudeikis, Keegan Michael-Key, Bob Odenkirk, and other roasters to answer the question, If you were being roasted, who’s the person you’d least like to see step up to the mic?
Read more...
Read more...
- 9/25/2017
- by Baraka Kaseko
- avclub.com
Del, the biopic about Second City’s Del Close in which alum Mike Myers was to set star, is on hold due to financing for the film falling apart. Myers has exited the pic, and producers now will regroup and recast the lead as they figure out their next moves. But the film will not go forward this year. It is known that John Malkovich had shown interest in playing Close, the feared taskmaster of Chicago’s Second City comedy troupe whose alumni also include Betty Thomas (who…...
- 9/11/2017
- Deadline
Chicago – In one of the more intriguing “happenings” in the Chicago scene, the husband and wife team of Rebecca Fons and Jack C. Newell are hosting “Destroy Your Art” in Chicago, on August 25th, 2017, at Lost Arts in the Goose Island neighborhood (details below). The evening promises a one-of-a-kind event.
“Destroy Your Art” will feature five filmmakers – Nick Alonzo, Shayna Connelly, Lonnie Edwards, Matt Hyland and Aemilia Scott – as they show their seven minute or less short films. After that One Showing, the films will be destroyed forever, never to be seen again. The concept challenges the notions of permanency, images, expression and our perception of what time means. Audience participants, and the filmmakers themselves, will be the only witnesses to the final products, before they are gone forever.
Friday, August 25th, 2017, in Chicago
Photo credit: DestroyYourArt.com
Rebecca Fons and Jack C. Newell are one of the most prominent...
“Destroy Your Art” will feature five filmmakers – Nick Alonzo, Shayna Connelly, Lonnie Edwards, Matt Hyland and Aemilia Scott – as they show their seven minute or less short films. After that One Showing, the films will be destroyed forever, never to be seen again. The concept challenges the notions of permanency, images, expression and our perception of what time means. Audience participants, and the filmmakers themselves, will be the only witnesses to the final products, before they are gone forever.
Friday, August 25th, 2017, in Chicago
Photo credit: DestroyYourArt.com
Rebecca Fons and Jack C. Newell are one of the most prominent...
- 8/25/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Stephen Colbert has a few words about Chicago-style pizza.
On Tuesday night, the Late Show host answered questions over a plate of wings 110 times hotter than a jalapeño with guest Sean Evans, host of First We Feast’s popular Hot Ones Challenge.
Colbert, who first performed professionally as an understudy for Steve Carell at Second City Chicago, has spent a fair share of time around Chicago pizza. The late-night comedian described the deep dish as “a baby pool filled with sauce and cheese.” He added: “when I go to Giordano’s or Lou Malnati’s I want to bring a...
On Tuesday night, the Late Show host answered questions over a plate of wings 110 times hotter than a jalapeño with guest Sean Evans, host of First We Feast’s popular Hot Ones Challenge.
Colbert, who first performed professionally as an understudy for Steve Carell at Second City Chicago, has spent a fair share of time around Chicago pizza. The late-night comedian described the deep dish as “a baby pool filled with sauce and cheese.” He added: “when I go to Giordano’s or Lou Malnati’s I want to bring a...
- 8/9/2017
- by Collier Sutter
- PEOPLE.com
It’s been over a year since “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” first shouted its way across America’s screens, bringing an upbeat, hilarious and yes, sometimes shrill voice to the political comedy landscape. With one of the only two women hosts in late night, “Full Frontal” was the feminist representation of what a majority of the nation expected to see on election day: a woman in a pantsuit, taking charge.
Instead of welcoming a Hillary Clinton presidency, however, the show found itself having to respond to the Donald Trump circus, an ongoing act that has been the idealogical opposite of all that the “Full Frontal” writing staff of 11 people holds dear. Nevertheless, they persisted.
Now in its second season, “Full Frontal” has earned seven Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Variety Talk Series, Directing for a Variety Series, and Writing for a Variety Series, among others. Comedian, writer, and actor Ashley Nicole Black...
Instead of welcoming a Hillary Clinton presidency, however, the show found itself having to respond to the Donald Trump circus, an ongoing act that has been the idealogical opposite of all that the “Full Frontal” writing staff of 11 people holds dear. Nevertheless, they persisted.
Now in its second season, “Full Frontal” has earned seven Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Variety Talk Series, Directing for a Variety Series, and Writing for a Variety Series, among others. Comedian, writer, and actor Ashley Nicole Black...
- 8/3/2017
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
Chicago – One of the great new premium channel TV series, which piggybacked on the “Twin Peaks” return on the Showtime Network, is “I’m Dying Up Here.” Set in the 1970s, it tells the stories of fictional stand up comedians in Los Angeles, and one of the Consulting Producers and series writers is Cindy Caponera.
Ari Graynor as Cassie in ‘I’m Dying Up Here’
Photo credit: Showtime Network
Caponera wrote the latest episode, “Girls Are Funny, Too,” which focused on Cassie (Ari Graynor), as she tries to break new ground in an era where women in comedy had even more obstacles in a man’s show business world. The episode was loose, poignant and funny, and highlighted the excellent cast, which includes Oscar winner Melissa Leo as Goldie, the owner of the club that the stand up comics perform in. Add in Jake Lacy, Al Madrigal, Andrew Santino, Erik Griffin and Rj Cyler,...
Ari Graynor as Cassie in ‘I’m Dying Up Here’
Photo credit: Showtime Network
Caponera wrote the latest episode, “Girls Are Funny, Too,” which focused on Cassie (Ari Graynor), as she tries to break new ground in an era where women in comedy had even more obstacles in a man’s show business world. The episode was loose, poignant and funny, and highlighted the excellent cast, which includes Oscar winner Melissa Leo as Goldie, the owner of the club that the stand up comics perform in. Add in Jake Lacy, Al Madrigal, Andrew Santino, Erik Griffin and Rj Cyler,...
- 7/23/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Ryan Reynolds in The Hitman's Bodyguard and more of our top Canadian actorsRyan Reynolds in The Hitman's Bodyguard and more of our top Canadian actorsZachary Dent7/20/2017 9:29:00 Am
With Ryan Reynolds starring in The Hitman's Bodyguard, we have the perfect excuse to countdown our favourite Canadian actors. Reynolds stars alongside Samuel L. Jackson as the world's top bodyguard who must protect an assassin who must testify at the International Court of Justice. We're excited for this interesting pairing of two actors we love.
Check out our list of our favourite Canadian actors below!
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds is another great Canadian actor who has become a household name around the world. Most would know him fromthe recent hit Deadpool. His role as the fast-talking antihero was well-received by critics and audiences alike. He can also be found starring in romantic comedies such as Definitely, Maybe and Just Friends. This B.
With Ryan Reynolds starring in The Hitman's Bodyguard, we have the perfect excuse to countdown our favourite Canadian actors. Reynolds stars alongside Samuel L. Jackson as the world's top bodyguard who must protect an assassin who must testify at the International Court of Justice. We're excited for this interesting pairing of two actors we love.
Check out our list of our favourite Canadian actors below!
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds is another great Canadian actor who has become a household name around the world. Most would know him fromthe recent hit Deadpool. His role as the fast-talking antihero was well-received by critics and audiences alike. He can also be found starring in romantic comedies such as Definitely, Maybe and Just Friends. This B.
- 7/20/2017
- by Zachary Dent
- Cineplex
Top Canadian actors to celebrate Canada's 150th Birthday!Top Canadian actors to celebrate Canada's 150th Birthday!Zachary Dent6/29/2017 2:29:00 Pm
This Canada Day our fine country turns 150 years old! A lot has happened in 150 years, including the rise to stardom of scores of talented Canadian actors and actresses.
In fact, some might say that movie-making is in our DNA. Mary Pickford, an ambitious young woman from Toronto, is largely considered to be the first-ever global movie star. She may have earned a name for herself while in Hollywood, but she got her start right here at home. Countless Canadian actors have followed in her footsteps, representing Canadian talent on the world’s biggest stage. Comedy, drama, romance, you name it – Canadian actors have done it all.
Check out our list of our favourite Canadian actors below!
Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling really does it all: romance (The Notebook, Blue Valentine), comedy (Crazy Stupid Love,...
This Canada Day our fine country turns 150 years old! A lot has happened in 150 years, including the rise to stardom of scores of talented Canadian actors and actresses.
In fact, some might say that movie-making is in our DNA. Mary Pickford, an ambitious young woman from Toronto, is largely considered to be the first-ever global movie star. She may have earned a name for herself while in Hollywood, but she got her start right here at home. Countless Canadian actors have followed in her footsteps, representing Canadian talent on the world’s biggest stage. Comedy, drama, romance, you name it – Canadian actors have done it all.
Check out our list of our favourite Canadian actors below!
Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling really does it all: romance (The Notebook, Blue Valentine), comedy (Crazy Stupid Love,...
- 6/29/2017
- by Zachary Dent
- Cineplex
Despite having played type-a former Adderall addict Annie Edison for six seasons (and perhaps, someday, a movie) on Community, for which she earned a Critics' Choice Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series; despite going joke-for-joke with comedy heavyweights like Will Ferrell (Get Hard), Rebel Wilson (How to Be Single) and Jason Segel and Chris Pratt (The Five-Year Engagement); despite the cosign she's received from comedy maestros ranging from Adam McKay to Judd Apatow; and despite having once worked as a birthday clown named Sunny, Alison Brie has a hard time thinking of herself as a comedian.
"I've never done standup and I've never done improv," Brie says almost timidly, referring to the way in which many people in comedy now work their way through Upright Citizens Brigade or Second City. "I went to theater school" -- she graduated from California Institute of the Arts in 2005 -- "and we did a lot of, like...
"I've never done standup and I've never done improv," Brie says almost timidly, referring to the way in which many people in comedy now work their way through Upright Citizens Brigade or Second City. "I went to theater school" -- she graduated from California Institute of the Arts in 2005 -- "and we did a lot of, like...
- 6/28/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Actor Thomas Middleditch is best known for his role as brilliant but socially awkward and heaped-upon Richard Hendricks on HBO’s Silicon Valley. But how did he get to where he is today? Hardcore fans know that it’s been a 15-year long grind for this Canadian actor from obscurity to stardom, with his roots in improv theater. After leaving British Columbia he wound up in Toronto, where he broke through in theater, later moving to Chicago and becoming part of the Second City ensemble. In that group, he worked the summertime cruise circuit from New York, Bahamas, and Bermuda with what Middleditch referred to...read more...
- 6/4/2017
- by April Neale
- Monsters and Critics
Rick Moranis is a Canadian-American entertain who rose to prominence through a Canadian sketch comedy show called Second City Television in the 1980s before he started appearing in Hollywood movies. In 1997, Moranis went on a long hiatus so as to focus his attention on his children as a widowed father, though he has appeared in a small number of films since that time. Here are the top five movie roles of Rick Moranis’s career: Strange Brew Strange Brew was a Canadian comedy movie that starred two characters from Second City Television, who were played by Moranis and Dave Thomas.
The Top Five Rick Moranis Movie Roles of His Career...
The Top Five Rick Moranis Movie Roles of His Career...
- 5/30/2017
- by Nat Berman
- TVovermind.com
Faith Soloway, the sister of Transparent creator Jill Soloway and a writer for the Emmy-winning Amazon series, will stage a cabaret show featuring original songs for a potential Transparent musical, The New York Times reports. The cheekily titled Should Transparent Become a Musical? will take place June 19th at Joe's Pub in New York City.
Should Transparent Become a Musical? will feature performances from Soloway, comedian Megan Amram, Roberta Colindrez, Amy White Graves, Brandon Cordeiro and Seth Bodie. Ticket sales will benefit the nonprofit organization, Americans United.
Soloway previously staged the workshop-style show in Boston,...
Should Transparent Become a Musical? will feature performances from Soloway, comedian Megan Amram, Roberta Colindrez, Amy White Graves, Brandon Cordeiro and Seth Bodie. Ticket sales will benefit the nonprofit organization, Americans United.
Soloway previously staged the workshop-style show in Boston,...
- 5/25/2017
- Rollingstone.com
Chicago – When Mary Tyler Moore passed away in January, it was another reminder of her groundbreaking 1970s TV series “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” One of her co-stars – who portrayed bossman Lou Grant, and made his own mark in TV and movies thereafter – was Ed Asner. The actor appeared at “The Hollywood Show.”
Ed Asner at The Hollywood Show in March of 2017
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
Edward Asner was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He began his acting career in the Army, touring in plays while in the Signal Corp. He attended the University of Chicago, and joined an early version of The Second City troupe, the Playwrights Theatre Company of Chicago (Asner is considered a Second City alumni). He was a consummate character actor in the 1960s, appearing in such diverse series as “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Route 66,” “The Untouchables,” “The Outer Limits,...
Ed Asner at The Hollywood Show in March of 2017
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
Edward Asner was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He began his acting career in the Army, touring in plays while in the Signal Corp. He attended the University of Chicago, and joined an early version of The Second City troupe, the Playwrights Theatre Company of Chicago (Asner is considered a Second City alumni). He was a consummate character actor in the 1960s, appearing in such diverse series as “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Route 66,” “The Untouchables,” “The Outer Limits,...
- 5/25/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – When Rebecca Fons, the former Education Manager of the Chicago International Film Festival, was getting married to Jack C. Newell – a prominent Chicago film director – her mother Marianne told her something that would change the course of their lives. Fons’ hometown movie theater, the “Iowa,” was about to offered for sale. In the equivalent of the recent Matt Damon family film favorite, Rebecca and Marianne Fons was about to star in their version of “We Bought a Movie Theater.”
Rebecca Fons has been a mover and shaker within the Chicago cinema scene. She was the Education Manager for the Chicago International Film Festival for nine years, and participates in a number of screening committees for film festivals across the country. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Columbia College here, and serves in various capacities with the Steppenwolf Theatre, the Gene Siskel Film Center and the Junior League of Chicago.
Rebecca Fons has been a mover and shaker within the Chicago cinema scene. She was the Education Manager for the Chicago International Film Festival for nine years, and participates in a number of screening committees for film festivals across the country. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Columbia College here, and serves in various capacities with the Steppenwolf Theatre, the Gene Siskel Film Center and the Junior League of Chicago.
- 5/24/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – From “Mr. Ed” to “Dog with a Blog,” talking animals have had their place on TV. The latest has origins as a web series, with the clever title “Downward Dog.” The show premieres on Wednesday, May 17th, 2017 (9:30pEST/8:30pCST), on ABC TV, and features Ned the Dog as Martin, and human companions portrayed by Allison Tolman and Lucas Neff.
Ned the Dog, Allison Tolman and Lucas Neff of ‘Downward Dog’
Photo credit: ABC-tv
Allison is Nan, a Pittsburgh marketing guru for a retail company, who has just broke up with her on-again/off-again boyfriend Jason (Lucas Neff). Through it all, her loyal dog Martin (Ned, voice of Samm Hodges) narrates her twenty-something adventures, which includes workplace pals Jenn (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) and boss man Kevin (Barry Rothbart). Between her personal life and work life, Nan tries to balance her emotions and romance, all while Martin just wants more attention and love.
Ned the Dog, Allison Tolman and Lucas Neff of ‘Downward Dog’
Photo credit: ABC-tv
Allison is Nan, a Pittsburgh marketing guru for a retail company, who has just broke up with her on-again/off-again boyfriend Jason (Lucas Neff). Through it all, her loyal dog Martin (Ned, voice of Samm Hodges) narrates her twenty-something adventures, which includes workplace pals Jenn (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) and boss man Kevin (Barry Rothbart). Between her personal life and work life, Nan tries to balance her emotions and romance, all while Martin just wants more attention and love.
- 5/17/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
When Jackie Hoffman signed on to play Joan Crawford’s housekeeper, Mamacita, on the FX anthology series Feud: Bette and Joan, she thought the part would be just opening the door to the actress’ Hollywood mansion to say, “Can I help you?” What the longtime working actress -- you’ve seen her in everything from The Addams Family on Broadway to Hulu’s Difficult People -- didn’t realize was she was about to be labeled as the “breakout character” and “scene stealer” by executive producer Ryan Murphy himself.
“It feels great,” Hoffman tells Et during a break from rehearsals of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Broadway musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic novel opening April 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre -- the same evening as Feud’s season one finale. “My agent said, ‘[I’ve] managed to take a very little thing and make it into a big thing.’ So, I’m thrilled...
“It feels great,” Hoffman tells Et during a break from rehearsals of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Broadway musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic novel opening April 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre -- the same evening as Feud’s season one finale. “My agent said, ‘[I’ve] managed to take a very little thing and make it into a big thing.’ So, I’m thrilled...
- 4/19/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Tonight on White Collar: an excuse to get the leads' to lose their shirt.
(Don't mistake that for complaining. I am so not complaining.)
News
Alec Baldwin interviewed Fred Armisen for his podcast and asked for a role on Portlandia. Considering Baldwin's Saturday Night Live performances, I'd say they should consider writing an episode around his various ideas for characters.
In what could turn out to be amazing news, new episodes of the classic Iron Chef will air in Japan starting in October. If it gets dubbed in English like the original run, I will be ecstatic.
Saturday Night Live is adding three new cast members, including two Second City alums.
How does the cast of MTV's The Inbetweeners deal with internet trolls? This is almost as good as that Kidz Bop twitter account.
In case you need to get caught up, Netflix now has the first seasons of Revenge,...
(Don't mistake that for complaining. I am so not complaining.)
News
Alec Baldwin interviewed Fred Armisen for his podcast and asked for a role on Portlandia. Considering Baldwin's Saturday Night Live performances, I'd say they should consider writing an episode around his various ideas for characters.
In what could turn out to be amazing news, new episodes of the classic Iron Chef will air in Japan starting in October. If it gets dubbed in English like the original run, I will be ecstatic.
Saturday Night Live is adding three new cast members, including two Second City alums.
How does the cast of MTV's The Inbetweeners deal with internet trolls? This is almost as good as that Kidz Bop twitter account.
In case you need to get caught up, Netflix now has the first seasons of Revenge,...
- 9/11/2012
- by LyleMasaki
- The Backlot
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