Awards 2015: Richard Linklater and Jason Blum & Helen Estabrook, SSN’s Year-End Industry Poll Part 2, PlayStation and Xbox Live Networks Down

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Awards 2015 Spotlight: Producer Richard Linklater On the Pragmatic Undertaking, No Contracts and Annual Crew Reunions of ‘Boyhood’

The two-time Oscar nominee is, for the first time, a front runner in awards season, thanks to his 12-years-in-the-making masterpiece about nothing more than a boy in Texas growing up. (SSN)

Awards 2015 Spotlight: Producers Jason Blum and Helen Estabrook On Their “Little Engine That Could’ Film, ‘Whiplash’

Amidst a fall and winter movie-going season heavy on true-life stories, a little original indie called Whiplash is still capturing moviegoers nearly three months after its release. (SSN)

TODAY’S HEADLINES

SSN’s 2014 Year-End Industry Poll, Part 2: Jenni Konner, Iñárritu, Will Weaton and Others Pick Surprise Standouts In TV, Film, Books and Music

Among the other luminaries on our list are Mike Medavoy, Sherry Lansing, Lauren Shuler Donner, writer Aaron Guzikowski, and producer Teddy Schwarzman, among others. Check out what the thought was the best of 2014! (SSN)

This Bad Luck, It Feels Like It Never Ends: PlayStation and Xbox Live Networks Continue To Be Disrupted

What appears to be denial-of-service attacks have kept both online networks down, with short exceptions, for the past couple days. Both Sony and Microsoft say they are working on the problem and hope to have it solved for the weekend. (DH)

It Seems Not Everyone Loves ‘Selma,’ After All, Especially If You’re an LBJ Historian

LBJ Library Director Mark Updegrove said the film unfairly casts Johnson as a sort of composite character who represents the obstacles blacks faced in getting civil rights laws passed. What history shows, Updegrove said, is that Johnson and King had a partnership. (BG)

‘Doctor Who’ Fans Can Relax, Now That Jenna Coleman Is Returning For Next Season

Fans had to wait until the end of the Christmas Special before learning whether or not the actress, who plays the Doctor’s assistant, Clara Oswald, for another year. She has been with the show since 2012. (HV)

Not Exactly a Christmas Miracle, But the Timing Is Right: ‘Mockingjay, Part 1’ To Pass $300 Million Mark This Weekend

In what has been a weak year at the box office, the third Hunger Games flick will become only the second 2014 film to surpass the mark, after the year’s champ, Guardians of the Galaxy. Overall, BO was off five percent from 2013. (VAR)

If You Live In Egypt or Morocco, and Really Wanted To See ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings,’ You’re Plum Out Of Luck

According to several Egyptian and Moroccan press outlets, both countries have banned local cinemas from showing Ridley Scott's biblical epic movie because of “historical inaccuracies,” even though the Hollywood blockbuster was due to be released in each today. (SAA)

Trailer Buzz, Part 1: ‘Dragon Blade’

The first look at the period adventure film starring John Cusack, Adrien Brody and Jackie Chan. Flick is about Roman soldiers who are lost in China, and is still looking for U.S. distribution, though it is opening in China in February. (COL)

Trailer Buzz, Part 2: Oscar Promo Edition

The first promo from host Neil Patrick Harris, who will be front and center when the awards are broadcast on ABC, Sunday night, February 22nd. (HP)