AWARDS HEADLINES
‘Star Wars’ Takes Home Top VES Award and Gets Closer to Oscar Win
Star Wars: The Force Awakens topped the feature competition of the 14th annual Visual Effects Society Awards. In nine of the 13 previous years, the winner of the VES Award in the top category went on to win the Oscar in VFX. Here’s the complete winners list. (THR)
OTHER HEADLINES
‘Fast and Furious’ Will Finally Stop at a Red Light with the 10th Film in the Franchise
Universal’s second most successful franchise will indeed be 10-films long. As is customary for the series, the news comes courtesy of star Vin Diesel’s Instagram account. (DL)
Taking Action, Ryan Murphy Launches Foundation to Tackle Hollywood’s Diversity Issues
Half, a foundation within his 20th Century Fox TV-based production company, aims to have 50 percent of all director slots on his shows filled by women, people of color and members of the LGBT community and will begin outreach efforts at colleges to align candidates with mentors. (THR)
CBS Takes the Bull by the Horns and Adds Dr. Phil Drama Along with ‘MacGyver’ Reboot to Slate
CBS is adding two procedurals to its drama pilot slate, giving orders to MacGyver, a reimagining of the 1985 series and Bull, a trial consultant drama based on Dr. Phil McGraw’s early career, from the popular daytime talk show host. (DL)
Micro-Salon Event to Showcase Cutting-Edge Film Equipment and New Tech in Paris
Organized by the French Cinematographer’s Association, the AFC, the two-day Micro-Salon, part of the Paris Images Trade Show, bows Friday Feb. 5. It will showcase cutting-edge filming, sound and lighting equipment from around the world – with 56 exhibitors this year. (VAR)
Great Balls of Fire! CMT Looking for Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash & More for Their New Scripted Drama
CMT is teaming with Hatfields & McCoys producer Thinkfactory Media to adapt the 2010 Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet into an eight-episode limited series for premiere later this year. Here are some casting breakdowns. (WSJ)
Get Your Submissions Ready as Nickelodeon Opens the 2016 Animated Shorts Program
Designed to mine and cultivate a new generation of creative talent, the Animated Shorts Program will accept domestic and international pitches that will be developed into animated shorts for the Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. audiences. (VAR)
Inside the Odd Business of Cult TV Reboots
For networks struggling to hold onto cord-cutters, and streaming upstarts pushing to prove themselves, the ‘90s reboots offer a prize: The viewers who grew up on these shows are now, a few decades later, making the decisions on cable budgets of their own. (WP)
New Nielsen Study Highlights How to Best Match Voters to the Right TV Program
By this time next year, the debates will be over, political ads will be history and local, state and national candidates will be preparing to take the oath of office. But before any candidate can claim victory, they need to reach voters with the right message during the right TV program. (NL)
Screenplay: ‘Walk the Line’
In light of CMT’s casting calls for Johnny Cash, Elvis and more, here’s a 2003 draft for the Oscar and BAFTA award-winning film, Walk the Line. (SB)