AWARDS HEADLINES
Awards 2016: Nominations Announced for Russia’s Oscar aka the Golden Eagle
Russia’s Academy for cinematic arts and sciences has announced the nominees for the Golden Eagle, the local equivalent to the Oscars. The winners will be announced at Moscow’s Mosfilm studio on January 29, 2016. (THR)
OTHER HEADLINES
Box Office: ‘Star Wars’ Sets Record for Fastest Film to Hit $1 Billion Globally
Star Wars: The Force Awakens once again hit high-water marks over the holidays, racking up $153.5 million domestically. That represents both the biggest Christmas holiday result and the best second weekend for a film. (VAR)
2015 Was a Record Year for Box Office, But at What Cost?
For the first time in history, the domestic box office will hit $11 billion, but that hefty number was achieved on the back of a small collection of pictures. (VAR)
Tupac Biopic Finally Finds its Lead in Newcomer Demetrius Shipp Jr.
Newcomer Demetrius Shipp, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Shakur, is joined by an unexpected costar, as Jamal Woolard has been cast as Christopher Wallace, AKA The Notorious B.I.G. Woolard notably made his own screen debut playing B.I.G. in the 2009 biopic Notorious. (DL)
Oscar-Winning Cinematographer Haskell Wexler Dies At Age 93
Haskell Wexler, one of Hollywood’s most famous and honored cinematographers and one whose innovative approach helped him win Oscars for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and the Woody Guthrie biopic Bound for Glory, died Sunday. He was 93. (NPR)
‘Vikings’ Get Plundered in the 2015 List of the Most Pirated Shows
HBO’s Game of Thrones once again topped TorrentFreak’s year-end list of the most pirated TV shows, but check out what other shows made the list here. (THR)
‘Star Wars’ Land Already Overtaking Disneyland as Theme Park Shuts Down Attractions
Disneyland is making room for its previously announced Star Wars lands — revamping 14 acres out of the Anaheim park’s 85 acres. Next month the Walt Disney Co.’s signature theme park will be closing 10 attractions or eateries, only some of which will return. (DL)
HBO Now and Workflow Among Those on Apple’s List of the Top Apps of the Year
Want no-fee stock trading, a better way to skip time-wasting tasks, an app to watch your favorite HBO shows, or one to find the optimal time to fly? Check out this hot list of the top iPhone apps of 2015. (BI)
Trailer Buzz: Santa Gives the Internet a New ‘Deadpool’ Trailer
As the trailer suggests, this won’t be your typical superhero movie. Fox will release Deadpool in theaters on February 12, just in time for Valentine’s Day. (TI)
Screenwriters: ‘The Wrestler’s’ Journey from Script to Screen
Inside The Wrestler’s journey with screenwriter Robert Siegel who previously ran one of America’s most successful comedy publications. He struggled for years to become a comedy writer, only to discover he was meant to do something else entirely. (SM)