Awards 2015: Jesse Moss and Chaz Ebert, SSN Picks Movies To Remake With Diverse Casts, Exec Shuffle For 12/19/14, Obama Rebukes Sony

SSN AWARDS ORIGINALS

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Awards 2015: Director Jesse Moss On HIs Doc, ‘The Overnighters’ — “They Dropped Their Guard In Ways You Didn’t Expect”

The director spent 18 months traveling back and forth to North Dakota to film his powerful documentary, and in the process found a completely different movie than the one he envisioned. That movie has now been shortlisted for a potential Oscar nod. (SSN)

Awards 2015: Chaz Ebert Reflects On Documentary ‘Life Itself’ — “Something About This Almost Seems Predestined”

Roger Ebert’s widow discusses the making of the movie, working with director Steve James, the process of creating the film while her husband was dying of cancer, and how she has healed since his death. The film is a frontrunner for an Oscar nod. (SSN)

TODAY’S HEADLINES

As ‘Annie’ Hits Theaters, SSN Picks Some Other Movies To Remake and Invigorate With a Diverse Cast

A myriad of titles have been re-imagined for a completely different audience, with a cast of a totally different color. Not only do we take a look at some of them, we make three suggestions that might just make you think. (SSN)

Exec Shuffle For 12/19/14: Endemol Shine Group Lauched, Campbell McInnes Joins Aspire Entertainment, and More

People change companies, companies merge, and there are other hirings, promotions and acquisitions in this week’s edition. (SSN)

President Rebukes Sony, While CEO Michael Lynton Responds, Says Studio Still Hopes To Release ‘The Interview’

After President Obama said that he thought Sony should not have caved to hacker demands, the studio’s chief shifted blame to theater owners not wanting to showcase the film, and said “it is still our hope that anyone who wants to see this movie will get the opportunity to do so.” (DH)

And Now, the Number Of Class Action Suits Against Sony Has Reached Four

Another complaint has been filed against Sony — after lawsuits on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday — claiming the studio didn’t take adequate precautions to prepare itself for the cyberattack that led to the disclosure of thousands of employees’ private information. (THR)

The Academy Has Shortened the List Of Potential Foreign Language Features to Nine

The official shortlist means that only one of these films, including Ida, Leviathan, Force Majeure, Wild Tales and Timbuktu will be considered to be one of the final five nominees. It also marks the first time that the nation of Mauritania is participating in the event. (SAA)

Kate Winslet Has Become the Latest Name Associated With the ‘Jobs’ Film

The Oscar-winning actress is in talks for the female lead, opposite Michael Fassbender and Seth Rogen, in a film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Aaron Sorkin. Universal is distributing the project, based on Walter Isaacson’s biography. (VAR)

Robert Rodriguez’s Long In the Works Remake Of ‘Fire and Ice’ Is Finally a Go

The live action remake of the ‘80s animated flick will draw from Frank Frazetta’s artwork, adapting the story from the Ralph Bakshi animation. Sony is now the studio behind the project, which Rodriguez will direct. (EMP)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Get Hard’

The first trailer from the upcoming Will Ferrell-Kevin Hart comedy, also starring Alison Brie and T.I., and directed by Etan Cohen, and due in theaters March 27th. (TP)