AWARDS HEADLINES
Awards 2016: SAG Nominated Actor Michael Shannon Discusses ‘99 Homes’ & Its No-Holds-Barred Look into the Housing Crisis
The Screen Actors Guild award winner took home two actor statues in 2011 and 2010 for best performance by an ensemble in a drama series for his HBO series Boardwalk Empire. On Saturday, he will be in contention once more, this time for best supporting actor thanks to his performance as a real estate shark in the heralded indie. (SSN)
The Foreign Film Race: Rookies Crack Race For the Big Prize
The Academy has, by accident or design, carved a culturally richer group from the relatively homogeneous shortlist that preceded it. Furthermore, Mustang’s Turkish-French writer-director Deniz Gamze Erguven stands with What Happened, Miss Simone? docmaker Liz Garbus as the only female feature directors nominated in this year’s typically testosterone-dominated Oscar slate. (IC)
#OscarsSoWhite: Academy Chiefs Reveal Behind-the-Scenes Drama That Led to Historic Change
The day after a history-making announcement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences about diversifying its membership, the 88-year-old organization’s leaders were in a palpably good mood at their Beverly Hills offices. On January 14th, the names of 20 acting nominees, all of whom were white, would elicit year two of #OscarsSoWhite outrage. “The sequel is always bigger,” says Academy CEO Dawn Hudson now, ruefully. She’s right. (HRA)
OTHER HEADLINES
Film & TV Deals for 1/27/16: Pinewood Television Launches, CBS Increases Global Reach, ‘Suits’ Creator Aaron Korsh Signs with Universal Cable
Lots of other things going on this week, as well, including an Oscar-nominated producer signing a multi-year first-look deal with CBS TV Studios, a new acquisition for Endemol Shine UK, and a relaunch for Relativity TV. Click on the link to get all the info. (SSN)
Rep Moves for 1/27/16: CAA Scoops up Zoe Saldana, UTA Snags Two Sundance Filmmakers, WME Signs Reality Powerhouse Talpa Media
A very active week in Hollywoodland, as a pair of big social media stars, writer-director-cartoonist Aaron MacGruder and a host of others all find themselves with new reps. For the full skinny, head on over to SSN Insider and see it all. (SSN)
Sundance News: A Big Day For Hulu as It Nabs ‘Weiner,’ ‘King Georges’ in Broad Documentary Output Deal with IFC Films
Online streaming service has set an output pact with IFC that will give it early SVOD access to a range of documentary films including Sundance title Weiner, from the IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight banners. The IFC pact marks the first time Hulu has cut a deal for access to film titles following the theatrical and rental VOD windows. (VAR)
When Sony Releases Its ‘Spider-Man’ Reboot In 2017, Prepare For an IMAX Experience
Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have struck a deal for a worldwide IMAX release in theaters when the film arrives in the summer of 2017. IMAX made the announcement today with the two studios. Not much is known about the new version other than the fact that it will be directed by Cop Car helmer Jon Watts with Tom Holland playing the teenage version of the superhero. (SF)
CBS Finds the Star Of Its Summer Drama Series, ‘American Gothic’
The straight-to-series drama has enlisted Virginia Madsen to co-star alongside Justin Chatwin, Megan Ketch, Antony Starr, Juliet Rylance, Stephanie Leonidas and Gabriel Bateman. Matt Shakman will direct the pilot. Show centers on a prominent Boston family attempting to redefine itself in the wake of a chilling discovery that links their recently deceased patriarch to a decades-spanning string of murders, and the mounting suspicion that one was his accomplice. (LF)
Rebecca Hall & ‘Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens To Star In ‘Permission’
British pair is starring in the new romantic comedy, which is being shot in New York by writer-director Brian Crano. In the film, the duo will portray a couple who decide to sleep with other people for the sake of their relationship. The film also stars Gina Gershon, Francois Arnaud, Morgan Spector, Bridget Everett, David Joseph Craig, Sarah Steele and Jason Sudeikis. (DH)
Elisabeth Moss Confirms Her Return For ‘Top Of The Lake’ Season 2; Filming Begins This Year
Last summer, there was no shortage of excitement when news broke in the Australian trades that Jane Campion’s drama series was not only getting a second season with the director co-helming again, but that Elisabeth Moss would be returning too. Now, in Sundance to promote her movieThe Free World, she has confirmed that the show is going back in front of the cameras this summer. (VF)