Actor and producer Allison Williams has been gracing our screens for nearly two decades. The 35-year-old star made her acting debut in the 2004 NBC drama series "American Dreams," but her acting career didn't fully take off until she landed the role of Marnie Michaels in Lena Dunham's HBO series "Girls," which ran for six seasons from 2012 to 2017. After "Girls," Williams began acting in films, and in 2017, she portrayed the manipulative Rose Armitage in Jordan Peele's Oscar-winning film "Get Out." Following the success of "Get Out," Williams has starred in Netflix's "A Series of Unfortunate Events" and "M3GAN," among other notable works. Most recently, she can be seen alongside Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bomer in "Fellow Travelers," which hit Showtime on Oct. 27.
Outside of her acting career, Williams prefers to keep her personal life, including details about her romances, out of the public eye. Over the years, Williams...
Outside of her acting career, Williams prefers to keep her personal life, including details about her romances, out of the public eye. Over the years, Williams...
- 11/2/2023
- by Alicia Geigel
- Popsugar.com
CollegeHumor is dropping out of school, so to speak.
As the comedy brand shifts its distribution strategy under current CEO Sam Reich, it is giving up its original handle to rebrand as Dropout. That name, which previously applied to the company’s subscription service, will now become its official moniker.
Reich announced the rebrand in a video on the channel formerly known as CollegeHumor (which counts 14.7 million subscribers). Reich said that his company’s new name will represent its people-driven approach, “without any corporations, networks, or advertisers to muck it up.”
Dropout’s history dates back to 1999, when it was launched by Josh Abramson and Ricky Van Veen. YouTube arrived in 2005, and the company then known as CollegeHumor saw its stock go up. It pulled in billions of views, attracted guest stars like Michelle Obama, and even got its own television show with the TruTV original Adam Ruins Everything.
The...
As the comedy brand shifts its distribution strategy under current CEO Sam Reich, it is giving up its original handle to rebrand as Dropout. That name, which previously applied to the company’s subscription service, will now become its official moniker.
Reich announced the rebrand in a video on the channel formerly known as CollegeHumor (which counts 14.7 million subscribers). Reich said that his company’s new name will represent its people-driven approach, “without any corporations, networks, or advertisers to muck it up.”
Dropout’s history dates back to 1999, when it was launched by Josh Abramson and Ricky Van Veen. YouTube arrived in 2005, and the company then known as CollegeHumor saw its stock go up. It pulled in billions of views, attracted guest stars like Michelle Obama, and even got its own television show with the TruTV original Adam Ruins Everything.
The...
- 9/26/2023
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Amid broad cost-cutting moves, Meta is shuttering the Facebook Watch originals group, whose small slate of shows included the hit “Red Table Talk” hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith, Variety has confirmed.
A Meta representative confirmed that the company is shuttering its originals group but declined to provide further comment. The news was first reported by Deadline.
With the shutdown of Facebook Watch originals, Mina Lefevre, head of development and programing for the group, is leaving the company. Lefevre joined Meta (then called Facebook) in 2017, after serving as MTV’s head of scripted development. At Meta, Lefevre reported to Ricky Van Veen, VP of creative strategy.
Lefevre’s exit comes as Meta is cutting 10,000 jobs across the company, coming after it laid off 11,000 staffers at the end of 2022. On Wednesday, Meta announced first-quarter 2023 earnings that beat Wall Street expectations, as its revenue grew 3% for the period.
Facebook Watch’s originals started...
A Meta representative confirmed that the company is shuttering its originals group but declined to provide further comment. The news was first reported by Deadline.
With the shutdown of Facebook Watch originals, Mina Lefevre, head of development and programing for the group, is leaving the company. Lefevre joined Meta (then called Facebook) in 2017, after serving as MTV’s head of scripted development. At Meta, Lefevre reported to Ricky Van Veen, VP of creative strategy.
Lefevre’s exit comes as Meta is cutting 10,000 jobs across the company, coming after it laid off 11,000 staffers at the end of 2022. On Wednesday, Meta announced first-quarter 2023 earnings that beat Wall Street expectations, as its revenue grew 3% for the period.
Facebook Watch’s originals started...
- 4/27/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Longtime couple Allison Williams and Alexander Dreymon are engaged! Dreymon confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Friday, just two days after the couple made their long-awaited red carpet debut at the premiere of Williams's new film, "M3GAN." Popsugar reached out to reps for Williams and Dreymon for comment on the announcement, but did not receive an immediate response.
Dreymon's post included photos from the couple's red carpet debut alongside a caption congratulating Williams on her latest movie. "Premiere of M3GAN with a screaming, laughing, cheering crowd. It's the ultimate fun scarefest," he wrote of the upcoming horror film. "I'm so proud of my gorgeous fiancée @aw Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard on what will likely be a new cult hit."
The casual announcement is befitting for a couple that have always been committed to keeping their romance out of the limelight. They first began dating in...
Dreymon's post included photos from the couple's red carpet debut alongside a caption congratulating Williams on her latest movie. "Premiere of M3GAN with a screaming, laughing, cheering crowd. It's the ultimate fun scarefest," he wrote of the upcoming horror film. "I'm so proud of my gorgeous fiancée @aw Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard on what will likely be a new cult hit."
The casual announcement is befitting for a couple that have always been committed to keeping their romance out of the limelight. They first began dating in...
- 12/10/2022
- by Sabienna Bowman
- Popsugar.com
Move over girls, it's a boy! Allison Williams welcomed her first child with Alexander Dreymon this past winter, according to People. The outlet reports that the Girls star and the German actor reportedly named their baby boy, Arlo. Allison, 34, and Alexander, 39, both starred in the 2020 thriller Horizon Line, but neither has not confirmed that they are in relationship. E News! has reached out to both stars for comment but has not heard back. The baby news comes nearly three years after Allison—daughter of NBC Nightly News' Brian Williams—split from husband Ricky Van Veen. She and the Facebook exec were married for nearly...
- 4/25/2022
- E! Online
Facebook Watch has canceled two of its shows amid a scaling back of its scripted content.
Both “Limetown” and “Sorry For Your Loss” have been canceled after their first and second seasons respectively, Variety has confirmed.
Based on the podcast of the same name produced by Two Up, “Limetown” followed Lia Haddock (Jessica Biel), a journalist for American Public Radio, as she unravels the mystery behind the disappearance of over 300 people at a neuroscience research facility in Tennessee.
Biel executive produced via her Iron Ocean Productions banner alongside Michelle Purple. Endeavor Content served as the studio. Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, creators of the “Limetown” podcast, wrote and also executive produced. Midnight Radio’s Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg were all executive producers, with Adrienne Erickson producing.
While “Sorry For Your Loss” centered on Elizabeth Olsen’s character Leigh, a recent widow, as she struggles to...
Both “Limetown” and “Sorry For Your Loss” have been canceled after their first and second seasons respectively, Variety has confirmed.
Based on the podcast of the same name produced by Two Up, “Limetown” followed Lia Haddock (Jessica Biel), a journalist for American Public Radio, as she unravels the mystery behind the disappearance of over 300 people at a neuroscience research facility in Tennessee.
Biel executive produced via her Iron Ocean Productions banner alongside Michelle Purple. Endeavor Content served as the studio. Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, creators of the “Limetown” podcast, wrote and also executive produced. Midnight Radio’s Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg were all executive producers, with Adrienne Erickson producing.
While “Sorry For Your Loss” centered on Elizabeth Olsen’s character Leigh, a recent widow, as she struggles to...
- 1/17/2020
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
The future of CollegeHumor, the pioneering comedy website that rose to prominence before the rise of YouTube, was thrown into question Wednesday after the brand’s sale resulted in more than 100 layoffs.
InterActive Corp., the New York company that owned CollegeHumor parent Ch Media, sold its brands to CollegeHumor’s chief creative officer Sam Reich. Terms of the deal were undisclosed but Deadline reported that “all but a handful” of employees were notified of their layoffs Wednesday.
Reich, who joined CollegeHumor in 2006 was not available for comment, but shared the news on Twitter and said he aimed to continue operating the leading CollegeHumor brands, including Dropout, its comedy Svod streaming service. “I hope to be able to save Dropout, CollegeHumor, Drawfee, Dorkly, and many of our shows,” Reich said on Twitter. “Some will need to take on bold new creative directions in order to survive. You may not agree with all of them.
InterActive Corp., the New York company that owned CollegeHumor parent Ch Media, sold its brands to CollegeHumor’s chief creative officer Sam Reich. Terms of the deal were undisclosed but Deadline reported that “all but a handful” of employees were notified of their layoffs Wednesday.
Reich, who joined CollegeHumor in 2006 was not available for comment, but shared the news on Twitter and said he aimed to continue operating the leading CollegeHumor brands, including Dropout, its comedy Svod streaming service. “I hope to be able to save Dropout, CollegeHumor, Drawfee, Dorkly, and many of our shows,” Reich said on Twitter. “Some will need to take on bold new creative directions in order to survive. You may not agree with all of them.
- 1/8/2020
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
Barry Diller’s media company Iac has sold CollegeHumor Media, whose portfolio includes comedy site CollegeHumor, Drawfee, Dorkly and relatively new streamer Dropout, which debuted in September 2018, Variety has confirmed. The move resulted in over 100 layoffs at the company.
In a “twist,” chief creative officer Sam Reich announced on Twitter that Iac had agreed to transfer majority ownership to him.
“I hope to be able to save Dropout, CollegeHumor, Drawfee, Dorkly, and many of our shows,” said Reich on Twitter. “Some will need to take on bold new creative directions in order to survive. You may not agree with all of them.”
Iac first acquired CollegeHumor in 2006. The site was founded by Josh Abramson and Ricky Van Veen in 1999.
In a statement on the sale obtained by Variety, Iac described Reich as “the best choice” to sell the brand to and promised that he will “define its next chapter.”
“The...
In a “twist,” chief creative officer Sam Reich announced on Twitter that Iac had agreed to transfer majority ownership to him.
“I hope to be able to save Dropout, CollegeHumor, Drawfee, Dorkly, and many of our shows,” said Reich on Twitter. “Some will need to take on bold new creative directions in order to survive. You may not agree with all of them.”
Iac first acquired CollegeHumor in 2006. The site was founded by Josh Abramson and Ricky Van Veen in 1999.
In a statement on the sale obtained by Variety, Iac described Reich as “the best choice” to sell the brand to and promised that he will “define its next chapter.”
“The...
- 1/8/2020
- by Elaine Low and Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
Barry Diller’s InterActive Corp. is selling CHMedia, parent of CollegeHumor and a portfolio of related brands, to Ch chief creative officer Sam Reich. The transaction will result in more than 100 layoffs.
All but a handful of employees at the once-pioneering satire and online video purveyor were told Wednesday they are being let go, according to emails from employees and tweets from Reich. In a Twitter thread, Reich signaled optimism about keeping CollegeHumor afloat, along with sister brands like Dropout and Dorkly, but he indicated the scale and economics would be quite different at first.
“I can’t keep it going like you’re used to,” he wrote. “While we were on the way to becoming profitable, we were nonetheless losing money — and I myself have no money to be able to lose.” He promised to “do my very best to stay true to the talent, shows, fans, and principles...
All but a handful of employees at the once-pioneering satire and online video purveyor were told Wednesday they are being let go, according to emails from employees and tweets from Reich. In a Twitter thread, Reich signaled optimism about keeping CollegeHumor afloat, along with sister brands like Dropout and Dorkly, but he indicated the scale and economics would be quite different at first.
“I can’t keep it going like you’re used to,” he wrote. “While we were on the way to becoming profitable, we were nonetheless losing money — and I myself have no money to be able to lose.” He promised to “do my very best to stay true to the talent, shows, fans, and principles...
- 1/8/2020
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s easy to be envious of a rich person since they have the kind of money that seems to make life easy and a lot smoother than some might think is necessary. But Ricky Van Veen seems like the type of person that at the very least earned his money in a manner that’s honest and due to his intelligence and ability to make a dollar and invest it wisely, rather than act in a very suspect way as many rich folks are accused of. It could be that anything dodgy he’s done is completely off the radar, meaning we
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Ricky Van Veen...
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Ricky Van Veen...
- 6/30/2019
- by Tom
- TVovermind.com
Allison Williams and her husband, Ricky Van Veen, have announced that they are separating after nearly four years of marriage, People confirmed. In a statement, the couple said, "With mutual love and respect, we have made the decision to separate as a couple." They continued, "We are grateful for the friendship that we have and will continue to have."
Get Out star Allison and Ricky, a cofounder of the website College Humor, dated for three years before getting engaged in 2014. They married at a ranch in Saratoga, Wy, in September 2015, with Tom Hanks acting as officiant and many other celebrities in attendance - including Katy Perry and John Mayer, Allison's Girls costars Lena Dunham, Zosia Mamet, and Jemima Kirke, as well as Mindy Kaling, Bruce Springsteen, Diane von Furstenberg, Seth Meyers, and Andy Cohen.
Get Out star Allison and Ricky, a cofounder of the website College Humor, dated for three years before getting engaged in 2014. They married at a ranch in Saratoga, Wy, in September 2015, with Tom Hanks acting as officiant and many other celebrities in attendance - including Katy Perry and John Mayer, Allison's Girls costars Lena Dunham, Zosia Mamet, and Jemima Kirke, as well as Mindy Kaling, Bruce Springsteen, Diane von Furstenberg, Seth Meyers, and Andy Cohen.
- 6/29/2019
- by Gemma Cartwright
- Popsugar.com
Allison Williams is splitting from husband Ricky Van Veen after nearly four years of marriage. The couple announced their divorce in an a statement to E! News. The Girls star and Facebook exec state that they mutually decided to "separate as a couple." "We are grateful for the friendship that we have and will continue to have," the statement concludes. It's been several months since the actress and co-founder of CollegeHumor have been seen together. Their last public appearance together was at the Oscar Awards in March 2018. Their relationship first began in 2011, when Allison was still working on the set of Girls. They eventually got engaged during a...
- 6/27/2019
- E! Online
Facebook is touting the success of its nascent Watch service, a hub for episodic video that the social network launched last year and rolled out globally in August -- but which has arguably failed to drum up any zeitgeisty programming thus far.
In a blog post today, Ricky Van Veen, the company’s director of global creative strategy and media partnerships, said that Watch was renewing four series for second seasons. He also revealed that Watch has amassed 400 million monthly and 75 million daily viewers globally. Facebook counts a viewer as someone who spends at least one minute on the service -- though, on average, Facebook says that daily viewers spend more than 20 minutes per visit.
Additionally, after rolling out globally in August on mobile devices, Watch is now available everywhere on both desktops as well as Facebook Lite -- a version of the app that's optimized for low-power Android devices...
In a blog post today, Ricky Van Veen, the company’s director of global creative strategy and media partnerships, said that Watch was renewing four series for second seasons. He also revealed that Watch has amassed 400 million monthly and 75 million daily viewers globally. Facebook counts a viewer as someone who spends at least one minute on the service -- though, on average, Facebook says that daily viewers spend more than 20 minutes per visit.
Additionally, after rolling out globally in August on mobile devices, Watch is now available everywhere on both desktops as well as Facebook Lite -- a version of the app that's optimized for low-power Android devices...
- 12/13/2018
- by Geoff Weiss
- Tubefilter.com
Facebook has renewed four original series for second seasons, financing shows that build community and spark conversation on the Watch platform — features that the social network sees as differentiating its video service from rivals.
Five Points, Huda Boss, Sacred Lies and Sorry for Your Loss will return to Facebook Watch. These shows, which collectively drew nearly 1.3 million followers, join an increasingly diverse slate of programming that includes Jada Pinkett Smith’s breakout talk show Red Table Talk, the interactive game show Confetti and the planned return of MTV’s The Real World.
Watch appears to be gathering momentum, attracting more than 400 million monthly users who spend at least a minute checking out videos.
“With our originals, our aim is to give people programing that not only serves to entertain, but to also bring them closer together,” said Ricky Van Veen, Facebook’s head of global creative strategy. “We’ve intentionally...
Five Points, Huda Boss, Sacred Lies and Sorry for Your Loss will return to Facebook Watch. These shows, which collectively drew nearly 1.3 million followers, join an increasingly diverse slate of programming that includes Jada Pinkett Smith’s breakout talk show Red Table Talk, the interactive game show Confetti and the planned return of MTV’s The Real World.
Watch appears to be gathering momentum, attracting more than 400 million monthly users who spend at least a minute checking out videos.
“With our originals, our aim is to give people programing that not only serves to entertain, but to also bring them closer together,” said Ricky Van Veen, Facebook’s head of global creative strategy. “We’ve intentionally...
- 12/13/2018
- by Dawn C. Chmielewski
- Deadline Film + TV
Facebook made its TCA debut in hopes of talking up Facebook Watch, but wound up swatting at questions about its distribution of conspiracy peddler InfoWars. Netflix and Amazon returned to the semi-annual TV confab after being Mia for two years.
Broadcasters took a back seat, literally and figuratively, at this year’s summer press tour, with ABC and NBC’s presence shrinking to half a day each that wound down the 15-day event. But CBS programming chief Kelly Kahl may have clocked the most headlines just by virtue of showing up, as his boss is under investigation over allegations of sexual misconduct.
After getting trashed over its Cambridge Analytica data scandal, then hitting a record stock price on news of its biggest sports streaming deal yet, Facebook was given a place of honor in the early days of TCA when journalists are at their brightest. Facebook presented no program casts and creators,...
Broadcasters took a back seat, literally and figuratively, at this year’s summer press tour, with ABC and NBC’s presence shrinking to half a day each that wound down the 15-day event. But CBS programming chief Kelly Kahl may have clocked the most headlines just by virtue of showing up, as his boss is under investigation over allegations of sexual misconduct.
After getting trashed over its Cambridge Analytica data scandal, then hitting a record stock price on news of its biggest sports streaming deal yet, Facebook was given a place of honor in the early days of TCA when journalists are at their brightest. Facebook presented no program casts and creators,...
- 8/9/2018
- by Lisa de Moraes
- Deadline Film + TV
Today’s television landscape doesn’t relegate storytelling to the actual screen, but offers opportunities to extend the lives of characters through transmedia. While the avenues are open creatively on a number of digital and social platforms, it also offers opportunities for companies to advertise in new places, often blurring the line between an organic extension of a story and a piece of marketing.
“We live in a world where marketing is becoming increasingly opt-in and where consumers are turning to ad blockers and turning the channel,” says Jim Marsh, vice president of digital and social media at HBO. “Transmedia gives us an opportunity to reach consumers in a way that is compelling and interesting.”
When it comes to approaching transmedia from a strictly storytelling standpoint, Norway’s hit teen drama “Skam,” created by Julie Andem, expanded its narrative and tapped into its young demographic by utilizing a real-time approach to unfolding the story,...
“We live in a world where marketing is becoming increasingly opt-in and where consumers are turning to ad blockers and turning the channel,” says Jim Marsh, vice president of digital and social media at HBO. “Transmedia gives us an opportunity to reach consumers in a way that is compelling and interesting.”
When it comes to approaching transmedia from a strictly storytelling standpoint, Norway’s hit teen drama “Skam,” created by Julie Andem, expanded its narrative and tapped into its young demographic by utilizing a real-time approach to unfolding the story,...
- 8/9/2018
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Kayti Burt Feb 28, 2019
Skam Austin Season 2 will begin in March on Facebook Watch.
Skam Austin Season 2 is a go! Facebook Watch has renewed the American adaptation of the breakout Norwegian transmedia teen drama that is told in real-time, with videos released on the internet as they are happening in the world of the show.
The original series, created by Julie Andem, became an international sensation, particularly during Season 3, which features a queer protagonist struggling to come to terms with his sexual identity, among other things. Unlike the many other Skam adaptations currently airing around the world, Andem is the showrunner of Skam Austin.
Skam Austin Season 1 follows Meg, a teen girl living in Austin, Texas. Like the first season of Skam, Skam Austin follows its teen girl protagonist as she becomes friends with a motley group of girls, having previously relied only on her relationship with boyfriend Marlon for social support.
Skam Austin Season 2 will begin in March on Facebook Watch.
Skam Austin Season 2 is a go! Facebook Watch has renewed the American adaptation of the breakout Norwegian transmedia teen drama that is told in real-time, with videos released on the internet as they are happening in the world of the show.
The original series, created by Julie Andem, became an international sensation, particularly during Season 3, which features a queer protagonist struggling to come to terms with his sexual identity, among other things. Unlike the many other Skam adaptations currently airing around the world, Andem is the showrunner of Skam Austin.
Skam Austin Season 1 follows Meg, a teen girl living in Austin, Texas. Like the first season of Skam, Skam Austin follows its teen girl protagonist as she becomes friends with a motley group of girls, having previously relied only on her relationship with boyfriend Marlon for social support.
- 7/26/2018
- Den of Geek
The Television Critics Association’s summer press tour began Wednesday in Beverly Hills with presentations by HBO, National Geographic, and first-timer Facebook. The day brought some anticipated programming-budget discussion, a couple surprise appearances (as well as a surprise absence), and a heated exchange when an exec tried to wave off a question.
Here are five things we learned from Wednesday’s sessions:
1. The long gestating “Deadwood” movie is finally official. HBO programming president Casey Bloys announced that the film is currently slated for a spring 2019 debut, though that timeline is “not set in stone.” Bloys said the biggest obstacle to getting the project moviing was coordinating the schedule of the ensemble cast, which includes Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, Molly Parker, and John Hawkes.
2. After a New York Times report earlier this month spread details of an internal meeting in which longtime At&T exec John Stankey told HBO employees that their...
Here are five things we learned from Wednesday’s sessions:
1. The long gestating “Deadwood” movie is finally official. HBO programming president Casey Bloys announced that the film is currently slated for a spring 2019 debut, though that timeline is “not set in stone.” Bloys said the biggest obstacle to getting the project moviing was coordinating the schedule of the ensemble cast, which includes Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, Molly Parker, and John Hawkes.
2. After a New York Times report earlier this month spread details of an internal meeting in which longtime At&T exec John Stankey told HBO employees that their...
- 7/26/2018
- by Daniel Holloway, Joe Otterson and Debra Birnbaum
- Variety Film + TV
The heads of Facebook’s entertainment-programming initiative defended the company’s standards for video and other content Wednesday at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour.
VP of product Fidji Simo and head of global creative strategy Ricky Van Veen were on hand to discuss the original entertainment programming being developed for Facebook Watch. But a majority of questions they fielded had to do instead with the distribution of objectionable material through the video platform. Simo took the first such question, which made reference to content from Holocaust deniers being available on Facebook.
“Just to be very clear, we find Holocaust denial absolutely abhorrent,” Simo said. “We have community guidelines and community standards to guide a lot of these decisions, and sometimes our difficult decisions are not totally black and white.”
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was criticized last week by Jewish organizations and anti-racism groups for saying that Holocaust...
VP of product Fidji Simo and head of global creative strategy Ricky Van Veen were on hand to discuss the original entertainment programming being developed for Facebook Watch. But a majority of questions they fielded had to do instead with the distribution of objectionable material through the video platform. Simo took the first such question, which made reference to content from Holocaust deniers being available on Facebook.
“Just to be very clear, we find Holocaust denial absolutely abhorrent,” Simo said. “We have community guidelines and community standards to guide a lot of these decisions, and sometimes our difficult decisions are not totally black and white.”
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was criticized last week by Jewish organizations and anti-racism groups for saying that Holocaust...
- 7/25/2018
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
In their TCA debut, Facebook executives detailed the long road they have to be on to join the ranks of the Netflixes and even AMCs of the original TV game.
“Our breakouts may look different than what you would expect from other platforms,” said Fidji Simo, vice president of product. “We’re not going for big prestige TV drama.” The social media giant is joining an ever-growing field of content distributors, having launched Facebook Watch a year ago.
“It takes a show that breaks through and becomes part of the cultural zeitgeist,” added Ricky Van Veen, head of global creative strategy, on what’s going to get Facebook Watch the same respect of an AMC or HBO. He mentioned noted basketball-dad Lavar Ball, who produces “Ball in the Family” and their Tom Brady docuseries have already broken through a bit.
Also Read: 'Skam Austin' Gets Second Season on...
“Our breakouts may look different than what you would expect from other platforms,” said Fidji Simo, vice president of product. “We’re not going for big prestige TV drama.” The social media giant is joining an ever-growing field of content distributors, having launched Facebook Watch a year ago.
“It takes a show that breaks through and becomes part of the cultural zeitgeist,” added Ricky Van Veen, head of global creative strategy, on what’s going to get Facebook Watch the same respect of an AMC or HBO. He mentioned noted basketball-dad Lavar Ball, who produces “Ball in the Family” and their Tom Brady docuseries have already broken through a bit.
Also Read: 'Skam Austin' Gets Second Season on...
- 7/25/2018
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Facebook faced renewed questions about its handling of noted conspiracy site InfoWars, and its decision to place Fox News alongside other news organizations at a time when the social media site has launched an initiative to combat misinformation.
The company attempted to focus its inaugural TCA presentation on its programming strategy for Facebook Watch, the video platform it launched just over a year ago. But questions took a topical, confrontational turn.
Facebook was asked again to talk about its treatment of InfoWars, which peddles in conspiracy theories including calling the Sandy Hook massacre a hoax and the 9/11 terrorist attacks an “inside job.” Host Alex Jones most recently went the attack against special counsel Robert Mueller, accusing him of being a pedophile in one recent show, claiming, “They’d let Mueller rape kids in front of people, which he did.”
Facebook Product VP Fidji Simo echoed CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s careful...
The company attempted to focus its inaugural TCA presentation on its programming strategy for Facebook Watch, the video platform it launched just over a year ago. But questions took a topical, confrontational turn.
Facebook was asked again to talk about its treatment of InfoWars, which peddles in conspiracy theories including calling the Sandy Hook massacre a hoax and the 9/11 terrorist attacks an “inside job.” Host Alex Jones most recently went the attack against special counsel Robert Mueller, accusing him of being a pedophile in one recent show, claiming, “They’d let Mueller rape kids in front of people, which he did.”
Facebook Product VP Fidji Simo echoed CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s careful...
- 7/25/2018
- by Dawn C. Chmielewski
- Deadline Film + TV
Facebook used its executive session at the TCA Summer Press tour to announce it has renewed the teen drama Skam Austin for a second season on Facebook Watch.
The show, a remake of the beloved Norwegian series Skam, offers an unfiltered look at the lives of American teenagers. The series follows four “loser” girls who form their own dance team, and it tackles the topical issues including popularity, slut-shaming, Islamophobia and relationships.
Skam Austin unfolds in real time and across Facebook’s platforms, with daily episodes airing at the time when events occur within the story line — say, a lunch scene that drops at noon — with follow-up posts on the characters’ Instagram profiles. Bonus material can be found on the show’s official Facebook page, such as text exchanges between characters.
The series is an example of how Facebook seeks to differentiate its Watch platform from other video streaming services...
The show, a remake of the beloved Norwegian series Skam, offers an unfiltered look at the lives of American teenagers. The series follows four “loser” girls who form their own dance team, and it tackles the topical issues including popularity, slut-shaming, Islamophobia and relationships.
Skam Austin unfolds in real time and across Facebook’s platforms, with daily episodes airing at the time when events occur within the story line — say, a lunch scene that drops at noon — with follow-up posts on the characters’ Instagram profiles. Bonus material can be found on the show’s official Facebook page, such as text exchanges between characters.
The series is an example of how Facebook seeks to differentiate its Watch platform from other video streaming services...
- 7/25/2018
- by Dawn C. Chmielewski
- Deadline Film + TV
“Skam Austin,” the realistic teen drama following the lives of several Texas teenagers, has been renewed for a second season on Facebook Watch, the company announced at the TCA Summer Press Tour on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The series, which takes its name from the lauded Norwegian series “Skam” (or “shame” in English) follows four unpopular girls from an Austin, Texas dance team as they deal with a myriad of issues: school cliques, having sex for the first time, racism, and balancing high school friendships. The first episode of the series, launched in April, attracted 14 million views.
Fidji Simo, Facebook’s VP of product, and Ricky Van Veen, Facebook’s head of global creative strategy, made the announcement on Wednesday.
The second season will continue the show’s experimental sharing of content, with “Skam Austin” characters posting Instagram pictures in...
The series, which takes its name from the lauded Norwegian series “Skam” (or “shame” in English) follows four unpopular girls from an Austin, Texas dance team as they deal with a myriad of issues: school cliques, having sex for the first time, racism, and balancing high school friendships. The first episode of the series, launched in April, attracted 14 million views.
Fidji Simo, Facebook’s VP of product, and Ricky Van Veen, Facebook’s head of global creative strategy, made the announcement on Wednesday.
The second season will continue the show’s experimental sharing of content, with “Skam Austin” characters posting Instagram pictures in...
- 7/25/2018
- by Sean Burch
- The Wrap
Facebook Watch has renewed “Skam Austin” for a second season, Variety has learned exclusively.
The scripted series is based on the Norwegian show “Skam.” The transmedia teen drama tells stories about the lives of American teenagers, offering an unfiltered look at what teens are dealing with today head on with relationships that unfold across multiple social media platforms. Like the first season, the content will roll out in real time, from the scenes on Facebook Watch to the posts on the characters’ Instagram profiles.
“’Skam’ is a shining example of what social video can be when there is a seamless integration of technology and content on Facebook,” said Ricky Van Veen, head of global creative strategy for Facebook. “We’re thrilled to bring back this special show and continue to break new ground with ‘Skam’s’ incomparable format.”
Simon Fuller and Per Blankens executive produce via Xix Entertainment, along with...
The scripted series is based on the Norwegian show “Skam.” The transmedia teen drama tells stories about the lives of American teenagers, offering an unfiltered look at what teens are dealing with today head on with relationships that unfold across multiple social media platforms. Like the first season, the content will roll out in real time, from the scenes on Facebook Watch to the posts on the characters’ Instagram profiles.
“’Skam’ is a shining example of what social video can be when there is a seamless integration of technology and content on Facebook,” said Ricky Van Veen, head of global creative strategy for Facebook. “We’re thrilled to bring back this special show and continue to break new ground with ‘Skam’s’ incomparable format.”
Simon Fuller and Per Blankens executive produce via Xix Entertainment, along with...
- 7/25/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Nearly a year after launching video platform Watch, Facebook executives trekked to the Television Critics Association's summer press tour to showcase how they're approaching programming for the social network.
As is often the case with new platforms, their content strategy required some explanation. The half-hour panel featured short prepared remarks from both vp video Fidji Simo and head of global creative strategy Ricky Van Veen. When they opened up the conversation for questions, the executives appeared surprised when many of the queries focused on not original entertainment programming but the Watch platform's relationship with right-wing media ...
As is often the case with new platforms, their content strategy required some explanation. The half-hour panel featured short prepared remarks from both vp video Fidji Simo and head of global creative strategy Ricky Van Veen. When they opened up the conversation for questions, the executives appeared surprised when many of the queries focused on not original entertainment programming but the Watch platform's relationship with right-wing media ...
- 7/25/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Editors’ Note: This story was originally published on July 9.
If there’s a spring in the step of TCA media members these days, it’s because their semi-annual confab might have been snatched from the brink with word that Facebook is making its debut at the July event, while Netflix and Amazon are returning to the fold after going missing for two years.
Facebook, which recently got trashed over its Cambridge Analytica data scandal, then hit a record stock price on news that of its biggest sports streaming deal yet, has been given a place of honor in the non-broadcast block of the TCA Summer Press Tour, kicking it off on July 25. It’s hammocked between TCA royalty HBO and National Geographic Channels. During Facebook’s allotted time, Fidji Simo, VP Product for Video, and Ricky Van Veen, Head of Global Creative Strategy, will walk press through the company’s...
If there’s a spring in the step of TCA media members these days, it’s because their semi-annual confab might have been snatched from the brink with word that Facebook is making its debut at the July event, while Netflix and Amazon are returning to the fold after going missing for two years.
Facebook, which recently got trashed over its Cambridge Analytica data scandal, then hit a record stock price on news that of its biggest sports streaming deal yet, has been given a place of honor in the non-broadcast block of the TCA Summer Press Tour, kicking it off on July 25. It’s hammocked between TCA royalty HBO and National Geographic Channels. During Facebook’s allotted time, Fidji Simo, VP Product for Video, and Ricky Van Veen, Head of Global Creative Strategy, will walk press through the company’s...
- 7/25/2018
- by Lisa de Moraes
- Deadline Film + TV
Facebook is in discussions for what could be its biggest original series deal to date: a reality show about global soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Variety has learned.
The social giant is in talks to bring the Ronaldo docu-series to Facebook Watch, its video platform for TV-style content, according to multiple sources. Facebook is prepped to invest substantial coin in the project: The Portuguese footballer could get a paycheck of around $10 million for the 13-episode show, sources say.
CAA is packaging the series, to be produced by Matador Content and Religion of Sports, a sports-media firm founded by Gotham Chopra, Michael Strahan, Tom Brady and production company Dirty Robber. Sources differed on how advanced the negotiations are; one said a deal is close to being finalized while another characterized the talks as nascent.
Reps for Facebook, CAA and Religion of Sports declined to comment. Matador founder and CEO Jay Peterson did...
The social giant is in talks to bring the Ronaldo docu-series to Facebook Watch, its video platform for TV-style content, according to multiple sources. Facebook is prepped to invest substantial coin in the project: The Portuguese footballer could get a paycheck of around $10 million for the 13-episode show, sources say.
CAA is packaging the series, to be produced by Matador Content and Religion of Sports, a sports-media firm founded by Gotham Chopra, Michael Strahan, Tom Brady and production company Dirty Robber. Sources differed on how advanced the negotiations are; one said a deal is close to being finalized while another characterized the talks as nascent.
Reps for Facebook, CAA and Religion of Sports declined to comment. Matador founder and CEO Jay Peterson did...
- 7/5/2018
- by Todd Spangler and Andrew Wallenstein
- Variety Film + TV
Facebook keeps throwing more money at original entertainment, news and sports video content. But it’s still unclear how successful the tech giant’s strategy will prove or how well it’s performed overall so far.
Analysts expect Facebook to plunk down at least $1 billion — and as much as twice that — over the next 12 months. The company’s goal is to turn Facebook Watch, its interactive video destination already launched in the U.S., into a TV-like habit for its massive user base and their friends. And, execs hope, that will land the platform TV-like ad bucks.
Facebook has ordered a batch of exclusive news programs, fully funded by the company, from partners including ABC News, CNN, Fox News Channel and Univision and slated them to go live this summer. Part of the strategy is to atone for Facebook’s “fake news” controversies by bringing in shows featuring well-known personalities...
Analysts expect Facebook to plunk down at least $1 billion — and as much as twice that — over the next 12 months. The company’s goal is to turn Facebook Watch, its interactive video destination already launched in the U.S., into a TV-like habit for its massive user base and their friends. And, execs hope, that will land the platform TV-like ad bucks.
Facebook has ordered a batch of exclusive news programs, fully funded by the company, from partners including ABC News, CNN, Fox News Channel and Univision and slated them to go live this summer. Part of the strategy is to atone for Facebook’s “fake news” controversies by bringing in shows featuring well-known personalities...
- 6/14/2018
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Red Table Talk is extending its first season on Facebook Watch with 13 additional episodes for premiere this fall.
In Red Table Talk, hosts Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow Smith, and mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris reveal their personal experiences and thoughts about today’s most compelling issues. Season 1 of Red Table Talk premiered on May 7, kicking off 10 episodes, and has debuted six episodes to date.
“The community that has been built around the Red Table is so strong and keeps my mother, Willow and I inspired to keep going. We are so grateful to be given the opportunity to do so by continuing The Red Table Talk journey with Facebook Watch,” said Pinkett Smith. “There is so much more to explore together and so many people to bring to the table to do it with us. We have learned so much along the way. With that being said, I believe, this...
In Red Table Talk, hosts Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow Smith, and mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris reveal their personal experiences and thoughts about today’s most compelling issues. Season 1 of Red Table Talk premiered on May 7, kicking off 10 episodes, and has debuted six episodes to date.
“The community that has been built around the Red Table is so strong and keeps my mother, Willow and I inspired to keep going. We are so grateful to be given the opportunity to do so by continuing The Red Table Talk journey with Facebook Watch,” said Pinkett Smith. “There is so much more to explore together and so many people to bring to the table to do it with us. We have learned so much along the way. With that being said, I believe, this...
- 6/13/2018
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
It's something that's happened to even the best of us. You can't get to a theater/TV show when a majority of the world does, and one simple Facebook comment spoils the whole thing for you. It's frustrating enough that many people enact the "no social media," rule and try to stay off the web until they've seen what they want to watch. That's a good rule of thumb to have in general, although it may soon be unnecessary as Facebook's Ricky Van Veen announced the company is currently testing a new feature that will make the "no social media," rule obsolete. Veen explained how the new feature works at the opening-day keynote at Natpe (via Deadline):
“If you haven’t seen Episode 5 yet, you won’t see your friend’s comment on Episode 5. Those are really easy things to do that no one has really done yet because...
“If you haven’t seen Episode 5 yet, you won’t see your friend’s comment on Episode 5. Those are really easy things to do that no one has really done yet because...
- 1/18/2018
- by Mick Joest
- GeekTyrant
Facebook unveils Blumhouse Television thriller as development director Ricky Van Veen tells Napte company not targetting ’prestige hour-long dramas’.
Source: Pixabay
Facebook has ordered its first drama series, a half-hour thriller from Blumhouse Television based on a Brothers Grimm story and a contemporary young adult novel.
With the working title Sacred Lies, former True Blood executive producer Raelle Tucker and director Scott Winant will serve as executive producers on the 10-episode series.
Tucker will also serve as showrunner and adapt the source material, the Grimm tale The Handless Maiden and Stephanie Oakes’ 2015 novel The Sacred Lies Of Minnow Bly. Winant will also direct the first two episodes.
Also on board as executive producers on the story – about a teen with no hands who escapes from a cult and finds herself in juvenile detention, suspected of knowing who killed her cult leader – will be Blumhouse Television’s Jason Blum, Marci Wiseman and Jeremy Gold.
The project was unveiled...
Source: Pixabay
Facebook has ordered its first drama series, a half-hour thriller from Blumhouse Television based on a Brothers Grimm story and a contemporary young adult novel.
With the working title Sacred Lies, former True Blood executive producer Raelle Tucker and director Scott Winant will serve as executive producers on the 10-episode series.
Tucker will also serve as showrunner and adapt the source material, the Grimm tale The Handless Maiden and Stephanie Oakes’ 2015 novel The Sacred Lies Of Minnow Bly. Winant will also direct the first two episodes.
Also on board as executive producers on the story – about a teen with no hands who escapes from a cult and finds herself in juvenile detention, suspected of knowing who killed her cult leader – will be Blumhouse Television’s Jason Blum, Marci Wiseman and Jeremy Gold.
The project was unveiled...
- 1/16/2018
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Facebook unveils Blumhouse Television thriller as development director Ricky Van Veen tells Napte company not targetting ’prestige hour-long dramas’.
Facebook has ordered its first drama series, a half-hour thriller from Blumhouse Television based on a Brothers Grimm story and a contemporary young adult novel.
With the working title Sacred Lies, former True Blood executive producer Raelle Tucker and director Scott Winant will serve as executive producers on the 10-episode series.
Tucker will also serve as showrunner and adapt the source material, the Grimm tale The Handless Maiden and Stephanie Oakes’ 2015 novel The Sacred Lies Of Minnow Bly. Winant will also direct the first two episodes.
Also on board as executive producers on the story – about a teen with no hands who escapes from a cult and finds herself in juvenile detention, suspected of knowing who killed her cult leader – will be Blumhouse Television’s Jason Blum, Marci Wiseman and Jeremy Gold.
The project was unveiled...
Facebook has ordered its first drama series, a half-hour thriller from Blumhouse Television based on a Brothers Grimm story and a contemporary young adult novel.
With the working title Sacred Lies, former True Blood executive producer Raelle Tucker and director Scott Winant will serve as executive producers on the 10-episode series.
Tucker will also serve as showrunner and adapt the source material, the Grimm tale The Handless Maiden and Stephanie Oakes’ 2015 novel The Sacred Lies Of Minnow Bly. Winant will also direct the first two episodes.
Also on board as executive producers on the story – about a teen with no hands who escapes from a cult and finds herself in juvenile detention, suspected of knowing who killed her cult leader – will be Blumhouse Television’s Jason Blum, Marci Wiseman and Jeremy Gold.
The project was unveiled...
- 1/16/2018
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Facebook continues to announce new, original series for its Watch platform, this latest round featuring Bear Grylls, a group of stunt performers, and a couple of True Blood creators.
At the Natpe conference today in Miami, Facebook’s head of global creative strategy, Ricky Van Veen, gave the names of three series heading to the budding video platform: Bear Grylls: Face the Wild, Fly Guys, and Sacred Lies (the last of which is a working title).
Reality series Fly Guys will come to Facebook Watch on February 2. Each episode, ranging between 12 and 15 minutes, will follow a group of European stunt performers as create and then fulfill physical stunt challenges. Filming locations will include cliffs, castles, and rock quarries. Fly Guys is produced by Jukin Media.
The Grylls show will debut March 21 on Facebook Watch. Also consisting of 10 episodes, it will surprise as many Grylls fans by inviting them to join Grylls on his outdoor adventures.
At the Natpe conference today in Miami, Facebook’s head of global creative strategy, Ricky Van Veen, gave the names of three series heading to the budding video platform: Bear Grylls: Face the Wild, Fly Guys, and Sacred Lies (the last of which is a working title).
Reality series Fly Guys will come to Facebook Watch on February 2. Each episode, ranging between 12 and 15 minutes, will follow a group of European stunt performers as create and then fulfill physical stunt challenges. Filming locations will include cliffs, castles, and rock quarries. Fly Guys is produced by Jukin Media.
The Grylls show will debut March 21 on Facebook Watch. Also consisting of 10 episodes, it will surprise as many Grylls fans by inviting them to join Grylls on his outdoor adventures.
- 1/16/2018
- by Jessica Klein
- Tubefilter.com
During an opening-day keynote at Natpe, Facebook's head of global creative strategy Ricky Van Veen said the social media giant's algorithm can filter out spoilers from users' news feeds to ensure a more seamless viewing experience. "If you haven't seen Episode 5 yet, you won't see your friend's comment on Episode 5," he told moderator and Btig analyst Rich Greenfield. "Those are really easy things to do that no one has really done yet because it's hard when you're having…...
- 1/16/2018
- Deadline TV
Former “True Blood” executive producer Raelle Tucker and director Scott Winant have signed on with Blumhouse Television and Facebook Watch to venture into the land of fairy tales, Ricky Van Veen, Facebook’s Director of Development, announced Tuesday at Natpe. The duo will produce a half-hour dramatic series for the VOD with the working title “Sacred Lies,” based on the classic Brothers Grimm tale, “The Handless Maiden” and the novel, “The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly” by Stephanie Oakes. Tucker, who will serve as executive producer and showrunner, has adapted the story which will focus on a handless teen who escapes from a cult...
- 1/16/2018
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Former True Blood executive producer Raelle Tucker and director Scott Winant have teamed with Blumhouse Television for Sacred Lies (working title) a half-hour drama, which has been given a 10-episode series order by Facebook Watch. Ricky Van Veen, Facebook’s Director of Development, just announced the project at Natpe. Based on the classic Grimm Brothers tale The Handless Maiden, and Stephanie Oakes’ novel The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly, and adapted and updated by Tucker, S…...
- 1/16/2018
- Deadline TV
Kelly Marie Tran grew up dreaming of Hogwarts, not Dagobah. In fact, when she got the script for Star Wars: The Last Jedi back in 2015, she had never seen a Star Wars movie - not even The Force Awakens, which hadn't yet come out. She still landed the most prominent new role in the latest entry to the galaxy-far-far-away franchise, playing maintenance-worked-turned-Resistance-hero Rose Tico. Along the way, she caught up on the saga. "I like A New Hope the best," she says, referring to the original 1977 movie. A San Diego...
- 12/11/2017
- Rollingstone.com
(Sigh) Did,- did we need ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story‘? Seriously, did we? So, funny story — the day I ended up watching this was the day I happen to run into a very fun short animation piece online, where an angry Death Star architect goes into a rant about how he shouldn’t be blamed for the Death Star being destroyed by Luke Skywalker and how his design was flawless, except for the fact that, I think the term was, Magic Space Wizards or something like that, were around. Here was the original post (via College Humor), it’s really funny.
Anyway, spoilers, coincidence, this is the film that explains how the Death Star was able to be destroyed by one shot from Luke. (Long thinking pause) I think I liked it better when the answer was Magic Space Wizards.
Anway, look–I’m not a ‘Star Wars‘ guy,...
Anyway, spoilers, coincidence, this is the film that explains how the Death Star was able to be destroyed by one shot from Luke. (Long thinking pause) I think I liked it better when the answer was Magic Space Wizards.
Anway, look–I’m not a ‘Star Wars‘ guy,...
- 11/13/2017
- by David Baruffi
- Age of the Nerd
Back in December, Simon Fuller's Xix Entertainment said it was making an English-language version of hit Scandi teen drama Shame (Skam). Today at Mipcom, Facebook’s Head of Global Creative Strategy, Ricky Van Veen, said the company is teaming with Fuller to bring the series to its newly-launched Facebook Watch. The show, which debuted on Nrk platforms in 2015, uses narratives in real time with unknown actors and scripts that are geared to a 16 year-old audience with a…...
- 10/18/2017
- Deadline TV
What does a working girl have to do to get ahead, when all she has in her favor is an incredible face, a lavish wardrobe, and a pair of legs to make any executive wolf howl? Loretta Young juggles two egotistical swains, while Joan Blondell shines as an enticing all-pro homewrecker.
Big Business Girl
DVD-r
The Warner Archive Collection
1931 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 74 min. / Street Date September 14, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Loretta Young, Frank Albertson, Ricardo Cortez, Joan Blondell, Frank Darien, Dorothy Christy, Oscar Apfel, Judith Barrett, Mickey Bennett, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Virginia Sale.
Cinematography: Sol Polito
Film Editor: Pete Fritch
Written by Robert Lord, story by Patricia Reilly & H.N. Swanson
Produced and Directed by William A. Seiter
Let’s hear it for the Warner Archive Collection’s voluminous vault of early ’30s Warners, MGM and Rko entertainments, which has given us a real education about this era of filmmaking.
Big Business Girl
DVD-r
The Warner Archive Collection
1931 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 74 min. / Street Date September 14, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Loretta Young, Frank Albertson, Ricardo Cortez, Joan Blondell, Frank Darien, Dorothy Christy, Oscar Apfel, Judith Barrett, Mickey Bennett, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Virginia Sale.
Cinematography: Sol Polito
Film Editor: Pete Fritch
Written by Robert Lord, story by Patricia Reilly & H.N. Swanson
Produced and Directed by William A. Seiter
Let’s hear it for the Warner Archive Collection’s voluminous vault of early ’30s Warners, MGM and Rko entertainments, which has given us a real education about this era of filmmaking.
- 10/7/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Among the many folks who rolled their eyes at the “Fifty Shades of Grey” phenomenon, there exists a surprising faction of critics: The proudly kinky. Not only did the books and subsequent films get a lot of things dangerously wrong about Bdsm, they say, but “Fifty Shades” was seriously devoid of the joy or playfulness that leads many practitioners to don leather bodices and ball gags. That questionable lack of humor is what led Jenny Jaffe to write “Neurotica,” a bite-sized series about a dominatrix with Ocd currently running on IFC’s Comedy Crib.
The idea began percolating for Jaffe around the time that “Fifty Shades” started taking off. “It was so self-serious and dour,” she said. “There was clearly an appetite for stories about kink, but I found it really strange that the topic gets approached with this really heavy hand. Human sexuality is so expansive and funny, and when it’s good,...
The idea began percolating for Jaffe around the time that “Fifty Shades” started taking off. “It was so self-serious and dour,” she said. “There was clearly an appetite for stories about kink, but I found it really strange that the topic gets approached with this really heavy hand. Human sexuality is so expansive and funny, and when it’s good,...
- 8/30/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Adam Conover’s character in “Adam Ruins Everything” is all about ruining everything, obviously. He tells the truth about things such as fad diets and global warming based on evidence that works against what people might commonly think. In the original College Humor shorts, Conover was the almost omniscient and pestering purveyor of knowledge — running into the middle of personal dinners or intimate events to drop facts. In the truTV show, however, he takes a step back. Also Read: Inside TruTV and Prentice Penny's Penthouse Premiere Party With Issa Rae, More (Photos) In the first episode of Season 2, Adam (the character) gets.
- 7/25/2017
- by Carli Velocci
- The Wrap
Irina Shayk strutted down the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show with a secret bun in the oven, and at this rate, she’ll be back on the catwalk in no time.
Just four months after welcoming her first child — daughter Lea De Seine — with actor Bradley Cooper, the Russia supermodel took to Instagram with a mirror selfie that showed off her toned abs.
Shayk, 31, modeled a set of lacey white lingerie in the shot, simply captioning the post, “Summer with @intimissimiofficial.”
The new mom’s jaw-dropping post-baby body is no shock. Less than a month after welcoming her daughter with Cooper,...
Just four months after welcoming her first child — daughter Lea De Seine — with actor Bradley Cooper, the Russia supermodel took to Instagram with a mirror selfie that showed off her toned abs.
Shayk, 31, modeled a set of lacey white lingerie in the shot, simply captioning the post, “Summer with @intimissimiofficial.”
The new mom’s jaw-dropping post-baby body is no shock. Less than a month after welcoming her daughter with Cooper,...
- 7/16/2017
- by Stephanie Petit
- PEOPLE.com
The music hasn’t stopped playing for Jim Cummings. The 30-year-old writer-director-actor who won Sundance’s short film grand jury prize in 2016 seems to have found the holy grail for up-and-coming filmmakers: steady work. A former freelance line producer for College Humor in Los Angeles, Cummings recently transitioned into writing, directing and acting full time, and now has so many projects going simultaneousy that it’s hard to believe he was an unknown filmmaker just 18 months ago.
Read More‘Valerian’: How Luc Besson Made a $180 Million Indie That Can’t Fail
Shortly after winning Sundance with the 12-minute comedic drama “Thunder Road,” which takes place at a funeral and was shot in just one take, Cummings signed with Wme and landed a deal with subscription streaming company Fullscreen to shoot six additional shorts, all of which would be also shot in a single take, for $150,000. The money covered a...
Read More‘Valerian’: How Luc Besson Made a $180 Million Indie That Can’t Fail
Shortly after winning Sundance with the 12-minute comedic drama “Thunder Road,” which takes place at a funeral and was shot in just one take, Cummings signed with Wme and landed a deal with subscription streaming company Fullscreen to shoot six additional shorts, all of which would be also shot in a single take, for $150,000. The money covered a...
- 7/14/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
If anyone deserves some R&R, it's new parents Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk. The couple joined Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, Benjamin Maisani, Ricky Van Veen, Diane von Furstenberg and Allison Williams in Tahiti last week, marking the first time they've been seen together in public since the March 21 birth of their daughter, Lea de Seine Shayk Cooper. On Sunday, Diane shared a picture of three of the couples basking in the sun aboard a yacht. "Part of the funnest group ever!" the fashion designer, 70, gushed on Instagram." Bye Tahiti!" Neither Andy nor Diane appeared in the group photo, although the pals did pose for another picture together two days earlier. "Wearing Dvf with...
- 7/10/2017
- E! Online
Pretty people in pretty places! Bradley Cooper and his longtime model love Irina Shayk appeared in a rare photo together over the weekend, vacationing with a group of celebs. The extremely private couple seemed to be enjoying their fun in the sun while on a yacht in Tahiti.
More: Brad Pitt Hangs Out With Bradley Cooper and Tilda Swinton at the Glastonbury Festival
Designer Diane Von Furstenberg captured part of the group’s vacation in a photo that featured Cooper, Shayk, Allison Williams, her husband Ricky Van Veen, and Anderson Cooper.
In the pic, Shayk is blowing a kiss to the camera while leaning back to soak in the sun in a black bra top. The long-haired Cooper is rocking a scruffy beard and shades with his hair pulled half back.
Though not pictured in the group shot, Anderson was joined by his bestie, Andy Cohen, for the A-list trip, with the two...
More: Brad Pitt Hangs Out With Bradley Cooper and Tilda Swinton at the Glastonbury Festival
Designer Diane Von Furstenberg captured part of the group’s vacation in a photo that featured Cooper, Shayk, Allison Williams, her husband Ricky Van Veen, and Anderson Cooper.
In the pic, Shayk is blowing a kiss to the camera while leaning back to soak in the sun in a black bra top. The long-haired Cooper is rocking a scruffy beard and shades with his hair pulled half back.
Though not pictured in the group shot, Anderson was joined by his bestie, Andy Cohen, for the A-list trip, with the two...
- 7/10/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk went on vacation to Tahiti last week, and they brought along a crew of celebs. Related: Bradley Cooper Played Glastonbury With Kris Kristofferson The new parents were joined on their trip by Allison Williams and her husband Ricky Van Veen, Anderson Cooper and his partner Benjamin Maisani, fashioner designer Diane von […]...
- 7/10/2017
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk went on a star-studded vacation in Tahiti last week.
New parents Cooper, 42, and Shayk, 31, joined Allison Williams (and her husband Ricky Van Veen), Anderson Cooper (and his studly partner Benjamin Maisani), Diane von Furstenberg and Andy Cohen for an island sojourn.
The outing marks the first time the American Hustle star and his Russian model love have been spotted together since they welcomed Lea de Seine in March.
The group celebrated the end of their vacation on Sunday with a sweet selfie — although Cohen and von Furstenberg weren’t in the same frame. However, the...
New parents Cooper, 42, and Shayk, 31, joined Allison Williams (and her husband Ricky Van Veen), Anderson Cooper (and his studly partner Benjamin Maisani), Diane von Furstenberg and Andy Cohen for an island sojourn.
The outing marks the first time the American Hustle star and his Russian model love have been spotted together since they welcomed Lea de Seine in March.
The group celebrated the end of their vacation on Sunday with a sweet selfie — although Cohen and von Furstenberg weren’t in the same frame. However, the...
- 7/10/2017
- by Maria Mercedes Lara
- PEOPLE.com
Digital producers cheered last year when the Television Academy expanded its short-form programming categories. But then they saw the nominees and winners.
Most of last year’s short form contenders didn’t come from digital-first producers or platforms, but came from traditional networks and talent. Adult Swim’s “Childrens Hospital” led all nominees, followed by the History channel’s “The Crossroads of History” and AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462.”
“Childrens Hospital” ultimately won the Outstanding Series category, which included just one independent contender: “Her Story,” about two transgender women living in Los Angeles. Besides “Crossroads of History” and “Flight 462,” the two other nominees were behind-the-scenes looks at popular TV shows: “Hack into Broad City” and “UnREAL The Auditions.”
In the short form nonfiction or reality series, another marketing series won, FX’s “Inside Look: The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.”
That wasn’t quite what...
Most of last year’s short form contenders didn’t come from digital-first producers or platforms, but came from traditional networks and talent. Adult Swim’s “Childrens Hospital” led all nominees, followed by the History channel’s “The Crossroads of History” and AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462.”
“Childrens Hospital” ultimately won the Outstanding Series category, which included just one independent contender: “Her Story,” about two transgender women living in Los Angeles. Besides “Crossroads of History” and “Flight 462,” the two other nominees were behind-the-scenes looks at popular TV shows: “Hack into Broad City” and “UnREAL The Auditions.”
In the short form nonfiction or reality series, another marketing series won, FX’s “Inside Look: The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.”
That wasn’t quite what...
- 6/27/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
The broadcast networks have nearly 20 shows debuting this fall, including David Boreanaz’s Seal drama, the adventures of Fox’s Gifted mutants and The CW’s soapy new Dynasty. To help you prep for it all, TVLine is offering First Impressions of the not-for-review pilots.
Next up on our list….
The Show | ABC’s The Mayor (Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c, premiere date Tba)
The Competition | NBC’s This Is Us, CBS’ Bull, Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow
Related Read First Impressions of ABC’s The Good Doctor, CBS’ Young Sheldon and The CW...
Next up on our list….
The Show | ABC’s The Mayor (Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c, premiere date Tba)
The Competition | NBC’s This Is Us, CBS’ Bull, Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow
Related Read First Impressions of ABC’s The Good Doctor, CBS’ Young Sheldon and The CW...
- 6/11/2017
- TVLine.com
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