AWARDS HEADLINES
Awards 2016: Director Lenny Abrahamson Delves into ‘Room’, The Film That ‘Made Grown Agents Cry’
If there is any lesson to be learned from Lenny Abrahamson, any single kernel of knowledge to be gleaned from his experiences, it might be this: know how to write a proper letter. That is, after all, how he got the attention of the book’s author, Emma Donoghue, and eventually snagged the job. (SSN)
New York Film Critics Circle Announces Its Awards, Makes ‘Carol’ the Year’s Big Winner
While the movie took top honors for Film, Director, Cinematography and Screenplay, Cate Blanchett was beaten out for Best Actress by Brooklyn star Saorise Ronan. Michael Keaton took Best Actor honors, while Kristen Stewart and Mark Rylance were the other big acting winners. Click the link for the full list. (VUL)
With the NYFCC Announcement, Something To Think About: How Critics Awards Can Widen Oscar’s Playing Field
In 2011, the organization had seemingly had enough of lagging behind other groups in the year-end superlatives game. That year, it surprisingly set a November 29 date for voting, leaping ahead of the National Board of Review — a compendium of film enthusiasts, filmmakers and academics that dates back to 1909 — and far out in front of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. That’s where they’ve remained, first to pass judgment on the year in cinema. (IC)
OTHER HEADLINES
Rep Moves for 12/2/15: Simon Cowell Shifts to WME, CAA Snags Oscar Winner Chris Terrio & Digital Star Logan Paul
Despite a short week, some serious action on the representation front. Samantha Morton is also on the list of talented people who found new reps, as well as another digital star aside from Paul. SSN has the full skinny. (SSN)
Film & TV Deals for 12/2/15: FX Signs Stephen Falk, Bethenny Frankel & Leftfield Pair Up, Sander/Moses Inks with NBCUni
Plenty of action on this front over the last few days, as Morgan Spurlock gets in on things, while indie financier and producer Big Beach gets some new digs in Venice, and a new office manager as well. Check it all out here. (SSN)
Disney Doesn’t Mess Around, Has Already Seen Over 2,500 Actors For the Young Han Solo Film
It seems at least that many have met on the project or put themselves on tape, with casting director Jeanne McCarthy running point on finding the man to fill the vest made famous by Harrison Ford. The contenders are being whittled down before Star Wars spinoff directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller hone in on their Han. Dave Franco, Miles Teller, Chandler Riggs, Ansel Elgort and Rami Malek are among those on the list. (HV)
Fox To Adapt Australian Series ‘The Code’ With ‘Justified’ Team Led By Graham Yost
Network has given a script commitment with significant penalty to the political thriller drama from Yost, executive producer/director Michael Dinner and executive producer Fred Golan. Written by Yost and Golan, show is based on the well received Australian series of the same name. It tells the story of two very different brothers, a journalist and a hacker, who unearth information that those at the highest levels of political power will kill to keep secret. (DH)
Bryan Cranston Gets Some Comely Company In His New Film, ‘Wakefield’, as Jennifer Garner Joins the Cast
Robin Swicord wrote the screenplay and is directing the film, based on an E.L. Doctors short story which was in turn a riff on Nathanaiel Hawthorne’s 1837 original. The plot finds Cranston as a married lawyer in New York in the midst of a nervous breakdown after his wife, to be played by Garner, discovers he’s been having an affair. When he spots a raccoon in the attic of his home, he decides to live up in the cramped space for several months. (EMP)
As It Brings Its Triumphant Second Season To a Close, ‘You’re the Worst’ Gets a Third Season From FXX
Despite low ratings, the critical and cult sensation earned enough buzz throughout a brave and superb new season to land another year at FXX. Originally paired with Married on FX, the two shows went their separate ways in Season Two. You’re the Worst moved to FXX and Married remained on FX, where its ratings continued to drop before the series was canceled in late October. (IW)
Trailer Buzz: ‘Girls’
HBO has released the first look at the fifth season of the hit show, created by and starring Lena Dunham. Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, and Zosia Mamet also star in the series, which will return on the pay cable network on Sunday, February 21st, 2016. (SF)