AWARDS HEADLINES
Oscars: ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Mad Max’ On Preliminary Visual Effects Shortlist
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has narrowed the visual effects category to 20 films for the 88th Academy Awards — including Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Mad Max: Fury Road. (VAR)
Palm Springs Film Fest: Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender Tapped For Honors
The Danish Girl supporting actress will receive the Rising Star Award and the Steve Jobs lead actor will receive the International Star Award. (THR)
Michael Caine To Recieve Rare EFA Honor
Sir Michael Caine is to be presented with the Honorary Award of the EFA President and Board at the 28th European Film Awards – only the third time the honour as been bestowed in nearly 30 years. (SD)
OTHER HEADLINES
Slamdance Unveils Special Screenings, Beyond, Shorts Programs
Slamdance has announced its Special Screenings, Beyond, and Shorts programs for their 22nd Film Festival. The programs present a variety of filmmakers from all over the world and include 23 World, 13 North American, and 13 U.S. Premieres. (WRAP)
Queen Latifah To Headline ‘Empire’ Co-Creator Lee Daniels’ New Music Drama Pilot
Queen Latifah has scored the leading role in the Empire co-creator’s newest series that follows a trio of young women with big music dreams who form a group. (EW)
WBTV’s Dan Limerick Joins WME As Head Of TV Biz Affairs; Catherine Sugar To Run Global TV BA
Warner Bros TV’s head of business affairs Dan Limerick, who just left the studio will take over WME’s TV business affairs department, replacing Catherine Sugar, who will segue to a new role as Head of Business Affairs, WME Global TV. (DH)
Kim Stanley Robinson’s ‘Red Mars’ Heads To Spike With Full Series Order
Spike is heading into the scripted series game by ordering a full 10-episode season adaptation of Kim Stanley Robinson‘s beloved sci-fi tome Red Mars. Robinson’s novel is the first book in a trilogy of novels about the colonization of the planet by humans. (COLL)
‘The Blacklist’ Renewed For Season 4
NBC has renewed its James Spader-led drama series for a fourth season. (TVL)
Online Film School: Watch a Video Essay On the Importance Of Settings and Locations In Film
A film can take place inside a haunted, centuries-old manse, or on an alien planet, or maybe in a slightly underfurnished Brooklyn apartment… it all matters. In movies, your location can quickly become a character in and of itself. A perfectly chosen setting can highlight or pervert a particular character’s frame of mind — in some cases, it can also provoke a nervous, borderline physical reaction reaction. (TP)