Books are being pulled from the library shelves of an Iowa school district following new legislation from Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, which purports to protect children from obscene material, The Gazette reports.
The new legislation, Senate File 496, prohibits “instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts, charter schools and innovation zone schools in kindergarten through grade six.” It requires that every book available to students be “age appropriate” and free of any “descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act.”
The district used Artificial Intelligence to make...
The new legislation, Senate File 496, prohibits “instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts, charter schools and innovation zone schools in kindergarten through grade six.” It requires that every book available to students be “age appropriate” and free of any “descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act.”
The district used Artificial Intelligence to make...
- 8/14/2023
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis, the screenwriters behind CBS Films’ upcoming Cole Sprouse starrer, Five Feet Apart, have been tapped by the studio to write the screenplay based on the social media sensation Esther the Wonder Pig. Jack Leslie and Lauren Shuler Donner of Donners’ Company, the company that produced the animal rescue films Free Willy and Hotel for Dogs, are producing this project.
The pic will follow the true story of how a couple adopts what they believe is a pigmy pig, also sometimes colloquially referred to as a micro piglet. Esther joins the family at five pounds and then grows to 650 inspiring the local community and millions of online followers in the process.
After adopting Esther, real-life couple, Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter opened the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary, where they could care for Esther and other animals in need. Jenkins and Walter, along with Caprice Crane,...
The pic will follow the true story of how a couple adopts what they believe is a pigmy pig, also sometimes colloquially referred to as a micro piglet. Esther joins the family at five pounds and then grows to 650 inspiring the local community and millions of online followers in the process.
After adopting Esther, real-life couple, Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter opened the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary, where they could care for Esther and other animals in need. Jenkins and Walter, along with Caprice Crane,...
- 3/1/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
The late 1990s were a goldmine for independent cinema, with financiers and distributors willing to gamble on diverse material in the wake of “Pulp Fiction’s” breakout success earlier that decade. “Smoke Signals,” marketed by Miramax as “the first feature film written, directed, and produced by Native Americans,” was a critical success and crowd favorite from its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998, winning the Filmmaker’s Trophy for director Chris Eyre and the Audience Award there before its theatrical release that summer. Two decades years later, it’s not hard to see why “Smoke Signals” resonated: The movie is filled with humor, heart and genuine affection for its characters, hitting notes of sadness, introspection and well-earned catharsis.
“I get caught up in the emotional process of forgiveness, and I think that’s why the movie resonated and has endured,” Eyre says. “We brought a great sense of magical realism to the story,...
“I get caught up in the emotional process of forgiveness, and I think that’s why the movie resonated and has endured,” Eyre says. “We brought a great sense of magical realism to the story,...
- 9/26/2018
- by Nick Clement
- Variety Film + TV
In 2017, Hugh Jackman will unsheathe those iconic claws one last time for Logan, James Mangold’s sequel that will bring the curtain down on Wolverine’s saga once and for all – providing Fox doesn’t recast the part further down the line, of course.
Not one to rest on his laurels, the Aussie actor is already filming P.T. Barnum biopic The Greatest Showman, while The Hollywood Reporter now reveals that Jackman has agreed terms to join The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian, an adaptation of Sherman Alexie’s Ya novel. Details are scant, but word is that Hugh Jackman will occupy a supporting role in the story, while the option of producing is also said to be in the cards.
Either way, the core story follows Junior, an aspiring teenage cartoonist who decides to cut ties with his Spokane Indian Reservation to go to an all-white public school off the reservation,...
Not one to rest on his laurels, the Aussie actor is already filming P.T. Barnum biopic The Greatest Showman, while The Hollywood Reporter now reveals that Jackman has agreed terms to join The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian, an adaptation of Sherman Alexie’s Ya novel. Details are scant, but word is that Hugh Jackman will occupy a supporting role in the story, while the option of producing is also said to be in the cards.
Either way, the core story follows Junior, an aspiring teenage cartoonist who decides to cut ties with his Spokane Indian Reservation to go to an all-white public school off the reservation,...
- 12/2/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Hugh Jackman is taking a little break from comic book adaptations to do a Ya adaptation. With Logan squarely behind him, Jackman has time to work on projects that do not require clanky claws and muttonchops, so now he’s producing an adaptation of Sherman Alexie’s 2007 Ya novel The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian. The novel tells the story of Arnold Spirit Jr., a.k.a. Junior, a 14-year-old cartoonist living on the Spokane Reservation. Frustrated by a lack of opportunities, Junior decides to enroll in an off-reservation school, which turns out to be an all-white high school where the only other Native American is the school mascot.
The book, which includes illustrations by Ellen Forney, is based partially on Alexie’s own experiences growing up on the Spokane Reservation. The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian was Alexie’s debut Ya novel; he also ...
The book, which includes illustrations by Ellen Forney, is based partially on Alexie’s own experiences growing up on the Spokane Reservation. The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian was Alexie’s debut Ya novel; he also ...
- 12/2/2016
- by Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya
- avclub.com
Hugh Jackman will play a supporting role in the adaptation of the YA novel, “Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” an individual with knowledge told TheWrap. Fox 2000 acquired Sherman Alexie’s best-selling novel, following a teen named Junior, a cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. When he decides to change his life, he attends an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school’s mascot. Temple Hill, which worked with Fox 2000 on “The Fault in Our Stars,” will produce alongside Donners’ Company. See Photos: New 'Logan' Images Paint a Bleak Picture for Hugh Jackman Temple.
- 12/1/2016
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Fox 2000 has acquired Sherman Alexie's best-selling Ya book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.
Hugh Jackman, who has a first-look deal at Fox, will play a supporting role in the film as well as serve in some producing capacity.
The story centers on a teen named Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, he leaves his troubled school on the reservation to attend an all-white farming town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
Temple Hill, which has teamed with...
Hugh Jackman, who has a first-look deal at Fox, will play a supporting role in the film as well as serve in some producing capacity.
The story centers on a teen named Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, he leaves his troubled school on the reservation to attend an all-white farming town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
Temple Hill, which has teamed with...
- 12/1/2016
- by Tatiana Siegel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Reason #489 to love podcasts: no expiration date. Even though some shows thrive on being the entertainment du jour, it’s never too late to catch up with the greats. With scores of new feeds popping up on a weekly basis, this summer had plenty of quality hours from established favorites and newcomers alike.
Read More: 10 Must-Listen Podcast Episodes from 2016 So Far
But if you’ve come to the end of your listening queue after the Labor Day weekend festivities, allow us to recommend some of our favorites from the summer months. (Some of our top episode picks from the halfway point of 2016 dropped in the first week of June, so be sure to check there for other recent favorites.) A few of these are podcast mainstays. The others are well on their way.
The Bright Sessions – #24: Zero Hour
Airdate: June 15th
Radio dramas for the podcast age often veer...
Read More: 10 Must-Listen Podcast Episodes from 2016 So Far
But if you’ve come to the end of your listening queue after the Labor Day weekend festivities, allow us to recommend some of our favorites from the summer months. (Some of our top episode picks from the halfway point of 2016 dropped in the first week of June, so be sure to check there for other recent favorites.) A few of these are podcast mainstays. The others are well on their way.
The Bright Sessions – #24: Zero Hour
Airdate: June 15th
Radio dramas for the podcast age often veer...
- 9/7/2016
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
“Introducing the Academy class of 2016,” reads the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences website announcement of its invited new members Wednesday. And while joining that august organization is a singular honor, many say they were surprised to learn of their inclusion — mainly because they hadn’t applied for membership. Traditionally, that’s a laborious process that can take years before you get recommended by peers, vetted by your branch, and finally invited. Every year it’s a shock that someone like, say Tina Fey, IFC’s Arianna Bocco, last year’s Oscar-winner Margaret Sixel (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), or Oscar marketer Lisa Taback, wasn’t already a member.
Read More: Oscars So White: 8 Ways to Solve the Academy’s Diversity Problem
At the heart of the Academy’s complex diversity issue is how much the Oscars reflect the way that the Academy likes to view itself. Believe me, they were horrified when,...
Read More: Oscars So White: 8 Ways to Solve the Academy’s Diversity Problem
At the heart of the Academy’s complex diversity issue is how much the Oscars reflect the way that the Academy likes to view itself. Believe me, they were horrified when,...
- 6/29/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
“Introducing the Academy class of 2016,” reads the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences website announcement of its invited new members Wednesday. And while joining that august organization is a singular honor, many say they were surprised to learn of their inclusion — mainly because they hadn’t applied for membership. Traditionally, that’s a laborious process that can take years before you get recommended by peers, vetted by your branch, and finally invited. Every year it’s a shock that someone like, say Tina Fey, IFC’s Arianna Bocco, last year’s Oscar-winner Margaret Sixel (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), or Oscar marketer Lisa Taback, wasn’t already a member.
Read More: Oscars So White: 8 Ways to Solve the Academy’s Diversity Problem
At the heart of the Academy’s complex diversity issue is how much the Oscars reflect the way that the Academy likes to view itself. Believe me, they were horrified when,...
Read More: Oscars So White: 8 Ways to Solve the Academy’s Diversity Problem
At the heart of the Academy’s complex diversity issue is how much the Oscars reflect the way that the Academy likes to view itself. Believe me, they were horrified when,...
- 6/29/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
[Press Release] Norwalk, Ct - March 11, 2015 - Today, ReedPOP, the leading producer of pop culture events and team behind BookCon, announced that Mindy Kaling, star of the hit Fox series “The Mindy Project,” will take the stage to kick off the second annual BookCon on Saturday, May 30 at 11:00 Am. Joining her is her former co-star and on-screen love from “The Office,” B.J. Novak. Together they join the current BookCon roster of bestselling authors and Hollywood heavyweights including Academy Award winner Julianne Moore, Nick Offerman, John Hodgman, Taye Diggs, Rainbow Rowell, Mamrie Hart, Meg Cabot, Jodi Picoult, Jacqueline Woodson, Sherman Alexie and David Levithan, with more exciting guests to be announced in the coming months. With their excellent on-screen (and now on-stage) rapport...
- 3/12/2015
- by Pietro Filipponi
- The Daily BLAM!
[Press Release] Norwalk, Ct - February 24, 2015 - While NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” may be coming to a close, Nick Offerman - famous for his role as Ron Swanson - will give fans another chance to hear his unique perspective at BookCon. Today BookCon announces that Offerman, along with John Hodgman (Resident Expert at “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”) and a soon to be announced special guest will take the stage on Saturday, May 30, adding to a lineup of power-packed panels showcasing the hottest talent in books and entertainment. They will join the current roster of bestselling authors and Hollywood heavyweights including Taye Diggs, Rainbow Rowell, Mamrie Hart, Meg Cabot, Jodi Picoult, Jacqueline Woodson, Sherman Alexie and David Levithan, with more exciting guests to be announced in...
- 2/25/2015
- by Pietro Filipponi
- The Daily BLAM!
Sundance Institute and The Royal Film Commission - Jordan announced the six projects selected for the 10th anniversary of the Rawi Screenwriters Lab, which took place October 28 to November 1 in Amman, Jordan. Created as a cornerstone of the Institute’s deep commitment to artists in the Middle East, the Lab has supported over seventy artists from more than a dozen countries.
The two first features produced from the inaugural 2005 Lab premiered at the Sundance Film Festival: "Pomegranates and Myrrh," written and directed by Najwa Najjar (Palestine) and "Amreeka," written and directed by Cherien Dabis (Palestine/Jordan/Us). Notable alums of the Lab also include Mohammed Al Daradji ( "Son of Babylon" ) and Sally El Hosaini ( "My Brother The Devil" ).
More recently, 2009 Rawi alumna Haifaa Al Mansour (Saudi Arabia) premiered her first feature "Wadjda" at the 2012 Venice Film Festival. It was soon acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and was distributed to critical and audience acclaim from around the world. "Wadjda" is the first feature film shot entirely in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the first ever by a Saudi female filmmaker.
The 10 th anniversary events in Amman included a panel on the craft of screenwriting led by Al Mansour, a public screening of "Zindeeq"by Lab Advisor Michel Khleifi, and a reception designed to connect local artists with filmmakers from across the region. Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, “Stories told by independent artists, whether working in the U.S. or internationally, provide remarkable windows into other cultures, and deepen understanding. Ten years into our work in the Middle East, we look forward to continuing to give voice to artists in the region.”
Michelle Satter, Founding Director of the Feature Film Program, said, “We deeply value our collaboration with the Royal Film Commission as well as the artists we have supported in the Middle East over the past 10 years. The films that have emerged from the Lab have reflected upon many of the region’s important cultural and political moments over the past decade. I am proud to see the work of these artists enriching the broader culture with unique and impactful stories."
George David, General Manager of the Royal Film Commission, said,“We are proud of what this Lab has accomplished over the past ten years. It is safe to say that Rawi, with the support of the Sundance Institute has become a recognized contributor to the development of Arab feature films. Cinematic works, which were born in Rawi, have been featured in major films festivals and released in cinema screens globally, exposing our Arab culture and heritage to the world.”
Modeled on the Institute’s renowned Us-based Screenwriters Labs, the Rawi Screenwriters Lab provides an opportunity for filmmakers from the Middle East region to develop their work under the guidance of accomplished screenwriters in an environment that encourages storytelling at its highest level. The Lab is led by the Royal Film Commission of Jordan and managed by Deema Azar, in consultation with Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, under the direction of Founding Director Michelle Satter and International Director Paul Federbush.
The Creative Advisors this year included Pavel Jech (This Is Not An American Movie"), Rawi Screenwriting Lab alum Najwa Najjar ("Eyes Of A Thief" , "Pomegranates And Myrrh" ), Hanna Weg ( "Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet" ), Jon Raymond ( "Night Moves," "Wendy and Lucy" ), and Michel Khleifi ( "Zindeeq" ).
The six artists selected for the 2014 Rawi Screenwriters Lab include:
Shake
Writer and Director: Deema Dabis (Jordan)
Free-spirited Kareemah decides to leave her home in Los Angeles to pursue her lifelong dream when she accepts an offer to tour Palestine with an international circus troop. As she struggles to manage her insecurities as a first-time performer, she is continuously shaken up by the complexities of life in Palestine.
Dabis received an Mfa in Cinema from the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts. From a young age she has always been in love with stories and believes fiercely that the power of creation and a new vision will not only bring healing and insight into our world but also has the potential to create alternative narratives and realities. She is working on a number of projects including her first short film The Sri Lankan , which received funding from the Jordan Film Fund.
Baghdad Perfume
Writer and Director: Roua Ahmad (Iraq)
The tale of a middle-class family and their struggles during the darkest period in Iraq between 2004 and 2006. As the occupation becomes more oppressive and water and electricity begin to run out, the family of three tries to stay together through kidnapping, illness, and the increasing danger of staying in Baghdad.
Ahmad was born on 1983 in Iraq. She received a certificate of participation from USC School of Cinematic Art and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Programming. She later got her Mfa in Directing and Editing from The Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts. Filmmaking has been her ambition since the age of 12. After graduation she worked as an editor and screenwriter for a television production company. Her short films include The Last Hour , and have been screened and nominated for awards in 12 film festivals around the world.
Killer of the Selawa
Writer and Director: Islam Azzazi (Egypt)
Co-Writer: Charles Akl (Egypt)
In the tense atmosphere following the revolution in Egypt, a man spends the night in a remote villa on the outskirts of Alexandria, trying to obtain a permit for his father’s weapons. After news spreads of a vicious, mythical beast in the area, the man finds himself caught up in a murderous accident.
Since his Dostoyevski inspired thesis project, Al-Kharaz (Beads) , Azzazi has directed and produced numerous Documentaries and short films. His documentaries include Wujouh Al-Fayoum (Fayoum Portraits) and Dominate Your Eyes. He has also produced and directed the short film Nahar we Leil (Day & Night), 2006. Azzazi has worked at El-Warsha Theatre Company where he coached actors and photographed theatrical productions. In 2007 he established a new production company Wika with three other filmmakers.
Charles Akl works as a writer, director, editor, art critic and photographer. After graduating from the University of Alexandria’s Faculty of Fine Arts in 2006, he has worked in several domains ranging from architecture design to writing and editing for several arts publications, including Magaz. Akl has also worked as the program coordinator at Al Mawred Al Thaqafy.
Tide
Writer and Director: Hussen Ibraheem (Lebanon)
A man and woman struggle in the aftermath of their son’s death. As the tide approaches their coastal home and they make their way by car to a relative’s house in the mountains, they must confront the tension the tragedy has created between them.
Ibraheem is an independent filmmaker, born in Beirut, Lebanon. After getting his BA in Architecture, Ibraheem followed his love for animation working as a freelance storyboard artist and character designer. Ibraheem was granted a scholarship from The Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts where he studied directing and cinematography. His second short film produced at Rsica, Typo, is currently touring 13 film festivals in Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, USA, UK, and Italy.
The Golden Cap Club
Writer and Director: Merva Faddoul (Lebanon)
A young girl comes of age as the organized world of the adults crumbles during the invasion of Kuwait in the early 1990s. Determined to win a trip to Disneyland, she collects bottle caps in an attempt to find the ‘golden cap,’ as her family tries to distract her from the sudden challenges they face.
Faddoul is an award-winning writer and director. She recieved an Mfa in Film Production from the University of Southern California and a BA in Communications from the Lebanese American University. Her short films have won grants from National Geographic and the Doha Film Institute and they have screened at dozens of festivals worldwide including the Cannes Short Film Corner, Human Rights Nights (Italy), Doha-Tribeca Film Festival, and Tricycle Cinema in London. She is a member of the Writers Guild of America and the International Academy of WebTV.
Snow
Writer and Director: Omaima Hamouri (Palestine)
Eight year-old Dina believes that an old family curse is behind the conflict that arises each summer between her parents, and becomes convinced that snow is the only way to solve their problems. With the help of her grandmother, she resolves to delay her parents’ divorce until the first snowfall.
Hamouri was born in 1988 in Jerusalem. She received her bachelor degree in Mass Media from Al-Quds University, followed by an Mfa in Editing and Screenwriting from the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts in Jordan. With a never-ending passion for telling human stories through film, Omaima is now working as an independent filmmaker.
The Sundance Institute Feature Film Program is supported by The Annenberg Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Rt Features, Time Warner Foundation, The Lincoln Motor Company, Red Crown Productions, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Hp, Steve Bing, Jeanne Donovan Fisher, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Microsoft, The Rockefeller Foundation, Nhk Enterprises, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, 3311 Productions, The Ammon Foundation, Firestone / von Winterfeldt Family Fund, Ford Foundation, Philip Fung-A3 Foundation, SAGIndie, Grazka Taylor, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and The Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund.
Sundance Institute Feature Film Program
Since its founding in 1981, the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program (Ffp) has supported an extensive list of ground-breaking independent films. Ffp films making their premieres this year include Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash (winner of the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival), Cutter Hodierne’s Fishing Without Nets (winner of the Directing Prize at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival), and Malik Vitthal’s Imperial Dreams (winner of the Best of Next Audience Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival). Additional notable films supported over the program’s history include Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station , Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox , Haifaa Al Mansour’s Wadjda , Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild , Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene , Dee Rees’ Pariah , Cary Fukunaga's Sin Nombre , Andrea Arnold's Red Road , Miranda July’s Me and You and Everyone We Know , Hany Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now , Josh Marston’s Maria Full of Grace , Peter Sollett’s Raising Victor Vargas , John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch , Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream , Kimberly Peirce’s Boys Don't Cry , Walter Salles’ Central Station , Chris Eyre and Sherman Alexie’s Smoke Signals , Allison Anders' Mi Vida Loca , Paul Thomas Anderson’s Hard Eight , and Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs .
undance.org/featurefilm
Sundance Institute Sundance Institute is a global nonprofit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Through its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, composers and playwrights, the Institute seeks to discover and support independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to connect audiences to their work. The Institute promotes independent storytelling as art and as a compelling and powerful way to inform, inspire and unite people. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute has supported such projects as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Sin Nombre, The Invisible War, The Square, Dirty Wars, Spring Awakening, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and Fun Home. Join Sundance Institute on Facebook , Instagram,Twitter and YouTube.
The two first features produced from the inaugural 2005 Lab premiered at the Sundance Film Festival: "Pomegranates and Myrrh," written and directed by Najwa Najjar (Palestine) and "Amreeka," written and directed by Cherien Dabis (Palestine/Jordan/Us). Notable alums of the Lab also include Mohammed Al Daradji ( "Son of Babylon" ) and Sally El Hosaini ( "My Brother The Devil" ).
More recently, 2009 Rawi alumna Haifaa Al Mansour (Saudi Arabia) premiered her first feature "Wadjda" at the 2012 Venice Film Festival. It was soon acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and was distributed to critical and audience acclaim from around the world. "Wadjda" is the first feature film shot entirely in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the first ever by a Saudi female filmmaker.
The 10 th anniversary events in Amman included a panel on the craft of screenwriting led by Al Mansour, a public screening of "Zindeeq"by Lab Advisor Michel Khleifi, and a reception designed to connect local artists with filmmakers from across the region. Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, “Stories told by independent artists, whether working in the U.S. or internationally, provide remarkable windows into other cultures, and deepen understanding. Ten years into our work in the Middle East, we look forward to continuing to give voice to artists in the region.”
Michelle Satter, Founding Director of the Feature Film Program, said, “We deeply value our collaboration with the Royal Film Commission as well as the artists we have supported in the Middle East over the past 10 years. The films that have emerged from the Lab have reflected upon many of the region’s important cultural and political moments over the past decade. I am proud to see the work of these artists enriching the broader culture with unique and impactful stories."
George David, General Manager of the Royal Film Commission, said,“We are proud of what this Lab has accomplished over the past ten years. It is safe to say that Rawi, with the support of the Sundance Institute has become a recognized contributor to the development of Arab feature films. Cinematic works, which were born in Rawi, have been featured in major films festivals and released in cinema screens globally, exposing our Arab culture and heritage to the world.”
Modeled on the Institute’s renowned Us-based Screenwriters Labs, the Rawi Screenwriters Lab provides an opportunity for filmmakers from the Middle East region to develop their work under the guidance of accomplished screenwriters in an environment that encourages storytelling at its highest level. The Lab is led by the Royal Film Commission of Jordan and managed by Deema Azar, in consultation with Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, under the direction of Founding Director Michelle Satter and International Director Paul Federbush.
The Creative Advisors this year included Pavel Jech (This Is Not An American Movie"), Rawi Screenwriting Lab alum Najwa Najjar ("Eyes Of A Thief" , "Pomegranates And Myrrh" ), Hanna Weg ( "Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet" ), Jon Raymond ( "Night Moves," "Wendy and Lucy" ), and Michel Khleifi ( "Zindeeq" ).
The six artists selected for the 2014 Rawi Screenwriters Lab include:
Shake
Writer and Director: Deema Dabis (Jordan)
Free-spirited Kareemah decides to leave her home in Los Angeles to pursue her lifelong dream when she accepts an offer to tour Palestine with an international circus troop. As she struggles to manage her insecurities as a first-time performer, she is continuously shaken up by the complexities of life in Palestine.
Dabis received an Mfa in Cinema from the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts. From a young age she has always been in love with stories and believes fiercely that the power of creation and a new vision will not only bring healing and insight into our world but also has the potential to create alternative narratives and realities. She is working on a number of projects including her first short film The Sri Lankan , which received funding from the Jordan Film Fund.
Baghdad Perfume
Writer and Director: Roua Ahmad (Iraq)
The tale of a middle-class family and their struggles during the darkest period in Iraq between 2004 and 2006. As the occupation becomes more oppressive and water and electricity begin to run out, the family of three tries to stay together through kidnapping, illness, and the increasing danger of staying in Baghdad.
Ahmad was born on 1983 in Iraq. She received a certificate of participation from USC School of Cinematic Art and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Programming. She later got her Mfa in Directing and Editing from The Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts. Filmmaking has been her ambition since the age of 12. After graduation she worked as an editor and screenwriter for a television production company. Her short films include The Last Hour , and have been screened and nominated for awards in 12 film festivals around the world.
Killer of the Selawa
Writer and Director: Islam Azzazi (Egypt)
Co-Writer: Charles Akl (Egypt)
In the tense atmosphere following the revolution in Egypt, a man spends the night in a remote villa on the outskirts of Alexandria, trying to obtain a permit for his father’s weapons. After news spreads of a vicious, mythical beast in the area, the man finds himself caught up in a murderous accident.
Since his Dostoyevski inspired thesis project, Al-Kharaz (Beads) , Azzazi has directed and produced numerous Documentaries and short films. His documentaries include Wujouh Al-Fayoum (Fayoum Portraits) and Dominate Your Eyes. He has also produced and directed the short film Nahar we Leil (Day & Night), 2006. Azzazi has worked at El-Warsha Theatre Company where he coached actors and photographed theatrical productions. In 2007 he established a new production company Wika with three other filmmakers.
Charles Akl works as a writer, director, editor, art critic and photographer. After graduating from the University of Alexandria’s Faculty of Fine Arts in 2006, he has worked in several domains ranging from architecture design to writing and editing for several arts publications, including Magaz. Akl has also worked as the program coordinator at Al Mawred Al Thaqafy.
Tide
Writer and Director: Hussen Ibraheem (Lebanon)
A man and woman struggle in the aftermath of their son’s death. As the tide approaches their coastal home and they make their way by car to a relative’s house in the mountains, they must confront the tension the tragedy has created between them.
Ibraheem is an independent filmmaker, born in Beirut, Lebanon. After getting his BA in Architecture, Ibraheem followed his love for animation working as a freelance storyboard artist and character designer. Ibraheem was granted a scholarship from The Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts where he studied directing and cinematography. His second short film produced at Rsica, Typo, is currently touring 13 film festivals in Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, USA, UK, and Italy.
The Golden Cap Club
Writer and Director: Merva Faddoul (Lebanon)
A young girl comes of age as the organized world of the adults crumbles during the invasion of Kuwait in the early 1990s. Determined to win a trip to Disneyland, she collects bottle caps in an attempt to find the ‘golden cap,’ as her family tries to distract her from the sudden challenges they face.
Faddoul is an award-winning writer and director. She recieved an Mfa in Film Production from the University of Southern California and a BA in Communications from the Lebanese American University. Her short films have won grants from National Geographic and the Doha Film Institute and they have screened at dozens of festivals worldwide including the Cannes Short Film Corner, Human Rights Nights (Italy), Doha-Tribeca Film Festival, and Tricycle Cinema in London. She is a member of the Writers Guild of America and the International Academy of WebTV.
Snow
Writer and Director: Omaima Hamouri (Palestine)
Eight year-old Dina believes that an old family curse is behind the conflict that arises each summer between her parents, and becomes convinced that snow is the only way to solve their problems. With the help of her grandmother, she resolves to delay her parents’ divorce until the first snowfall.
Hamouri was born in 1988 in Jerusalem. She received her bachelor degree in Mass Media from Al-Quds University, followed by an Mfa in Editing and Screenwriting from the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts in Jordan. With a never-ending passion for telling human stories through film, Omaima is now working as an independent filmmaker.
The Sundance Institute Feature Film Program is supported by The Annenberg Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Rt Features, Time Warner Foundation, The Lincoln Motor Company, Red Crown Productions, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Hp, Steve Bing, Jeanne Donovan Fisher, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Microsoft, The Rockefeller Foundation, Nhk Enterprises, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, 3311 Productions, The Ammon Foundation, Firestone / von Winterfeldt Family Fund, Ford Foundation, Philip Fung-A3 Foundation, SAGIndie, Grazka Taylor, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and The Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund.
Sundance Institute Feature Film Program
Since its founding in 1981, the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program (Ffp) has supported an extensive list of ground-breaking independent films. Ffp films making their premieres this year include Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash (winner of the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival), Cutter Hodierne’s Fishing Without Nets (winner of the Directing Prize at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival), and Malik Vitthal’s Imperial Dreams (winner of the Best of Next Audience Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival). Additional notable films supported over the program’s history include Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station , Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox , Haifaa Al Mansour’s Wadjda , Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild , Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene , Dee Rees’ Pariah , Cary Fukunaga's Sin Nombre , Andrea Arnold's Red Road , Miranda July’s Me and You and Everyone We Know , Hany Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now , Josh Marston’s Maria Full of Grace , Peter Sollett’s Raising Victor Vargas , John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch , Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream , Kimberly Peirce’s Boys Don't Cry , Walter Salles’ Central Station , Chris Eyre and Sherman Alexie’s Smoke Signals , Allison Anders' Mi Vida Loca , Paul Thomas Anderson’s Hard Eight , and Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs .
undance.org/featurefilm
Sundance Institute Sundance Institute is a global nonprofit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Through its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, composers and playwrights, the Institute seeks to discover and support independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to connect audiences to their work. The Institute promotes independent storytelling as art and as a compelling and powerful way to inform, inspire and unite people. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute has supported such projects as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Sin Nombre, The Invisible War, The Square, Dirty Wars, Spring Awakening, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and Fun Home. Join Sundance Institute on Facebook , Instagram,Twitter and YouTube.
- 11/10/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Jeff Smith’s Bone was the 10th most challenged book in 2013 according to a recently released American Booksellers Foundation list. The news comes as Banned Books Week kicks off on Sunday.
Graphic novels will gain the spotlight in this year’s awareness campaign according to Judith Platt, chair of the Banned Books Week National Committee, She said, “This year we spotlight graphic novels because, despite their serious literary merit and popularity as a genre, they are often subject to censorship.”
Smith illustrated the cover to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Banned Books Week Handbook.
10 Most Frequently Challenged Library Books of 2013
1. Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence
2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism,...
Graphic novels will gain the spotlight in this year’s awareness campaign according to Judith Platt, chair of the Banned Books Week National Committee, She said, “This year we spotlight graphic novels because, despite their serious literary merit and popularity as a genre, they are often subject to censorship.”
Smith illustrated the cover to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Banned Books Week Handbook.
10 Most Frequently Challenged Library Books of 2013
1. Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence
2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, racism,...
- 9/17/2014
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
America's late-night comedy hosts are now, it seems, our country's staunch defenders against corporate overreach. Earlier this week, we brought you the story of John Oliver's recent William Wallace moment which buried the FCC in a deluge of pro-net neutrality comments. Now it looks like he inspired Stephen Colbert to make a stand of his own. Colbert invited Sherman Alexie, author of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," to his show to explain why the clash of the corporate titans between Amazon and publisher Hachette should matter to all of us. (In case you're coming to this story fresh, the La Times has a good overview of the dispute.) Hachette is a huge publishing conglomerate, so it's not like there's a little guy to root for here, but essentially, Amazon has been artificially delaying shipping times for Hachette books due to an ongoing dispute with the publisher over e-book pricing.
- 6/6/2014
- by Jacob Combs
- Thompson on Hollywood
Washington, April 17: Dav Pilkey's best-selling picture book series 'Captain Underpants' topped the list of the most banned and challenged books of 2013 for its "offensive language" and material unsuited for its targeted age group.
The American Library Association has released the annual 'State of the Libraries' report of works most frequently "challenged" at schools and libraries, and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye' has made it to the list for its language, along with violence and sexual content, the Huffington Post reported.
Sherman Alexie's prize-winning 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian'.
The American Library Association has released the annual 'State of the Libraries' report of works most frequently "challenged" at schools and libraries, and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye' has made it to the list for its language, along with violence and sexual content, the Huffington Post reported.
Sherman Alexie's prize-winning 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian'.
- 4/17/2014
- by Meeta Kabra
- RealBollywood.com
New York Times Deanna Durbin, juvenile Oscar winner and 30s/40s star, has died
Rope of Silicon the first suggestive poster for Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac ...
Nymphomaniac ...which also now has an official website
Us Weekly Reese Witherspoon talks about her arrest and taking responsibility for the crazy
People Seth Rogen's mancrush on Zac Efron. I'm wondering what the "expletive" was but Fwiw Zac is "very veiny"
Dp/30 David Poland talks to actress Alicia Witt
NPR the music from The Great Gatbsy (2013)
Empire Logan Lerman joining Brad Pitt in the Ww II tank thriller Fury
All Superheroes All The Time. Must Be Summer
Vulture a practical guide to not hating Gwyneth Paltrow in Iron Man Three. This is amusing but Gwynnie is actually wonderful in the movie. Take that!
YouTube a teaser for The Wolverine that I like more than that big trailer
The Playlist Quicksilver & The Scarlet...
Rope of Silicon the first suggestive poster for Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac ...
Nymphomaniac ...which also now has an official website
Us Weekly Reese Witherspoon talks about her arrest and taking responsibility for the crazy
People Seth Rogen's mancrush on Zac Efron. I'm wondering what the "expletive" was but Fwiw Zac is "very veiny"
Dp/30 David Poland talks to actress Alicia Witt
NPR the music from The Great Gatbsy (2013)
Empire Logan Lerman joining Brad Pitt in the Ww II tank thriller Fury
All Superheroes All The Time. Must Be Summer
Vulture a practical guide to not hating Gwyneth Paltrow in Iron Man Three. This is amusing but Gwynnie is actually wonderful in the movie. Take that!
YouTube a teaser for The Wolverine that I like more than that big trailer
The Playlist Quicksilver & The Scarlet...
- 5/2/2013
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Sundance Institute has hired Paul Federbush to become International Director, Feature Film Program (Ffp), a highly sought-after job which Alesia Weston left open when she left in May to become Executive Director of the Jerusalem Film Centre and Fesival. Federbush began September 24 and is reporting to Michelle Satter, Founding Director, Feature Film Program.
Paul is already reaching out into new geographic areas searching for those filmmakers who have the greatest potential for making a brand new mark on the worldwide film business. His responsibility is the planning and execution of the international work of Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program which includes year round support for International artists through Labs, granting, and ongoing mentorship providing creative and tactical support. Federbush will oversee international Labs in collaboration with local partners in the Middle East and India, outreach and discover new international filmmakers and projects, steward programs such as the Sundance Institute|Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award and Sundance| Nhk Award, and support the international artists participating in the annual Sundance Labs in Utah. In addition he will develop opportunities to further advance and broaden the scope of the Ffp’s International initiative.
We congratulate Paul and are proud to be able to say that we have known him since his early days at Fine Line. Federbush is a seasoned production, acquisition, and distribution executive with eighteen years of experience in the entertainment industry. Most recently Federbush, along with partner Laura Kim, started a distribution company, Red Flag Releasing. Prior to forming Red Flag, Federbush served as Senior Vice President of Production and Acquisitions at Warner Independent Pictures where he oversaw the acquisition, production, and development of projects including Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, and Hany Abu Assad’s Paradise Now.
For nearly three decades, Sundance Institute has promoted independent storytelling to inform and inspire audiences across political, social, religious and cultural differences. Through Labs, direct artist granting, special projects with key partners and the Sundance Film Festival, the Institute serves as the leading advocate for independent artists worldwide. Sundance Institute Feature Film Program Over its 30-year history, the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program has supported an extensive list of award-winning and groundbreaking independent films.
Ffp films currently in the marketplace include Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Alibar’s Beasts of the Southern Wild (winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival), Craig Zobel’s Compliance, Mike Birbiglia and Seth Barrish’s Sleepwalk With Me, Todd Louiso and Sarah Koskoff’s Hello I Must Be Going, and Ira Sachs’ Keep the Lights On. Recent international Ffp films include Sally El Hosaini’s My Brother the Devil, Andrei Zyvagintsev’s Elena, Edwin’s Postcards from the Zoo, Alejandro Landes’ Porfirio, and the festival films Haifaa Al Mansour’s Wadjda and Ziad Douieri’s L’Attack.Additional notable films supported over the program’s history include Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene, Dee Rees’ Pariah, Maryam Keshavarz’s Circumstance, Cherien Dabis' Amreeka, Cary Fukunaga's Sin Nombre, Fernando Eimbcke's Lake Tahoe, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden’s Half Nelson, Andrea Arnold's Red Road, Miranda July’s Me and You and Everyone We Know, Hany Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now, Debra Granik’s Down to the Bone, Josh Marston’s Maria Page 2 Full of Grace, Lisa Cholodenko’s Laurel Canyon, Peter Sollett’s Raising Victor Vargas, John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream, Kimberly Peirce’s Boys Don't Cry, Lucrecia Martel’s La Cienaga, Walter Salles’ Central Station, Chris Eyre and Sherman Alexie’s Smoke Signals, Nicole Holofcener’s Walking and Talking, Allison Anders' Mi Vida Loca, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Hard Eight, Tamara Jenkins’ Slums of Beverly Hills, and Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs.
Sundance Institute Sundance Institute is a global nonprofit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Through its programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, composers and playwrights, the Institute seeks to discover and support independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their new work. The Institute promotes independent storytelling to inform, inspire, and unite diverse populations around the globe. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Born into Brothels, Trouble the Water, Son of Babylon, Amreeka, An Inconvenient Truth, Spring Awakening, Light in the Piazza and Angels in America, and through its New Frontier initiative, has brought the cinematic works of media artists including Pipilotti Rist, Doug Aitken, Pierre Huyghe, Jennifer Steinkamp, and Matthew Barney . Join Sundance Institute on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. # # #...
Paul is already reaching out into new geographic areas searching for those filmmakers who have the greatest potential for making a brand new mark on the worldwide film business. His responsibility is the planning and execution of the international work of Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program which includes year round support for International artists through Labs, granting, and ongoing mentorship providing creative and tactical support. Federbush will oversee international Labs in collaboration with local partners in the Middle East and India, outreach and discover new international filmmakers and projects, steward programs such as the Sundance Institute|Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award and Sundance| Nhk Award, and support the international artists participating in the annual Sundance Labs in Utah. In addition he will develop opportunities to further advance and broaden the scope of the Ffp’s International initiative.
We congratulate Paul and are proud to be able to say that we have known him since his early days at Fine Line. Federbush is a seasoned production, acquisition, and distribution executive with eighteen years of experience in the entertainment industry. Most recently Federbush, along with partner Laura Kim, started a distribution company, Red Flag Releasing. Prior to forming Red Flag, Federbush served as Senior Vice President of Production and Acquisitions at Warner Independent Pictures where he oversaw the acquisition, production, and development of projects including Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, and Hany Abu Assad’s Paradise Now.
For nearly three decades, Sundance Institute has promoted independent storytelling to inform and inspire audiences across political, social, religious and cultural differences. Through Labs, direct artist granting, special projects with key partners and the Sundance Film Festival, the Institute serves as the leading advocate for independent artists worldwide. Sundance Institute Feature Film Program Over its 30-year history, the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program has supported an extensive list of award-winning and groundbreaking independent films.
Ffp films currently in the marketplace include Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Alibar’s Beasts of the Southern Wild (winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival), Craig Zobel’s Compliance, Mike Birbiglia and Seth Barrish’s Sleepwalk With Me, Todd Louiso and Sarah Koskoff’s Hello I Must Be Going, and Ira Sachs’ Keep the Lights On. Recent international Ffp films include Sally El Hosaini’s My Brother the Devil, Andrei Zyvagintsev’s Elena, Edwin’s Postcards from the Zoo, Alejandro Landes’ Porfirio, and the festival films Haifaa Al Mansour’s Wadjda and Ziad Douieri’s L’Attack.Additional notable films supported over the program’s history include Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene, Dee Rees’ Pariah, Maryam Keshavarz’s Circumstance, Cherien Dabis' Amreeka, Cary Fukunaga's Sin Nombre, Fernando Eimbcke's Lake Tahoe, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden’s Half Nelson, Andrea Arnold's Red Road, Miranda July’s Me and You and Everyone We Know, Hany Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now, Debra Granik’s Down to the Bone, Josh Marston’s Maria Page 2 Full of Grace, Lisa Cholodenko’s Laurel Canyon, Peter Sollett’s Raising Victor Vargas, John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream, Kimberly Peirce’s Boys Don't Cry, Lucrecia Martel’s La Cienaga, Walter Salles’ Central Station, Chris Eyre and Sherman Alexie’s Smoke Signals, Nicole Holofcener’s Walking and Talking, Allison Anders' Mi Vida Loca, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Hard Eight, Tamara Jenkins’ Slums of Beverly Hills, and Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs.
Sundance Institute Sundance Institute is a global nonprofit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Through its programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, composers and playwrights, the Institute seeks to discover and support independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their new work. The Institute promotes independent storytelling to inform, inspire, and unite diverse populations around the globe. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Born into Brothels, Trouble the Water, Son of Babylon, Amreeka, An Inconvenient Truth, Spring Awakening, Light in the Piazza and Angels in America, and through its New Frontier initiative, has brought the cinematic works of media artists including Pipilotti Rist, Doug Aitken, Pierre Huyghe, Jennifer Steinkamp, and Matthew Barney . Join Sundance Institute on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. # # #...
- 10/9/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 15 years since filmmaker Chris Eyre burst onto the indie scene with 1998’s Smoke Signals, based on a short story by fellow Native American Sherman Alexie, who also wrote the screenplay, and starring Native Canadian Gary Farmer (probably best known for Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man). Since then the Portland homeboy has seamlessly shifted from the big screen, to PBS fare, to franchise TV and back again, most recently with Hide Away, an existential drama featuring Josh Lucas and James Cromwell. Earlier this year, Chris was tapped for an entirely different gig, chairing the Moving Image Arts Department at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, which is where I first met him when I arrived in town as the new director of programming for the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival. (Full disclosure: the second time I ran into Chris...
- 7/12/2012
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Reuters Author J.K. Rowling in London in November of 2011.
Can J.K. Rowling work her magic with adults?
Rowling, the children’s book author behind the bestselling Harry Potter series, has announced that she has an agreement with Little, Brown to publish her first novel for grownups in the United States and Britain. The Harry Potter books were published by Scholastic in the U.S. and Bloomsbury in Britain.
Details about the new novel, including the title, subject and the release date,...
Can J.K. Rowling work her magic with adults?
Rowling, the children’s book author behind the bestselling Harry Potter series, has announced that she has an agreement with Little, Brown to publish her first novel for grownups in the United States and Britain. The Harry Potter books were published by Scholastic in the U.S. and Bloomsbury in Britain.
Details about the new novel, including the title, subject and the release date,...
- 2/23/2012
- by Christopher John Farley
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Everett
Recently, I was the surprise commencement speaker at the promotion ceremony for a Seattle alternative high school. I spoke to sixty students, who’d come from sixteen different districts, and had survived depression, attempted suicide, gang warfare, sexual and physical abuse, absentee parents, poverty, racism, and learning disabilities in order to graduate.
These students had read my young adult novel, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” and had been inspired by my autobiographical story of a poor...
Recently, I was the surprise commencement speaker at the promotion ceremony for a Seattle alternative high school. I spoke to sixty students, who’d come from sixteen different districts, and had survived depression, attempted suicide, gang warfare, sexual and physical abuse, absentee parents, poverty, racism, and learning disabilities in order to graduate.
These students had read my young adult novel, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” and had been inspired by my autobiographical story of a poor...
- 6/9/2011
- by Sherman Alexie
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Mary Evans/John Gay/English Heritage/Everett Collection
A few weeks ago, my 9-year-old son asked if he could start watching the news in the morning.
Partly, this was a scam. He’s not typically allowed to watch TV during the school week, except for the evening news and sports, and so this was his way of getting some more screen time. When the TV is off he’s more likely to read, so I’d rather keep the tube off.
A few weeks ago, my 9-year-old son asked if he could start watching the news in the morning.
Partly, this was a scam. He’s not typically allowed to watch TV during the school week, except for the evening news and sports, and so this was his way of getting some more screen time. When the TV is off he’s more likely to read, so I’d rather keep the tube off.
- 6/5/2011
- by Christopher John Farley
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
The Sundance Institute has announced fourteen projects for its 30th director and screenwriting labs. To be held at the Sundance Resort in Utah from May 30-June 30, 2011, the lucky lab participants are listed below, along with details of their selves and their feature projects. Here’s the official word from the Institute:
Sundance Institute today announced the 14 projects selected for its annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs, taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah May 30 – June 30, 2011. Under the leadership of Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Feature Film Program, and the artistic direction of Gyula Gazdag, the projects selected for this year’s program include emerging filmmakers and projects from the United States, Israel, Romania, Mexico, the Philippines and Algeria. Sundance Institute is marking the 30thanniversary of its first Directors Lab, led by Robert Redford and Satter in 1981.
Over the course of the Directors Lab, Fellows work with an accomplished group of Creative Advisors,...
Sundance Institute today announced the 14 projects selected for its annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs, taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah May 30 – June 30, 2011. Under the leadership of Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Feature Film Program, and the artistic direction of Gyula Gazdag, the projects selected for this year’s program include emerging filmmakers and projects from the United States, Israel, Romania, Mexico, the Philippines and Algeria. Sundance Institute is marking the 30thanniversary of its first Directors Lab, led by Robert Redford and Satter in 1981.
Over the course of the Directors Lab, Fellows work with an accomplished group of Creative Advisors,...
- 5/2/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
The Sundance Institute has announced fourteen projects for its 30th director and screenwriting labs. To be held at the Sundance Resort in Utah from May 30-June 30, 2011, the lucky lab participants are listed below, along with details of their selves and their feature projects. Here’s the official word from the Institute:
Sundance Institute today announced the 14 projects selected for its annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs, taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah May 30 – June 30, 2011. Under the leadership of Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Feature Film Program, and the artistic direction of Gyula Gazdag, the projects selected for this year’s program include emerging filmmakers and projects from the United States, Israel, Romania, Mexico, the Philippines and Algeria. Sundance Institute is marking the 30thanniversary of its first Directors Lab, led by Robert Redford and Satter in 1981.
Over the course of the Directors Lab, Fellows work with an accomplished group of Creative Advisors,...
Sundance Institute today announced the 14 projects selected for its annual June Directors and Screenwriters Labs, taking place at the Sundance Resort in Utah May 30 – June 30, 2011. Under the leadership of Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Feature Film Program, and the artistic direction of Gyula Gazdag, the projects selected for this year’s program include emerging filmmakers and projects from the United States, Israel, Romania, Mexico, the Philippines and Algeria. Sundance Institute is marking the 30thanniversary of its first Directors Lab, led by Robert Redford and Satter in 1981.
Over the course of the Directors Lab, Fellows work with an accomplished group of Creative Advisors,...
- 5/2/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
Half Nelson star in talks to take title role opposite Johnny Depp as Tonto in movie remake of the classic radio and TV series
It might seem like an unusually mainstream part for an actor who has made his name mostly in art house fare, but at least he'll get to hide behind that famous mask. Ryan Gosling is in talks to star as the Lone Ranger opposite Johnny Depp's Tonto in a remake of the classic radio, movie and television serial.
Disney's film is being put together by an array of Pirates of the Caribbean alumni. As well as Depp, director Gore Verbinski will take charge of the cameras and Jerry Bruckheimer is acting as producer. Gosling, who was Oscar-nominated for Half Nelson in 2006, has not yet signed on and his schedule could still get in the way, reports The Wrap.
Never seen without his mask in the most famous iterations,...
It might seem like an unusually mainstream part for an actor who has made his name mostly in art house fare, but at least he'll get to hide behind that famous mask. Ryan Gosling is in talks to star as the Lone Ranger opposite Johnny Depp's Tonto in a remake of the classic radio, movie and television serial.
Disney's film is being put together by an array of Pirates of the Caribbean alumni. As well as Depp, director Gore Verbinski will take charge of the cameras and Jerry Bruckheimer is acting as producer. Gosling, who was Oscar-nominated for Half Nelson in 2006, has not yet signed on and his schedule could still get in the way, reports The Wrap.
Never seen without his mask in the most famous iterations,...
- 4/18/2011
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
The American Library Association, each year, keeps a record from teachers and librarians from around the country recording the number of objections raised against certain books. For the fifth year in a row, now, And Tango Makes Three tops the list of most challenged books. For the unfamiliar, it's about the true story of two male Emperor Penguins hatching and parenting a baby chick at New York's Central Park Zoo.
Hateful, bigoted people, of course, dislike the book, as they should. Gay penguins are melting the ice caps with all that gay penguin sex. The nine other books on the most challenged list are below, along with the chief objections (note, however, that the chief objection against Twilight is not: It's a shitty, poorly written abstinence porn. Salinger fans, however, can rejoice! Catcher in the Rye has finally fallen out of the top ten, as has Alice Walker's Color Purple.
Hateful, bigoted people, of course, dislike the book, as they should. Gay penguins are melting the ice caps with all that gay penguin sex. The nine other books on the most challenged list are below, along with the chief objections (note, however, that the chief objection against Twilight is not: It's a shitty, poorly written abstinence porn. Salinger fans, however, can rejoice! Catcher in the Rye has finally fallen out of the top ten, as has Alice Walker's Color Purple.
- 4/13/2011
- by Dustin Rowles
Garret Dillahunt has come full circle. This versatile actor known for his off beat roles in television, film, and in the theater, has navigated his way through a colorful range of characters over the past fifteen years. Starting off as a comedic actor, Garret moved on to darker, more villainous roles such as the murderous Jack McCall in HBO's Deadwood (TV), the terminating Cromartie/John Henry on Fox's Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (TV), and the lonesome dim-witted outlaw Ed Miller in The Assassination of Jesse James (2007), starring Brad Pitt. Now he's starring in the new Fox comedy hit Raising Hope (TV). Garret plays young grandfather Burt Chance, who's son has a new and unexpected delivery in the form of Hope, a baby girl. The show has received rave reviews for it's funny, yet believable depiction of a modern-day dysfunctional working class family, and is backed by writer/producer Greg Garcia...
- 10/18/2010
- by jmaurer@corp.popstar.com (Jennifer Maurer)
- PopStar
Thanks to Sherman Alexie, I will forever be pilfering the phrase "terminally nostalgic." When I saw him read back in December, I asked him how he felt about seeing the places he has written about disappear over time. He said that he was constantly thinking about what was no more, even down to the now-closed doughnut shop where he worked for three weeks, and that as a Spokane Indian, nostalgia will always be a part of who he is.
Because of this, Alexie's work is forever filled with a sense of longing -- longing for the past, longing for what never was, and longing for connection in the midst of our busy world. War Dances is a collection of short stories, poems and other fiction forms that read as semi-autobiographical, made even more enjoyable if you live in the Spokane area. When he talks about driving up Maple to Francis,...
Because of this, Alexie's work is forever filled with a sense of longing -- longing for the past, longing for what never was, and longing for connection in the midst of our busy world. War Dances is a collection of short stories, poems and other fiction forms that read as semi-autobiographical, made even more enjoyable if you live in the Spokane area. When he talks about driving up Maple to Francis,...
- 5/23/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
Among the projects in the Shelton's pipeline, we find a project with Sherman Alexie, and now you can add Joshua Ferris’ recent novel Then We Came To An End for Anne Carey and Ted Hope's This is That Productions (their upcoming slate includes James Gunn's Super and Anton Corbijn's The American). - Mumblecore offering Humpday officially put its director on the map - I wonder out loud how world sales went for the film as it was profiled in Cannes as well. Regardless, Lynn Shelton secured her independent filmmaker career in the U.S. and a small blurb mentioned on IndieWIRE confirms she is headed in that direction. Among the projects in the Shelton's pipeline, we find a project with Sherman Alexie, and now you can add Joshua Ferris’ recent novel Then We Came To An End for Anne Carey and Ted Hope's This...
- 3/5/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Glambert!
Daytime:
"Good Morning America": Allison Iraheta, Howie Mandel, James Blake
"Today": Barry Manilow
"The Early Show": The cast of "Dreamgirls", models the Victoria's Secret fashion show
"Live with Regis and Kelly": Cheryl Hines, guest co-host Howie Mandel
"The View": Rod Stewart, Steven Seagal
"The Bonnie Hunt Show": Sea Wolf
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show": Adam Lambert, Marisa Miller
"Rachael Ray Show": Mo'Nique
"The Oprah Show": George Clooney, Ben Affleck, Demi Moore and Hillary Clinton
"The Martha Stewart Show": Rachel Maddow
"It's On with Alexa Chung": Audrina Patridge, Heather Graham, The Script
"The Tyra Banks Show": 50 Cent, "The Bad Girls Club"'s Natalie, Kendra, Flo and Kate
Late Night:
"The Jay Leno Show": Pre-empted
"Late Show with David Letterman": Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Guy Fieri, Carrie Underwood, a Top 10 list presented by NYC marathon winner Meb Keflezighi (repeat)
"The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien...
Daytime:
"Good Morning America": Allison Iraheta, Howie Mandel, James Blake
"Today": Barry Manilow
"The Early Show": The cast of "Dreamgirls", models the Victoria's Secret fashion show
"Live with Regis and Kelly": Cheryl Hines, guest co-host Howie Mandel
"The View": Rod Stewart, Steven Seagal
"The Bonnie Hunt Show": Sea Wolf
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show": Adam Lambert, Marisa Miller
"Rachael Ray Show": Mo'Nique
"The Oprah Show": George Clooney, Ben Affleck, Demi Moore and Hillary Clinton
"The Martha Stewart Show": Rachel Maddow
"It's On with Alexa Chung": Audrina Patridge, Heather Graham, The Script
"The Tyra Banks Show": 50 Cent, "The Bad Girls Club"'s Natalie, Kendra, Flo and Kate
Late Night:
"The Jay Leno Show": Pre-empted
"Late Show with David Letterman": Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Guy Fieri, Carrie Underwood, a Top 10 list presented by NYC marathon winner Meb Keflezighi (repeat)
"The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien...
- 12/1/2009
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
The nation's largest and oldest premier literary event is set to welcome over 300 authors from all over the world for the 26th Annual Miami Book Fair International in downtown Miami from November 8 to 15.
Authors who are expected to make an appearance at the Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus include Sherman Alexie, Margaret Atwood, Meg Cabot, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Susie Essman, Jonathan Lethem, and Al Gore among many others.
However, because of the economic times, the Fair has been organized to be more contained this year. There will be no opening day festivities and Street Fair Parade. The Fair is also cutting back the number of author presentations, though organizers are still planning to present some 300 authors and writers representing the best in contemporary literature.
The admission to the weekend Streert fair has been raised from to per person, though persons age 62 and above will still be charged . For the "Evenings...
Authors who are expected to make an appearance at the Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus include Sherman Alexie, Margaret Atwood, Meg Cabot, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Susie Essman, Jonathan Lethem, and Al Gore among many others.
However, because of the economic times, the Fair has been organized to be more contained this year. There will be no opening day festivities and Street Fair Parade. The Fair is also cutting back the number of author presentations, though organizers are still planning to present some 300 authors and writers representing the best in contemporary literature.
The admission to the weekend Streert fair has been raised from to per person, though persons age 62 and above will still be charged . For the "Evenings...
- 7/23/2009
- icelebz.com
The capital of the Pacific Northwest is blessed with divine geography, frontier spirit, and an abundance of both artists and geeks. Plus, it's not even that rainy.
When Fast Company named Seattle its 2009 City of the Year -- based on the city's creativity, the editors said -- surely, I thought, the weather and the winters must have had something to do with it. Our winters are dark: At 47 degrees latitude, the winter solstice brings sundown at 4:21 p.m. and sunrise at 7:54 a.m. Our winters are gray: While we get only 38 inches of rain per year -- less than New York or Boston, Houston or Atlanta -- we average 154 days of precipitation. Our winters are long: Cloudy season begins in October and lasts into June; we boast an average of 226 cloudy days a year.
But consider the bounty those long, dark, damp winters have provided the world. There's Starbucks,...
When Fast Company named Seattle its 2009 City of the Year -- based on the city's creativity, the editors said -- surely, I thought, the weather and the winters must have had something to do with it. Our winters are dark: At 47 degrees latitude, the winter solstice brings sundown at 4:21 p.m. and sunrise at 7:54 a.m. Our winters are gray: While we get only 38 inches of rain per year -- less than New York or Boston, Houston or Atlanta -- we average 154 days of precipitation. Our winters are long: Cloudy season begins in October and lasts into June; we boast an average of 226 cloudy days a year.
But consider the bounty those long, dark, damp winters have provided the world. There's Starbucks,...
- 4/20/2009
- by Garth Stein
- Fast Company
A total of 86 short films from 3,389 submissions have been selected to screen at next month's Sundance Film Festival in Park City. Some of those films -- 53 of which are American -- will compete for a new jury prize in international short filmmaking introduced for the 2004 fest. International short films less than 30 minutes are eligible for the prize. American short films of less than 30 minutes are eligible for a jury prize in American Short Filmmaking. Notable entries in the short categories include Andrew Jarecki's Just a Clown, David LaChappelle's Krumped, Guinevere Turner's Hummer, Hank Azaria's Nobody's Perfect, Bryan Buckley's Krug, Chris Hinton's Nibbles, Larry Kennar's Spokane, Ilya Chaiken's 100 Lovers of Jesus Reynolds and Sherman Alexie's 49? Narrative and documentary short films will be presented before a feature-length film, while others will be seen as part of a Short Film Program (in the Frontier category) and in the Native Forum. "As a whole, the festival's commitment to international films is continuing to evolve and expand, and we're thrilled to introduce the Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking for the first time," Sundance senior programmer Trevor Groth said. "This year, a staggering number of short films from all over the world were submitted -- indicating that the short form is gaining recognition and momentum." The festival runs Jan. 15-25. A complete list of the 2004 Sundance entries can be found at www.sundance.org.
- 12/10/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
PARK CITY, Utah -- The "Smoke Signals" coming down from the mountain are clear and ringed with good omen.
The deserved winner of the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, this Miramax release is a bracing, entrancing story of a young Native American man's struggle to reconcile his tenuous relationship with his father, a violent alcoholic whose antics disrupted the boy's entire upbringing. A serious insight into the dispiriting lives of many Native Americans on 20th century reservations, "Smoke Signals" is a sharply forged story of personal struggle and acceptance. Laced with humor and imbued with a tender spirit, it's likely to win strong acceptance on the select-site circuit.
A smart scoping of reservation life through the disenchanted eyes of young Victor (Adam Beach), "Smoke Signals" tells the story of the incendiary sparks that underlie the lives of many who dwell on the reservation. In this telling scenario, we are witness to the traumas of the Joseph household, beginning with a drunken Fourth of July party a decade ago when Victor's father, Arnold (Gary Farmer), set the family house afire in an alcoholic haze. While the fire destroyed the family's home, it was emblematic of the smoldering problem that caused it: Arnold's alcoholism. He's a boisterous, lumbering man whose serene countenance was torched when he took to drink.
Screenwriter Sherman Alexie has prismed an incisive saga that paints a larger picture of tribal life in the 20th century. The feelings of dislocation and despair are clearly limned through these flesh-and-blood beings, while, their transcendent powers to cope with their demons, through humor are also wisely shown.
Similar in tone to "Pow-Wow Highway", which highlighted this festival several years back and also featured Farmer as a modern-day Native American, "Smoke Signals" ambulates its narrative territory in an appealing, soft-spoken manner and with an endearing, self-deprecating sense of humor. Director Chris Eyre's sage storytelling lifts these "Smoke Signals" to highest and clearest dimension.
The performances are remarkable, particularly Joseph as the conflicted young man trying to make sense of his heritage. Evan Adams is a delight as his quirky sidekick, and Farmer's forceful performance shows the deviltry of drink that makes him lose respect for himself. Tanto Cardinal is nicely stoic as the beleaguered wife and mother.
Technical contributions are packed with smart shadings, all illuminating the conflicts as well as the uplifting qualities of these well-drawn characters. Praise to production designer Charles Armstrong for the precision and appropriateness of what looks to be -- but clearly isn't -- the characters' thrown-together lives.
SMOKE SIGNALS
Miramax Films
Producers: Scott Rosenfelt, Larry Estes
Director: Chris Eyre
Screenwriter: Sherman Alexie
Co-producers: Tim Eyre, Sherman Alexie
Executive producers: David Skinner,
Carl Bressler
Associate producers: Randy Suhr, Roger Baerwolf
Line producer: Brent Morris
Director of photography: Brian Capener
Production designer: Charles Armstrong
Costume designer: Ronald Leamon
Editor: Brian Berdan
Music: B.C. Smith
Color/stereo
Cast:
Victor Joseph: Adam Beach
Thomas Builds-the-Fire: Evan Adams
Arnold Joseph: Gary Farmer
Arlene Joseph: Tanto Cardinal
Suzy Song: Irene Bedard
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
The deserved winner of the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, this Miramax release is a bracing, entrancing story of a young Native American man's struggle to reconcile his tenuous relationship with his father, a violent alcoholic whose antics disrupted the boy's entire upbringing. A serious insight into the dispiriting lives of many Native Americans on 20th century reservations, "Smoke Signals" is a sharply forged story of personal struggle and acceptance. Laced with humor and imbued with a tender spirit, it's likely to win strong acceptance on the select-site circuit.
A smart scoping of reservation life through the disenchanted eyes of young Victor (Adam Beach), "Smoke Signals" tells the story of the incendiary sparks that underlie the lives of many who dwell on the reservation. In this telling scenario, we are witness to the traumas of the Joseph household, beginning with a drunken Fourth of July party a decade ago when Victor's father, Arnold (Gary Farmer), set the family house afire in an alcoholic haze. While the fire destroyed the family's home, it was emblematic of the smoldering problem that caused it: Arnold's alcoholism. He's a boisterous, lumbering man whose serene countenance was torched when he took to drink.
Screenwriter Sherman Alexie has prismed an incisive saga that paints a larger picture of tribal life in the 20th century. The feelings of dislocation and despair are clearly limned through these flesh-and-blood beings, while, their transcendent powers to cope with their demons, through humor are also wisely shown.
Similar in tone to "Pow-Wow Highway", which highlighted this festival several years back and also featured Farmer as a modern-day Native American, "Smoke Signals" ambulates its narrative territory in an appealing, soft-spoken manner and with an endearing, self-deprecating sense of humor. Director Chris Eyre's sage storytelling lifts these "Smoke Signals" to highest and clearest dimension.
The performances are remarkable, particularly Joseph as the conflicted young man trying to make sense of his heritage. Evan Adams is a delight as his quirky sidekick, and Farmer's forceful performance shows the deviltry of drink that makes him lose respect for himself. Tanto Cardinal is nicely stoic as the beleaguered wife and mother.
Technical contributions are packed with smart shadings, all illuminating the conflicts as well as the uplifting qualities of these well-drawn characters. Praise to production designer Charles Armstrong for the precision and appropriateness of what looks to be -- but clearly isn't -- the characters' thrown-together lives.
SMOKE SIGNALS
Miramax Films
Producers: Scott Rosenfelt, Larry Estes
Director: Chris Eyre
Screenwriter: Sherman Alexie
Co-producers: Tim Eyre, Sherman Alexie
Executive producers: David Skinner,
Carl Bressler
Associate producers: Randy Suhr, Roger Baerwolf
Line producer: Brent Morris
Director of photography: Brian Capener
Production designer: Charles Armstrong
Costume designer: Ronald Leamon
Editor: Brian Berdan
Music: B.C. Smith
Color/stereo
Cast:
Victor Joseph: Adam Beach
Thomas Builds-the-Fire: Evan Adams
Arnold Joseph: Gary Farmer
Arlene Joseph: Tanto Cardinal
Suzy Song: Irene Bedard
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/28/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s a good day to be indigenous,” a radio announcer on the desolate Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation dryly intones at the beginning of “Smoke Signals,” and the remark serves not only as an accurate indication of the quirky, self-deprecating humor to be found throughout the film, but as a sort of prophetic blessing on this evidently first fictional feature written, directed and co-produced in the U.S. by Native Americans. A light, entertaining treatment of serious themes that speaks with a distinctive, unusual voice and instinctively pulls back from the temptation to be solemn and pretentious, pic won both the coveted Audience Award and the Filmmakers’ Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival. All the same, Miramax will have to use all of its ingenuity and muscle to raise anything more than a core paying public for this eminently accessible work, due to perceived lack of interest among urban...
- 1/28/1998
- by Todd McCarthy
- Variety Film + TV
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