‘The Martian’ Wins Again At the Box Office, but the Bigger Story Is That All the New Films Flop
Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller took the top spot for the fourth of five weekends with $11.4 million, while Goosebumps came in second with $10.2 million, Bridge Of Spies had $8 million for third and Hotel Transylvania 2 was fourth with $5.8 million. Bradley Cooper’s Burnt and Sandra Bullock’s Our Brand Is Crisis both bombed, with the former getting $5 million and the latter just $3.4 million. Meanwhile, Spectre is breaking box office records in the U.K. (BO)
Today In Relativity Bankruptcy News: Judge Approves Debtor in Possession Financing Agreement
After weeks of delays, a U.S. bankruptcy court judge has approved a plan that will allow the studio to continue accessing a $35 million debtor-in-possession loan. The company is trying to hammer out a reorganization plan that will take it out of Chapter 11 protection. Founder Ryan Kavanuagh has cobbled together a group of investors to buy back parts of the company. (VAR)
And In the End, Sanity Wins Out: SXSW Restores Online Gaming Harassment Panels After Public Outcry
After canceling a pair of slated panels on online gaming harassment after a series of “threats of on-site violence,” SXSW has placed the previously rescinded panels back on the schedule. Four days after their cancellation (and the considerable online blowback for the decision), SXSW apologized for sending the message that “SXSW not only tolerates online harassment but condones it.” The festival has announced a day-long online harassment summit. (IW)
‘Straight Outta Compton’ Hit with Defamation Lawsuit by Former N.W.A Manager Jerry Heller
In a $110 million defamation lawsuit filed on Friday against producers and others connected with the hit film, Heller slams it as falsely portraying him as responsible for the break-up of the rap act consisting of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy E and others. Heller says he didn’t take advantage of the artists, didn’t withhold a $75,000 check from Ice Cube, wasn’t enjoying lobster brunches while contracts were being finalized, wasn’t fired by Eazy E and more. (HESQ)
There’s a New ‘Star Trek’ Series Coming To Your TV Screens, Thanks To Alex Kurtzman
Ever since Kurtzman and Bob Orci, key players on the Star Trek feature franchise, moved to CBS TV Studios, there had been talk about them resurrecting the studio’s marquee title. Now the long-gestating new Star Trek TV series is becoming a reality. It will be shepherded by Kurtzman, who will serve as executive producer. CBS Television Studios is the studio. (DH)
The ‘World War Z’ Sequel Just Took a Big Step Forward, as a New Writer Is Hired To Polish the Script
Dennis Kelly, the creator of the beloved UK series Utopia, will take a pen to Knight’s screenplay. In other news about the film, WWZ2 director J.A. Bayona was actually courted to helm the Jurassic World sequel over at Universal. Unfortunately for him, his contract at Paramount wouldn’t allow him to take it on, however in a bid to keep the filmmaker happy, the studio got activity going again on World War Z 2. (TP)
Natalie Portman’s Biopic ‘Jackie’ Just Added Greta Gerwig To Its Cast
Pablo Larrain will direct from a screenplay by Noah Oppenheim, in a film about the immediate days following President Kennedy’s assassination. Jackie catalogs the four days between JFK’s assassination and his burial, showing the beloved Kennedy at both her most vulnerable and her most graceful. Portman is playing Jackie, Peter Sarsgaard is playing Robert Kennedy, and Gerwig will play an aide to Portman’s titular icon. (CS)
Trailer Buzz, Part One: ‘By the Sea’
Universal Pictures has released the new look at the upcoming drama starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and written and directed by Jolie. The movie hits theaters November 13th. (CB)
Trailer Buzz, Part Two: ‘Preacher’
The AMC network released the first trailer from the highly anticipated, and long in development, series based on the DC/Vertigo comic series. Starring Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, and Joseph Gilgun and created by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Sam Catlin, the series will premiere in 2016. (SF)
Screenwriters: Back To the Chalkboard — Notes On Notes
The rules of giving notes apply to workshops, classrooms, writers’ groups, and in most ways to professional meetings. Obviously, when someone is paying you to take notes and deliver a specific vision, some of this must be observed through a different set of shades. (SM)