Writing a feature film is easy. All you need is one gimmicky logline, as cheap and single-serving-disposable as a coffee pod from the complimentary hotel room K-Cup spinner. Once you stumble upon one of these so-called “high concept” ideas, the script practically writes, sells and produces itself. It’s creative work for stupid babies, as all filmmakers will surely agree–totally unlike, in other words, the act of conceptualizing an entire episodic series, a demonstration of storytelling virtuosity so complex and adult it straddles the border between ancient Euclidean geometry and New Age witchcraft.
Okay, so maybe that’s a little extreme. But for aspiring series creators and showrunners, structuring a workable, potentially long-running television concept requires imagination and problem-solving on both the micro- and macro- levels–a mastery of tone, plot and characterization across variable interlocking units of temporal storytelling: scenes, dramatic acts, full episodes, multi-episode arcs and complete seasons.
Okay, so maybe that’s a little extreme. But for aspiring series creators and showrunners, structuring a workable, potentially long-running television concept requires imagination and problem-solving on both the micro- and macro- levels–a mastery of tone, plot and characterization across variable interlocking units of temporal storytelling: scenes, dramatic acts, full episodes, multi-episode arcs and complete seasons.
- 2/15/2024
- by Film Independent
- Film Independent News & More
Exclusive: Film Independent has named the eight writers selected for the seventh edition of its Episodic Lab, designed to provide individualized story and career development for writers with original pilots for television. The participants and projects are Desdemona Chiang (Zhizha! (紙紮!)), Giovanni Maldonado Chinea & Myles Hawthorne (The Machetero), Robert Cohen & Ioana Uricaru (Overcast), Catherine Durickas (Beige Is Not Dead), Azza Malik and Robert ToTeras (Jourdain).
Cohen and Uricaru have been set to receive this year’s $20,000 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Grant, awarded to projects with science or technology themes and characters, to support the development of their pilot Overcast through the Lab. Dear Azza,‘s Malik, meanwhile, will receive a $10,000 grant from the Mpac Hollywood Bureau, an organization working to elevate stories by and about Muslims in entertainment.
This year’s two-week, in-person Lab will help to further the careers of Fellows by introducing them to industry veterans — including experienced showrunners,...
Cohen and Uricaru have been set to receive this year’s $20,000 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Grant, awarded to projects with science or technology themes and characters, to support the development of their pilot Overcast through the Lab. Dear Azza,‘s Malik, meanwhile, will receive a $10,000 grant from the Mpac Hollywood Bureau, an organization working to elevate stories by and about Muslims in entertainment.
This year’s two-week, in-person Lab will help to further the careers of Fellows by introducing them to industry veterans — including experienced showrunners,...
- 2/15/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including Selena Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund Benefit, a Loki launch event and the New York Film Festival.
New York Film Festival
The annual film fest kicked off on Sept. 29 with the premiere of May December, followed by a screening of Maestro on Monday.
Jessica Elbaum, Sophie Mas, Christine Vachon, Samy Burch, Todd Haynes, Pamela Koffler and Grant S. Johnson attend the red carpet for ‘May December’ Fred Berner, Lesli Klainberg, Amy Durning, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Kazu Hiro, Kevin Thompson, Mark Bridges, Nina Bernstein Simmons, Jamie Bernstein, Alexander Bernstein, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Morrow and Josh Singer attend the red carpet for ‘Maestro’
Sinners y Santos launch
On Friday, new nightclub Sinners y Santos, situated within Level 8, launched in Downtown LA. The opening saw a surprise performance by The Chainsmokers and drew...
New York Film Festival
The annual film fest kicked off on Sept. 29 with the premiere of May December, followed by a screening of Maestro on Monday.
Jessica Elbaum, Sophie Mas, Christine Vachon, Samy Burch, Todd Haynes, Pamela Koffler and Grant S. Johnson attend the red carpet for ‘May December’ Fred Berner, Lesli Klainberg, Amy Durning, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Kazu Hiro, Kevin Thompson, Mark Bridges, Nina Bernstein Simmons, Jamie Bernstein, Alexander Bernstein, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Morrow and Josh Singer attend the red carpet for ‘Maestro’
Sinners y Santos launch
On Friday, new nightclub Sinners y Santos, situated within Level 8, launched in Downtown LA. The opening saw a surprise performance by The Chainsmokers and drew...
- 10/6/2023
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Step behind the velvet ropes to see how the stars celebrated TV’s biggest night. In the first full-blown Emmys weekend since 2019, there’s a full slate of events leading up to Monday night’s ceremony, with Netflix, Disney, HBO, Apple, Paramount, UTA and CAA all hosting celebrations — along with The Hollywood Reporter and SAG-AFTRA’s own Nominees Night bash. The annual BAFTA TV Tea Party, though, will no longer go on following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Get an inside look from THR staffers, who were at all the hottest parties alongside TV’s top talent and execs.
UTA
Awards weekends typically kick off with a string of talent agency bashes and this year was no different as UTA posted up on the rooftop of the chic Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. It boasted nominee and Emmy Awards host Kenan Thompson on...
Step behind the velvet ropes to see how the stars celebrated TV’s biggest night. In the first full-blown Emmys weekend since 2019, there’s a full slate of events leading up to Monday night’s ceremony, with Netflix, Disney, HBO, Apple, Paramount, UTA and CAA all hosting celebrations — along with The Hollywood Reporter and SAG-AFTRA’s own Nominees Night bash. The annual BAFTA TV Tea Party, though, will no longer go on following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Get an inside look from THR staffers, who were at all the hottest parties alongside TV’s top talent and execs.
UTA
Awards weekends typically kick off with a string of talent agency bashes and this year was no different as UTA posted up on the rooftop of the chic Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. It boasted nominee and Emmy Awards host Kenan Thompson on...
- 9/10/2022
- by Chris Gardner and Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Matthew Greenfield, David Greenbaum both promoted to president. Expanded role for Searchlight Pictures International head Rebecca Kearey.
In a surprise announcement in the run-up to Sunday’s Oscars where Searchlight Pictures is in contention with awards heavyweight Nomadland, chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula are to retire from the specialty division after more than two decades.
Longtime Searchlight production heads Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. They report to Disney Studios content chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios content chief creative officer Alan Horn.
The shake-up brings an...
In a surprise announcement in the run-up to Sunday’s Oscars where Searchlight Pictures is in contention with awards heavyweight Nomadland, chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula are to retire from the specialty division after more than two decades.
Longtime Searchlight production heads Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. They report to Disney Studios content chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios content chief creative officer Alan Horn.
The shake-up brings an...
- 4/20/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Matthew Greenfield, David Greenbaum both promoted to president. Expanded role for Searchlight Pictures International head Rebecca Kearey.
In a surprise announcement, Searchlight Pictures chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula are to retire from the specialty division after more than two decades.
Longtime Searchlight production heads Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. They report to Disney Studios content chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios content chief creative officer Alan Horn.
The shake-up brings an expanded role for respected president of Searchlight Pictures International Rebecca Kearey, who now adds business...
In a surprise announcement, Searchlight Pictures chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula are to retire from the specialty division after more than two decades.
Longtime Searchlight production heads Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum have both been promoted to president, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. They report to Disney Studios content chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios content chief creative officer Alan Horn.
The shake-up brings an expanded role for respected president of Searchlight Pictures International Rebecca Kearey, who now adds business...
- 4/20/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
A seismic shift here in the independent film sphere in the walk-up to Oscar Sunday: Longtime Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley (65) and Steve Gilula (70) have announced their retirement after a two decades-plus run with the classic label which Disney purchased from Fox.
Searchlight veterans Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, the studio’s longtime heads of production, have both been promoted to President, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. Greenbaum and Greenfield will report to Disney Studios Content Chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios Content Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn.
The news comes just before Oscar Sunday when Searchlight’s Nomadland starring Frances McDormand is expected to notch the Best Picture and Best Director win for filmmaker Chloe Zhao. Should Zhao win Best Director, she’ll be the second woman to do so at the Oscars and the first person of color. To date, Nomadland has won the PGA, DGA,...
Searchlight veterans Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, the studio’s longtime heads of production, have both been promoted to President, Searchlight, and will jointly run the company. Greenbaum and Greenfield will report to Disney Studios Content Chairman Alan Bergman and Disney Studios Content Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn.
The news comes just before Oscar Sunday when Searchlight’s Nomadland starring Frances McDormand is expected to notch the Best Picture and Best Director win for filmmaker Chloe Zhao. Should Zhao win Best Director, she’ll be the second woman to do so at the Oscars and the first person of color. To date, Nomadland has won the PGA, DGA,...
- 4/20/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Indie film stalwarts Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula are retiring as co-chairmen of Searchlight Pictures.
The longtime executives and producers behind the unit, formerly Fox Searchlight, will be replaced by executives David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield. Utley and Gilula each served more than two decades at the label, offering consistency and prestige cinema through ownership changes and market transformation. The news comes as Searchlight’s “Nomadland” is heavily tipped to win Best Picture at this Sunday’s Oscars.
Greenbaum and Greenfield, equally long-serving heads of production, have been elevated to co-presidents and will report to Disney Studios Content chairman Alan Bergman and chief creative officer Alan Horn. The Walt Disney Company purchased Searchlight as part of its 2019 deal for the Murdoch family’s entertainment assets.
“Thanks to the stewardship and pitch-perfect creative instincts of Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, Searchlight has cemented itself as one of the finest film studios in history,...
The longtime executives and producers behind the unit, formerly Fox Searchlight, will be replaced by executives David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield. Utley and Gilula each served more than two decades at the label, offering consistency and prestige cinema through ownership changes and market transformation. The news comes as Searchlight’s “Nomadland” is heavily tipped to win Best Picture at this Sunday’s Oscars.
Greenbaum and Greenfield, equally long-serving heads of production, have been elevated to co-presidents and will report to Disney Studios Content chairman Alan Bergman and chief creative officer Alan Horn. The Walt Disney Company purchased Searchlight as part of its 2019 deal for the Murdoch family’s entertainment assets.
“Thanks to the stewardship and pitch-perfect creative instincts of Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, Searchlight has cemented itself as one of the finest film studios in history,...
- 4/20/2021
- by Matt Donnelly and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Searchlight Television has optioned N.K. Jemisin’s seminal fantasy book series The Inheritance Trilogy for series development. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Studios has come on board to produce the project, envisioned as an epic, live-action ongoing fantasy series. A search is underway for a writer, director and talent to board the adaptation.
The Inheritance Trilogy, published by Orbit Books, is comprised of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, the first book in the series, followed by The Broken Kingdoms and The Kingdom of Gods.
In the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, recently named as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, gods dwell among mortals and one powerful, corrupt family rules the earth. Three extraordinary people may be the key to humanity’s salvation. The book also won the Locus Award.
David Boorstein, SVP, Head of Scripted TV at Westbrook Studios will executive produce with Westbrook’s Co-President,...
The Inheritance Trilogy, published by Orbit Books, is comprised of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, the first book in the series, followed by The Broken Kingdoms and The Kingdom of Gods.
In the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, recently named as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, gods dwell among mortals and one powerful, corrupt family rules the earth. Three extraordinary people may be the key to humanity’s salvation. The book also won the Locus Award.
David Boorstein, SVP, Head of Scripted TV at Westbrook Studios will executive produce with Westbrook’s Co-President,...
- 3/12/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: In a competitive situation with 10 bidders, Searchlight Television, along with Darren Aronofsky and his Protozoa Pictures, have won the television rights to David Gauvey Herbert’s New York Magazine article “Boss of The Beach” for series development.
Search is underway for a writer to pen the adaptation, which Herbert will executive produce.
Herbert’s June 23, 2020 article, published in New York Magazine‘s Intelligencer, chronicles the hopes, dreams and scandals of the New York City lifeguard corps over the last 40 years. The article has a particular focus on the tumultuous career of Peter Stein, who has run the NYC lifeguard corps for four decades.
Herbert writes about crime, subcultures, and general weirdness for New York Magazine and Bloomberg Businessweek, among other publications. He is also a two-time grant winner from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. He previously covered foreign policy as a staff writer at the National Journal in Washington,...
Search is underway for a writer to pen the adaptation, which Herbert will executive produce.
Herbert’s June 23, 2020 article, published in New York Magazine‘s Intelligencer, chronicles the hopes, dreams and scandals of the New York City lifeguard corps over the last 40 years. The article has a particular focus on the tumultuous career of Peter Stein, who has run the NYC lifeguard corps for four decades.
Herbert writes about crime, subcultures, and general weirdness for New York Magazine and Bloomberg Businessweek, among other publications. He is also a two-time grant winner from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. He previously covered foreign policy as a staff writer at the National Journal in Washington,...
- 8/5/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Gina Kwon has been named Searchlight Television’s new head of development. She will step into the role starting Jan. 13.
Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, presidents of production for film and television, shared the news on Thursday.
“We are longtime fans of Gina and thrilled that she will be bringing her impeccable taste, deep relationships and extensive experience working with the world’s best storytellers to Searchlight TV,” they said in a statement.
“Searchlight has been a beacon for the best filmmakers in the world for 25 years, and I’m thrilled to be working with David and Matthew to make inspired, bold and unique tv series that honor its visionary spirit,” Kwon said.
Also Read: What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean?
Kwon’s previous job was co-head of TV comedy at Amazon Studios alongside Ryan Andolina, where they oversaw “Fleabag,” “Transparent,” “One Mississippi,” “Good Omens,” “Catastrophe,...
Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, presidents of production for film and television, shared the news on Thursday.
“We are longtime fans of Gina and thrilled that she will be bringing her impeccable taste, deep relationships and extensive experience working with the world’s best storytellers to Searchlight TV,” they said in a statement.
“Searchlight has been a beacon for the best filmmakers in the world for 25 years, and I’m thrilled to be working with David and Matthew to make inspired, bold and unique tv series that honor its visionary spirit,” Kwon said.
Also Read: What Does That 'Man in the High Castle' Ending Mean?
Kwon’s previous job was co-head of TV comedy at Amazon Studios alongside Ryan Andolina, where they oversaw “Fleabag,” “Transparent,” “One Mississippi,” “Good Omens,” “Catastrophe,...
- 1/10/2020
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
Searchlight Television has hired Gina Kwon, former Co-Head of TV Comedy at Amazon Studios, as its new Head of Development and Production. She begins her new job on January 13.
“We are longtime fans of Gina and thrilled that she will be bringing her impeccable taste, deep relationships and extensive experience working with the world’s best storytellers to Searchlight TV,” said Searchlight Pictures’ Presidents of Production for Film and Television Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum to whom Kwon will report.
Kwon previously worked alongside Ryan Andolina at Amazon Studios, where they shepherded a slate of award-winning TV shows, including multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winner Fleabag, Golden Globe-winning Transparent, One Mississippi, Good Omens, Catastrophe from Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, Undone from Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob-Waksberg, and Homecoming from Micah Bloomberg, Eli Horowitz and Sam Esmail. Most recently, Kwon developed and oversaw Amazon’s hit show Modern Love, John Carney...
“We are longtime fans of Gina and thrilled that she will be bringing her impeccable taste, deep relationships and extensive experience working with the world’s best storytellers to Searchlight TV,” said Searchlight Pictures’ Presidents of Production for Film and Television Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum to whom Kwon will report.
Kwon previously worked alongside Ryan Andolina at Amazon Studios, where they shepherded a slate of award-winning TV shows, including multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winner Fleabag, Golden Globe-winning Transparent, One Mississippi, Good Omens, Catastrophe from Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, Undone from Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob-Waksberg, and Homecoming from Micah Bloomberg, Eli Horowitz and Sam Esmail. Most recently, Kwon developed and oversaw Amazon’s hit show Modern Love, John Carney...
- 1/9/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Just as in those 1970s-era Reese’s peanut-butter cups commercials — “You got peanut butter on my chocolate!” “You got chocolate in my peanut butter!” — comedy and drama are commingling more than ever in the age of peak TV. But such blurring of lines can cause complications when it comes to pitching and marketing series, let alone competing in more traditionally defined Emmy categories.
Streaming service Amazon used to divide its development teams into half-hour and hour-long format groups, rather than by genre. This is how comedy co-heads Ryan Andolina and Gina Kwon came to develop the dramatic “Homecoming,” a multi time-period thriller about an experimental treatment program for soldiers with Ptsd, based on Micah Bloomberg and Eli Horowitz’s podcast of the same name.
“We thought tackling this tone in 30 minutes was super groundbreaking and wanted to hopefully inspire more creators to make half-hour dramas,” Kwon says.
Adds Andolina: “Half-hour...
Streaming service Amazon used to divide its development teams into half-hour and hour-long format groups, rather than by genre. This is how comedy co-heads Ryan Andolina and Gina Kwon came to develop the dramatic “Homecoming,” a multi time-period thriller about an experimental treatment program for soldiers with Ptsd, based on Micah Bloomberg and Eli Horowitz’s podcast of the same name.
“We thought tackling this tone in 30 minutes was super groundbreaking and wanted to hopefully inspire more creators to make half-hour dramas,” Kwon says.
Adds Andolina: “Half-hour...
- 6/14/2019
- by Rob Owen
- Variety Film + TV
Longtime NBC executive Vernon Sanders will reunite with his former colleague Jennifer Salke at Amazon Studios. Salke has tapped Sanders as co-head of television, where he’ll partner with TV co-head Albert Cheng and oversee Amazon Prime Video’s TV creative and production units.
Sanders, who had recently transitioned into a producing deal with Universal TV, will report to Salke, the Amazon Studios head who joined the company in February. “Vernon’s undeniable expertise in nurturing talent and creative material will be a huge asset to our studio,” she said. “Having worked side-by-side with him for seven years at NBC Entertainment, I can speak first-hand to his talents as a leader and creative force. I know Vernon and Albert Cheng will be a formidable team as we continue to build Amazon Studios.”
Before becoming a producer, Sanders held a variety of roles handling NBC’s scripted slate, including executive vice president of current programming,...
Sanders, who had recently transitioned into a producing deal with Universal TV, will report to Salke, the Amazon Studios head who joined the company in February. “Vernon’s undeniable expertise in nurturing talent and creative material will be a huge asset to our studio,” she said. “Having worked side-by-side with him for seven years at NBC Entertainment, I can speak first-hand to his talents as a leader and creative force. I know Vernon and Albert Cheng will be a formidable team as we continue to build Amazon Studios.”
Before becoming a producer, Sanders held a variety of roles handling NBC’s scripted slate, including executive vice president of current programming,...
- 5/21/2018
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
New head Jennifer Salke is rebuilding the streamer’s executive team.
Amazon Studios has restructured its TV operations in the Us and Europe under new head Jennifer Salke.
The restructure is one of the first big moves by Salke to rebuild the streamer’s executive team after the departure of her predecessor Roy Price, who left Amazon Studios last October facing allegations of sexual misconduct. Several other executives left in the wake of Price’s departure.
In the Us, Albert Cheng, the Amazon Studios chief operating officer who replaced Price on an interim basis, has been named co-head of television,...
Amazon Studios has restructured its TV operations in the Us and Europe under new head Jennifer Salke.
The restructure is one of the first big moves by Salke to rebuild the streamer’s executive team after the departure of her predecessor Roy Price, who left Amazon Studios last October facing allegations of sexual misconduct. Several other executives left in the wake of Price’s departure.
In the Us, Albert Cheng, the Amazon Studios chief operating officer who replaced Price on an interim basis, has been named co-head of television,...
- 4/10/2018
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Amazon Studios Head Jennifer Salke Makes Her First Big Executive Shuffles, Creating New TV Structure
A few weeks into her new gig as head of Amazon Studios, Jennifer Salke is putting the finishing touches on her new TV reporting structure. Amazon’s TV division had been in a holding pattern since last fall, when former Amazon Studios boss Roy Price left the company under a cloud of sexual harassment allegations.
Until Salke arrived, Albert Cheng had served as the acting head of the TV side at Amazon; now, the exec has been named to the newly created position of co-head of television. He’ll be paired with another executive in the coming months; rumored candidates include ABC Studios topper Patrick Moran.
Cheng will also continue to serve as COO for all of Amazon Studios. He has a business background, which is why he’ll be paired with someone with more of a creative history. Insiders note that Salke is looking to emulate the successful partnership...
Until Salke arrived, Albert Cheng had served as the acting head of the TV side at Amazon; now, the exec has been named to the newly created position of co-head of television. He’ll be paired with another executive in the coming months; rumored candidates include ABC Studios topper Patrick Moran.
Cheng will also continue to serve as COO for all of Amazon Studios. He has a business background, which is why he’ll be paired with someone with more of a creative history. Insiders note that Salke is looking to emulate the successful partnership...
- 4/10/2018
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
Amazon Studios has restructured its TV division under the leadership of Jennifer Salke.
Albert Cheng, who had been serving as interim chief since Roy Price’s exit amid sexual misconduct allegations, has been named co-head of television. In addition, Cheng will retain his currently-held position of COO and will oversee day-to-day oversight of the business, creative and production units.
The studio is currently on the hunt for Cheng’s partner, a position expected to be filled in the coming months.
Also Read: Amazon Cancels 'Mozart in the Jungle' After Four Seasons
“I’m delighted that an opportunity for Albert to be elevated within the Television Studios has been created. His business acumen, collaborative nature and clear goals toward continued success make him an invaluable team player as we move forward,” Salke said in a statement.
Additionally, Amazon has realigned its scripted series development team as follows:
Sharon Tal Yguado, who had been serving as interim head of comedy and drama since the departure of Joe Lewis, will oversee one-hour genre programming, including event series in the areas of science fiction, fantasy and supernatural.
Marc Resteghini will serve as head of drama, overseeing all non-genre one-hour programming. Gina Kwon and Ryan Andolina will be co-heads of comedy for both single and multi-camera formats.
Also Read: Amazon Has Half as Many Paid Streamers as Netflix - But 50 Percent More Than Hulu (Report)
Nick Hall will serve as head of alternative, including Ya, specialty series and supporting efforts to drive talent and new ventures to the service. Georgia Brown will be the point person for UK-originated series, which includes sourcing, developing and producing series originating overseas. She will also retain her responsibilities for EU Originals (for Germany, France, Italy and Spain).
Heather Schuster remains head of unscripted and Melissa Wolfe remains head of kids programming.
Read original story Amazon Studios Shakes Up Under Jennifer Salke: Albert Cheng Named Co-Head of TV At TheWrap...
Albert Cheng, who had been serving as interim chief since Roy Price’s exit amid sexual misconduct allegations, has been named co-head of television. In addition, Cheng will retain his currently-held position of COO and will oversee day-to-day oversight of the business, creative and production units.
The studio is currently on the hunt for Cheng’s partner, a position expected to be filled in the coming months.
Also Read: Amazon Cancels 'Mozart in the Jungle' After Four Seasons
“I’m delighted that an opportunity for Albert to be elevated within the Television Studios has been created. His business acumen, collaborative nature and clear goals toward continued success make him an invaluable team player as we move forward,” Salke said in a statement.
Additionally, Amazon has realigned its scripted series development team as follows:
Sharon Tal Yguado, who had been serving as interim head of comedy and drama since the departure of Joe Lewis, will oversee one-hour genre programming, including event series in the areas of science fiction, fantasy and supernatural.
Marc Resteghini will serve as head of drama, overseeing all non-genre one-hour programming. Gina Kwon and Ryan Andolina will be co-heads of comedy for both single and multi-camera formats.
Also Read: Amazon Has Half as Many Paid Streamers as Netflix - But 50 Percent More Than Hulu (Report)
Nick Hall will serve as head of alternative, including Ya, specialty series and supporting efforts to drive talent and new ventures to the service. Georgia Brown will be the point person for UK-originated series, which includes sourcing, developing and producing series originating overseas. She will also retain her responsibilities for EU Originals (for Germany, France, Italy and Spain).
Heather Schuster remains head of unscripted and Melissa Wolfe remains head of kids programming.
Read original story Amazon Studios Shakes Up Under Jennifer Salke: Albert Cheng Named Co-Head of TV At TheWrap...
- 4/9/2018
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Jennifer Salke has begun to make her mark on Amazon Studios.
The new head of Amazon’s entertainment division has shaken up her series-development team, naming Albert Cheng co-head of television. The move secures a prominent role for Cheng, who led Amazon Studios as interim chief following the ouster last year of former top executive Roy Price amid sexual-harassment allegations. Cheng, a former ABC digital exec, had previously served as COO of Amazon’s entertainment division, a role he will continue in going forward.
Sources tell Variety that Salke is in the early stages of recruiting a veteran executive to work with Cheng as co-head of television, but that no lead candidate has been identified. Cheng and his fellow TV co-head will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the business, creative and production units.
“I’m delighted that an opportunity for Albert to be elevated within the Television Studios has been created,...
The new head of Amazon’s entertainment division has shaken up her series-development team, naming Albert Cheng co-head of television. The move secures a prominent role for Cheng, who led Amazon Studios as interim chief following the ouster last year of former top executive Roy Price amid sexual-harassment allegations. Cheng, a former ABC digital exec, had previously served as COO of Amazon’s entertainment division, a role he will continue in going forward.
Sources tell Variety that Salke is in the early stages of recruiting a veteran executive to work with Cheng as co-head of television, but that no lead candidate has been identified. Cheng and his fellow TV co-head will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the business, creative and production units.
“I’m delighted that an opportunity for Albert to be elevated within the Television Studios has been created,...
- 4/9/2018
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
Several weeks after former NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke started her job as new head of Amazon Studios, the company has restructured its TV operation.
Amazon Studios COO Albert Cheng, who served as interim head of the studio following the ouster of Roy Price last fall until Salke’s appointment, has been named co-head of television.
Additionally, Sharon Tal Yguado, who had overseen all scripted TV programming for Amazon for the six months following the exits of Price and his top lieutenant Joe Lewis, will return to the role she was originally brought in for as Head of Genre. Marc Resteghini, who most recently oversaw current drama series, has been named Head of Drama (non-genre), replacing Nick Hall who has been named Head of Alternative. Gina Kwon and Ryan Andolina will continue as co-heads of comedy. Georgia Brown, Amazon’s director of original TV for Europe, has been named Head of UK-originated Scripted TV.
Amazon Studios COO Albert Cheng, who served as interim head of the studio following the ouster of Roy Price last fall until Salke’s appointment, has been named co-head of television.
Additionally, Sharon Tal Yguado, who had overseen all scripted TV programming for Amazon for the six months following the exits of Price and his top lieutenant Joe Lewis, will return to the role she was originally brought in for as Head of Genre. Marc Resteghini, who most recently oversaw current drama series, has been named Head of Drama (non-genre), replacing Nick Hall who has been named Head of Alternative. Gina Kwon and Ryan Andolina will continue as co-heads of comedy. Georgia Brown, Amazon’s director of original TV for Europe, has been named Head of UK-originated Scripted TV.
- 4/9/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Best Feature (Award given to the producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.) American Honey – Producers: Thomas Benski, Jay Van Hoy, Lars Knudsen, Lucas Ochoa, Pouya Shahbazian, Alice Weinberg Chronic – Producers: Michel Franco,...
- 11/22/2016
- by Sasha Stone
- AwardsDaily.com
The Czech queer short "Peacock" won Best DirectorWith the Academy Award short nominees opening in theaters today, it's a good time to note that the Sundance short film jury handed out their awards this week. This year's jury of three was Key & Peele's Keegan-Michael Key, MTV's chief film critic Amy Nicholson, and Amazon Studio's Gina Kwon. Since Sundance is a qualifying festival for Academy Awards you might hear the name of some of these shorts again in about a year. One of last year's big winners, for example, was World of Tomorrow by Don Hertzfeldt. That's an Oscar nominee right now for Best Animated Short.
The 2016 Short Film Winners are as follows:
Grand Jury Prize Thunder Road (USA, Jim Cummings) an officer eulogizes his mother. Cummings is a producer/director with some shorts under his belt.
U.S. Fiction The Procedure (USA, Calvin Lee Reeder) a horror short about a captive man.
The 2016 Short Film Winners are as follows:
Grand Jury Prize Thunder Road (USA, Jim Cummings) an officer eulogizes his mother. Cummings is a producer/director with some shorts under his belt.
U.S. Fiction The Procedure (USA, Calvin Lee Reeder) a horror short about a captive man.
- 1/29/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Sundance Institute has announced the jury prizes in short filmmaking at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. This year's Short Film jurors are: star and co-creator of Comedy Central’s "Key & Peele," Keegan-Michael Key; development executive at Amazon Studios, Gina Kwon; and chief film critic for MTV, Amy Nicholson. The Short Film Grand Jury Prize, awarded to one film in the program of 72 short films selected from 8,712 submissions, went to "Thunder Road" by director and screenwriter Jim Cummings. Of note with respect to this blog's stated interests, the Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was presented to...
- 1/27/2016
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Read More: Watch: Before Conquering Sundance With 'The Birth of a Nation,' Nate Parker Directed This Powerful Short Film The 2016 Sundance Film Festival may still be going strong through the rest of the week, but winners are already being revealed in the festival's short film program. 72 short films were selected out of 8,712 submissions to compete for Grand Jury prize. This year's winners were selected by a jury that consisted of comedian Keegan-Michael Key, Amazon Studios development executive Gina Kwon, and MTV chief film critic Amy Nicholson. Past Sundance short film winners include current Oscar nominee "World of Tomorrow" from Don Hertzfeldt and Damien Chazelle's "Whiplash," which the director would adapt into the Oscar-winning feature of the same name. This year's award winners are as follows: Short Film Grand Jury Prize "Thunder Road" / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jim Cummings) Short Film Jury Award:...
- 1/27/2016
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The short film Thunder Road, written and directed by Jim Cummings has been awarded the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The fest, which screened 72 short films culled from 8,712 submissions, presented its awards for short films at a ceremony held tonight in Park City, Utah. The short film jurors consisted of comedian Keegan-Michael Key, Amazon Studios development exec Gina Kwon and MTV film critic Amy Nicholson. The complete list of winners follows: 2016 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Jury Awards: Short Film Grand Jury Prize: Thunder Road / U.S.A. (Director and
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- 1/27/2016
- by Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Thunder Road” was awarded the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on Tuesday. The film was directed and written by Jim Cummings, who also stars alongside Melissa Papel and William “Will” Daubert. The Short Film Grand Jury Prize is awarded to one film in the program of 72 short films selected from 8,712 submissions, and this year’s Short Film jurors were: Comedy Central star Keegan-Michael Key, development executive at Amazon Studios, Gina Kwon, and MTV’s chief film critic Amy Nicholson. Also Read: Sundance 2016: Here Is Every Film That Has Sold So Far Short Film awards...
- 1/27/2016
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
The 2016 Short Film Grand Jury Prize, awarded to one film in the programme of 72 short films selected from 8,712 submissions, has gone to Thunder Road.
Director Jim Cummings collected the awards at a ceremony in Park City on Tuesday evening.
This year’ jurors were Comedy Central’s Key & Peele creator Keegan-Michael Key, Amazon Studios development executive Gina Kwon and MTV chief film critic Amy Nicholson.
Complete list of 2016 Sundance juried short film winners:
The Short Film Grand Jury Prize: Thunder Road, dir Jim Cummings The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction: The Procedure, dir Calvin Lee ReederThe Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction: Maman(s) (France), dir Maïmouna DoucouréThe Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction: Bacon & God’s Wrath (Canada), dir Sol FriedmanThe Short Film Jury Award: Animation: Edmond (UK), dir Nina GantzShort Film Special Jury Award for Outstanding Performance: Grace Glowicki for Her Friend Adam.Short Film Special Jury Award for Best Direction: Peacock (Czech Republic), dir Ondřej...
Director Jim Cummings collected the awards at a ceremony in Park City on Tuesday evening.
This year’ jurors were Comedy Central’s Key & Peele creator Keegan-Michael Key, Amazon Studios development executive Gina Kwon and MTV chief film critic Amy Nicholson.
Complete list of 2016 Sundance juried short film winners:
The Short Film Grand Jury Prize: Thunder Road, dir Jim Cummings The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction: The Procedure, dir Calvin Lee ReederThe Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction: Maman(s) (France), dir Maïmouna DoucouréThe Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction: Bacon & God’s Wrath (Canada), dir Sol FriedmanThe Short Film Jury Award: Animation: Edmond (UK), dir Nina GantzShort Film Special Jury Award for Outstanding Performance: Grace Glowicki for Her Friend Adam.Short Film Special Jury Award for Best Direction: Peacock (Czech Republic), dir Ondřej...
- 1/26/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Continuing their support for women directors, Horizon Award co-founding producers Cassian Elwes, Lynette Howell Taylor, and Christine Vachon, announced the winners of the second annual Horizon Award. Academy Award nominee Chloë Sevigny will bestow up-and-coming filmmakers Macarena Gaona, Juliette Gosselin, Shanice Malakai Johnson, and Florence Pelletier with the Horizon Award at a reception in Park City, Utah, with creative talent, producers, entertainment executives and media in attendance to celebrate these rising women directors and their achievements in independent filmmaking.
The Horizon Award ceremony and reception will take place on Sunday, January 24th, 2016 at 6:30 pm at the WireImage Portrait Studio at Village at the Lift (825 Main Street, Park City), co-hosted by Jeff Vespa.
The Horizon Award is an annual award that seeks to identify and mentor talented, up-and-coming female directors – the primary goal being to support women directors early enough in their development to help them overcome the hurdles in advancing their learning curve and careers.
In addition to the Horizon Award, the four winners will receive grants from the Adrienne Shelly Foundation. The Foundation supports the artistic achievements of female filmmakers through a series of grants that reflect Adrienne Shelly’s dedication to the art of filmmaking and her own successful transition from actress to filmmaker.
This year’s winners are:
Horizon Award First Place
Juliette Gosselin (University of Quebec in Montreal) & Florence Pelletier (Concordia University, Montreal)
Co-directors of "Mes Anges à Tête Noire"
Horizon Award Runners-Up
Macarena (Macqui) Gaona (New York University) Director of "Channel 999 and Channel 1000"
Shanice Malakai Johnson (Scottsdale Community College) Director of "End to the Suffering"
On making the announcement, Cassian Elwes said: “I’m so excited to announce the winners of the second annual Horizon Award. This year’s overwhelming number of submissions and caliber of work made it very hard indeed to pick just one winner – the jury identified one grand prize winner, and two runners-up. Additionally, we have added new partners to our already formidable team – proving that not only is the move towards gender equality in the zeitgeist, but that there are very real advocates amongst our peers. After the recent summit for systemic change (hosted by Sundance and Women in Film), I am more convinced than ever that we can make a difference and that history is on our side. I remain steadfastly committed to the idea that, one day soon, women will have exactly the same opportunities as men to direct movies.”
Franklin Leonard, Founder and CEO of The Black List and one of the award’s original advocates added: “We are passionate supporters of this award that recognizes fresh voices and perspectives in storytelling. This effort mirrors our own effort – the Black List's 500 Feminist Films project, created by our Director of Community, Kate Hagen. We look forward to mentoring the winners in the year to come.”
The jury was comprised of 38 influential directors, producers, and executives from the filmmaking community who viewed 483 short film submissions from over 200 colleges and universities world-wide, including the U.S., Canada, England, Australia, India, China, South Africa, Scotland, France, Mexico, Portugal, Columbia, Brazil, Russia, Serbia, the Ukraine, and more. This year, submissions increased by over one hundred from last year, with additional countries and universities participating. Submissions were received from Nyu, USC, UCLA, Chapman, Emerson, Penn State, Loyola Marymount, University of Wisconsin, University of Washington, Syracuse, Tcu, Ryerson (Toronto), Oxford, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, University of Delhi, and more.
Now in its second year, the Horizon Award provides an all-expense-paid trip for the winning female college students to the Sundance Film Festival, where they will have the opportunity to present their films to some of the industry’s most influential names. The winners receive mentorship, festival access, and important introductions by Elwes, Howell, and Vachon to agents, producers, executives, festival staff, and other influencers throughout the Sundance Film Festival.
The Horizon Award was founded by producer, Cassian Elwes ("Margin Call," "All is Lost," "Dallas Buyers Club"), and Michelle Satter, Founding Director, Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, in response to a Sundance Institute and Women In Film Los Angeles study that revealed that only 4.2% of the top 100 films each year from 2002-2013 were directed by women. Elwes partnered with Howell ("Captain Fantastic," "Mississippi Grind," "Big Eyes," "The Place Beyond the Pines:), and Vachon ( "Goat," "Carol," "Boys Don’t Cry," "One Hour Photo," "Far From Heaven"), to create the award as an opportunity for young female directors to have mentorship and networking opportunities in conjunction with Sundance, the home of American Independent film.
You can see links for more info on the study:
Phase I and II
Phase III
Sponsors and Partners for the 2016 Horizon Award are: The Black List, CreativeFuture, The Creative Mind Group, Done To Your Taste Catering, FilmLA, Indiegogo, Mprm Communications, the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, Sundance Institute, Twitter, Verge, Vimeo, WireImage, Adina Design, and Women in Film. This impressive group has come together to support an award that they hope will continue to identify, nurture, and launch the careers of future female directors for years to come.
Full List of Jurors:
Stephanie Allain Producer ("Dear White People," "Hustle & Flow")
Dori Begley Magnolia Pictures (Svp, Acquisitions)
Amy Berg Director ("Janis: Little Girl Blue," "Deliver Us From Evil," "Prophet’s Prey")
Arianna Bocco IFC Films (Svp, Acquisitions & Co-Productions)
Robbie Brenner The Firm (Partner, President of Film)
Susan Carter Hall Painter
Amal ElWardi Zeal Media Company (Producer)
Cassian Elwes Producer ("Margin Call," "All is Lost," "Dallas Buyers Club")
Janet Grillo Director ("Jack of the Red Hearts," "Fly Away")
Poppy Hanks Macro Venture (Svp, Development & Production)
Catherine Hardwicke Director ("Miss You Already," "Red Riding Hood," "Twilight")
Lynette Howell Taylor Producer ("Captain Fantastic," "Mississippi Grind," "Big Eyes")
Liza Johnson Director ("Elvis & Nixon," "Return," "Hateship Loveship," "In the Air")
Eda Kowan Lionsgate (Svp, Acquisitions & Co-Productions)
Gina Kwon Amazon Studios (Executive, Comedy)
Helen Lee-Kim Good Universe (Partner, Head of International)
Laura Lewis CAA (Agent, Film Finance)
Alix Madigan Broad Green Pictures (Head, Creative)
Marianna Palka Actress/Director ("I’m the Same,""Always Worthy," "Good Dick")
Bruna Papandrea Pacific Standard (Producer/Partner)
Keri Putnam Sundance Institute (Executive Director)
Dee Rees Director ("Bessie," “Empire”)
Laura Rister Untitled Entertainment (Head of Production)
Rena Ronson UTA (Partner)
Michelle Satter Sundance Institute (Director, Feature Film Program)
Cathy Schulman Stx Entertainment (President & Chief Content Officer)
Lauren Selig Shake and Bake Productions (Executive Producer)
Mary Jane Skalski Producer ("The Visitor," "Mysterious Skin," "The Station Agent")
Lara Thompson E1 Entertainment (Svp, Worldwide Acquisitions)
Christine Vachon Producer ("Goat," "Carol," "Boys Don’t Cry")
Ruth Vitale CreativeFuture (CEO)
Angie Wang Director ("Cardinal X")
Hanna Weg Producer ("Septembers of Shiraz")
Tanya Wexler Director ("Hysteria," "Finding North," "Ball in the House")
Joanne Wiles ICM (Partner/Agent, Motion Picture Talent)
Pam Williams Pam Williams Productions ("Lee Daniels’ The Butler," "Fail Safe")
Lisa Wilson The Solution Entertainment (Co-Founder/Partner)
So Yong Kim Director ("Love Song," "For Ellen," "In Between Days")...
The Horizon Award ceremony and reception will take place on Sunday, January 24th, 2016 at 6:30 pm at the WireImage Portrait Studio at Village at the Lift (825 Main Street, Park City), co-hosted by Jeff Vespa.
The Horizon Award is an annual award that seeks to identify and mentor talented, up-and-coming female directors – the primary goal being to support women directors early enough in their development to help them overcome the hurdles in advancing their learning curve and careers.
In addition to the Horizon Award, the four winners will receive grants from the Adrienne Shelly Foundation. The Foundation supports the artistic achievements of female filmmakers through a series of grants that reflect Adrienne Shelly’s dedication to the art of filmmaking and her own successful transition from actress to filmmaker.
This year’s winners are:
Horizon Award First Place
Juliette Gosselin (University of Quebec in Montreal) & Florence Pelletier (Concordia University, Montreal)
Co-directors of "Mes Anges à Tête Noire"
Horizon Award Runners-Up
Macarena (Macqui) Gaona (New York University) Director of "Channel 999 and Channel 1000"
Shanice Malakai Johnson (Scottsdale Community College) Director of "End to the Suffering"
On making the announcement, Cassian Elwes said: “I’m so excited to announce the winners of the second annual Horizon Award. This year’s overwhelming number of submissions and caliber of work made it very hard indeed to pick just one winner – the jury identified one grand prize winner, and two runners-up. Additionally, we have added new partners to our already formidable team – proving that not only is the move towards gender equality in the zeitgeist, but that there are very real advocates amongst our peers. After the recent summit for systemic change (hosted by Sundance and Women in Film), I am more convinced than ever that we can make a difference and that history is on our side. I remain steadfastly committed to the idea that, one day soon, women will have exactly the same opportunities as men to direct movies.”
Franklin Leonard, Founder and CEO of The Black List and one of the award’s original advocates added: “We are passionate supporters of this award that recognizes fresh voices and perspectives in storytelling. This effort mirrors our own effort – the Black List's 500 Feminist Films project, created by our Director of Community, Kate Hagen. We look forward to mentoring the winners in the year to come.”
The jury was comprised of 38 influential directors, producers, and executives from the filmmaking community who viewed 483 short film submissions from over 200 colleges and universities world-wide, including the U.S., Canada, England, Australia, India, China, South Africa, Scotland, France, Mexico, Portugal, Columbia, Brazil, Russia, Serbia, the Ukraine, and more. This year, submissions increased by over one hundred from last year, with additional countries and universities participating. Submissions were received from Nyu, USC, UCLA, Chapman, Emerson, Penn State, Loyola Marymount, University of Wisconsin, University of Washington, Syracuse, Tcu, Ryerson (Toronto), Oxford, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, University of Delhi, and more.
Now in its second year, the Horizon Award provides an all-expense-paid trip for the winning female college students to the Sundance Film Festival, where they will have the opportunity to present their films to some of the industry’s most influential names. The winners receive mentorship, festival access, and important introductions by Elwes, Howell, and Vachon to agents, producers, executives, festival staff, and other influencers throughout the Sundance Film Festival.
The Horizon Award was founded by producer, Cassian Elwes ("Margin Call," "All is Lost," "Dallas Buyers Club"), and Michelle Satter, Founding Director, Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, in response to a Sundance Institute and Women In Film Los Angeles study that revealed that only 4.2% of the top 100 films each year from 2002-2013 were directed by women. Elwes partnered with Howell ("Captain Fantastic," "Mississippi Grind," "Big Eyes," "The Place Beyond the Pines:), and Vachon ( "Goat," "Carol," "Boys Don’t Cry," "One Hour Photo," "Far From Heaven"), to create the award as an opportunity for young female directors to have mentorship and networking opportunities in conjunction with Sundance, the home of American Independent film.
You can see links for more info on the study:
Phase I and II
Phase III
Sponsors and Partners for the 2016 Horizon Award are: The Black List, CreativeFuture, The Creative Mind Group, Done To Your Taste Catering, FilmLA, Indiegogo, Mprm Communications, the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, Sundance Institute, Twitter, Verge, Vimeo, WireImage, Adina Design, and Women in Film. This impressive group has come together to support an award that they hope will continue to identify, nurture, and launch the careers of future female directors for years to come.
Full List of Jurors:
Stephanie Allain Producer ("Dear White People," "Hustle & Flow")
Dori Begley Magnolia Pictures (Svp, Acquisitions)
Amy Berg Director ("Janis: Little Girl Blue," "Deliver Us From Evil," "Prophet’s Prey")
Arianna Bocco IFC Films (Svp, Acquisitions & Co-Productions)
Robbie Brenner The Firm (Partner, President of Film)
Susan Carter Hall Painter
Amal ElWardi Zeal Media Company (Producer)
Cassian Elwes Producer ("Margin Call," "All is Lost," "Dallas Buyers Club")
Janet Grillo Director ("Jack of the Red Hearts," "Fly Away")
Poppy Hanks Macro Venture (Svp, Development & Production)
Catherine Hardwicke Director ("Miss You Already," "Red Riding Hood," "Twilight")
Lynette Howell Taylor Producer ("Captain Fantastic," "Mississippi Grind," "Big Eyes")
Liza Johnson Director ("Elvis & Nixon," "Return," "Hateship Loveship," "In the Air")
Eda Kowan Lionsgate (Svp, Acquisitions & Co-Productions)
Gina Kwon Amazon Studios (Executive, Comedy)
Helen Lee-Kim Good Universe (Partner, Head of International)
Laura Lewis CAA (Agent, Film Finance)
Alix Madigan Broad Green Pictures (Head, Creative)
Marianna Palka Actress/Director ("I’m the Same,""Always Worthy," "Good Dick")
Bruna Papandrea Pacific Standard (Producer/Partner)
Keri Putnam Sundance Institute (Executive Director)
Dee Rees Director ("Bessie," “Empire”)
Laura Rister Untitled Entertainment (Head of Production)
Rena Ronson UTA (Partner)
Michelle Satter Sundance Institute (Director, Feature Film Program)
Cathy Schulman Stx Entertainment (President & Chief Content Officer)
Lauren Selig Shake and Bake Productions (Executive Producer)
Mary Jane Skalski Producer ("The Visitor," "Mysterious Skin," "The Station Agent")
Lara Thompson E1 Entertainment (Svp, Worldwide Acquisitions)
Christine Vachon Producer ("Goat," "Carol," "Boys Don’t Cry")
Ruth Vitale CreativeFuture (CEO)
Angie Wang Director ("Cardinal X")
Hanna Weg Producer ("Septembers of Shiraz")
Tanya Wexler Director ("Hysteria," "Finding North," "Ball in the House")
Joanne Wiles ICM (Partner/Agent, Motion Picture Talent)
Pam Williams Pam Williams Productions ("Lee Daniels’ The Butler," "Fail Safe")
Lisa Wilson The Solution Entertainment (Co-Founder/Partner)
So Yong Kim Director ("Love Song," "For Ellen," "In Between Days")...
- 1/22/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Sundance Institute has announced the participants for its weeklong Creative Film Producing Initiative at the Sundance Resort in Utah, July 27 – August 3, including nine feature film and documentary projects for the Creative Producing Labs and more than 50 industry leaders for the Creative Producing Summit.
The Institute’s Creative Producing Initiative encompasses a year-round series of Labs, Fellowships, granting and events focusing on nurturing the next generation of independent producers and renewing the community of veteran producers who sustain the vibrancy and vitality of independent film.
The Feature Film Creative Producing Lab (July 27 – July 31) identifies emerging producers and, under the guidance of Creative Advisors, allows them to develop their creative instincts and evolve their communicating and problem-solving skills at all stages of their feature film project. This year’s Creative Advisors include producers Lindsay Doran ("Sense and Sensibility"), Lynette Howell Taylor (The Place Beyond the Pines), Gina Kwon ("Me You and Everyone We Know"), Paul Mezey ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Jay Van Hoy (
"Beginners" ) and director Matthew Ross ("28 Hotel Rooms" ).
The Documentary Film Creative Producing Lab (July 27 – August 1) brings together documentarians with award-winning Advisors to focus on their current projects to explore the wide range of creative approaches to distribution, outreach and impact strategies. This year’s Creative Advisors include producers Julie Goldman ( "Best of Enemies"), Bonni Cohen ("3 1/2 Minutes," "10 Bullets"), Ryan Werner (Cinetic), Maxyne Franklin (Britdoc), and Wendy Cohen (Picture Motion).
The Creative Producing Summit takes place immediately following the Labs, July 31 – August 3. More than 50 industry leaders will participate in a series of curated panels, case studies, roundtables, and one-on-one meetings addressing critical issues producers face including financing, distribution, audience engagement, marketing and sustainability. Panelists this year include Len Amato (HBO Films),
Michael Barker (Sony Pictures Classics), Dori Begley (Magnolia Pictures), Josh Braun (Submarine), Dan Cogan (Impact Partners), Victoria S. Cook (Frankfurt Kurnit), Danielle Di Giacomo (The Orchard), Fred Dust (Ideo), Ted Hope (Amazon), Micah Green (CAA), John Hoffman (Discovery Channel), Marcus Hu (Strand Releasing), Charles King (MacRo), Jessica Lacy (ICM Partners), Stephanie Langhoff (Duplass Brothers), David Magdael (Tcdm Associates), Victor Moyers (Broad Green), Annie Roney (ro*co Films), John Sloss (Cinetic Media), Graham Taylor (William Morris Endeavor), and Jay Van Hoy (Parts & Labor).
The Fellows and projects selected for the 2015 Feature Film Creative Producing Lab are:
"50 Miles From Boomtown"
Producing Fellow: Alex Scharfman
After years of saving for her hard-earned dream, the only woman working on the fracking fields of North Dakota can finally quit but unexpectedly finds herself falling in love with the young man she's training to take her place. (writer/director Flo Linus Baumann).
Alex Scharfman is a New York-based producer whose past feature credits include "The Heart Machine" and "Lyle," as well as the short film "Superior," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015, and the WGA Award-nominated webseries "F to 7th." He is an executive at Parts & Labor Films where he worked on films including "Keep The Lights On" and "Loitering with Intent." He has also produced content for Vice, Google, the Ford Foundation, and At&T. Alex received his BA from Cornell University, is a former Mfa candidate from Nyu’s Tisch School of the Arts, and received his Mba from Nyu’s Stern School of Business.
"Bexar County"
Mark Silverman Honorees and Producing Fellows: Blake Pickens and Stephen Love Jr.
In sunny San Antonio, Texas, where nothing ever changes, a town is turned on its head when a delusional Texas housewife accidentally poisons her son’s fiancée, learning that killing people is an efficient way to solve her problems. (Co-writer/director Catherine Grieve, co-writer Dylan Slocum)
Blake Pickens is from the south side of Oklahoma City, from a neighborhood known as the Flats. Despite the community’s rampant drug use and gang wars, Blake found his way into storytelling with a writing position at National Lampoon. He later attended the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC where he and his producing partner, Stephen Love Jr., formed their company Bs Pictures. They are currently in pre-production on the Steven Caple Jr.’s film The Land and in development on "The Friendship Nine" with producer Nina Yang Bongiovi. Blake’s aspirations are to tell the stories that make people laugh, cry, and ultimately impact their lives.
Stephen Love Jr. grew up in the rural towns of Filbert and Bennettsville, South Carolina. During his time as a business major at Morehouse College, Love founded the Morehouse Filmmakers' Association, for which Spike Lee is the honorary advisor. He also received his Mfa from USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program and formed Bs Pictures with fellow graduate Blake Pickens. Love’s primary career goal is to produce film and television that gives "a voice to the voiceless" while challenging the confines of the business of filmmaking.
"Dolores"
Producing Fellow: Drew Houpt
A restless teenager becomes obsessed with a mysterious Colombian woman who exploits his desire and lures him into her plot for revenge. (Writer/director Mary Angélica Molina)
Drew Houpt is an independent producer based in Brooklyn. For over ten years he was the head of operations at Mike Zoss Productions, Joel and Ethan Coen’s Tribeca-based production company. During that time he worked on the Academy Award-winning "No Country For Old Men" and the Academy Award-nominated "A Serious Man" and "True Grit." He served as Associate Producer on the Coens’ Grand Prix-winning "Inside Llewyn Davis" and Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Academy Award-winning film "Birdman: or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance." This past year he co-produced Maris Curran’s directorial-debut "Five Nights in Maine" and produced "Every Day,' a short documentary for Espn’s 30 for 30 Shorts series that had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015. He has also produced music videos for the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang and an experimental documentary, "When A Priest Marries A Witch," by Suzanne Bocanegra.
"Rita Mahtoubian Is Not A Terrorist"
Producing Fellow: Deanna Barillari
When Iranian-born Rita Mahtoubian sets out to change her life from ordinary to extraordinary, she accidentally captures the attention of a homeland security agent in this satirical comedy about romance, terrorism and trying to be a better person. (Co-writers/directors Roja Gashtili & Julia Lerman)
Upon graduating Nyu Tisch, Deanna Barillari co-founded a non-profit theater company producing Off-Off-Broadway plays, including the NYC premiere of Leslye Headland's "Cinephilia" (2008), which funded in-school arts initiatives in the NYC Public School system. She then went on to work in TV on NBC's "Mercy" (2009), CBS’ "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (2010), ABC’s "Pan Am," 86th Oscars (Ellen DeGeneres; 2014) and in Drama Development at Universal Television. Recently, she collaborated with AFI Dww Fellows Roja Gashtili and Julia Lerman, producing their web-series K(ID) starring Caterina Scorsone ("Grey's Anatomy") and their short "Rita Mahtoubian Is Not A Terrorist" starring Patrick Fugit ("Almost Famous") which made its World Premiere at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. She also produces for the La based Ovation Award-winning Iama Theatre Company.
"The Space Between"
Producing Fellow: Angela C. Lee
A female body builder devotes her life to turning ‘pro’ when she unexpectedly falls in love, forcing her to confront her fractured past with her dying father. (Writer/director Philiane Phang)
Angela C. Lee is a Los Angeles based independent producer. She produced "Songs My Brothers Taught Me," which premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival and recently screened in the Directors’ Fortnight program at the Cannes Film Festival. Angela is also the Artist Development Manager at Film Independent, where she oversees the selection process and curriculum for the Filmmaker Labs program, including Screenwriting, Directing, Producing, and Documentary Labs, the Fast Track Finance Market and the Fox Writers Intensive, managed in conjunction with Fox Audience Strategy. Previously, Angela served as Director of Creative Affairs at New York based Vox3 Films. Prior to her career in film, Angela was an Associate at Goldman Sachs. A native Chicagoan, Angela graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics and is on the Board of Directors for the University of Chicago National Arts Alumni Network.
The Fellows and projects selected for the 2015 Documentary Film Creative Producing Lab are:
"Brick"
Co-Directors/Producers: Jessica Dimmock & Christopher Lamarca
"Brick" reveals the raw emotional and physical experience of being a middle aged to senior transgender woman coming out for the first time in the Pacific Northwest. The film follows three intersecting stories of individuals who have lived their whole lives as men and decided this burdensome secret is one they can no longer keep.
Jessica Dimmock is the recipient of the 2013 World Press Photo Multimedia Contest as the director and cinematographer of the online feature, "Too Young to Wed." In 2010, Dimmock won Kodak's Best Cinematography Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival for "Without." The film premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, received an Independent Spirit Award, and was nominated for a Gotham Independent Film Award. Dimmock contributed two short films to Doctors Without Borders' Emmy-nominated campaign, “Starved for Attention.” Her first photojournalism project, “The Ninth Floor” was published as a monograph. Most recently, she worked as photographer and videographer for Emmy-nominated HBO series, "The Weight of the Nation." She is represented by VII agency.
Christopher Lamarca is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker and based in Portland, Oregon. Lamarca has recently entered post-production on his first feature length film, "Boone." In 2012, it was chosen as one of eight films for Film Independent's Documentary Film lab. Lamarca's monograph, “Forest Defenders: The Confrontational American Landscape ” was published by PowerHouse Books in 2008. He was chosen to participate in the International Center of Photography’s triennial exhibition (2007), New York Photo festival (2009) and Lishui photo festival in China (2010). He reported on environmental and energy issues for magazines such as Rolling Stone, GQ, Fortune, and Newsweek.
"The Island and the Whales" (working title)
Directore/Producer: Mike Day
The pilot whale hunters of the Faroe Islands believe that hunting is vital to their way of life, but when a local professor makes a grim discovery about the effects of marine pollution, and the seabirds populations collapse, environmental changes threaten to change the community and their way of life forever.
Mike Day is a Scottish director and producer. Formerly a lawyer in London and the Middle East he founded Intrepid Cinema in 2009 before heading out into the North Atlantic to make his previous film. His debut documentary "The Guga Hunters of Ness" broadcast on the BBC in 2011 and screened at festivals internationally to critical acclaim. It was while at sea in the Atlantic that he met a group of Faroese sailors, leading to his next film. Mike was listed as one of '10 Filmmakers to Watch' by Filmmaker Magazine, he was one of Edn's ’12 for the Future 2012’, and is supported by the Scottish Documentary Institute's Docscene programme. Intrepid Cinema also has two other feature documentaries in development.
"The Road From Hainan"
Director/Producer: Nanfu Wang
State surveillance. Harassment. Imprisonment. Human rights activist Ye Haiyan, Aka Sparrow, knew she faced these risks when she went to Hainan Province to seek justice for six elementary school girls who were sexually abused by their principal. But the scale and intensity of the government's reaction surprised even the most seasoned activists across China.
"The Road From Hainan" follows Sparrow as she was chased from town to town by local governments, national secret police, and even her own neighbors. Nanfu Wang is a documentary filmmaker based in New York. Originally from a remote village in China, Wang overcame poverty and lack of access to formal secondary education and went on to earn graduate degrees in communications and documentary film from universities in China and the United States. Her work often features the stories of marginalized or mistreated people, from Chinese blood donors stricken with HIV after being issued used needles by the government to the left-behind children of migrant laborers. During the production of her first full-length documentary, Wang lived on the streets of Miami with a homeless former drug dealer who relied on the kindness of strangers for his survival. Wang’s short films have been distributed on many platforms and translated into several languages, and she continues to seek out and tell the stories of people who have been ignored by their societies.
"Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four"
Director/Producer: Deborah Esquenazi
"Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four" excavates the nightmarish persecution of Elizabeth Ramirez, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh, and Anna Vasquez — four Latina lesbians wrongfully convicted of allegedly gang-raping two little girls in San Antonio, Texas. The film also unravels the sinister interplay of mythology, homophobia and prosecutorial fervor which led to this modern day witch hunt during the 'Satanic Sexual Abuse Panic' of the late-80's and early-90's in the United States.
Deborah S. Esquenazi is an Austin, Texas-based documentary film and radio producer, instructor, and journalist. Her in-progress documentary feature, "Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four," has received international attention for its investigation into this controversial criminal case, and has been mentioned in Forbes Magazine, New York Times, Texas Observer, Vice Magazine, among others. Her film and radio documentaries have been funded by Chicken & Egg Pictures, Paul Robeson Fund for Independent Media, Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program | John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Initiative, Humanities Texas, Astraea Global Arts Fund, and many others.
The Institute’s Creative Producing Initiative encompasses a year-round series of Labs, Fellowships, granting and events focusing on nurturing the next generation of independent producers and renewing the community of veteran producers who sustain the vibrancy and vitality of independent film.
The Feature Film Creative Producing Lab (July 27 – July 31) identifies emerging producers and, under the guidance of Creative Advisors, allows them to develop their creative instincts and evolve their communicating and problem-solving skills at all stages of their feature film project. This year’s Creative Advisors include producers Lindsay Doran ("Sense and Sensibility"), Lynette Howell Taylor (The Place Beyond the Pines), Gina Kwon ("Me You and Everyone We Know"), Paul Mezey ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Jay Van Hoy (
"Beginners" ) and director Matthew Ross ("28 Hotel Rooms" ).
The Documentary Film Creative Producing Lab (July 27 – August 1) brings together documentarians with award-winning Advisors to focus on their current projects to explore the wide range of creative approaches to distribution, outreach and impact strategies. This year’s Creative Advisors include producers Julie Goldman ( "Best of Enemies"), Bonni Cohen ("3 1/2 Minutes," "10 Bullets"), Ryan Werner (Cinetic), Maxyne Franklin (Britdoc), and Wendy Cohen (Picture Motion).
The Creative Producing Summit takes place immediately following the Labs, July 31 – August 3. More than 50 industry leaders will participate in a series of curated panels, case studies, roundtables, and one-on-one meetings addressing critical issues producers face including financing, distribution, audience engagement, marketing and sustainability. Panelists this year include Len Amato (HBO Films),
Michael Barker (Sony Pictures Classics), Dori Begley (Magnolia Pictures), Josh Braun (Submarine), Dan Cogan (Impact Partners), Victoria S. Cook (Frankfurt Kurnit), Danielle Di Giacomo (The Orchard), Fred Dust (Ideo), Ted Hope (Amazon), Micah Green (CAA), John Hoffman (Discovery Channel), Marcus Hu (Strand Releasing), Charles King (MacRo), Jessica Lacy (ICM Partners), Stephanie Langhoff (Duplass Brothers), David Magdael (Tcdm Associates), Victor Moyers (Broad Green), Annie Roney (ro*co Films), John Sloss (Cinetic Media), Graham Taylor (William Morris Endeavor), and Jay Van Hoy (Parts & Labor).
The Fellows and projects selected for the 2015 Feature Film Creative Producing Lab are:
"50 Miles From Boomtown"
Producing Fellow: Alex Scharfman
After years of saving for her hard-earned dream, the only woman working on the fracking fields of North Dakota can finally quit but unexpectedly finds herself falling in love with the young man she's training to take her place. (writer/director Flo Linus Baumann).
Alex Scharfman is a New York-based producer whose past feature credits include "The Heart Machine" and "Lyle," as well as the short film "Superior," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015, and the WGA Award-nominated webseries "F to 7th." He is an executive at Parts & Labor Films where he worked on films including "Keep The Lights On" and "Loitering with Intent." He has also produced content for Vice, Google, the Ford Foundation, and At&T. Alex received his BA from Cornell University, is a former Mfa candidate from Nyu’s Tisch School of the Arts, and received his Mba from Nyu’s Stern School of Business.
"Bexar County"
Mark Silverman Honorees and Producing Fellows: Blake Pickens and Stephen Love Jr.
In sunny San Antonio, Texas, where nothing ever changes, a town is turned on its head when a delusional Texas housewife accidentally poisons her son’s fiancée, learning that killing people is an efficient way to solve her problems. (Co-writer/director Catherine Grieve, co-writer Dylan Slocum)
Blake Pickens is from the south side of Oklahoma City, from a neighborhood known as the Flats. Despite the community’s rampant drug use and gang wars, Blake found his way into storytelling with a writing position at National Lampoon. He later attended the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC where he and his producing partner, Stephen Love Jr., formed their company Bs Pictures. They are currently in pre-production on the Steven Caple Jr.’s film The Land and in development on "The Friendship Nine" with producer Nina Yang Bongiovi. Blake’s aspirations are to tell the stories that make people laugh, cry, and ultimately impact their lives.
Stephen Love Jr. grew up in the rural towns of Filbert and Bennettsville, South Carolina. During his time as a business major at Morehouse College, Love founded the Morehouse Filmmakers' Association, for which Spike Lee is the honorary advisor. He also received his Mfa from USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program and formed Bs Pictures with fellow graduate Blake Pickens. Love’s primary career goal is to produce film and television that gives "a voice to the voiceless" while challenging the confines of the business of filmmaking.
"Dolores"
Producing Fellow: Drew Houpt
A restless teenager becomes obsessed with a mysterious Colombian woman who exploits his desire and lures him into her plot for revenge. (Writer/director Mary Angélica Molina)
Drew Houpt is an independent producer based in Brooklyn. For over ten years he was the head of operations at Mike Zoss Productions, Joel and Ethan Coen’s Tribeca-based production company. During that time he worked on the Academy Award-winning "No Country For Old Men" and the Academy Award-nominated "A Serious Man" and "True Grit." He served as Associate Producer on the Coens’ Grand Prix-winning "Inside Llewyn Davis" and Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Academy Award-winning film "Birdman: or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance." This past year he co-produced Maris Curran’s directorial-debut "Five Nights in Maine" and produced "Every Day,' a short documentary for Espn’s 30 for 30 Shorts series that had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015. He has also produced music videos for the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang and an experimental documentary, "When A Priest Marries A Witch," by Suzanne Bocanegra.
"Rita Mahtoubian Is Not A Terrorist"
Producing Fellow: Deanna Barillari
When Iranian-born Rita Mahtoubian sets out to change her life from ordinary to extraordinary, she accidentally captures the attention of a homeland security agent in this satirical comedy about romance, terrorism and trying to be a better person. (Co-writers/directors Roja Gashtili & Julia Lerman)
Upon graduating Nyu Tisch, Deanna Barillari co-founded a non-profit theater company producing Off-Off-Broadway plays, including the NYC premiere of Leslye Headland's "Cinephilia" (2008), which funded in-school arts initiatives in the NYC Public School system. She then went on to work in TV on NBC's "Mercy" (2009), CBS’ "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (2010), ABC’s "Pan Am," 86th Oscars (Ellen DeGeneres; 2014) and in Drama Development at Universal Television. Recently, she collaborated with AFI Dww Fellows Roja Gashtili and Julia Lerman, producing their web-series K(ID) starring Caterina Scorsone ("Grey's Anatomy") and their short "Rita Mahtoubian Is Not A Terrorist" starring Patrick Fugit ("Almost Famous") which made its World Premiere at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. She also produces for the La based Ovation Award-winning Iama Theatre Company.
"The Space Between"
Producing Fellow: Angela C. Lee
A female body builder devotes her life to turning ‘pro’ when she unexpectedly falls in love, forcing her to confront her fractured past with her dying father. (Writer/director Philiane Phang)
Angela C. Lee is a Los Angeles based independent producer. She produced "Songs My Brothers Taught Me," which premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival and recently screened in the Directors’ Fortnight program at the Cannes Film Festival. Angela is also the Artist Development Manager at Film Independent, where she oversees the selection process and curriculum for the Filmmaker Labs program, including Screenwriting, Directing, Producing, and Documentary Labs, the Fast Track Finance Market and the Fox Writers Intensive, managed in conjunction with Fox Audience Strategy. Previously, Angela served as Director of Creative Affairs at New York based Vox3 Films. Prior to her career in film, Angela was an Associate at Goldman Sachs. A native Chicagoan, Angela graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics and is on the Board of Directors for the University of Chicago National Arts Alumni Network.
The Fellows and projects selected for the 2015 Documentary Film Creative Producing Lab are:
"Brick"
Co-Directors/Producers: Jessica Dimmock & Christopher Lamarca
"Brick" reveals the raw emotional and physical experience of being a middle aged to senior transgender woman coming out for the first time in the Pacific Northwest. The film follows three intersecting stories of individuals who have lived their whole lives as men and decided this burdensome secret is one they can no longer keep.
Jessica Dimmock is the recipient of the 2013 World Press Photo Multimedia Contest as the director and cinematographer of the online feature, "Too Young to Wed." In 2010, Dimmock won Kodak's Best Cinematography Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival for "Without." The film premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, received an Independent Spirit Award, and was nominated for a Gotham Independent Film Award. Dimmock contributed two short films to Doctors Without Borders' Emmy-nominated campaign, “Starved for Attention.” Her first photojournalism project, “The Ninth Floor” was published as a monograph. Most recently, she worked as photographer and videographer for Emmy-nominated HBO series, "The Weight of the Nation." She is represented by VII agency.
Christopher Lamarca is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker and based in Portland, Oregon. Lamarca has recently entered post-production on his first feature length film, "Boone." In 2012, it was chosen as one of eight films for Film Independent's Documentary Film lab. Lamarca's monograph, “Forest Defenders: The Confrontational American Landscape ” was published by PowerHouse Books in 2008. He was chosen to participate in the International Center of Photography’s triennial exhibition (2007), New York Photo festival (2009) and Lishui photo festival in China (2010). He reported on environmental and energy issues for magazines such as Rolling Stone, GQ, Fortune, and Newsweek.
"The Island and the Whales" (working title)
Directore/Producer: Mike Day
The pilot whale hunters of the Faroe Islands believe that hunting is vital to their way of life, but when a local professor makes a grim discovery about the effects of marine pollution, and the seabirds populations collapse, environmental changes threaten to change the community and their way of life forever.
Mike Day is a Scottish director and producer. Formerly a lawyer in London and the Middle East he founded Intrepid Cinema in 2009 before heading out into the North Atlantic to make his previous film. His debut documentary "The Guga Hunters of Ness" broadcast on the BBC in 2011 and screened at festivals internationally to critical acclaim. It was while at sea in the Atlantic that he met a group of Faroese sailors, leading to his next film. Mike was listed as one of '10 Filmmakers to Watch' by Filmmaker Magazine, he was one of Edn's ’12 for the Future 2012’, and is supported by the Scottish Documentary Institute's Docscene programme. Intrepid Cinema also has two other feature documentaries in development.
"The Road From Hainan"
Director/Producer: Nanfu Wang
State surveillance. Harassment. Imprisonment. Human rights activist Ye Haiyan, Aka Sparrow, knew she faced these risks when she went to Hainan Province to seek justice for six elementary school girls who were sexually abused by their principal. But the scale and intensity of the government's reaction surprised even the most seasoned activists across China.
"The Road From Hainan" follows Sparrow as she was chased from town to town by local governments, national secret police, and even her own neighbors. Nanfu Wang is a documentary filmmaker based in New York. Originally from a remote village in China, Wang overcame poverty and lack of access to formal secondary education and went on to earn graduate degrees in communications and documentary film from universities in China and the United States. Her work often features the stories of marginalized or mistreated people, from Chinese blood donors stricken with HIV after being issued used needles by the government to the left-behind children of migrant laborers. During the production of her first full-length documentary, Wang lived on the streets of Miami with a homeless former drug dealer who relied on the kindness of strangers for his survival. Wang’s short films have been distributed on many platforms and translated into several languages, and she continues to seek out and tell the stories of people who have been ignored by their societies.
"Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four"
Director/Producer: Deborah Esquenazi
"Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four" excavates the nightmarish persecution of Elizabeth Ramirez, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh, and Anna Vasquez — four Latina lesbians wrongfully convicted of allegedly gang-raping two little girls in San Antonio, Texas. The film also unravels the sinister interplay of mythology, homophobia and prosecutorial fervor which led to this modern day witch hunt during the 'Satanic Sexual Abuse Panic' of the late-80's and early-90's in the United States.
Deborah S. Esquenazi is an Austin, Texas-based documentary film and radio producer, instructor, and journalist. Her in-progress documentary feature, "Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four," has received international attention for its investigation into this controversial criminal case, and has been mentioned in Forbes Magazine, New York Times, Texas Observer, Vice Magazine, among others. Her film and radio documentaries have been funded by Chicken & Egg Pictures, Paul Robeson Fund for Independent Media, Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program | John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Initiative, Humanities Texas, Astraea Global Arts Fund, and many others.
- 7/20/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
From July 27 to August 3 at the Sundance Resort in Utah, the Institute holds its Creative Film Producing Initiative including its latest series of Labs and a special Summit that brings together over 50 industry leaders. The focus is on nurturing the next generation of indie producers. Participants of the Feature Film Creative Producing Lab (July 27 – July 31) work under Creative Advisors including producers Lindsay Doran ("Sense and Sensibility"), Lynette Howell Taylor ("The Place Beyond the Pines"), Gina Kwon ("Me and You and Everyone We Know"), Paul Mezey ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Jay Van Hoy ("Beginners") and director Matthew Ross ("28 Hotel Rooms"). The Documentary Film Creative Producing Lab (July 27 – August 1) brings together documentarians under Creative Advisors include producers Julie Goldman ("Best of Enemies"), Bonni Cohen ("3 1/2 Minutes, 10 Bullets"), Ryan Werner (of Cinetic...
- 7/15/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Academy invitee Eddie Redmayne in 'The Theory of Everything.' Academy invites 322 new members: 'More diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before' The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has offered membership to 322 individuals "who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures." According to the Academy's press release, "those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2015." In case all 322 potential new members say an enthusiastic Yes, that means an injection of new blood representing about 5 percent of the Academy's current membership. In the words of Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs (as quoted in the press release), in 2015 "our branches have recognized a more diverse and inclusive list of filmmakers and artists than ever before, and we look forward to adding their creativity, ideas and experience to our organization." In recent years, the Academy membership has...
- 7/1/2015
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
©Renzo Piano Building Workshop/©Studio Pali Fekete architects/©A.M.P.A.S.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week that the Los Angeles City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved plans for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Construction will begin this summer, and ceremonial groundbreaking festivities will occur this fall.
“I am thrilled that Los Angeles is gaining another architectural and cultural icon,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “My office of economic development has worked directly with the museum’s development team to ensure that the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will create jobs, support tourism, and pay homage to the industry that helped define our identity as the creative capital of the world.”
“We are grateful to our incredible community of supporters who have helped make this museum a reality,” said Dawn Hudson, the Academy’s CEO. “Building this museum has been an Academy...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week that the Los Angeles City Council, in a unanimous vote, approved plans for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Construction will begin this summer, and ceremonial groundbreaking festivities will occur this fall.
“I am thrilled that Los Angeles is gaining another architectural and cultural icon,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “My office of economic development has worked directly with the museum’s development team to ensure that the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will create jobs, support tourism, and pay homage to the industry that helped define our identity as the creative capital of the world.”
“We are grateful to our incredible community of supporters who have helped make this museum a reality,” said Dawn Hudson, the Academy’s CEO. “Building this museum has been an Academy...
- 6/27/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Strangely dropping a press release on a historic day where the nation's attention is elsewhere, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed their annual list of new member invitees this morning. For those who criticize the makeup of the Academy there was some good news and the stark realization the organization still has a long way to go. The Academy has spent the last eight to 10 years attempting to diversify its membership and this year's class mostly reflects that. There are significantly more invitees of Asian and African-American descent, but the male to female disparity is still depressing. Out of the 25 potential new members of the Actor's Branch only seven are women. And, no, there isn't really an acceptable way for the Academy to spin that sad fact. Additionally, It's important to realize the 322 people noted in the release have only been invited to join Hollywood's most exclusive club.
- 6/26/2015
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
Chronic
Director: Michel Franco// Writer: Michel Franco
Provocateur Michel Franco has already built an impressive filmography with two highly divisive films, including his 2009 debut Daniel and Ana and his 2012 sophomore effort After Lucia, which won the Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2012 (where we interviewed the Mexican filmmaker). While his third feature, To the Eyes, co-directed with his sister Victoria, premiered at the Morelia Film Festival and hasn’t navigated into any sort of distribution deal, Franco’s in the midst of completing his fourth film, English language debut Chronic, starring Tim Roth (who was on the Un Certain Regard Jury in 2012). We have very high expectations for the latest Franco flick which tracks a depressed nurse practitioner who assists terminally ill patients and tries to reconnect with the family he abandoned.
Cast: Tim Roth, Bitsie Tulloch, Claire van der Boom
Producers: Michel Franco, Gina Kwon (Day Out of Days), Gabriel Ripstein (600 Millas), Moisés Zonana (After,...
Director: Michel Franco// Writer: Michel Franco
Provocateur Michel Franco has already built an impressive filmography with two highly divisive films, including his 2009 debut Daniel and Ana and his 2012 sophomore effort After Lucia, which won the Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2012 (where we interviewed the Mexican filmmaker). While his third feature, To the Eyes, co-directed with his sister Victoria, premiered at the Morelia Film Festival and hasn’t navigated into any sort of distribution deal, Franco’s in the midst of completing his fourth film, English language debut Chronic, starring Tim Roth (who was on the Un Certain Regard Jury in 2012). We have very high expectations for the latest Franco flick which tracks a depressed nurse practitioner who assists terminally ill patients and tries to reconnect with the family he abandoned.
Cast: Tim Roth, Bitsie Tulloch, Claire van der Boom
Producers: Michel Franco, Gina Kwon (Day Out of Days), Gabriel Ripstein (600 Millas), Moisés Zonana (After,...
- 1/7/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
It’s not uncommon to see a filmmaker essentially break out with a hit film (in baseball lingo this wasn’t a home run, but an ernest double) at Sundance, and then, for a multitude of reasons both known or unknown, not strike while the iron is hot. Her Frenchie-Americano rom com featuring quintessential indie starlet Parker Posey was with all its warts and quirks played excellently for a certain demographic and midway this year, she queued up a sophomore film that is a little more grown-up. Featuring Alexia Landeau in the lead with a cast that includes Cheyenne Jackson, Eddie Izzard, Melanie Griffith, Bellamy Young, Vincent Kartheiser, Ione Skye, Alessandro Nivola and Brooke Smith, Day out of Days received some coin in late 2013, and could follow the path to Sundance as her short Men Make Women Crazy Theory (2000) and Broken English before it. Look for a pragmatic and potentially...
- 11/11/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
While still an active member of what I would call a French-u.S galpal filmmaker clique, the name of Zoe Cassavetes has painfully been absent from the indie scene since her feature film debut Broken English (2007) landed in Park City. Working with the ageism theme, more specifically, the drawbacks of working as an actress in/against/for the Hollywood system that were recently touched upon in Olivier Assayas’ Sils Maria and David Cronenberg’s Maps to the Stars, Cassavetes muse and co-writer Alexia Landeau (also featured in sister Xan Cassavetes’ Kiss of the Damned) has according to the Deadline folks toplined Cassavetes’ sophomore film. Melanie Griffith, Eddie Izzard, Cheyenne Jackson, Vincent Kartheiser, Alessandro Nivola, Brooke Smith and Bellamy Young also star in the pic that went went into production last month. Produced by Gina Kwon (The Future) and Kate Roughan, look for Day Out Of Days to have a Sundance berth.
- 8/20/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Exclusive: After her debut feature Broken English snagged distribution out of Sundance and a pair of Independent Spirit Award nominations, filmmaker Zoe Cassavetes linked up with actress pal Alexia Landeau to write her sophomore feature. Landeau, who appeared in Cassavetes’ first film, the 2000 short Men Make Women Crazy Theory, now leads the Day Out Of Days cast as a 40-year-old actress struggling to make it in the cutthroat business of Hollywood while contending with ever-youthful competition.
Joining Landeau in Day Out Of Days are Melanie Griffith, Eddie Izzard, Cheyenne Jackson, Vincent Kartheiser, Alessandro Nivola, Brooke Smith and Bellamy Young. Cassavetes just wrapped a 17-day shoot on location in La, a production made possible by a successful $60,000 FundAnything crowdfunding campaign that Cassavetes and her fellow producers Gina Kwon (Camp X-Ray, The Future, The Motel, Me and You and Everyone We Know) and Kate Roughan (Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and the Farm Midwives) launched last year.
Joining Landeau in Day Out Of Days are Melanie Griffith, Eddie Izzard, Cheyenne Jackson, Vincent Kartheiser, Alessandro Nivola, Brooke Smith and Bellamy Young. Cassavetes just wrapped a 17-day shoot on location in La, a production made possible by a successful $60,000 FundAnything crowdfunding campaign that Cassavetes and her fellow producers Gina Kwon (Camp X-Ray, The Future, The Motel, Me and You and Everyone We Know) and Kate Roughan (Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin and the Farm Midwives) launched last year.
- 8/20/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
A few weeks after its debut out in Park City, IFC Films have announced that they have acquired the North American distribution rights to Kristen Stewart’s latest film, Camp X-Ray.
The drama, which screened in competition at Sundance last month, opened to warm responses in early reviews, praising Stewart’s performance in particular, and it’s nice to know that it’s found a home in a distributor as strong and well-rounded as IFC.
A young woman joins the military to be part of something bigger than herself and her small-town roots. Instead, she ends up as a new guard at Guantanamo Bay, where her mission is far from black and white. Surrounded by hostile jihadists and aggressive squadmates, she strikes up an unusual friendship with one of the detainees. As two people on opposite sides of a war, they struggle to find their way through the ethical quagmire of Guantanamo Bay.
The drama, which screened in competition at Sundance last month, opened to warm responses in early reviews, praising Stewart’s performance in particular, and it’s nice to know that it’s found a home in a distributor as strong and well-rounded as IFC.
A young woman joins the military to be part of something bigger than herself and her small-town roots. Instead, she ends up as a new guard at Guantanamo Bay, where her mission is far from black and white. Surrounded by hostile jihadists and aggressive squadmates, she strikes up an unusual friendship with one of the detainees. As two people on opposite sides of a war, they struggle to find their way through the ethical quagmire of Guantanamo Bay.
- 2/6/2014
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
IFC Films has taken Us rights to recent Sundance world premiere Camp X-Ray starring Kristen Stewart.
Peter Sattler wrote and directed the story of a rookie guard at Guantanamo Bay who strikes up a friendship with a detainee. nPayman Maadi and Lane Garrison round out the key cast.
Gina Kwon produced and Emmy Ellison, Lindsay Williams, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, David Gordon Green and Sophia Lin served as executive producers.
IFC brokered the deal with UTA Independent Film Group and André Des Rochers.
Peter Sattler wrote and directed the story of a rookie guard at Guantanamo Bay who strikes up a friendship with a detainee. nPayman Maadi and Lane Garrison round out the key cast.
Gina Kwon produced and Emmy Ellison, Lindsay Williams, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, David Gordon Green and Sophia Lin served as executive producers.
IFC brokered the deal with UTA Independent Film Group and André Des Rochers.
- 2/6/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
IFC Films has announced that they will distribute Peter Sattler's "Camp X-Ray" throughout North America. The film, which stars Kristen Stewart as a rookie guard at Guantanamo Bay and Peyman Moaadi ("A Separation") as a detainee she develops a friendship with, debuted at Sundance this year in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. Read More: What Critics Are Saying About Kristen Stewart in 'Camp X-Ray' This is the third acquisition by IFC Films from Sundance, following Jim Mickle's thriller "Cold in July" and John Slattery's directorial debut "God's Pocket," starring the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, while their sister label IFC Midnight acquired Jennifer Kent's much talked about horror film "The Babadook." The company is also distributing Richard Linklater's "Boyhood," which it debuted at the festival to high acclaim, and "The Trip to Italy," the follow-up to Michael Winterbottom, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's "The Trip.
- 2/6/2014
- by Max O'Connell
- Indiewire
IFC Films took North American rights to Peter Sattler’s directorial debut film Camp X-Ray, which made its debut at Sundance. Pic stars Kristen Stewart, Payman Maadi and Lane Garrison, and was produced by Gina Kwon, and executive produced by Emmy Ellison, Lindsay Williams, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, David Gordon Green and Sophia Lin. Stewart plays a soldier who gets assigned guard duty at Guantanamo Bay, where she strikes up a friendship with a detainee.
- 2/6/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Peter Sattler’s directorial debut “Camp X-Ray,” which stars Kristen Stewart as a Guantanamo Bay guard, the company announced Thursday. Sattler also wrote the film, which was produced by Gina Kwon and executive produced by Emmy Ellison, Lindsay Williams, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, David Gordon Green and Sophia Lin. Payman Maadi and Lane Garrison co-star in the movie, which premiered in competition at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Also Read: Sundance: Kristen Stewart’s Guantanamo Bay Drama ‘Camp X-Ray’ Draws Warm Response, Partial Standing-o Stewart plays a young woman who joins the military to be...
- 2/6/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Peter Sattler's directorial debut film Camp X-Ray. The film, with a screenplay by Sattler, stars Kristen Stewart, Peyman Moaadi and Lane Garrison, made its world premiere Jan. 17 at Eccles Theatre as part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition section at the Sundance Film Festival. Film Review: Camp X-Ray Gina Kwon produced the drama about a young woman (Stewart) who joins the military to be part of something bigger than herself and her small-town roots but ends up as a rookie guard at Guantanamo Bay. Her mission is far
read more...
read more...
- 2/6/2014
- by Tatiana Siegel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IFC Films announced today that the company is acquiring North American rights to Peter Sattler.s directorial debut film Camp X-Ray . The film, with a screenplay by Sattler, stars Kristen Stewart, Payman Maadi and Lane Garrison, and was produced by Gina Kwon, and executive produced by Emmy Ellison, Lindsay Williams, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, David Gordon Green and Sophia Lin. The film made its world premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section. In the film, a young woman (Stewart) joins the military to be part of something bigger than herself and her small town roots, but ends up as a rookie guard at Guantanamo Bay. Her mission is far from black and white, as she is surrounded by hostile jihadists and aggressive male squadmates. When she strikes...
- 2/6/2014
- Comingsoon.net
Geetanjali Thapa in I.D.
Geetanjali Thapa won the award for Best Performance in the Narrative Competition for Kamal K.M’s I.D. at the Los Angeles Film Festival that concluded recently.
Thapa plays a carefree young woman living in Mumbai named Charu who is visited by a painter who’s been hired to do a touch-up to one of her apartment walls. But when the man falls unconscious, Charu discovers that she alone must attend to this stranger, first getting him to the hospital and then trying to discover who he is.
The Jury stated: Thapa’s performance is recognized in part for her ability to win over the audience’s empathy for a character that initially lacks, indeed even resists, empathy. Rarely conversational, her ability to speak volumes with gesture and silence is a revelation to the audience. With an onscreen presence that commands attention, we see her rising...
Geetanjali Thapa won the award for Best Performance in the Narrative Competition for Kamal K.M’s I.D. at the Los Angeles Film Festival that concluded recently.
Thapa plays a carefree young woman living in Mumbai named Charu who is visited by a painter who’s been hired to do a touch-up to one of her apartment walls. But when the man falls unconscious, Charu discovers that she alone must attend to this stranger, first getting him to the hospital and then trying to discover who he is.
The Jury stated: Thapa’s performance is recognized in part for her ability to win over the audience’s empathy for a character that initially lacks, indeed even resists, empathy. Rarely conversational, her ability to speak volumes with gesture and silence is a revelation to the audience. With an onscreen presence that commands attention, we see her rising...
- 6/26/2013
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Kristen Stewart movie Camp X-Ray reportedly gets leading man: Peyman Moaadi Two Kristen Stewart movie projects were announced a couple of weeks ago: Olivier Assayas’ psychological drama Sils Maria, to co-star Juliette Binoche and Chloë Grace Moretz, and writer-director Peter Sattler’s political drama Camp X-Ray. The latter movie reportedly has found its leading man: Best Foreign Language Film Oscar winner A Separation star Peyman Moaadi. According to TheWrap, in Camp X-Ray the 43-year-old (or 42, or 41, depending on the source) Moaadi will play Ali, a Muslim inmate who has been languishing in Guantanamo for eight years. Kristen Stewart is set to play an American soldier recently assigned to the American concentration camp, where she strikes an unusual friendship with Ali. Could there be hope for the world? Don’t hold your breath, but one never knows… TheWrap adds that Joseph Julian Soria, among whose credits are Fast & Furious and the television series Army Wives,...
- 6/24/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
A Separation star Peyman Moaadi is set to join Kristen Stewart in the upcoming Camp X-Ray , The Wrap reports. Peter Sattler is both writing and directing the drama, which stars Stewart as a new soldier, Cole, who forms an unusual friendship with an eight-year Guantanamo Bay detainee, Ali (Moaddi). Moaadi can be seen coming up in Kazuaki Kiriya's action adventure The Last Knights . Camp X-Ray will be produced by Gina Kwon and Sophia Lin with Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, David Gordon Green and Lindsay Williams executive producing.
- 6/24/2013
- Comingsoon.net
Film Independent on Wednesday announced the jurors for the 2013 Los Angeles Film Festival. The Directv narrative competition jury consists of Independent Spirit Award-winning producer Gina Kwon (Me and You and Everyone We Know, Chuck & Buck), Spirit Award-nominated director Sean Baker (Starlet, Take Out, Prince of Broadway) and actor/producer Harry Lennix (Man of Steel, Titus). Photos: Indie Spirit Awards 2013: Stars Hit the Red Carpet In the Directv documentary competition section, jurors include former Laff Grand Jury award-winning director Clay Tweel (Make Believe, The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters), producer Lesley Chilcott (Waiting for
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- 6/12/2013
- by Sophie Schillaci
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Film Independent announced nine jurors on Wednesday that will judge three competitions in the 2013 Los Angeles Film Festival. The 19th annual festival kicks off in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday and runs through June 23. Also read: UCLA, La Film Festival Partner to Support Socially Aware Filmmaking (Exclusive) Spirit Award-winning producer Gina Kwon ("Me and You and Everyone We Know"), Spirit Award-nominated director Sean Baker ("Starlet") and actor-producer Harry Lennix ("Man of Steel") comprise the jury for the DirecTV Narrative Competition. The DirecTV Documentary Competition Jury is composed of the 2010 La Film Fest Grand...
- 6/12/2013
- by Greg Gilman
- The Wrap
The Los Angeles Film Festival has announced its jurors for the 2013 fest, running June 13-23 in downtown L.A. Jury members include directors Sean Baker ("Starlet") and Clay Tweel ("The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters") and producers Harry Lennix ("Man of Steel") and Lesley Chilcott ("Waiting for Superman," "An Inconvenient Truth"). Full list below.The Narrative Competition Jury consists of Film Independent Spirit Award-winning producer Gina Kwon ("Me and You and Everyone We Know," "Chuck & Buck"), Spirit Award-nominated director Sean Baker ("Starlet," "Take Out," "Prince of Broadway") and actor-producer Harry Lennix ("Man of Steel," "Titus," the upcoming NBC series "The Blacklist").The Documentary Competition Jury is comprised of the 2010 La Film Fest Grand Jury award-winning director Clay Tweel ("Make Believe," "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters"), award-winning producer Lesley Chilcott ("Waiting For Superman", "An Inconvenient Truth"), and New York Times ...
- 6/12/2013
- by Beth Hanna
- Thompson on Hollywood
"Twilight" actress Kristen Stewart has committed to both the political feature "Camp X-Ray" and Oliver Assayas' indie drama "Sils Maria."
Peter Sattler penned and directs 'X-Ray' which follows a girl who joins the military to escape her small town. It soon turns out to be not what she expected when she is sent to Guantanamo Bay. Gina Kwon and Sophia Lin will produce.
IFC Films is releasing 'Sils' in which Juliette Binoche plays an actress obsessed with her previous choices, examining how she has spent her life and what she has accomplished.
Stewart will play her assistant, taking over a role Mia Wasikowska was previously slated for. Chloe Moretz also stars.
Source: Variety...
Peter Sattler penned and directs 'X-Ray' which follows a girl who joins the military to escape her small town. It soon turns out to be not what she expected when she is sent to Guantanamo Bay. Gina Kwon and Sophia Lin will produce.
IFC Films is releasing 'Sils' in which Juliette Binoche plays an actress obsessed with her previous choices, examining how she has spent her life and what she has accomplished.
Stewart will play her assistant, taking over a role Mia Wasikowska was previously slated for. Chloe Moretz also stars.
Source: Variety...
- 6/5/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
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