AWARDS HEADLINES
Awards 2016: It’s History — How ‘The Revenant’s’ Filmmaking Team Showed You the Frontier Like No One Ever Has
In case you ever wondered what it was like to be on the American Frontier in the first quarter of the 19th century, amidst the fur traders and trappers, Native Americans, the untapped forestry and pristine wilderness, the bustling wildlife … all of it, then there is finally a movie for you. (SSN)
Awards 2016: ‘Spotlight,’ ‘Room’ & ‘Suffragette’ Production Designers Work Within Confines Of Time & Space
While this Oscar season has been ripe with standout above-the-line performances, some of the most outstanding and overlooked work is coming from this year’s production designers. Spotlight‘s Stephen H. Carter was faced with creating an authentic newsroom environment. Room’s Ethan Tobman dealt with the challenges of creating and shooting within a 10-by-10-foot box. And Suffragette’s Alice Normington recreated Edwardian London. (AL)
OTHER HEADLINES
Film & TV Deals for 12/23/15: Weinstein Company Launches TV Unit with American Media, Vin Diesel Inks Overall Deal with Universal TV
Things are winding down, for sure, but there is still a little bit of action. There’s also a purchase approval by the FCC, a new deal between Sony TV and the Dish Network, and a new long-term affiliation agreement for The CW. Click on the link to read on. (SSN)
Rep Moves For 12/23/15: Sly Stallone Signs with New Manager, ‘Maleficent’ Director Robert Stromberg Inks with WME, ICM Nabs Black List Screenwriters
A surprisingly active week before Christmas, as several artists find new representation in Hollywoodland. Rather than tell you more, we’ll instead direct you to click the link to get the full skinny. (SSN)
In What Should Be a Surprise To No One, ’Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Breaks Two More Records
After dominating the opening weekend box office with $238 doemstic and $529 million global, the film continues its box office domination. As announced today, the movie has surpassed $300 million at the North American box office in record time, a scant five days. Also, by scoring $37.3 million yesterday, it broke the Tuesday record of $35 million by The Amazing Spider-Man. (COL)
‘Concussion’ Studio Sony Offers Free Admission to NFL Players and Team Owners
With the film already a topic of national conversation among NFL fans and commentators, Sony Pictures is offering NFL players and their families free admission to the movie during the duration of the film’s run, which begins Friday. The studio has already engaged many current and former NFL players, holding private screenings in each team’s city in advance of its opening. (CS)
Sony’s Animated Spider-Man Movie Shifts Release Date To December 2018
Sony’s animated Spider-Man movie being directed by The Lego Movie‘s Phil Lord and Christopher Miller has been shifted from July 20th, 2018 to December 21st, 2018. The push comes after the studio earlier this year unveiled its Spider-Man reboot plan with Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal steering the ship of its $4 billion live-action franchise. (DH)
Netflix Docudrama ‘Narcos’ Changes Showrunners Yet Again
There’s yet another change at the top of the Golden Globe-nominated drama, which is making its third showrunner change. Gone is Adam Fierro, and in are Jose Padilha and Eric Newman. This marks the third showrunner change overall for the drug cartel drama revolving around crime lord Pablo Escobar. Chris Brancato, who oversaw the first season of the drama, exited ahead of the series debut. (LF)
J.J. Abrams Reportedly Already Regrets Not Signing On To Direct ‘Episode VIII’
The director is evidently already having second thoughts about his decision to step out of the director’s chair for the next Star Wars film, after reading the script by that movie’s director, Rian Johnson. Abrams’ lifelong friend Greg Grunberg said in an interview that he has never heard the director express regret in such great capacity. (VAR)
Trailer Buzz: ‘Desierto’
STX Entertainment has released the first look at the upcoming thriller, starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Gael Garcia Bernal. Marking the directorial debut of Jonás Cuarón, the movie hits theaters on March 4th, 2016. (SF)