Yesterday, our Matt Brown shared his thoughts about Criterion's new release of Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker, a film considered by many to be the man's masterpiece. Matt had his reservations about that, but did not deny that something brilliant (if very elusive) is happening in that film. Thing is, to some extent you can say that about each and every one of Andrei Tarkovsky's films. The Russian auteur may not have made all that many films, in fact Curzon Arificial Eye fitted them all in one medium-sized boxset last month, but each of them has its fans and detractors. Of course, this makes him an excellent topic for our question of the week! So, let's discuss: what's the best film Andrei Tarkovsky made? Chime in, in...
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- 7/11/2017
- Screen Anarchy
Cole Swindell and Dierks Bentley are about the turn the ACMs up to 11.
The handsome duo are bringing their heart-pumping new single, "Flatliner," to the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday, with Swindell promising an "awesome" performance in Las Vegas.
"This is my first full performance on the Acm Awards show and to get to sing with someone like Dierks Bentley, my tour mate and someone who has been a big influence on me and my music, is going to be a special, special night," the 33-year-old tells Et. "You all tune in and that’s all I can tell you. I'm going to be excited, maybe a little nervous, but it’s going to be awesome."
Watch: Cole Swindell Dishes on Duet With Peyton Manning: 'One of the Coolest Things I'll Ever Get to Do'
Only Et has an exclusive look behind the scenes of their current tour and the "Flatliner" music video in the...
The handsome duo are bringing their heart-pumping new single, "Flatliner," to the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday, with Swindell promising an "awesome" performance in Las Vegas.
"This is my first full performance on the Acm Awards show and to get to sing with someone like Dierks Bentley, my tour mate and someone who has been a big influence on me and my music, is going to be a special, special night," the 33-year-old tells Et. "You all tune in and that’s all I can tell you. I'm going to be excited, maybe a little nervous, but it’s going to be awesome."
Watch: Cole Swindell Dishes on Duet With Peyton Manning: 'One of the Coolest Things I'll Ever Get to Do'
Only Et has an exclusive look behind the scenes of their current tour and the "Flatliner" music video in the...
- 3/28/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Let’s not mince words: ScreenAnarchy digs Raw. We have been covering Julia Ducournau’s powerful debut about a young veterinary student’s unusual coming of age ever since its Cannes 2016 world premiere (Shelagh Rowan-Legg’s review). Matt Brown offered an in-depth look on how the film tackles the dangers of conformism and socialization in his essay “The Normalized Atrocities of Julia Ducournau’s Raw”, and earlier today we published an interview with the writer-director herself, in which she discusses her process as a writer, the fine-tuning of her cinematic language, and underscores how Raw addresses the subject of human identity in a manner that both challenges and transcends stereotypical conceptions of gender roles. Whether with its gut-punch grittiness, its visual exploration of interrelated themes or both, Raw is quite...
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- 3/6/2017
- Screen Anarchy
Recipient of the Matt Brown "Monumental Drop" Award for most deserving second-weekend plunge, Duncan Jones' Warcraft already looks like an afterthought. Rightly so: Warcraft's terrible. Absolutely terrible. It makes Krull look like Dragonslayer. Makes Dragonslayer look like Willow. Makes Willow look like The Hobbit. Makes The Hobbit look like The Lord of the Rings. I mention Warcraft's lineage in the post-Star Wars fantasy blockbuster world only to point out that it's part of a cycle - one with varying degrees of silliness. But even having mentioned Star Wars, the real sea change came - of course - with The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001. That was the quantum leap the genre had spent decades waiting for (The Two Towers, and Gollum, would come the...
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- 6/22/2016
- Screen Anarchy
(Bond may be back, but so is the nefarious organization known as Team TwitchFilm!) Last week, Sam Mendes' second Bond film Spectre got its wide release in the United States, and loads of other places as well. By sheer luck, or rather the mystifying world of movie distribution, some countries got it a week earlier, which allowed me to write a timely review for a change. Since then, it has been steamrolling across the world with great success, and the Internet became rife with Spectre lionizations, laments, lambastes, logistics even. People are extremely divided over this one, and this was noticeable even here at TwitchFilm: my colleague Matt Brown was a lot kinder than me towards Spectre, when he discussed it in his weekly...
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[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 11/17/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Holy moly are there four great names attached to this project! You ready? THR is reporting that Edgar Wright will direct Johnny Depp in Bret McKenzie's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's children's book Fortunately, the Milk. Jaw. Dropped. Edgar Wright's Coronetto trilogy is one of the greatest things ever. Say what you will about Johnny Depp but the man is a chameleon, or, as our Matt Brown put it Hollywood's resident clown. Then you have Bret McKenzie, one half of comedy musical troupe The Conchords. And then there is a children's book by Neil frickin' Gaiman! But what is Fortunately, the Milk about? Gaiman's children's book is described as "a story of time travel and breakfast cereal." It starts out with a father who goes to the store to buy some...
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- 10/24/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Last week we asked everyone what their favorite film featuring the Moon was (blood-moon hype going on and all...), but this week another astronomical location featured heavily in the news: Mars, and this was because of the stellar (haha) box office by Ridley Scott's The Martian. Of course that film has been covered here a few times already. We have Jason Gorber's very positive review, and Matt Brown wondered in his column why our increased knowledge about the red planet has only made it less colorful. Matt's article especially makes mention of Mars as the filmic wonderland it used to be, a fantasy adventure world filled with tropical treasures, scantily clad princesses and huge dinosaurs. Still, using Mars as a sterile place of hazard can...
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[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 10/6/2015
- Screen Anarchy
For the last few weeks, one of the most discussed actors was Idris Elba, and not because of a new film coming out. Instead, we got a typical Internet lynchmob running after someone who made a James Bond-related comment which was taken out of context, and quite possibly deliberately misconstrued as well. Matt Brown wrote a pretty good article about some of the racial aspects of the whole thing. Be that as it may, this whole discussion allowed us all to talk a lot about Idris Elba, which is not a bad thing at all, for he is a great actor and eminently watchable. The man is a walking mountain of charisma, when necessary. So once again I'm going to use eleven pictures of one...
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[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 9/11/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Tiff 40 to open with Jean-Marc Vallée’s Demolition starring Jake Gyllenhaal.Scroll down for Galas, Special Presentation line-ups
The 40th anniversary edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) will feature first looks for Jay Roach’s blacklisted screenwriter biopic Trumbo starring Bryan Cranston as well as Stephen Frears’ Lance Armstrong drama with Ben Foster.
Joining The Program on the roster of world premiere Gala screenings are Ridley Scott’s sci-fi adventure The Martian, Deepa Mehta’s gangster tale Beeba Boys and Kate Winslet Australian drama The Dressmaker.
Click here for Tiff film trailers
Following much speculation, the festival will open with Jean-Marc Vallée’s Demolition starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts.
Hyena Road, the anticipated Afghan War film, will also receive a world premiere. Director Paul Gross’ Passchendaele opened Toronto in 2008.
Among others there are first public screenings for Julie Delpy’s Lolo as well as two gay rights dramas in the form of Peter Sollett’s [link...
The 40th anniversary edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) will feature first looks for Jay Roach’s blacklisted screenwriter biopic Trumbo starring Bryan Cranston as well as Stephen Frears’ Lance Armstrong drama with Ben Foster.
Joining The Program on the roster of world premiere Gala screenings are Ridley Scott’s sci-fi adventure The Martian, Deepa Mehta’s gangster tale Beeba Boys and Kate Winslet Australian drama The Dressmaker.
Click here for Tiff film trailers
Following much speculation, the festival will open with Jean-Marc Vallée’s Demolition starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts.
Hyena Road, the anticipated Afghan War film, will also receive a world premiere. Director Paul Gross’ Passchendaele opened Toronto in 2008.
Among others there are first public screenings for Julie Delpy’s Lolo as well as two gay rights dramas in the form of Peter Sollett’s [link...
- 7/28/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Earlier this month Terminator: Genisys started to terrorize cinemas worldwide, and it pushed the beloved science-fiction franchise's central concepts of time travels and paradoxes into rather extreme corners. Matt Brown had a thing or two to say about that last week as well. While all Terminator sequels play around with the concept of creating paradoxes, the first one used different rules: it showed time travel as a self-consistent device. The Skynet enemy from the future made a final desperate attempt to create a paradox, but by doing so it actually created its own nemesis, by having John Connor's parents meet. All perceived paradoxes were actually reinforcing the existing timeline, and weren't paradoxes at all; the whole puzzle clicked shut at the end, with fate, science...
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- 7/14/2015
- Screen Anarchy
WWE.com
Conor McGregor, Ireland’s rising Ufc superstar, is a controversial figure in the Mma world, mainly due to criticism from the likes of Jose Aldo (who referred to him as a court Jester) and Matt Brown that suggested he talked his way into being a possible title contender. Not to mention fans who feel he’s just an Irish version of Chael Sonnen without the drug scandals.
It should come as little surprise, then, that McGregor isn’t overly critical of the Ufc signing former WWE champ Cm Punk, because he knows the value having a larger-than-life personality brings – but he does have a rather unique take on Punk’s words and actions when the signing was announced.
According to McGregor, speaking to Severe Mma,
Listening to him speak, when I heard the broadcast announcement I saw a man afraid. Like he signed up for something he didn’t want to be.
Conor McGregor, Ireland’s rising Ufc superstar, is a controversial figure in the Mma world, mainly due to criticism from the likes of Jose Aldo (who referred to him as a court Jester) and Matt Brown that suggested he talked his way into being a possible title contender. Not to mention fans who feel he’s just an Irish version of Chael Sonnen without the drug scandals.
It should come as little surprise, then, that McGregor isn’t overly critical of the Ufc signing former WWE champ Cm Punk, because he knows the value having a larger-than-life personality brings – but he does have a rather unique take on Punk’s words and actions when the signing was announced.
According to McGregor, speaking to Severe Mma,
Listening to him speak, when I heard the broadcast announcement I saw a man afraid. Like he signed up for something he didn’t want to be.
- 12/18/2014
- by Jay Anderson
- Obsessed with Film
Via our friends at No Film School, here’s an instructional tutorial from Matt Brown on how to make flats when constructing your own Diy film sets. Brown decided building his own elevator set was more practical and economical than finding a real one to shoot in; the flats are the fake walls necessary to build a set. For those not intuitively comfortable with tools or even navigating a Home Depot, Brown walks you through the necessary purchases, choosing the right sizes of wood, and the construction process, complete with detailed on-screen written instructions for pausable reference.
- 7/30/2014
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Via our friends at No Film School, here’s an instructional tutorial from Matt Brown on how to make flats when constructing your own Diy film sets. Brown decided building his own elevator set was more practical and economical than finding a real one to shoot in; the flats are the fake walls necessary to build a set. For those not intuitively comfortable with tools or even navigating a Home Depot, Brown walks you through the necessary purchases, choosing the right sizes of wood, and the construction process, complete with detailed on-screen written instructions for pausable reference.
- 7/30/2014
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
On a few occasions, many writers have labeled a Ufc event on Fox as the best card of the year on paper. We heard it for Ufc on Fox 5 and just recently for Ufc on Fox 11. Now the Ufc is on their twelfth show for Fox and it’s being considered as the best card on paper. That is completely understandable given the matchups on the card.
Besides Michael Johnson, no injuries have derailed this card unlike past Fox events. It will be headlined by a number one contender’s bout in the welterweight division between Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown. I’m ecstatic that the Ufc is using Fox to showcase number one contender fights in popular divisions. That is the best way to keep fans interested, if you can’t have a title fight on the card.
Anthony Johnson is back to face the returning Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
Besides Michael Johnson, no injuries have derailed this card unlike past Fox events. It will be headlined by a number one contender’s bout in the welterweight division between Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown. I’m ecstatic that the Ufc is using Fox to showcase number one contender fights in popular divisions. That is the best way to keep fans interested, if you can’t have a title fight on the card.
Anthony Johnson is back to face the returning Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
- 7/24/2014
- by Allen Strk
- Obsessed with Film
Danny Moloshok/AP/Press Association Images
While most competitors in the sport of Mma are humble and gracious warriors, there are some that are either just outright insane or criminally deranged. This article highlights some of the stupidity surrounding the people who are involved with the sport, and others that have genuinely shocked me to the core with what they have done.
Nobody is a saint in this world and some of the more high profile names in Mma have had trouble with the law. To start off with, I would like to name some honourable mentions who did not make the cut for whatever reasons.
Jon Jones – The Ufc light heavyweight champion was arrested back in 2012 for a DUI. It was the latest of numerous driving incidents for the Ufc’s poster boy.
Chael Sonnen – One count of money laundering for this former Ufc title contender. Fined $10,000 and sentenced to two years probation.
While most competitors in the sport of Mma are humble and gracious warriors, there are some that are either just outright insane or criminally deranged. This article highlights some of the stupidity surrounding the people who are involved with the sport, and others that have genuinely shocked me to the core with what they have done.
Nobody is a saint in this world and some of the more high profile names in Mma have had trouble with the law. To start off with, I would like to name some honourable mentions who did not make the cut for whatever reasons.
Jon Jones – The Ufc light heavyweight champion was arrested back in 2012 for a DUI. It was the latest of numerous driving incidents for the Ufc’s poster boy.
Chael Sonnen – One count of money laundering for this former Ufc title contender. Fined $10,000 and sentenced to two years probation.
- 7/21/2014
- by Dan Lloyd
- Obsessed with Film
Holly Holm, aka ‘The Preacher’s Daughter,’ has officially signed with Ufc after months of speculation.
Holly Holm Signs With Ufc
Fans have long been clamoring for Holm, 32, to join the Ufc – undefeated in her Mma career after earning a 33-2-3 record as a pro boxer, Holm made a name for herself as ‘The Preacher’s Daughter.’
Ufc President Dana White announced Holm’s move from the Mma to Ufc on Thursday, posting a photo on Twitter of her signed contract and welcoming her to Ufc.
Welcome to the Ufc @_HOLLYHOLM pic.twitter.com/BxNVy8SYTR
— Dana White (@danawhite) July 10, 2014
Holm also addressed the news via Twitter, thanking her fans, Mma coaches and trainers and promising to “keep learning and improving.”
“Lots of hard work ahead,” Holm added.
I am blessed and very excited for this opportunity with the @ufc my goal is to keep learning and improving. Lots of hard work ahead!
Holly Holm Signs With Ufc
Fans have long been clamoring for Holm, 32, to join the Ufc – undefeated in her Mma career after earning a 33-2-3 record as a pro boxer, Holm made a name for herself as ‘The Preacher’s Daughter.’
Ufc President Dana White announced Holm’s move from the Mma to Ufc on Thursday, posting a photo on Twitter of her signed contract and welcoming her to Ufc.
Welcome to the Ufc @_HOLLYHOLM pic.twitter.com/BxNVy8SYTR
— Dana White (@danawhite) July 10, 2014
Holm also addressed the news via Twitter, thanking her fans, Mma coaches and trainers and promising to “keep learning and improving.”
“Lots of hard work ahead,” Holm added.
I am blessed and very excited for this opportunity with the @ufc my goal is to keep learning and improving. Lots of hard work ahead!
- 7/11/2014
- Uinterview
What kind of treatment is Dr. Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) giving to Will (Hugh Dancy)?
If there’s one thing that’s true in the television landscape, the worlds created by Bryan Fuller are never boring.
His early writing career includes writing credits on Star Trek: Voyager before he went on to create and produce his own quirky shows like Wonderfalls, Dead Like Me and, of course, Pushing Daisies. And, now, there’s Hannibal, which, looking at Fuller’s previous work, makes perfect sense with its intoxicating blend of crime, horror, humor, romance and, of course, sexuality.
Yes, as you know or can guess, Hannibal is a modern-day prequel telling the story of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who we know primarily from Anthony Hopkins’ Academy Award-wining portrayal in the film, The Silence Of The Lambs. In this TV version, which was developed from the Red Dragon novel by Thomas Harris, Lechter is younger,...
If there’s one thing that’s true in the television landscape, the worlds created by Bryan Fuller are never boring.
His early writing career includes writing credits on Star Trek: Voyager before he went on to create and produce his own quirky shows like Wonderfalls, Dead Like Me and, of course, Pushing Daisies. And, now, there’s Hannibal, which, looking at Fuller’s previous work, makes perfect sense with its intoxicating blend of crime, horror, humor, romance and, of course, sexuality.
Yes, as you know or can guess, Hannibal is a modern-day prequel telling the story of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who we know primarily from Anthony Hopkins’ Academy Award-wining portrayal in the film, The Silence Of The Lambs. In this TV version, which was developed from the Red Dragon novel by Thomas Harris, Lechter is younger,...
- 4/22/2014
- by Jim Halterman
- The Backlot
Hannibal Season 2, Episode 5 “Mukozuke”
Directed by Michael Rymer
Written by Ayanna A. Floyd and Steve Lightfoot & Bryan Fuller
Airs Thursdays at 10pm Et on NBC
After her encounter with Hannibal in last weeks cliffhanger, the chances of Beverly coming out alive were extremely slim. But while her death doesn’t come with much of a surprise, the reveal of her fate is shocking, to say the least. Kudos to showrunner Bryan Fuller and Battlestar Galactica’s Michael Rymer, who directed “Mukozuke,” an episode crammed with stunning and unsettling images, and a tour-de-force performance from Hugh Dancy and Laurence Fishburne.
Each and every week, Fuller and co. outdo themselves. Hannibal didn’t just kill Beverly Katz, he’s taken her kidneys, sliced her up in several pieces, and preserved her body in a grotesque tableau - a tableau which mirrors her clinical and scientific persona and that takes inspiration from the work of artist Damien Hirst.
Directed by Michael Rymer
Written by Ayanna A. Floyd and Steve Lightfoot & Bryan Fuller
Airs Thursdays at 10pm Et on NBC
After her encounter with Hannibal in last weeks cliffhanger, the chances of Beverly coming out alive were extremely slim. But while her death doesn’t come with much of a surprise, the reveal of her fate is shocking, to say the least. Kudos to showrunner Bryan Fuller and Battlestar Galactica’s Michael Rymer, who directed “Mukozuke,” an episode crammed with stunning and unsettling images, and a tour-de-force performance from Hugh Dancy and Laurence Fishburne.
Each and every week, Fuller and co. outdo themselves. Hannibal didn’t just kill Beverly Katz, he’s taken her kidneys, sliced her up in several pieces, and preserved her body in a grotesque tableau - a tableau which mirrors her clinical and scientific persona and that takes inspiration from the work of artist Damien Hirst.
- 3/30/2014
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
A review of tonight's "Hannibal" coming up just as soon as my demographic is murderers and people obsessed with murderers... Early in "Mukozuke," Will Graham gets trussed up in perhaps the most iconic cinematic look for Dr. Hannibal Lecter, with a straightjacket to restrict his movement, a dolly to move him around and a bite mask to cover his mouth. He has been playing the classic role of Hannibal the Cannibal, and here he gets to wear the costume. Yet so much of this fantastic episode is there to show us the ways in which Will Graham is not like Hannibal Lecter. You can put him into the psychiatric hospital, have him advise the FBI on cases, joust with Dr. Chilton and smile creepy smiles, but he is not the man he has been framed to seem like. It's not just that he does not enjoy the thought of consuming human flesh,...
- 3/29/2014
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Hitfix
Matt Brown, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Commercial at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is leaving the company as a part of a restructure. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures Entertainment is preparing to tell a large number of employees that they have been let go, and in all of the commotion, Brown decided to leave the company. In an email to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony had this to say about the exec’s decision: “Matt Brown, executive vp of worldwide commercial for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, has announced his retirement effective March 31. During his tenure at Sphe, Matt was a key member of the management team which helped to [ Read More ]
The post Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Executive Steps Down appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Executive Steps Down appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 3/15/2014
- by monique
- ShockYa
As Sony Pictures Entertainment prepares to inform a large number of people next week that they have been laid off, The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Matt Brown, one of the company's top executives at home entertainment, is stepping down. "Matt Brown, executive vp worldwide commercial for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, has announced his retirement effective March 31," Sony said in an email to THR. "During his tenure at Sphe, Matt was a key member of the management team, which helped to ensure the division's leadership position in the home entertainment industry. Sphe wishes to express gratitude for his
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- 3/14/2014
- by Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
At Twitch we like to write not just about films, but about film. One excellent example, of many, is Matt Brown's regular and incessantly thought-provoking column, "Destroy All Monsters," which tackles myriad cinematic topics that, well, make him twitch. My own background is in engineering, and consequently film technology is a subject that makes me twitch. I also have a deep and decades-long interest in Tolkien; his literary works, his life, and Peter Jackson's film translations. So the introduction of high frame rate (Hfr) shooting and projection in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Th:auj) was a fascinating issue for me, particularly when coming from the hands of Peter Jackson. You see, I cut my teeth on the film-making process by watching every single one of...
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- 12/14/2013
- Screen Anarchy
Some big names are coming together for an important cause. Celebrities including Alec Baldwin, John Cusack, Matt Damon, Robert De Niro, Danny DeVito, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Whoopi Goldberg, Martin Sheen, Christoph Waltz and Naomi Watts joined the Global Zero campaign to take a stand against nuclear weapons.
The famous faces took part in a video ad campaign, juxtaposing their voices and faces over the words of President Obama. The celebrities end the video by demanding "zero" nuclear weapons. Take a look at the video above.
The video was lead by Douglas, THR reports. "This particular video was really spearheaded by Michael Douglas, who has been a longtime leader on this cause going back to his 'China Syndrome' film decades ago and has been a very influential, persuasive and passionate advocate for the elimination of nuclear weapons," Global Zero co-founder Matt Brown told THR.
“The message from national security experts...
The famous faces took part in a video ad campaign, juxtaposing their voices and faces over the words of President Obama. The celebrities end the video by demanding "zero" nuclear weapons. Take a look at the video above.
The video was lead by Douglas, THR reports. "This particular video was really spearheaded by Michael Douglas, who has been a longtime leader on this cause going back to his 'China Syndrome' film decades ago and has been a very influential, persuasive and passionate advocate for the elimination of nuclear weapons," Global Zero co-founder Matt Brown told THR.
“The message from national security experts...
- 6/13/2013
- by Madeline Boardman
- Huffington Post
Michael Douglas has helped enlist a few notable actors for a public service video calling on world leaders to disarm nuclear weapon stockpiles. The video, titled "The World Must Stand Together" and filmed for Global Zero, an advocacy organization, includes an array of celebrities speaking out about pursuing a nuclear weapon-free world. The Behind the Candelabra actor helped organize the clip, which was shot over the last eight weeks, Matt Brown, co-founder of Global Zero, tells The Hollywood Reporter. "This particular video was really spearheaded by Michael Douglas, who has been a longtime leader on this cause going back
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- 6/12/2013
- by Erik Hayden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Vol. I Issue 10 February 2013
Join us twice weekly. Send us links to your sizzle reels and film sites.
As this last weekend approached I was faced with marking my Academy Award ballot. This process is always really difficult. How does one sort out the “best” film or accomplishment of five or nine in the case of the Best Picture? For me it has been over 30 years of screenings. Thousand of films. Some really great films and many not so great. I also try to think what it means to be one of the nominees. What was the off-screen story but always more importantly what their contribution was to the work and how the film compares to others. What’s great about short films is that they can be made for almost nothing by a few filmmakers without a large budget, crew or cast.
The Academy has three nomination categories for films less than 41 minutes in length: short fiction, documentary and animation. Once nominated, there are public screenings and panels to celebrate the nominated films at the Academy in Beverly Hills. A group photograph of all the nominees is taken with a large Oscar in the lobby of the Academy headquarters. It is really a wonderful experience.
It wasn’t always like that. There were no special celebrations for the short or documentary films until the l980s. While the Foreign Language films had their seminar, nothing was done for these films. We tried to remedy that in the 1980s and started the Direct Cinema receptions and screenings with UCLA, USC and, a few years later, the Ida sponsored “Docuday” and the Academy started doing an annual reception for the shorts and documentary filmmakers. Today the Academy’s evening receptions for the short films, animated features (a relatively new Oscar category) and the documentaries are annual sell-out events. The filmmakers and their works are celebrated and it has become a highlight of the Oscar week for the filmmakers and those associated with the films.
When I first became a member of the Academy the short films and animation branch was headed by a number of extraordinary talents: T Hee, Saul Bass and June Forey. These three remarkable artists represented classic Disney animation (T. Hee), fiction and narrative short films (Saul Bass), and the television and theatrical films (June Forey, who voiced hundreds of characters.)
Saul Bass articulated the branch’s membership policy, “We want them to be part of our branch.” This liberal interpretation allowed documentary filmmakers like Ken Burns as well as voice artists and creatives like Stan Friedberg (and June Forey) to be part of a group that included IMAX filmmakers as well as classic character animation directors, colorists, layout artists, producers and other key short film and animation filmmakers. The animation filmmakers represent both the studio animators and the independent animators who work globally doing personal work as well as studio work. Other governors from 1979 to the present have included Hal Elias, who served on the Academy board for 37 years and was a short film publicist for MGM among other things; Bill Littlejohn, who worked on over 90 films as an animator ranging from Charley Brown, Peanuts Christmas Specials to working with the Hubleys’; Bill Scott, who acted and wrote over a hundred animated films, and Carl Bell, who worked on over 35 films at Disney in its animation department.
Unlike most of the other branches, the Short Films branch screens all of the submitted films in 16mm and 35mm and now in Digital Cinema, in an effort to find and nominate the best short films produced in the world. The branch rules allowed films to qualify in an effort to encourage more international entries in the 1990s by taking a first prize at key festivals in addition to the method that all Academy films can use to qualify, a theatrical week long (now three day for shorts) run in a theater in Los Angeles County. Branch screenings were expanded to New York to permit more members to participate in the nomination process in the 1990s. The final short listed screenings are in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Over one-third of the branch participates in the voting. The best change took place this year, sending DVD screeners to all Academy members of the short live action and animated nominated films. While this still won’t force members to watch them, members can’t claim they can’t see them. This is not only great for the branch but great for the nominated filmmakers. Who would not want to screen their short film for Academy members?
The process of the branch for selecting Nominees has remained unchanged for years—members screen the films in a theater rather than on DVDs, which is how the Documentary branch is dealing with the flood of feature docs and their unwillingness to trust committees. Nothing beats seeing films projected on a large screen with perfect sound and that is now lost. In a two step process, a committee (self selected from the branch membership) screens the films and the 15 films with the highest scores are short listed. The short listed films are then screened again and members vote.
The current Short Film Branch governors are Jon Bloom (pictured with the 2007 nominees), a 1983 fiction short nominee, filmmaker, editor and producer who chairs the branch, animator and Disney Creative Head and multi-Oscar winner, John Lasseter, and William "Bill" Kroyer,an award-winning director of animation and computer graphics commercials, short films, movie titles and theatrical films and faculty member Chapman College.
One of the challenges for the branch is how to grow live action producing members. With the addition of feature animation to the awards and the large number of feature animation films being released, the branch would like to have the most qualified animators to become members. The number of animators grows at a far faster rate than that of the live action filmmakers since only a few live action filmmakers can qualify for membership. The commercial success of animated features, the long production schedules and the large number of animators who work in qualifying positions allows for six plus individuals per picture to be eligible for membership. With five nominees a year, the number of individuals who can play a key role in two or three features becoming eligible for membership can easily approach 30 plus individuals annually. Add in the short animation nominees and competition for the limited new slots allocated to the branch can be brutal. The talent pool of animators is both astonishingly strong and suggests that Hollywood can easily double production from the 15 or so films made annually to 25 or 30 without having to compromise on talent.
Many of the filmmakers in the branch who make their Oscar nominated or winning live action short have made or are interested in making feature length works. A number of recent nominees or winners have made that transition. The following list looks at all of the live action nominees from 2001 to 2011, using the Internet Movie Database I looked up each nominee and listed what they reported they were doing professionally. Obviously, this is not intended to show everything. In each case, I listed credits or summarized credits shown in the IMDb listing.
Some observations about 11 years of Live Action Short Film Academy Award Nominees:
There were 86 nominations (out of a possible 110) This is because in some years only three films were nominated and in some cases only one filmmaker from a film was eligible for a nomination. Non-us based filmmakers dominate this category. Despite the huge number of short films being made annually in the Us, a majority of the nominated films come from filmmakers based abroad. In part this is due to the government subsidies available, but it is also due to the strong training programs, commercial support for the short films and a rich tradition of theatrical shorts. This year (2012) four of the five films in the live action category are from Us filmmakers. This is an unusual year. Few filmmakers have more than one nomination, only a handful of the nominees have made multiple Academy worthy short films. As one might expect, many of the filmmakers have continued their film work in television, some in features. The European Oscar winners (vs nominees) have done better at snagging features after a win than have their American counterparts. Again, this is likely a function of government support for entry features. Perhaps one of the short films seem to have been turned into a feature (or television) film. Some of the short films are intended to be sizzle reels for features, but it is not clear why so few of the nominated short films have been turned into features. A number of the Oscar winners have not continued working in film. No record of future productions are shown on IMDb. It would be interesting to see what they are doing now. Two of the Oscar winners have written critically award winning screenplays, one received two Academy Award nominations for his screenwriting. None of these nominees have gone on to win Oscars in directing or producing for feature films.
The data is from the Academy and the IMDb databases.
Apologies in advance, if credits were missed or other factual errors were made. In a week we’ll be able to add this year's winner.
2001 (74th)
Short Film (Live Action) (* won Academy Award)
*the accountant -- Ray McKinnon: Two Features: Randy and the Mob 2007 and Crystal 2004 Lisa Blount: Produced these features. Copy Shop -- Virgil Widrich Gregor's Greatest Invention -- Johannes Kiefer A Man Thing (Meska Sprawa) -- Slawomir Fabicki, Two Features: Loving 2012, Retrieval 2006 (Also wrote) Bogumil Godfrejow Has shot multiple features Speed for Thespians -- Kalman Apple, Shameela Bakhsh
2002 (75th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Fait D'Hiver -- Dirk Beliën, Anja Daelemans produced Comrade Kim Goes North I'll Wait for the Next One... (J'Attendrai Le Suivant...) -- Philippe Orreindy, Thomas Gaudin Inja (Dog) -- Steven Pasvolsky Feature, Deck Dogz Joe Weatherstone, produced episodic television. Johnny Flynton -- Lexi Alexander, directed 3 features: Lifted, Punisher: War Zone and Green Street Hooligans Alexander Buono as a Dp has shot series and features *This Charming Manon (Der Er En Yndig Mand) -- Martin Strange-Hansen, Mie Andreasen produced both features, series and documentaries.
2003 (76th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Die Rote Jacke (The Red Jacket) -- Florian Baxmeyer Multiple television films and series Most (The Bridge) -- Bobby Garabedian, William Zabka Mr. Zabka has appeared as an actor in numerous films and television shows Squash -- Lionel Bailliu Features: Fair Play and Denis (in post) (A) Torzija [(A) Torsion] -- Stefan Arsenijevic Directed: Lost and Found, Love and Other Crimes, and Do Not Forget Me Istanbul *Two Soldiers -- Aaron Schneider,Asc (Cinematographer numerous credits) and feature, Kiss the Girls, Andrew J. Sacks Series The Closer (98 episodes) and Major Crimes.
2004 (77th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Everything in This Country Must -- Gary McKendry Directed Killer Elite, Joseph and the Girl Little Terrorist -- Ashvin Kumar Produced and Directed features (2) and documentaries (2) 7:35 in the Morning (7:35 de la Mañana) -- Nacho Vigalondo Directed and written multiple films, series, shorts Two Cars, One Night -- Taika Waititi, Acted and directed and written multi television and films Ainsley Gardiner Nz based producer of multiple shorts, television and feature films *Wasp -- Andrea Arnold Actor, director and writer of numbers films, television programs
2005 (78th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Ausreisser (The Runaway) -- Ulrike Grote Ms. Grote has acted in over 42 programs, features, television series and films Cashback -- Sean Ellis, Director/Writer Metro Manila, The Broken Lene Bausager Producer, The Broken, Ginger and Rosa The Last Farm -- Rúnar Rúnarsson, Director/Writer Volcano, Thor S. Sigurjónsson Produced multiple features Our Time Is Up -- Rob Pearlstein, Director/Writer multiple television and a feature Pia Clemente Producer, documentaries *Six Shooter -- Martin McDonagh Writer/Director Seven Psychopaths, In Bruges
2006 (79th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea) -- Javier Fesser, no other credits shown Luis Manso Produced multiple features Éramos Pocos (One Too Many) -- Borja Cobeaga Writer, multi films and television series Helmer & Son -- Søren Pilmark no other credits, Kim Magnusso Producer over 100 film, television films (4 Best Short Film Academy Award nominations) Won for Ernst & Lyset The Saviour -- Peter Templeman, no other credits Stuart Parkyn, Producer, multi-short film credits *West Bank Story -- Ari Sandel Director, one short, one documentary
2007 (80th)
Short Film (Live Action)
At Night -- Christian E. Christiansen, Directed, Features and television series Louise Vesth Producer, multi features Il Supplente (The Substitute) -- Andrea Jublin
*Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets) -- Philippe Pollet-Villard Actor and director short films, a television film
Tanghi Argentini -- Guido Thys, Director, Multiple television series Anja Daelemans, nominated for 2 Short Film nominations (Gridlock, 2002) Producer/Pm various The Tonto Woman -- Daniel Barber, Directed The Keeping Room, Harry Brown Matthew Brown Produced 2 shorts
2008 (81st)
Short Film (Live Action)
Auf der Strecke (On the Line) -- Reto Caffi Manon on the Asphalt -- Elizabeth Marre, Director, Television series Olivier Pont Director, Television series New Boy -- Steph Green, Director Run and Jump Tamara Anghie Producer Run and Jump The Pig -- Tivi Magnusson, Producer Over 64 titles many short films, Dorte Høgh Writer multiple series, (Directed The Pig) *Spielzeugland (Toyland) -- Jochen Alexander Freydank Producer of multiple television series
2009 (82nd)
Short Film (Live Action)
The Door -- Juanita Wilson, Director As If I Am Not There James Flynn Multiple Producer credits for over 50 titles, television and theatrical Instead of Abracadabra -- Patrik Eklund, Director, Television film and feature Mathias Fjellström Kavi -- Gregg Helvey Miracle Fish -- Luke Doolan, Multiple credits as editor Drew Bailey Multiple credits as Assistant Director *The New Tenants -- Joachim Back, no other credits shown as a director, Tivi Magnusson This is Mr. Magnusson’s first Academy Award and second nomination. See 2008.
2010 (83rd)
Short Film (Live Action)
The Confession -- Tanel Toom The Crush -- Michael Creagh *God of Love -- Luke Matheny Feature Love Sick and multiple Television series episode Na Wewe -- Ivan Goldschmidt Wish 143 -- Ian Barnes, Multiple directing credits Television Samantha Waite Credits as production coordinator on multiple titles
2011 (84th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Pentecost -- Peter McDonald, Credits as actor Eimear O'Kane Credits as Producer on The Shadows and on television programs. Raju -- Max Zähle, Director, Television series Stefan Gieren Producer-Writer credit on feature film, Kunduz: The Incident at Hadji Ghafur *The Shore -- Terry George, Writer Two Oscar nominations for screenplays In the Name of the Father and Hotel Riwanda Producer and director on films and television series Oorlagh George Numerous credits as Assistant on features, documentaries and television shows Time Freak -- Andrew Bowler Writer and actor in a short film Gigi Causey Production manager, producer shorts, series and films
__________________________________________________________________________________
Credits: Editing by Jessica Just for SydneysBuzz
__________________________________________________________________________________
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
Poster Girl, produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the Best Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Carrier, a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
______________________________________________________________________
©2013Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
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As this last weekend approached I was faced with marking my Academy Award ballot. This process is always really difficult. How does one sort out the “best” film or accomplishment of five or nine in the case of the Best Picture? For me it has been over 30 years of screenings. Thousand of films. Some really great films and many not so great. I also try to think what it means to be one of the nominees. What was the off-screen story but always more importantly what their contribution was to the work and how the film compares to others. What’s great about short films is that they can be made for almost nothing by a few filmmakers without a large budget, crew or cast.
The Academy has three nomination categories for films less than 41 minutes in length: short fiction, documentary and animation. Once nominated, there are public screenings and panels to celebrate the nominated films at the Academy in Beverly Hills. A group photograph of all the nominees is taken with a large Oscar in the lobby of the Academy headquarters. It is really a wonderful experience.
It wasn’t always like that. There were no special celebrations for the short or documentary films until the l980s. While the Foreign Language films had their seminar, nothing was done for these films. We tried to remedy that in the 1980s and started the Direct Cinema receptions and screenings with UCLA, USC and, a few years later, the Ida sponsored “Docuday” and the Academy started doing an annual reception for the shorts and documentary filmmakers. Today the Academy’s evening receptions for the short films, animated features (a relatively new Oscar category) and the documentaries are annual sell-out events. The filmmakers and their works are celebrated and it has become a highlight of the Oscar week for the filmmakers and those associated with the films.
When I first became a member of the Academy the short films and animation branch was headed by a number of extraordinary talents: T Hee, Saul Bass and June Forey. These three remarkable artists represented classic Disney animation (T. Hee), fiction and narrative short films (Saul Bass), and the television and theatrical films (June Forey, who voiced hundreds of characters.)
Saul Bass articulated the branch’s membership policy, “We want them to be part of our branch.” This liberal interpretation allowed documentary filmmakers like Ken Burns as well as voice artists and creatives like Stan Friedberg (and June Forey) to be part of a group that included IMAX filmmakers as well as classic character animation directors, colorists, layout artists, producers and other key short film and animation filmmakers. The animation filmmakers represent both the studio animators and the independent animators who work globally doing personal work as well as studio work. Other governors from 1979 to the present have included Hal Elias, who served on the Academy board for 37 years and was a short film publicist for MGM among other things; Bill Littlejohn, who worked on over 90 films as an animator ranging from Charley Brown, Peanuts Christmas Specials to working with the Hubleys’; Bill Scott, who acted and wrote over a hundred animated films, and Carl Bell, who worked on over 35 films at Disney in its animation department.
Unlike most of the other branches, the Short Films branch screens all of the submitted films in 16mm and 35mm and now in Digital Cinema, in an effort to find and nominate the best short films produced in the world. The branch rules allowed films to qualify in an effort to encourage more international entries in the 1990s by taking a first prize at key festivals in addition to the method that all Academy films can use to qualify, a theatrical week long (now three day for shorts) run in a theater in Los Angeles County. Branch screenings were expanded to New York to permit more members to participate in the nomination process in the 1990s. The final short listed screenings are in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Over one-third of the branch participates in the voting. The best change took place this year, sending DVD screeners to all Academy members of the short live action and animated nominated films. While this still won’t force members to watch them, members can’t claim they can’t see them. This is not only great for the branch but great for the nominated filmmakers. Who would not want to screen their short film for Academy members?
The process of the branch for selecting Nominees has remained unchanged for years—members screen the films in a theater rather than on DVDs, which is how the Documentary branch is dealing with the flood of feature docs and their unwillingness to trust committees. Nothing beats seeing films projected on a large screen with perfect sound and that is now lost. In a two step process, a committee (self selected from the branch membership) screens the films and the 15 films with the highest scores are short listed. The short listed films are then screened again and members vote.
The current Short Film Branch governors are Jon Bloom (pictured with the 2007 nominees), a 1983 fiction short nominee, filmmaker, editor and producer who chairs the branch, animator and Disney Creative Head and multi-Oscar winner, John Lasseter, and William "Bill" Kroyer,an award-winning director of animation and computer graphics commercials, short films, movie titles and theatrical films and faculty member Chapman College.
One of the challenges for the branch is how to grow live action producing members. With the addition of feature animation to the awards and the large number of feature animation films being released, the branch would like to have the most qualified animators to become members. The number of animators grows at a far faster rate than that of the live action filmmakers since only a few live action filmmakers can qualify for membership. The commercial success of animated features, the long production schedules and the large number of animators who work in qualifying positions allows for six plus individuals per picture to be eligible for membership. With five nominees a year, the number of individuals who can play a key role in two or three features becoming eligible for membership can easily approach 30 plus individuals annually. Add in the short animation nominees and competition for the limited new slots allocated to the branch can be brutal. The talent pool of animators is both astonishingly strong and suggests that Hollywood can easily double production from the 15 or so films made annually to 25 or 30 without having to compromise on talent.
Many of the filmmakers in the branch who make their Oscar nominated or winning live action short have made or are interested in making feature length works. A number of recent nominees or winners have made that transition. The following list looks at all of the live action nominees from 2001 to 2011, using the Internet Movie Database I looked up each nominee and listed what they reported they were doing professionally. Obviously, this is not intended to show everything. In each case, I listed credits or summarized credits shown in the IMDb listing.
Some observations about 11 years of Live Action Short Film Academy Award Nominees:
There were 86 nominations (out of a possible 110) This is because in some years only three films were nominated and in some cases only one filmmaker from a film was eligible for a nomination. Non-us based filmmakers dominate this category. Despite the huge number of short films being made annually in the Us, a majority of the nominated films come from filmmakers based abroad. In part this is due to the government subsidies available, but it is also due to the strong training programs, commercial support for the short films and a rich tradition of theatrical shorts. This year (2012) four of the five films in the live action category are from Us filmmakers. This is an unusual year. Few filmmakers have more than one nomination, only a handful of the nominees have made multiple Academy worthy short films. As one might expect, many of the filmmakers have continued their film work in television, some in features. The European Oscar winners (vs nominees) have done better at snagging features after a win than have their American counterparts. Again, this is likely a function of government support for entry features. Perhaps one of the short films seem to have been turned into a feature (or television) film. Some of the short films are intended to be sizzle reels for features, but it is not clear why so few of the nominated short films have been turned into features. A number of the Oscar winners have not continued working in film. No record of future productions are shown on IMDb. It would be interesting to see what they are doing now. Two of the Oscar winners have written critically award winning screenplays, one received two Academy Award nominations for his screenwriting. None of these nominees have gone on to win Oscars in directing or producing for feature films.
The data is from the Academy and the IMDb databases.
Apologies in advance, if credits were missed or other factual errors were made. In a week we’ll be able to add this year's winner.
2001 (74th)
Short Film (Live Action) (* won Academy Award)
*the accountant -- Ray McKinnon: Two Features: Randy and the Mob 2007 and Crystal 2004 Lisa Blount: Produced these features. Copy Shop -- Virgil Widrich Gregor's Greatest Invention -- Johannes Kiefer A Man Thing (Meska Sprawa) -- Slawomir Fabicki, Two Features: Loving 2012, Retrieval 2006 (Also wrote) Bogumil Godfrejow Has shot multiple features Speed for Thespians -- Kalman Apple, Shameela Bakhsh
2002 (75th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Fait D'Hiver -- Dirk Beliën, Anja Daelemans produced Comrade Kim Goes North I'll Wait for the Next One... (J'Attendrai Le Suivant...) -- Philippe Orreindy, Thomas Gaudin Inja (Dog) -- Steven Pasvolsky Feature, Deck Dogz Joe Weatherstone, produced episodic television. Johnny Flynton -- Lexi Alexander, directed 3 features: Lifted, Punisher: War Zone and Green Street Hooligans Alexander Buono as a Dp has shot series and features *This Charming Manon (Der Er En Yndig Mand) -- Martin Strange-Hansen, Mie Andreasen produced both features, series and documentaries.
2003 (76th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Die Rote Jacke (The Red Jacket) -- Florian Baxmeyer Multiple television films and series Most (The Bridge) -- Bobby Garabedian, William Zabka Mr. Zabka has appeared as an actor in numerous films and television shows Squash -- Lionel Bailliu Features: Fair Play and Denis (in post) (A) Torzija [(A) Torsion] -- Stefan Arsenijevic Directed: Lost and Found, Love and Other Crimes, and Do Not Forget Me Istanbul *Two Soldiers -- Aaron Schneider,Asc (Cinematographer numerous credits) and feature, Kiss the Girls, Andrew J. Sacks Series The Closer (98 episodes) and Major Crimes.
2004 (77th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Everything in This Country Must -- Gary McKendry Directed Killer Elite, Joseph and the Girl Little Terrorist -- Ashvin Kumar Produced and Directed features (2) and documentaries (2) 7:35 in the Morning (7:35 de la Mañana) -- Nacho Vigalondo Directed and written multiple films, series, shorts Two Cars, One Night -- Taika Waititi, Acted and directed and written multi television and films Ainsley Gardiner Nz based producer of multiple shorts, television and feature films *Wasp -- Andrea Arnold Actor, director and writer of numbers films, television programs
2005 (78th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Ausreisser (The Runaway) -- Ulrike Grote Ms. Grote has acted in over 42 programs, features, television series and films Cashback -- Sean Ellis, Director/Writer Metro Manila, The Broken Lene Bausager Producer, The Broken, Ginger and Rosa The Last Farm -- Rúnar Rúnarsson, Director/Writer Volcano, Thor S. Sigurjónsson Produced multiple features Our Time Is Up -- Rob Pearlstein, Director/Writer multiple television and a feature Pia Clemente Producer, documentaries *Six Shooter -- Martin McDonagh Writer/Director Seven Psychopaths, In Bruges
2006 (79th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea) -- Javier Fesser, no other credits shown Luis Manso Produced multiple features Éramos Pocos (One Too Many) -- Borja Cobeaga Writer, multi films and television series Helmer & Son -- Søren Pilmark no other credits, Kim Magnusso Producer over 100 film, television films (4 Best Short Film Academy Award nominations) Won for Ernst & Lyset The Saviour -- Peter Templeman, no other credits Stuart Parkyn, Producer, multi-short film credits *West Bank Story -- Ari Sandel Director, one short, one documentary
2007 (80th)
Short Film (Live Action)
At Night -- Christian E. Christiansen, Directed, Features and television series Louise Vesth Producer, multi features Il Supplente (The Substitute) -- Andrea Jublin
*Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets) -- Philippe Pollet-Villard Actor and director short films, a television film
Tanghi Argentini -- Guido Thys, Director, Multiple television series Anja Daelemans, nominated for 2 Short Film nominations (Gridlock, 2002) Producer/Pm various The Tonto Woman -- Daniel Barber, Directed The Keeping Room, Harry Brown Matthew Brown Produced 2 shorts
2008 (81st)
Short Film (Live Action)
Auf der Strecke (On the Line) -- Reto Caffi Manon on the Asphalt -- Elizabeth Marre, Director, Television series Olivier Pont Director, Television series New Boy -- Steph Green, Director Run and Jump Tamara Anghie Producer Run and Jump The Pig -- Tivi Magnusson, Producer Over 64 titles many short films, Dorte Høgh Writer multiple series, (Directed The Pig) *Spielzeugland (Toyland) -- Jochen Alexander Freydank Producer of multiple television series
2009 (82nd)
Short Film (Live Action)
The Door -- Juanita Wilson, Director As If I Am Not There James Flynn Multiple Producer credits for over 50 titles, television and theatrical Instead of Abracadabra -- Patrik Eklund, Director, Television film and feature Mathias Fjellström Kavi -- Gregg Helvey Miracle Fish -- Luke Doolan, Multiple credits as editor Drew Bailey Multiple credits as Assistant Director *The New Tenants -- Joachim Back, no other credits shown as a director, Tivi Magnusson This is Mr. Magnusson’s first Academy Award and second nomination. See 2008.
2010 (83rd)
Short Film (Live Action)
The Confession -- Tanel Toom The Crush -- Michael Creagh *God of Love -- Luke Matheny Feature Love Sick and multiple Television series episode Na Wewe -- Ivan Goldschmidt Wish 143 -- Ian Barnes, Multiple directing credits Television Samantha Waite Credits as production coordinator on multiple titles
2011 (84th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Pentecost -- Peter McDonald, Credits as actor Eimear O'Kane Credits as Producer on The Shadows and on television programs. Raju -- Max Zähle, Director, Television series Stefan Gieren Producer-Writer credit on feature film, Kunduz: The Incident at Hadji Ghafur *The Shore -- Terry George, Writer Two Oscar nominations for screenplays In the Name of the Father and Hotel Riwanda Producer and director on films and television series Oorlagh George Numerous credits as Assistant on features, documentaries and television shows Time Freak -- Andrew Bowler Writer and actor in a short film Gigi Causey Production manager, producer shorts, series and films
__________________________________________________________________________________
Credits: Editing by Jessica Just for SydneysBuzz
__________________________________________________________________________________
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
Poster Girl, produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the Best Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Carrier, a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
______________________________________________________________________
©2013Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
- 2/28/2013
- by Mitchell Block
- Sydney's Buzz
I really don't put much stock in the International Animated Film Society's 2013 Annie Awards, which is why I didn't rush to report on their results on Saturday. One year Disney and Pixar boycott the event, feeling there was an unfair advantage paid to larger contributing sponsors, DreamWorks being the primary example. So with such a nasty stench over the event what good does it do to pay it much mind? That said, I'll be brief in mentioning Wreck-It Ralph topped Saturday night's winners with five awards, including Best Animated Picture. The awards have something like a 75% streak when it comes to helping predict the eventual Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature and as the days have gone on, it's looking more and more like Ralph will be this year's winner (see my predictions here). Pixar's Brave, Laika's ParaNorman and DreamWorks' Rise of the Guardians each took home two awards in lesser,...
- 2/4/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Ufc on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz is clearly the best Fox from top to bottom card thus far offered up by Joe Silva and the Ufc. To be sure, the dreaded injury bug has inevitably hit – canceling some fights and shuffling the undercard, but the matches on the main card have remained largely unaffected. Dana White can un-pucker. Barring any last minute drama, this one is going to be a winner.
Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson (#1) makes his second title defense against red hot Nate Diaz (#5) after dethroning and defending against newly christened featherweight contender, Frankie Edgar. The rest of the main card features Shogun Rua (#4) against Alexander Gustafsson (#7) , an un-retired Bj Penn against rising star Rory MacDonald, and finally injury-free Mick Swick against Matt Brown.
Don’t sleep through the under card, either. There are some really important fights in shaping the title picture for their respective division as well...
Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson (#1) makes his second title defense against red hot Nate Diaz (#5) after dethroning and defending against newly christened featherweight contender, Frankie Edgar. The rest of the main card features Shogun Rua (#4) against Alexander Gustafsson (#7) , an un-retired Bj Penn against rising star Rory MacDonald, and finally injury-free Mick Swick against Matt Brown.
Don’t sleep through the under card, either. There are some really important fights in shaping the title picture for their respective division as well...
- 12/4/2012
- by Robert Curtis
- Obsessed with Film
I love the art of animation, and it's amazing to see how far things have come and advanced over the years. The industry is changing in terms of technology, but what it all really comes down to is telling good stories. There's been a lot of great animated movies this year, and many of them are up for several awards at the 40th Annual Annie Awards.
Some of the movies nomainated include Brave, Frankenweenie, Hotel Transylvania, ParaNorman, Rise of the Guardians, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, and Wreck-It Ralph. Out of those films my favorite is a toss up between Wreck-It Ralph and ParaNorman, those were two pretty incredible films. I think ParaNorman has the edge though.
Some of the other animated properties nominated are Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, Disney Tron: Uprising, Justice League: Doom, Robot Chicken ‘DC Comics Special', South Park ‘Raising the Bar’, and several others.
Some of the movies nomainated include Brave, Frankenweenie, Hotel Transylvania, ParaNorman, Rise of the Guardians, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, and Wreck-It Ralph. Out of those films my favorite is a toss up between Wreck-It Ralph and ParaNorman, those were two pretty incredible films. I think ParaNorman has the edge though.
Some of the other animated properties nominated are Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, Disney Tron: Uprising, Justice League: Doom, Robot Chicken ‘DC Comics Special', South Park ‘Raising the Bar’, and several others.
- 12/4/2012
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
The International Animated Film Society (Asifa-Hollywood) has announced the nominees for the 40th Annie Awards also known as Animation's Highest Honor. Disney/Pixar led the nominees with "Brave," "Frankenweenie," and "Wreck-It-Ralph" getting Best Picture nods. The 40th Annual Annie Awards will take place on February 2, 2013 at UCLA.s Royce Hall, in Los Angeles, California.
And the nominees for the 40th Annual Annie Awards are:
Best Picture nominees:
Brave - Disney/Pixar)
Frankenweenie -The Walt Disney Studios
Hotel Transylvania - Sony Pictures Animation
ParaNorman - Focus Features
Rise of the Guardians - DreamWorks Animation
The Pirates! Band of Misfits - Aardman Animations
The Rabbi.s Cat - Gkids
Wreck-It Ralph - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 . Warner Bros. Animation
Best General Audience Animated Television Production
Archer .Space Race, Part 1. . Weissman Markovitz Communications for FX
Bob.S Burgers .Earsy Rider...
And the nominees for the 40th Annual Annie Awards are:
Best Picture nominees:
Brave - Disney/Pixar)
Frankenweenie -The Walt Disney Studios
Hotel Transylvania - Sony Pictures Animation
ParaNorman - Focus Features
Rise of the Guardians - DreamWorks Animation
The Pirates! Band of Misfits - Aardman Animations
The Rabbi.s Cat - Gkids
Wreck-It Ralph - Walt Disney Animation Studios
Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 . Warner Bros. Animation
Best General Audience Animated Television Production
Archer .Space Race, Part 1. . Weissman Markovitz Communications for FX
Bob.S Burgers .Earsy Rider...
- 12/3/2012
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
After making one of the finest writing and directorial debuts in recent years with Moon, Duncan Jones followed it up with one of last year’s best films, Source Code, and now it looks like he’s setting up what’s sure to be a brilliant third film, with an eye to go into production before year’s end.
(And having just had the first teaser trailer for Skyfall debut yesterday morning, it only seems right to point you in that direction now.)
A fansite of Jones’, Man Made Movies, has a press release coming out of Cannes that Jones will be taking on a biopic of the creator of James Bond, Ian Fleming, whose own life formed some of the basis for the inspiration creating the world’s most famous spy.
Based on Andrew Lycett’s biography, Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond, the script is penned by Matt Brown,...
(And having just had the first teaser trailer for Skyfall debut yesterday morning, it only seems right to point you in that direction now.)
A fansite of Jones’, Man Made Movies, has a press release coming out of Cannes that Jones will be taking on a biopic of the creator of James Bond, Ian Fleming, whose own life formed some of the basis for the inspiration creating the world’s most famous spy.
Based on Andrew Lycett’s biography, Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond, the script is penned by Matt Brown,...
- 5/22/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Year of James Bond gets even better. Variety is reporting that one of our favorite up-and-coming directors, Duncan Jones of Moon and Source Code, is signed on to direct a biopic about Ian Fleming, the author and creator of James Bond, Agent 007 (who's back this year). I feel like we've heard of this project before, but can't find much on it, though there's plenty of fresh details now. The working title is currently just Fleming and it's being adapted from the biography titled "Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond" written by Andrew Lycett. Duncan Jones delivers a few choices quotes about his interest in the author, too. Fleming is being developed by K5 Film's Oliver Simon and Daniel Baur, PalmStar Media Capital and Liberty Films. Matt Brown wrote the script, it's slated to go into production this year, and Duncan Jones is already working on casting. He...
- 5/19/2012
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Oscar host 2012 Billy Crystal Oscar 2012: TV Ratings Up Pt.1 Another bit of good news for the Academy and ABC was that this year's Academy Awards managed to retain its 2011 TV audience in the coveted 18-49 year-old age group despite the absence of young favorites such as the Harry Potter movies' Daniel Radcliffe or the Twilight movies Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner. Social media tracker Trendrr said that online buzz during the show reached 4.2 million hits, twice the number in 2011. On Twitter, the Oscarcast was trending in just about every country. So, having a blockbuster competing for Best Picture will help television ratings to some extent or other. No one can argue against that. But that's clearly not all there is to the Oscar ceremony's allure. At the 2009 Oscar show, for instance, host Hugh Jackman and presenters Robert Pattinson and Zac Efron received some of the credit for the dramatic ratings increase,...
- 2/28/2012
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Oscar Ceremony 2012 According to common wisdom, the Oscar ceremony attracts the most viewers only if there's at least one major box-office blockbuster in the running for Best Picture. The source for that assumption is the 1998 Oscar ceremony, when James Cameron's Titanic won the Best Picture Oscar — in addition to Academy Awards in ten other categories — and Oscarcast television ratings soared: 57.25 million viewers, compared to the previous year's 40.83 million (Best Picture: The English Patient) and the following year's 45.63 million (Best Picture: Shakespeare in Love). Never mind the fact that a relatively modest (compared to Titanic or even Shakespeare in Love) 43.56 million TV viewers watched Peter Jackson's super-blockbuster The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King win Best Picture (and ten other Oscars) in early 2004. That figure was only about 3% higher than the following year's, when 42.16 million people watched Clint Eastwood's (relatively speaking) modest success Million Dollar Baby...
- 2/28/2012
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Mario Lopez, Anna Stuart, James Cromwell Mario Lopez interviews James Cromwell and guest Anna Stuart at the 84th Academy Awards from Hollywood, CA, on February 26, 2012. Cromwell wasn't nominated for anything this year, but he is one of the featured players in Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist, which won five Oscars, including Best Picture. Thus, Cromwell got the chance to hop onstage with his fellow cast members, among them Penelope Ann Miller, Bérénice Bejo, and Best Actor winner Jean Dujardin. (Matt Brown / ©A.M.P.A.S.) An animals rights advocate and a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominee for Chris Noonan's Babe, Cromwell is also the son of filmmaker John Cromwell and actress Kay Johnson, both of whom were kept quite busy at the dawn of the sound era — the time period in which The Artist is set. John Cromwell directed three 1929 releases, including two Nancy Carroll musicals, The Dance of Life and Close Harmony.
- 2/27/2012
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Zurich Film Festival To Present Paul Haggis with Golden Eye The festival will also screen a retrospective of the Oscar-winning screenwriter and filmmaker’s work, which includes Million Dollar Baby, Crash and In the Valley of Elah. In addition, Haggis will lead one of the festival’s master class workshops, where he will discuss his work and career. Previous honorees at the festival, which will run Sept. 22-Oct. 2, include Roman Polanski, Milos Forman and Oliver Stone. Universal, Sony Merge Home Entertainment In Australia Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures International Entertainment will combine operations in Australia in 2012 for the distribution of DVD and Blu-ray movies and TV shows. The new unit will be headed by Jim Bachelor, currently managing director for Universal Pictures Australia and New Zealand; and Kim Overall, managing director, Australia and New Zealand, Sphe, who will be in an advisory role. The unnamed joint venture, announced today by Eddie Cunningham,...
- 9/7/2011
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Morris Abraham Cohen, regularly referred to as, Two-Gun Cohen, was a Jewish soldier and adventurer who became aide-de-camp to the Chinese leader Sun Yat-sen and a major-general in the Chinese army.
Cohen fought with the Canadian Railway Troops in Europe during World War I where part of his job involved supervising Chinese laborers. He also saw some fierce fighting at the Western Front, especially during the Third Battle of Ypres. After the war, he resettled in Canada. But the economy had declined and the days of the real estate boom were long over. Cohen looked for something new to do, and in 1922 he headed to China to help close a railway deal for Sun Yat-sen with Northern Construction and Jw Stewart Ltd. Once there, he asked Sun for a job as a bodyguard.
That is just a short description of the man’s extremely interesting life. Well now it seems...
Cohen fought with the Canadian Railway Troops in Europe during World War I where part of his job involved supervising Chinese laborers. He also saw some fierce fighting at the Western Front, especially during the Third Battle of Ypres. After the war, he resettled in Canada. But the economy had declined and the days of the real estate boom were long over. Cohen looked for something new to do, and in 1922 he headed to China to help close a railway deal for Sun Yat-sen with Northern Construction and Jw Stewart Ltd. Once there, he asked Sun for a job as a bodyguard.
That is just a short description of the man’s extremely interesting life. Well now it seems...
- 3/22/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Doug Liman has signed on to direct a drama based on the life of Morris Abraham ‘Two Gun’ Cohen.
As you see, we’ll soon have a chance to watch another biopic, and this time, we’re talking about ‘Two-Gun’ Cohen, the English bodyguard of Chinese leader Sun Yat-sen in the 1920s.
“He’s a thief and a con man who goes to China with visions of self-aggrandizement,” said Liman, and continued: “but while he’s there he falls for the country and for a woman. The story falls off the shelf without having to twist the facts. It’s almost hard to believe it happened.”
In case you have no idea who we’re actually talking about, Morris Abraham ‘Two-Gun’ Cohen was born in London and moved to China after serving in World War I in 1922.
He trained Sun Yat-sen’s army, who overthrew China’s last imperial dynasty,...
As you see, we’ll soon have a chance to watch another biopic, and this time, we’re talking about ‘Two-Gun’ Cohen, the English bodyguard of Chinese leader Sun Yat-sen in the 1920s.
“He’s a thief and a con man who goes to China with visions of self-aggrandizement,” said Liman, and continued: “but while he’s there he falls for the country and for a woman. The story falls off the shelf without having to twist the facts. It’s almost hard to believe it happened.”
In case you have no idea who we’re actually talking about, Morris Abraham ‘Two-Gun’ Cohen was born in London and moved to China after serving in World War I in 1922.
He trained Sun Yat-sen’s army, who overthrew China’s last imperial dynasty,...
- 3/22/2011
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
"The Bourne Identity" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" director Doug Liman is teaming with producers Rob Reiner and Alan Greisman to create a biopic of Morris Abraham "Two Gun" Cohen for Beijing Galloping Horse Film & TV Production says The Hollywood Reporter.
London-born Wwi veteran Cohen moved to China in 1922 and soon after become one of the main bodyguards of Sun Yat-sen who led the overthrow of China’s last imperial dynasty in the 1920's.
Cohen trained Sun Yat-sen’s army in boxing and shooting, despite his inability to speak Chinese. After Sun’s death in 1925, Cohen went on in the 1930s to fight for China against the invading Japanese and to work for British Intelligence.
Liman will helm from a script by newcomer Matt Brown. Ivy Zhong and Tina Shi will also produce the film which aims to be shot in China.
London-born Wwi veteran Cohen moved to China in 1922 and soon after become one of the main bodyguards of Sun Yat-sen who led the overthrow of China’s last imperial dynasty in the 1920's.
Cohen trained Sun Yat-sen’s army in boxing and shooting, despite his inability to speak Chinese. After Sun’s death in 1925, Cohen went on in the 1930s to fight for China against the invading Japanese and to work for British Intelligence.
Liman will helm from a script by newcomer Matt Brown. Ivy Zhong and Tina Shi will also produce the film which aims to be shot in China.
- 3/22/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Tackling real-life burned spy drama Fair Game has clearly stirred something in Doug Liman as he’s now developing a film about Two-Gun Cohen, a man with an intriguing true-life tale.Matt Brown will write the script, which follows the adventures of Morris “Two-Gun” Cohen, who was born in London, fought in World War One and then took a chance by moving to China in 1922 and nabbing a job training then-leader Sun Yat-sen’s army in boxing and shooting.But according to the director, this wasn’t some straight-arrow soldier looking to help out his fellow man. “He’s a thief and a con man who goes to China with visions of self-aggrandizement, but while he’s there he falls for the country and for a woman. The story falls off the shelf without having to twist the facts.” Liman tells The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s almost hard to believe it happened.
- 3/22/2011
- EmpireOnline
Doug Liman (Bourne Identity) and producers Rob Reiner and Alan Greisman have teamed up with Beijing Galloping Horse Film & TV Production for a 1920s drama about Two-Gun Cohen, the British bodyguard to Sun Yat-sen, leader of the overthrow of China’s last imperial dynasty.
The script was written by relative newcomer, Matt Brown, according to the THR. Liman made the decision after recent trips to Eastern Asia. Liman is not only drawn to the region, he's also very intrigued by anti-heroes and plans to focus the story on Morris Abraham "Two Gun" Cohen (1887–1970), "a London-born Wwi veteran who moved to China in 1922 and took a job training Sun Yat-sen’s army in boxing and shooting, despite his inability to speak Chinese."
Cohen soon became one of Sun’s main bodyguards. After Sun’s death in 1925, he went on to fight for China against the invading Japanese and to work for British Intelligence.
The script was written by relative newcomer, Matt Brown, according to the THR. Liman made the decision after recent trips to Eastern Asia. Liman is not only drawn to the region, he's also very intrigued by anti-heroes and plans to focus the story on Morris Abraham "Two Gun" Cohen (1887–1970), "a London-born Wwi veteran who moved to China in 1922 and took a job training Sun Yat-sen’s army in boxing and shooting, despite his inability to speak Chinese."
Cohen soon became one of Sun’s main bodyguards. After Sun’s death in 1925, he went on to fight for China against the invading Japanese and to work for British Intelligence.
- 3/21/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
From Bombastic Element: “University of Wisconsin-Madison PhD student Matthew Brown who has just spent a year in Nigeria looking at Nollywood tells Balancing Act that everyone in the industry has the feeling Nollywood is on the cusp of something new, but no one knows exactly what.”
Watch the 11-minute video below, and then head of to Bombastic E Here for the rest of the story…...
Watch the 11-minute video below, and then head of to Bombastic E Here for the rest of the story…...
- 3/10/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Image Entertainment & Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Sign Multi-Year DVD/Blu-ray Distribution Deal
In the wake of the recent announcement of the upcoming Criterion Collection release of the “New Hollywood” box set, called America Lost And Found: The Bbs Story, it looks like the Collection may have a chance to delve back into the Sony Pictures/Columbia Pictures catalogue, thanks to a new deal.
According to a press release, Criterion Collection distributor Image Entertainment has just struck a multi-year deal with the film studio. The deal will allow Sphe to manufacture and release any and all upcoming Image Entertainment Blu-ray and DVD releases, and in return, Sphe has licensed “an undisclosed” number of films from their back log to Image for distribution.
This deal, taken along with the America Lost And Found: The Bbs Story box set featuring solely Sony Pictures releases, leads me to believe that we may very well see a few more Sony Pictures releases getting the Criterion treatment. The...
According to a press release, Criterion Collection distributor Image Entertainment has just struck a multi-year deal with the film studio. The deal will allow Sphe to manufacture and release any and all upcoming Image Entertainment Blu-ray and DVD releases, and in return, Sphe has licensed “an undisclosed” number of films from their back log to Image for distribution.
This deal, taken along with the America Lost And Found: The Bbs Story box set featuring solely Sony Pictures releases, leads me to believe that we may very well see a few more Sony Pictures releases getting the Criterion treatment. The...
- 9/3/2010
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
By Daniel Frankel
While its theatrical division reported a record revenue year worldwide, Sony Pictures confirmed a major restructuring in its moribund home entertainment department Wednesday.
Among the changes:
-- Matt Brown, executive VP of international, will now also oversee the North American sales operation, with longtime company denizen Marshall Forster, senior VP of North America, leaving the company.
-- The Advanced Technologies group headed by Don Eklund will be moved out of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and into the Sony Pictures Technologies unit led by Chris Cookson. Eklu...
While its theatrical division reported a record revenue year worldwide, Sony Pictures confirmed a major restructuring in its moribund home entertainment department Wednesday.
Among the changes:
-- Matt Brown, executive VP of international, will now also oversee the North American sales operation, with longtime company denizen Marshall Forster, senior VP of North America, leaving the company.
-- The Advanced Technologies group headed by Don Eklund will be moved out of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and into the Sony Pictures Technologies unit led by Chris Cookson. Eklu...
- 1/28/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
While Daniel Craig is the current 007 in residence at Eon Productions — the company responsible for 22 James Bond films, from Dr. No (1962) to Quantum of Solace (2008) — another British actor may be working with "Her Majesty's Secret Service" in the near future.
According to Pajiba, an inside source has revealed that Wanted star James McAvoy is in talks to play Bond's creator, Ian Fleming, in a biopic from Palmstar Entertainment and Animus Films.
With the working title Ian Fleming, the movie will be based on the book Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond by Andrew Lycett and is expected to focus on the years of Fleming's life that inspired him to create the world's most famous spy. Matt Brown is adapting the book for the screen, but no director has been attached yet.
Next Showing:
Link | Posted 12/30/2009 by BrentJS
Daniel Craig | James McAvoy | Ian Fleming | Quantum of Solace | Dr. No...
According to Pajiba, an inside source has revealed that Wanted star James McAvoy is in talks to play Bond's creator, Ian Fleming, in a biopic from Palmstar Entertainment and Animus Films.
With the working title Ian Fleming, the movie will be based on the book Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond by Andrew Lycett and is expected to focus on the years of Fleming's life that inspired him to create the world's most famous spy. Matt Brown is adapting the book for the screen, but no director has been attached yet.
Next Showing:
Link | Posted 12/30/2009 by BrentJS
Daniel Craig | James McAvoy | Ian Fleming | Quantum of Solace | Dr. No...
- 12/30/2009
- by BrentJS Sprecher
- Reelzchannel.com
Last year, Leonardo DiCaprio became a producer on an Ian Fleming biopic that was announced. DiCaprio's film company Appian Way boarded the project, according to an La Times report. Co-producer Andrew Lazar championed the original idea. "It's going to be very different from the Bond films," he told the Times. "There are a lot of different ways to crack biopics, but we're not trying to emulate a Bond movie... The idea that this guy's life informed the James Bond character is pretty fascinating."
Today comes word from Pajiba — quoting a source — that Palmstar Entertainment and Animus Films are developing an independently financed $40M biopic based on the life of Ian Fleming, and that James McAvoy is attached to star in the title role.
Currently using the working title, 'Ian Fleming', the movie will be about the man who gave birth to the character of James Bond, specifically focusing...
Today comes word from Pajiba — quoting a source — that Palmstar Entertainment and Animus Films are developing an independently financed $40M biopic based on the life of Ian Fleming, and that James McAvoy is attached to star in the title role.
Currently using the working title, 'Ian Fleming', the movie will be about the man who gave birth to the character of James Bond, specifically focusing...
- 12/30/2009
- CinemaSpy
Pajiba is reporting that James McAvoy is attached to play James Bond creator/author, Ian Fleming, in a big screen biopic. The project is currently hunting for a director, though Matt Brown penned the script based on Andrew Lycett’s biography of Fleming.
Fleming had a life and personality that mirrored his famous creation. By his own admission he always drank too much, smoked too much and loved too many women — all of which contributed to an early death at only 56 years old.
Fleming came from wealthy Scottish banking family and was a world traveler from a very early age. During World War II, he was recruited into the Royal Navy Intelligence where he organized plans like Operation Goldeneye. His military background gave him a wealth of ideas for his Bond novels and he eventually retired to Jamaica where he penned his first Bond novel, Casino Royale.
Now we do...
Fleming had a life and personality that mirrored his famous creation. By his own admission he always drank too much, smoked too much and loved too many women — all of which contributed to an early death at only 56 years old.
Fleming came from wealthy Scottish banking family and was a world traveler from a very early age. During World War II, he was recruited into the Royal Navy Intelligence where he organized plans like Operation Goldeneye. His military background gave him a wealth of ideas for his Bond novels and he eventually retired to Jamaica where he penned his first Bond novel, Casino Royale.
Now we do...
- 12/30/2009
- by Kevin Coll
- FusedFilm
Scotland may not have gotten one of their own as James Bond*, but they'll get the next best thing -- a Scot as the creator of James Bond. Pajiba reports that James McAvoy is attached to play author Ian Fleming in a big screen biopic. The project is currently hunting for a director, though Matt Brown has penned the script from Andrew Lycett's biography.
As Bond fans know, Fleming had a life and personality that mirrored his famous creation. He came from a posh Scottish banking family, and was a world traveler from a very early age. During World War 2, he was recruited from the Black Watch into Royal Navy Intelligence where he was the brainpower behind plans like Operation Goldeneye. His military background gave him a wealth of ideas for his Bond novels, and he eventually retired to Jamaica where he'd pen Casino Royale. By his own admission he always drank too much,...
As Bond fans know, Fleming had a life and personality that mirrored his famous creation. He came from a posh Scottish banking family, and was a world traveler from a very early age. During World War 2, he was recruited from the Black Watch into Royal Navy Intelligence where he was the brainpower behind plans like Operation Goldeneye. His military background gave him a wealth of ideas for his Bond novels, and he eventually retired to Jamaica where he'd pen Casino Royale. By his own admission he always drank too much,...
- 12/29/2009
- by Elisabeth Rappe
- Cinematical
Paris -- TF1 Video and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment officially launched an operational joint venture for video distribution in Gaul last week, after announcing the union in early June.
The new venture, run by TF1 Video CEO Pierre Brossard and Sphe managing director Pascal Fauveau, is now fully outfitted for business and is based out of a Paris office housing 65 employees.
The TF1-sphe fusion will be a major force in the French video industry with a catalog of more than 6,000 titles, representing over 20% of the Gallic home video market.
The long-in-the-works deal was initiated and negotiated by the Los Angeles representative of TF1, Gordon Steel, whose company is under contract with a number of key international TV and film distribution players.
"After a lot of preparation, we're now real. We're operating fully as a joint venture. We're together, and it's working," Sphe's evp of International Matt Brown, said in an interview in Paris.
The new venture, run by TF1 Video CEO Pierre Brossard and Sphe managing director Pascal Fauveau, is now fully outfitted for business and is based out of a Paris office housing 65 employees.
The TF1-sphe fusion will be a major force in the French video industry with a catalog of more than 6,000 titles, representing over 20% of the Gallic home video market.
The long-in-the-works deal was initiated and negotiated by the Los Angeles representative of TF1, Gordon Steel, whose company is under contract with a number of key international TV and film distribution players.
"After a lot of preparation, we're now real. We're operating fully as a joint venture. We're together, and it's working," Sphe's evp of International Matt Brown, said in an interview in Paris.
- 9/10/2009
- by By Rebecca Leffler
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has appointed studio veteran John McMahon as its managing director of Europe operations.
Previously president and managing director of Sony Pictures Television, McMahon will be charged with building and extending Sphe's physical and digital businesses across the region. He also will serve the division's chief liaison in Europe with operations of Sony Electronics, PlayStation, Sony Ericsson and Sony Music Entertainment.
McMahon will report to Sphe exec vp international Matt Brown.
"The home entertainment industry is a global business in transition as it incorporates new technologies from Blu-ray Discs to mobile platforms to digital distribution," Brown said. "These developments, as well as the overall economic climate, present unique challenges. John brings to Sphe a strong reputation as a strategic thinker, a fresh perspective and an in-depth understanding of the international market."
McMahon joined Sony in 1990 as vp international legal affairs at Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Previously president and managing director of Sony Pictures Television, McMahon will be charged with building and extending Sphe's physical and digital businesses across the region. He also will serve the division's chief liaison in Europe with operations of Sony Electronics, PlayStation, Sony Ericsson and Sony Music Entertainment.
McMahon will report to Sphe exec vp international Matt Brown.
"The home entertainment industry is a global business in transition as it incorporates new technologies from Blu-ray Discs to mobile platforms to digital distribution," Brown said. "These developments, as well as the overall economic climate, present unique challenges. John brings to Sphe a strong reputation as a strategic thinker, a fresh perspective and an in-depth understanding of the international market."
McMahon joined Sony in 1990 as vp international legal affairs at Sony Pictures Entertainment.
- 8/31/2009
- by By Carl DiOrio
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Walter Noel made a lot of enemies when his Fairfield Greenwich hedge fund funneled $7 billion into the Bernie Madoff sinkhole. So now, he and most of his large family have been removed from the Quest 400, the magazine's annual list of high society. Noel's daughter, Marisa, who's married to Matt Brown, is the only Noel who made the list, which actually has about 1,200 names. "You can't punish the child for the sins of the father," explained a Quest insider. Steve Rattner, the investment banker who was President Obama's "car czar" until his name...
- 8/26/2009
- NYPost.com
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