For years various producers have pitched doing something like a zany It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World, only populated by an epic cast of contemporary comedy stars just like that Stanley Kramer supercomedy did during its time in 1963. So it is probably not a coincidence that Jerry Seinfeld selected that very year in which to set his live action filmmaking debut, Unfrosted, as a quadruple threat of star, director, co-writer, producer.
Placing it in Battle Creek, Michigan and taking the real life story of the rivalry of cereal kingpins Kellogg’s and Post in their race to create a revolutionary breakfast pastry, Seinfeld and his longtime writing partner Spike Feresten, along with their Bee Movie collaborators Andy Rubin & Barry Marder, have chosen to use some real life people, made up several others, salted it all with some basic truths, and basically let the laughs and comedy lead the way in the telling.
Placing it in Battle Creek, Michigan and taking the real life story of the rivalry of cereal kingpins Kellogg’s and Post in their race to create a revolutionary breakfast pastry, Seinfeld and his longtime writing partner Spike Feresten, along with their Bee Movie collaborators Andy Rubin & Barry Marder, have chosen to use some real life people, made up several others, salted it all with some basic truths, and basically let the laughs and comedy lead the way in the telling.
- 5/3/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
The Casting Society (CSA) has announced the film nominees for the 39th Artios Awards, presented by the Casting Society of America. “The Color Purple,” “Saltburn,” “Maestro,” “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Oppenheimer” are among the nominated films in big budget drama.
The awards honor casting directors’ contributions to film, television and theatre. Among the casting directors with multiple nominations are Avy Kaufman and Jessica Sherman. Also nominated are the casting directors behind “Barbie” and “The Iron Claw.”
The winners will be revealed on March 7, with celebrations being held in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in New York City at the Edison Ballroom and in London, England.
As previously announced, Ava DuVernay is this year’s recipient of the Lynn Stalmaster Award Career Achievement.
The full list of nominees is below.
Feature Animation
“Elemental”
Natalie Lyon, Kevin Reher, Kate Hansen-Birnbaum (Associate Casting Director)
“Leo”
Danielle Aufiero, Amber Horn...
The awards honor casting directors’ contributions to film, television and theatre. Among the casting directors with multiple nominations are Avy Kaufman and Jessica Sherman. Also nominated are the casting directors behind “Barbie” and “The Iron Claw.”
The winners will be revealed on March 7, with celebrations being held in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in New York City at the Edison Ballroom and in London, England.
As previously announced, Ava DuVernay is this year’s recipient of the Lynn Stalmaster Award Career Achievement.
The full list of nominees is below.
Feature Animation
“Elemental”
Natalie Lyon, Kevin Reher, Kate Hansen-Birnbaum (Associate Casting Director)
“Leo”
Danielle Aufiero, Amber Horn...
- 1/12/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Casting Society has made its 2024 callbacks. The group today revealed the film nominees for its 39th Artios Awards, which honor the contribution of casting professionals.
Vying in the Feature Big Budget – Drama category are The Color Purple, Maestro, Killers of the Flower Moon, Oppenheimer and Saltburn. The Feature Big Budget – Comedy race will be among Air; Are you There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Asteroid City, Cocaine Bear and Wonka.
Up for the Zeitgeist Award are Barbie, The Flash, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
See the full list below.
The combatants for Feature Studio or Independent – Drama are The Iron Claw, May December, Past Lives, Priscilla and Rustin. Battling for the Feature Studio or Independent – Comedy will be American Fiction, Bottoms, The Holdovers, Joy Ride and Theater Camp.
Last year’s top...
Vying in the Feature Big Budget – Drama category are The Color Purple, Maestro, Killers of the Flower Moon, Oppenheimer and Saltburn. The Feature Big Budget – Comedy race will be among Air; Are you There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Asteroid City, Cocaine Bear and Wonka.
Up for the Zeitgeist Award are Barbie, The Flash, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
See the full list below.
The combatants for Feature Studio or Independent – Drama are The Iron Claw, May December, Past Lives, Priscilla and Rustin. Battling for the Feature Studio or Independent – Comedy will be American Fiction, Bottoms, The Holdovers, Joy Ride and Theater Camp.
Last year’s top...
- 1/12/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Kristy Carlson, Svp, Feature Casting, at Warner Bros. Pictures, will now head the department as its senior executive, responsible for working with the studio’s creative teams and filmmakers to cast key roles on the Burbank lot’s feature slate.
Carlson will report to Warner Bros. Pictures. President of Production and Development Courtenay Valenti.
Carlson, who arrived at the studio in 1999, replaces Lora Kennedy, who left her role as head of Warner Bros. Pictures’ casting department earlier this week.
During Carlson’s tenure she has served as casting director on such Warner titles as Wonder Woman, Justice League, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Man of Steel, the Happy Feet franchise, Sucker Punch and Watchmen. Since 2010, Carlson has served as the studio’s Svp of Feature Casting.
Additionally, Carlson has helped supervise the casting of such projects such as the Harry Potter franchise and its spinoff Fantastic Beasts, The Last Samurai,...
Carlson will report to Warner Bros. Pictures. President of Production and Development Courtenay Valenti.
Carlson, who arrived at the studio in 1999, replaces Lora Kennedy, who left her role as head of Warner Bros. Pictures’ casting department earlier this week.
During Carlson’s tenure she has served as casting director on such Warner titles as Wonder Woman, Justice League, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Man of Steel, the Happy Feet franchise, Sucker Punch and Watchmen. Since 2010, Carlson has served as the studio’s Svp of Feature Casting.
Additionally, Carlson has helped supervise the casting of such projects such as the Harry Potter franchise and its spinoff Fantastic Beasts, The Last Samurai,...
- 6/7/2018
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Greenlit means a project is officially a go, so all you have to do is follow these leads to stay up to date. You never know where you’ll find an opportunity to land an audition! “New Gods” The DC Extended Universe is extending even further. Warner Bros. announced last week that acclaimed director Ava DuVernay will be coming on board to direct the studio’s “New Gods,” based on the DC Comics series of the same name. The project will be the beginning of a new universe to build, and they’ve picked one of the buzziest people for the job. DuVernay, who most recently directed the much-anticipated “A Wrinkle In Time,” will join Patty Jenkins of last year’s “Wonder Woman” in the female superhero director category. Unless Warner Bros. wants to have a say in who gets to add cast to the new franchise, it's likely DuVernay...
- 3/19/2018
- backstage.com
This review was written for the theatrical release of "Queen of the Damned".
One of the most ambitious vampire movies since Warner Bros.' "Interview With the Vampire" and likewise adapted from best-selling author Anne Rice's series "The Vampire Chronicles", "Queen of the Damned" features the late singer-actress Aaliyah in the title role as a sexy, not-to-be-messed-with ancient who comes to life in turn-of-the-millennium America.
Directed with goth pizzazz and brains by Michael Rymer ("Perfume"), the film premiered Sunday at the closing night of the 2002 Hollywood Black Film Festival. Preceded that evening by a short tribute to Aaliyah Dana Haughton, who was posthumously awarded the fest's first Inspirational Spirit Award, the loud and entertaining "Queen" could rule the boxoffice when it opens Feb. 22.
While one watches her scenes in the latter half of the film with admiration for Aaliyah's charisma and team spirit (all those bloody-fanged smiles, the skimpy Egyptian costumes), there's a whiff of real sadness to a scenario that is preoccupied with the loneliness of the immortal undead. But it's also a little camp around the edges, and one doesn't have to be a Rice fan to follow the vampire histrionics, of which "Queen" has more than its share.
The heavy metal music-fueled blood fest actually centers on Rice's charismatic rebel vamp Lestat (Stuart Townsend of "About Adam") and a fetching investigator of the paranormal, Jessie (Marguerite Moreau of "Wet Hot American Summer"). With Aaliyah not appearing in full glory until 50 minutes into "Queen", the often-narrated story follows Jessie's learning about Lestat's past after he wakes up from a self-imposed slumber and becomes a major pop star.
Indeed, devilish Lestat calls himself a vampire and almost overtly goes about his natural routine, knowing that he will anger all the other vampires who strictly adhere to a code of silence. Thousands of years old and infamous for drinking rivers of blood, Akasha (Aaliyah) is the "mother" of all the vamps and has the ability to burn them (and mere mortals) into blobs of molten matter.
The plot and many characters of "Queen" get a bit complicated. But Jessie's fascination with New Orleans-based Lestat makes sense when it becomes clear that her aunt (Lena Olin) is a vampire. Vincent Perez is Marius, whom we see "make" Lestat in a period flashback and who keeps track of Akasha in statue form. There is much jumping around in time until awakened Akasha starts to show off her power, leading to a climactic rock concert in Death Valley that turns into a vampire slaughter.
The costumes -- Aaliyah is adorned in headdresses, shell skirts and gold-plated bodices -- and special effects are major elements in the film's most crowd-pleasing moments. With a blistering heavy rock soundtrack and several original songs by Jonathan Davis (lead singer of Korn) and Richard Gibbs that are performed by Lestat and his band, "Queen" is a change of pace for Rymer, and the widescreen production shows affection for the genre and some respect for the viewer.
QUEEN OF THE DAMNED
Warner Bros.
In association with Village Roadshow Pictures
and NPV Entertainment
A Material production
Credits:
Director: Michael Rymer
Screenwriters: Scott Abbott, Michael Petroni
Based on the novel by: Anne Rice
Producer: Jorge Saralegui
Executive producers: Su Armstrong, Andrew Mason, Bill Gerber, Bruce Berman
Director of photography: Ian Baker
Production designer: Graham "Grace" Walker
Editor: Danny Cooper
Costume designer: Angus Strathie
Visual effects supervisor: Gregory L. McMurry
Music: Richard Gibbs, Jonathan Davis
Casting: Kristy Sager, Greg Apps
Cast:
Lestat: Stuart Townsend
Jessie: Marguerite Moreau
Queen Akasha: Aaliyah
Marius: Vincent Perez
Maharet: Lena Olin
David Talbot: Paul McGann
MPAA rating: R
Color/stereo
Running time -- 101 minutes...
One of the most ambitious vampire movies since Warner Bros.' "Interview With the Vampire" and likewise adapted from best-selling author Anne Rice's series "The Vampire Chronicles", "Queen of the Damned" features the late singer-actress Aaliyah in the title role as a sexy, not-to-be-messed-with ancient who comes to life in turn-of-the-millennium America.
Directed with goth pizzazz and brains by Michael Rymer ("Perfume"), the film premiered Sunday at the closing night of the 2002 Hollywood Black Film Festival. Preceded that evening by a short tribute to Aaliyah Dana Haughton, who was posthumously awarded the fest's first Inspirational Spirit Award, the loud and entertaining "Queen" could rule the boxoffice when it opens Feb. 22.
While one watches her scenes in the latter half of the film with admiration for Aaliyah's charisma and team spirit (all those bloody-fanged smiles, the skimpy Egyptian costumes), there's a whiff of real sadness to a scenario that is preoccupied with the loneliness of the immortal undead. But it's also a little camp around the edges, and one doesn't have to be a Rice fan to follow the vampire histrionics, of which "Queen" has more than its share.
The heavy metal music-fueled blood fest actually centers on Rice's charismatic rebel vamp Lestat (Stuart Townsend of "About Adam") and a fetching investigator of the paranormal, Jessie (Marguerite Moreau of "Wet Hot American Summer"). With Aaliyah not appearing in full glory until 50 minutes into "Queen", the often-narrated story follows Jessie's learning about Lestat's past after he wakes up from a self-imposed slumber and becomes a major pop star.
Indeed, devilish Lestat calls himself a vampire and almost overtly goes about his natural routine, knowing that he will anger all the other vampires who strictly adhere to a code of silence. Thousands of years old and infamous for drinking rivers of blood, Akasha (Aaliyah) is the "mother" of all the vamps and has the ability to burn them (and mere mortals) into blobs of molten matter.
The plot and many characters of "Queen" get a bit complicated. But Jessie's fascination with New Orleans-based Lestat makes sense when it becomes clear that her aunt (Lena Olin) is a vampire. Vincent Perez is Marius, whom we see "make" Lestat in a period flashback and who keeps track of Akasha in statue form. There is much jumping around in time until awakened Akasha starts to show off her power, leading to a climactic rock concert in Death Valley that turns into a vampire slaughter.
The costumes -- Aaliyah is adorned in headdresses, shell skirts and gold-plated bodices -- and special effects are major elements in the film's most crowd-pleasing moments. With a blistering heavy rock soundtrack and several original songs by Jonathan Davis (lead singer of Korn) and Richard Gibbs that are performed by Lestat and his band, "Queen" is a change of pace for Rymer, and the widescreen production shows affection for the genre and some respect for the viewer.
QUEEN OF THE DAMNED
Warner Bros.
In association with Village Roadshow Pictures
and NPV Entertainment
A Material production
Credits:
Director: Michael Rymer
Screenwriters: Scott Abbott, Michael Petroni
Based on the novel by: Anne Rice
Producer: Jorge Saralegui
Executive producers: Su Armstrong, Andrew Mason, Bill Gerber, Bruce Berman
Director of photography: Ian Baker
Production designer: Graham "Grace" Walker
Editor: Danny Cooper
Costume designer: Angus Strathie
Visual effects supervisor: Gregory L. McMurry
Music: Richard Gibbs, Jonathan Davis
Casting: Kristy Sager, Greg Apps
Cast:
Lestat: Stuart Townsend
Jessie: Marguerite Moreau
Queen Akasha: Aaliyah
Marius: Vincent Perez
Maharet: Lena Olin
David Talbot: Paul McGann
MPAA rating: R
Color/stereo
Running time -- 101 minutes...
- 2/12/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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