AWARDS HEADLINES
‘The Hateful Eight’ Earns Respect with a Nomination from the Cinema Audio Society
After being passed over by every guild and industry group so far this season, The Hateful Eight finally caught a break Tuesday with a nomination from the Cinema Audio Society, celebrating excellence in sound mixing. (VAR)
Academy Unveils This Year’s Oscar Theme: “We All Dream in Gold”
With Oscar nominations around the corner on Thursday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled the official theme for the 2016 broadcast. Here’s the new TV spot featuring Morgan Freeman and new posters featuring Lupita Nyong’o, George Clooney and Meryl Streep. (DL)
OTHER HEADLINES
The ‘World War Z’ Sequel is the Biggest Open Directing Assignment in Town Now that Juan Antonio Bayona Has Departed
Bayona’s abrupt exit is being attributed to timing. This immediately becomes one of the biggest Open Directing Assignments in town, maybe the biggest job this side of the Jurassic World sequel. (DL)
History is Made as China’s Wanda Acquires Legendary Entertainment
It’s official- China’s Wanda has acquired Legendary Entertainment for $3.5 billion. The deal marks the first time that a U.S. movie studio known for producing big-budget global tentpoles has come under Chinese ownership. (THR)
It’s 2-for-2 for Lord and Miller as Fox Orders Time-Travel Comedy Pilot
Along with Son of Zorn, Fox is ordering another pilot from Phil Lord and Chris Miller. It’s an untitled single-camera time-travel comedy (formerly In Time) that follows three friends who find a way to travel through time for truth, justice, and riches, which complicates their lives in 2016. (VAR)
Steve Carell Packs His Bags and Sets to Produce and Star in ‘Euro Style’ for Universal
The Big Short’s Steve Carell is set to produce and star in Europe and Other Mistakes aka Euro Style. Said to be Old School set on a backpacking trip across Europe, the Universal comedy will follow a 40-something guy who reunites with his old college friends to take the European vacation that he never had in his youth. (TB)
Stephen David Entertainment Hops to it with New Hugh Hefner Miniseries in the Works
Hugh Hefner and his company, Playboy, are the subject of American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story, a miniseries produced by Stephen David Entertainment and Playboy’s Alta Loma Entertainment. The project, which is currently being shopped to networks, is slated to begin production in 2016. (DL)
The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same: New Study Shows Number of Female Directors Matches 2001 Standings
A new study from the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film shows that women behind the camera made little progress last year. In 2015, women comprised just 19 percent of the filmmakers working behind the screen on the top 250 domestic-grossing movies as directors, writers, producers, editors and cinematographers. (THR)
Execs Can Find Female Directors for their Next Studio Picture at The Miami International Film Festival
The Miami International Film Festival has unveiled a partnership with Google on a seminar series addressing gender and racial gaps in the film industry. The festival, presented by Miami Dade College, opens its 33rd edition on March 4. The only major film festival produced and presented by a college also unveiled 21 female-directed films in its program. (VAR)
Online Film School: 10 Helpful Tips for Making Your Film Stand-Out Through Social Media
As a couple hundred lucky Sundance-bound teams of filmmakers all over the world prepare for one of the most important weeks in the life of their project, many are thinking about how their film will be received online. Since it uses your resources, you’ll want to make sure every bit of effort you’re expending actually sees returns. (IW)