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Showing posts from December, 2020

Samuel Little, Nation’s Most Prolific Serial Killer And Subject Of Netflix Doc, Dies In Prison At Age 80

Samuel Little, whom the FBI  says was the most prolific serial killer in US history, died in prison Wednesday at age 80. Little, who was finally caught after being convicted of the deaths of three Los Angeles women in the late 1980s, was serving three consecutive life-without-parole sentences, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/383TXEZ

Bitcoin Approaching $30k As Crypto Market Booms Heading Into 2021

As the year draws to a close, not only is the US stock market approaching record highs, but a touted alternative to the existing financial system is also booming. Bitcoin is now trading over $29,000 per single coin, up more than 24% in the last seven days alone. It’s blown past its previous high of […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/2KQmbu0

‘The Goldbergs’ & ‘Atypical’ Production Return Pushed By A Week Amid Covid-19 Surge In LA County

Sony Pictures Television is the latest TV studio to extend the holiday production hiatus of its Los Angeles-based series amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus infections and Covid-19 deaths in LA County. Production on the studio’s ABC comedy series The Goldbergs and Netflix’s Atypical, which was scheduled to resume next week, week of Jan. 4, […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/383CsVp

Danny Masterson Civil Cases Must Go Through Mediation With Church Of Scientology, Judge Rules

A judge has ruled that stalking and intimidation cases brought by four women against actor Danny Masterson must be mediated by the Church of Scientology. On Wednesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Steven Kleifield ruled that the civil complaints must be settled by the Church of Scientology in “religious arbitration” because an arbitration agreement […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/34W3OdW

‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Clicks Past $100M WW

The Patty Jenkins-directed DC sequel has grossed more than $100M worldwide according to Warner Bros. Wonder Woman 1984 opened to $16.7M domestic last weekend in the U.S. and Canada where 60% of 5,5k theaters are shutdown. The film is also available on the studio’s streaming service HBO Max which is only available stateside, but will expand […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3o6j13B

‘Grey’s Anatomy, ‘This Is Us’, ‘The Orville’, ‘911’, ‘LMS’ & ‘AHS’ Among 16 Disney TV Studios LA Series To Extend Hiatus Amid Covid-19 Surge

Disney Television Studios has joined other major TV studios in pushing the post-holidays start of production for Los Angeles-based shows amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus infections and Covid-19 deaths in Los Angeles County. Sixteen scripted series produced by Disney TV Studios’ ABC Signature and 20th Television divisions will remain on holiday hiatus until Jan. […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3pCJupV

MF DOOM Dies: Respected Rapper And Producer Who Performed Under Several Names Was 49

Rapper Daniel Dumile, who performed under the name MF DOOM and several other pseudonyms, died October 31, according to his family. No cause of death was given, but his representatives confirmed the passing. His wife Jasmine posted the news on Instagram. “To Dumile,” Jasmine began. “The greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/2LbaTjW

Showbiz Stocks In 2020: Tech Tops, Cinema Flops Amid Covid Crash & Streaming Dash

A word for stocks in 2020: epic — as in monumental, as a bona fide crash in the spring alternated thereafter with convulsions of angst and optimism reflecting a world turned upside down by the first global pandemic in a century. Major indexes from the Dow Jones to the Nasdaq, S&P 500 and Russell 3000 […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3pRoThV

‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’, ‘Good Girls’ & ‘Never Have I Ever’ Among Universal TV Series Delaying Production Return Amid Covid-19 Surge In Los Angeles

Universal Television has joined CBS Studios and Warner Bros. TV in pushing the return to production after the current holiday hiatus for shows based in Los Angeles that had been scheduled to resume filming this coming week, the week of Jan. 4.. The NBCU studio is extending the holiday hiatus of NBC comedies Brooklyn Nine-Nine, […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/38O8svL

‘We Can Be Heroes’ Featurette: How Robert Rodriguez Created the Visual Effects in His Kid Superhero Film

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Say what you will about the films of Robert Rodriguez , which have varied in quality pretty drastically since El Mariachi put him on the map in the early 1990s, but the guy obviously has a boundless passion for making movies. He also has a passion for pulling back the curtain to reveal the process of filmmaking, which results in the experience being demystified and younger generations being presented with practical knowledge they may not have been able to easily access otherwise. Netflix recently released a new Robert Rodriguez superhero film called We Can Be Heroes that’s aimed squarely at children, and the streamer has since released a featurette with the director describing how the visual effects were accomplished. Behind the scenes featurettes are commonplace, but this one’s different – it isn’t explicitly stated in the video, but this one seems specifically designed so kids can learn some of the secrets about how filmmaking works. We Can Be Heroes Featurette Most making-of

Hiatus For ‘Mom’, ‘Shameless’, ‘You’, ‘All American’ & Other Los Angeles-Based Shows Extended by Warner Bros. TV Amid Covid-19 Surge

Warner Bros. Television has become the second major TV studios to push the production return date for the series that had been slated to resume filming in Los Angeles next week. It joins CBS Studios, with other studios and streamers expected to follow. All American, Bob ❤️ Abishola, B Positive, Call Me Kat, Mom, Shameless, […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3aYusH2

Deadline Launching New Spinoff Contenders Events In 2021 Devoted To Documentary And International Films

Following the continuing success of its long-running Contenders events during Oscar and Emmy seasons, Deadline is making new additions to the franchise with Contenders Documentary, focusing on the year’s most noteworthy non-fiction films, and Contenders International, with its eye on a great lineup of foreign-language entries. Both of these events, designed to put the spotlight […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3hyx67v

Deadline’s Disruptors To Remember In A Year To Forget – A Photo Gallery

If 2020 began with promise, all that changed as every industry tradition we took for granted was stripped away without warning. The pandemic has seen nearly 20 million positive cases in the U.S. alone, and soon 350,000 will be dead. Every facet of entertainment was impacted: live theaters and movie theaters closed, production in TV […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3o61jgP

Gemma Arterton Says “There Was So Much Wrong” With ‘Quantum Of Solace’ Character, Bond Women

Black Narcissus and How to Build a Girl actress Gemma Arterton has spoken out about her time as a Bond girl in Quantum of Solace.  In a recent interview with the Sun, Arterton both defended and criticized her role as the 2008 Bond film’s Strawberry Fields. In Quantum of Solace, British Secret Service agent Strawberry […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3rL0Keo

David Attenborough Says 2021 Is “Crucial Moment” In Climate Crisis During New Year Message

Sir David Attenborough will reflect on the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and earmark 2021 as a crucial moment in the climate crisis battle during a specially-recorded New Year message. In an address on BBC One, the acclaimed naturalist will say that 2020 has been a difficult year — both for the planet and himself […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/2KU3ANJ

Hollywood & Entertainment Industry Deaths In 2020 – Photo Gallery

As we finally turn the calendar on the Cruelest Year, let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the memorable people we lost from the world of entertainment. Click through the photo gallery above. Among those who passed during 2020 were big-screen Hollywood legends from Kirk Douglas and Olivia de Havilland to Sean Connery […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/381rOOD

Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Movie Casts Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Blues Guitar Legend B.B. King

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Kelvin Harrison Jr. , who recently played Black Panther activist Fred Hampton in Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 , will soon play another larger than life figure in a new movie. Harrison has been cast as blues icon B.B. King in Australian filmmaker  Baz Luhrmann ‘s movie about Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. Get the details below. Hey, remember Baz Luhrmann? He’s only directed three feature films in the past twenty years (and one big Netflix show that’s since been canceled), so I suppose some of you might have put him on the back burner. Anyway, the Australian auteur is making a comeback with an Elvis movie starring  Austin Butler , the guy who played the Charles Manson acolyte Tex in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood . Tom Hanks is on board too, playing Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s longtime manager who discovered the performer before he became “The King” and stuck with him throughout his entire career (although he was later found to have managed Elvis’s career in un

‘His House’ Delivers the Biggest Scare of the Year – While Also Servicing Its Story

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(Welcome to  Scariest Scene Ever , a column dedicated to the most pulse-pounding moments in horror. In this edition: His House uses misdirection and unpredictability to create the year’s biggest scare .) Remi Weekes’s feature debut uses horror to explore the anxieties, indignities, and trauma of the immigrant experience through a Sudanese couple’s lens. Weekes doesn’t hold back on the scares in this Netflix release. His House offers up one of the year’s most terrifying films, with the scares given just as much attention as the story. Rendering an already vulnerable couple even more so at the hands of a nightmarish figure that arrives each night to torment them, His House offers a unique, often heart wrenching twist on the haunted house format.  The filmmaker’s ability to elicit tears and send shivers down your spine is remarkable, and never is the latter as evident as it is in the film’s most unnerving moment. Through atmosphere and misdirection, one night of emotional intensi

‘Ted Lasso’ Provided the Warmest, Kindest Escape From the Horrors of 2020

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Throw a virtual rock, and you’ll find someone acknowledging that 2020 has been a particularly awful year. From the extreme intensity of the neverending American presidential election to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 has been a roller-coaster whose riders are people who never agreed to ride a roller-coaster to begin with. For anyone with enough streaming options over the last year, it’s been easier than ever to binge plenty of dark dramas, epic films, and more. But because 2020 has been so miserable, you may have wanted a pop-culture option that would serve as a balm against the horrors. You may wish for an escape from the world. May I introduce you to Ted Lasso ? This Apple TV+ comedy feels like an ultra-charged combination of the unlikeliest of sources. First, the show is based on a character who appeared in NBC Sports interstitials for the Premier League a few years ago, and said character could easily present himself as a stereotypical Ugly American in the premise. Te

‘Shadow In the Cloud’ Flies Into Theaters For The New Year, ‘Sing Me A Song’ Debuts – Specialty Preview

The specialty box office and streaming space is ringing in 2021 with a peppering of new titles starting with Shadow in the Cloud starring Chloë Grace Moretz, which opens in select theaters and drops on VOD and digital starting January 1, 2021. Directed by Roseanne Liang who co-wrote the script with Max Landis, Shadow in the […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/2LdAAA7

The British Invasion: Eight Rising TV Scribes To Watch Out For In 2021

If 2020 has been a year to forget for producers, it’s been a year of opportunity for some writers. In the darkest depths of lockdown, when cameras had stopped rolling and an industry had largely downed tools, there was a rush of activity at the keyboard. With time to think and create, development has been […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3aXoia8

The Quarantine Stream: ‘Check It Out with Dr. Steve Brule’ Is John C. Reilly at His Goofiest and Most Fascinating

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(Welcome to  The Quarantine Stream , a new series where the /Film team shares what they’ve been watching while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.) The Series : Check It Out with Dr. Steve Brule Where You Can Stream It : HBO Max The Pitch : Oscar-nominated actor John C. Reilly stars in the 1980-style public access television series Check It Out with Dr. Steve Brule , a spin-off from a segment that originated in a sketch from the Adult Swim series Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! . Armed with unfathomable naivete and social awkwardness, Dr. Steve Brule interviews real people and visits real places to bring you interesting stories and facts about food, boats, friendship, space, animals, eggs, and more. Why It’s Essential Viewing : If you’ve seen Step Brothers , Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby , or Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story , then you know that John C. Reilly is a gifted comedic actor. But if you’ve also seen Boogie Nights , Magnolia , or Gangs of Ne

Ten Storylines That Will Dominate The International Film Biz In 2021, From Covid To Brexit And Animation To India

Here’s our rundown of the 10 storylines set to dominate the international film business in 2021. Covid, of course What a difference a year makes. The pandemic that pretty much no one foresaw has re-shaped the entire world, including the entertainment business. 2021 will give us a better idea of which aspects of that re-shaping […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3pxQ80s

Joe Biden’s Inaugural To Feature Nationwide Tribute To Covid-19 Victims

Joe Biden’s plans for his inauguration include a memorial to remember victims of Covid-19, including a lighting around the reflecting pool on the east side of the Lincoln Memorial. The event will take place at 5:30 PM ET on January 19, the evening before Biden is sworn in, and his Presidential Inaugural Committee is inviting […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/2MhDPHj

VOTD: Sleepy Skunk’s 2020 Movie Trailer Mash-Up Makes the Best of This Movie-Deprived Year

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It’s no secret that this year has been a nightmare all around. Any excitement we had to see movies in theaters was squashed by the end of March, and with the exception of Tenet and Wonder Woman 1984 , all the other blockbusters were pushed to next year. But even so, the reliable Sleepy Skunk delivered his 2020 Movie Trailer Mash-Up , and he certainly made the best out of what we’ve been given. It’s even rather uplifting and hopeful as we head into 2021. 2020 Movie Trailer Mash-Up Though there are far fewer movies in the 2020 Movie Trailer Mash-Up than previous iterations of the annual video, Sleepy Skunk still perfectly meshed all these movies together to create a cohesive representation of cinema this year. From Sonic the Hedgehog to Nomadland , and Wonder Woman 1984 to Mank , this was an eclectic year for movies. There are probably plenty of titles you don’t recognize above that were able to sine more brightly than they might have in a more crowded year. If you’d like to know

Paul Heller Dies: ‘Withnail & I’ Producer & BAFTA Los Angeles Board Member Was 93

Paul Heller, the American film producer known for his work on UK classic Withnail & I, the Oscar-winning My Left Foot and the Bruce Lee-starring Enter The Dragon, has died at the age of 93. BAFTA confirmed he had passed away and offered condolences to his family. He had been a BAFTA Los Angeles Board […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/382cul5

The Morning Watch: A Disco ‘Star Wars’ Christmas Light Display, ‘Cobra Kai’ Recap Before Season 3 & More

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The Morning Watch is a recurring feature that highlights a handful of noteworthy videos from around the web. They could be video essays, fanmade productions, featurettes, short films, hilarious sketches, or just anything that has to do with our favorite movies and TV shows. In this edition, we don’t care if Christmas is over, because it’s 2020 and we still need some holiday cheer in the form of an impressive disco-style Star Wars Christmas light display. Plus, listen to the Cobra Kai cast recap the first two seasons of the show before the third season arrives this weekend. And finally, find out how Star Trek: Discovery is using the latest in 3D-printed design for the shows costume design and accessories. First up, Star Wars fan Andy Harbeck of Harbeck Lights created this synchronized Star Wars Christmas lights show featuring pixel animations of lightsaber battles, the Millennium Falcon, and even a special appearance by The Child (via Nerdist ). It all unfolds with the excit

‘Star Wars’ & ‘Archer’ Voice Artist Tom Kane Suffers Stroke, Leaves Him Largely Unable To Speak

Celebrated voice artist Tom Kane, whose diverse work ranges from Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi and The Clone Wars to the Halloween franchise, Archer and The Powerpuff Girls, had a stroke in November that has left him largely unable to speak, his daughter has revealed. Posting on Tom Kane’s Facebook page, his […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3aVFe0x

James Corden Says Covid Has Intensified His Homesickness, As He Drops Biggest Hint Yet About UK Return

James Corden has said that the coronavirus pandemic has made him more homesick than ever, as he went further than he has done before in discussing the idea of returning to the UK. The Late Late Show With James Corden host has often talked about missing home in interviews, but in comments this week, the […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/2JxPSPP

UK Comedian John Bishop Shares Christmas Day Covid Diagnosis: “This Is The Worst Illness I Have Ever Had”

John Bishop, the UK comedian and TV personality, says he and his wife have tested positive for Covid-19 and have been “flattened by the virus”. In a Twitter post, Bishop revealed the couple had received their positive diagnosis on Christmas Day and that he had been experiencing strong symptoms, despite being fit and a non-smoker. […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3hxBYcV

How To Watch The Ball Drop On New Year’s Eve Online & On TV

Times Square in New York will be closed to the public Thursday night for New Year’s Eve celebrations, the first time there won’t be a crowd at the iconic locale on December 31 since the first ball drop in 1907 (the first celebration at One Times Square in Manhattan was in 1904). But in a […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3n2v0xU

‘1917’ Cinematographer Roger Deakins Knighted As Queen Honors Behind The Scenes Talent

Roger Deakins, the Oscar-winning 1917 cinematographer, has been knighted in the Queen’s New Year Honors list as the British monarch celebrated the careers of behind the scenes talent in the film and TV industry. Deakins was honored for his services to film, marking a glittering career in which he has won two Oscars and five […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/38N60Wq

Dawn Wells Remembered By Fellow ‘Gilligan’s Island’ Castmate Tina Louise

Actress Tina Louise, forever linked to her fellow Gilligan’s Island castmate Dawn Wells, remembered her today as “a very wonderful person.” Wells died today of complications from Covid-19 at age 82. Louise has kept a low profile regarding Gilligan’s Island over the years, declining to appear in the any of the revivals or reboots or […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3o2BDla

L.A. Mayor Garcetti Says Police, Public Health Officials Will Be Enforcing Covid-19 Rules At Christian Singer’s “Super-Spreader” Concerts

Amid an avalanche of awful Covid-19 news on Wednesday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a renewed focus on preventing gatherings ahead of New Year’s Eve. “Nobody should be gathering in a big party and nobody should be gathering in a small party, as well,” said the mayor. “Do NOT get together with others on […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3o4cuq3

Superhero Bits: Spider-Man Gets a New Suit in 2021, A Hilarious ‘Detective Chimp’ Movie Pitch & More

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What is this new suit that Spider-Man is getting in Marvel Comics next year? What’s the latest from Ray Fisher on the Justice League controversy? What other superheroes would Patty Jenkins be interested in tackling? Want to hear a hilarious pitch for a Detective Chimp movie? Who would James Gunn want to put in a DC/Marvel crossover project? Want to see some leaked images of LEGO sets for Marvel’s Eternals ? All that and more in this edition of Superhero Bits . Justice League co-star Ray Fisher won’t work on any project from DC Films boss man Walter Hamada . Actress Kelly Hu talked about capturing the quiet confidence  Lady Shiva in Batman: Soul of the Dragon . Oh I think I was away from twitter when the suit I designed for the Spider-Man game got released on PS4, so here's my design sheet pic.twitter.com/sMFvy8xvIz — Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) December 28, 2020 Spider-Man PS4 video game artist Jamie McKelvie shared her early concept designs for one of the ne

Sheila Hancock, Lewis Hamilton, Lesley Manville, Nina Wadia Among New Year’s Honorees In Annual UK List

Deserving Britons across the UK have been named to the annual New-Year Honours list, published today as part of the British honors system. New Year’s Day annually sees the naming of new members of orders of chivalry and recipients of other official honors. The awards are presented by or in the name of the reigning […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/3n3Un2l

Judge Denies WME’s Request For Preliminary Injunction To End WGA Boycott; Major Legal Victory For Guild

A federal judge has denied WME’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have ended the WGA’s boycott of the agency until the antitrust case can go to trial. It’s a major legal victory for the guild, and should add pressure on WME to settle the long-running dispute and sign the WGA’s franchise agreement, as […] from Deadline https://ift.tt/2KHRRSq

Warner Bros, Disney, Netflix, and Sony Have Invested in Ava DuVernay’s Diversity Database for Hiring Film Crews

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The film industry’s systemic struggles with hiring non-white actors have been well documented, but director Ava DuVernay knows that what’s in front of the camera is only half the battle. It’s important that attention be paid to diversity efforts on film crews, as well. Through her nonprofit company Array Alliance, DuVernay has created a diversity database that studios like Warner Bros., Disney, Netflix, and Sony have invested in. The aim is to widen the insular circles that form in the production world and letting more women and people of color onto the playing field. The Los Angeles Times spoke with DuVernay and Warner Bros. Television Group chairman Peter Roth , who have teamed up to make this diversity database a reality and grow it into a key resource for studios to utilize when making hiring choices before their productions get underway. “The first two weeks, we had 500 people on a spreadsheet,” DuVernay says. “After a while it was 750 and then 1,000 and then people calling a