Even as Covid-19 reduces travel, the public is in a holiday mood. Along with anecdotal reports of near-record Christmas tree sales and an increase of home-lighting displays, we say 11 Christmas-related films flourish this week on VOD and streaming charts. This includes some overlap between home viewing and theaters, as well as some oddball trends that suggest the platforms increasingly bleed into one another.
Our four charts each have a different film at #1; another two titles made all four charts. Apple TV has “The Grinch” on top even after weeks of Netflix play. GooglePlay still ranks “The New Mutants” as #1. Premium VOD entry “Let Him Go” leads at Spectrum, which counts by transactions; with a $19.99 price, that’s impressive. Revenue-based FandangoNow leads with “Honest Thief,” one of the top theatrical releases this fall. It has a mid-level PVOD price of $14.99, but as a new release this week it outpaced three more-expensive films.
Our four charts each have a different film at #1; another two titles made all four charts. Apple TV has “The Grinch” on top even after weeks of Netflix play. GooglePlay still ranks “The New Mutants” as #1. Premium VOD entry “Let Him Go” leads at Spectrum, which counts by transactions; with a $19.99 price, that’s impressive. Revenue-based FandangoNow leads with “Honest Thief,” one of the top theatrical releases this fall. It has a mid-level PVOD price of $14.99, but as a new release this week it outpaced three more-expensive films.
- 12/15/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
The first week of December saw a lot of people watching holiday films at home. Makes sense; ’tis the season, even in this dreadful year. There’s also little in the way of new titles as competition — and the one major film to debut, timed to the awards season, failed to gain traction.
“Mank,” David Fincher’s Netflix biopic of screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, is considered a leading Oscar contender but debuted to very little initial response. Available on Friday, it showed up at #10 Saturday (the first day it could chart), and has not reappeared since. The black-and-white film starring Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried didn’t gain the attention of other high-profile originals like “Da 5 Bloods,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and “Hillbilly Elegy,” all of which debuted at first or second. Bumping “Mank” from 10th place was the 2000 Adam Sandler comedy “Little Nicky.”
On the four VOD charts we track,...
“Mank,” David Fincher’s Netflix biopic of screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, is considered a leading Oscar contender but debuted to very little initial response. Available on Friday, it showed up at #10 Saturday (the first day it could chart), and has not reappeared since. The black-and-white film starring Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried didn’t gain the attention of other high-profile originals like “Da 5 Bloods,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and “Hillbilly Elegy,” all of which debuted at first or second. Bumping “Mank” from 10th place was the 2000 Adam Sandler comedy “Little Nicky.”
On the four VOD charts we track,...
- 12/8/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
“Cake Boss” star Buddy Valastro’s road to recovery from a traumatic hand injury will be the subject of a two-hour TLC special airing in December, the network announced Monday.
The special, set to air on Wednesday, Dec. 23, features footage filmed immediately after the accident and through his multiple surgeries, physical therapy sessions and subsequent returning to work. Per TLC, “As business deadlines loom, commitments for over-the-top cakes stack up, and the holiday season around the corner, the stakes couldn’t be higher. But above all, Buddy faces the ultimate question: Can you still be the Cake Boss if you can’t make cakes?”
Valastro was injured in an accident at his family’s New Jersey home last month when his dominant right hand was impaled with a metal rod while attempting to fix a pinsetter at their personal bowling alley. His two teenage sons had to saw him free,...
The special, set to air on Wednesday, Dec. 23, features footage filmed immediately after the accident and through his multiple surgeries, physical therapy sessions and subsequent returning to work. Per TLC, “As business deadlines loom, commitments for over-the-top cakes stack up, and the holiday season around the corner, the stakes couldn’t be higher. But above all, Buddy faces the ultimate question: Can you still be the Cake Boss if you can’t make cakes?”
Valastro was injured in an accident at his family’s New Jersey home last month when his dominant right hand was impaled with a metal rod while attempting to fix a pinsetter at their personal bowling alley. His two teenage sons had to saw him free,...
- 10/26/2020
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
“Driving Miss Daisy” director Bruce Beresford is directing a biopic on the life of Buddy Holly called “Clear Lake,” and the independent film has cast Ruairi O’Connor, best known for his role in the Starz miniseries “The Spanish Princess,” to star as the rock ‘n’ roll icon.
“Clear Lake” tells the story of how Buddy Holly and other famous musicians of the late 1950s gave birth to rock ‘n’ roll while changing the trajectory of civil rights in America, all leading up to “The Day The Music Died,” when Holly died in a plane crash outside Clear Lake, Iowa on February 3, 1959, along with Ritchie Valens, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson.
Rick French (“Not Without Hope”) is producing for Prix Productions along with Stuart Benjamin of Stuart Benjamin Productions.
The filmmakers on “Clear Lake” spent six months searching for its Buddy Holly, someone who both resembled...
“Clear Lake” tells the story of how Buddy Holly and other famous musicians of the late 1950s gave birth to rock ‘n’ roll while changing the trajectory of civil rights in America, all leading up to “The Day The Music Died,” when Holly died in a plane crash outside Clear Lake, Iowa on February 3, 1959, along with Ritchie Valens, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson.
Rick French (“Not Without Hope”) is producing for Prix Productions along with Stuart Benjamin of Stuart Benjamin Productions.
The filmmakers on “Clear Lake” spent six months searching for its Buddy Holly, someone who both resembled...
- 10/8/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
David Nichols, a production designer and visual consultant on more than 20 films, such as “Rocky,” “Taxi Driver” and “Groundhog Day,” died on Wednesday in Taos, N.M., Variety has learned. He was 78.
Nichols had a 30-year career in the film industry, serving as a production designer, art director, visual consultant, writer and actor at various times. His work stretched across Hollywood films and on Broadway shows.
As a production designer, he worked on the 1993 hit comedy “Groundhog Day,” starring Bill Murray. His other credits include “Gossip,” “Buddy,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” “A Midnight Clear,” “Great Balls of Fire!” “The Serpent and the Rainbow,” “Hoosiers,” “Heartbreakers,” “Found Money,” “Testament,” “Swamp Thing” and “Longshot.”
As a visual consultant in the different art departments, he helped with Sylvester Stallone’s Oscar-winning movie “Rocky” and Robert De Niro’s “Taxi Driver,” which picked up four Oscar nominations. Nichols also appeared as an extra in a...
Nichols had a 30-year career in the film industry, serving as a production designer, art director, visual consultant, writer and actor at various times. His work stretched across Hollywood films and on Broadway shows.
As a production designer, he worked on the 1993 hit comedy “Groundhog Day,” starring Bill Murray. His other credits include “Gossip,” “Buddy,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” “A Midnight Clear,” “Great Balls of Fire!” “The Serpent and the Rainbow,” “Hoosiers,” “Heartbreakers,” “Found Money,” “Testament,” “Swamp Thing” and “Longshot.”
As a visual consultant in the different art departments, he helped with Sylvester Stallone’s Oscar-winning movie “Rocky” and Robert De Niro’s “Taxi Driver,” which picked up four Oscar nominations. Nichols also appeared as an extra in a...
- 5/15/2020
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
Duff Goldman has taken cakes and made them news. Over the past decade, he’s made some of the weirdest, wildest, and biggest cakes you can imagine… and probably a lot you can’t. A famous face thanks to his many appearances on the likes of the Food Network Challenge, Iron Chef America, Oprah, Man v. Food, and Buddy vs. Duff, he might not have changed the way we eat, but he’s certainly changed the way we bake. Find out more with these ten fast facts. 1. The Weird and the Wonderful You name it, Goldman bakes it. After starting his career
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Duff Goldman...
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Duff Goldman...
- 3/16/2020
- by Aiden Mason
- TVovermind.com
With the sun about to set on another successful year for Pokémon Go, Niantic has decided now is the time to unveil its plans for the future ahead.
We learned a while ago, of course, that the developer plans to introduce dedicated online battles for Trainers to enjoy early next year, but that’s not all it has in store. Joining – and perhaps preceding, if the tentative “roll out around the world by 2020” Eta is any indication – that ambitious update in the weeks ahead will be a total overhaul to one of Pokémon Go‘s core mechanics, the Buddy system.
As it turns out, Niantic believes the feature’s current iteration is far from rewarding or intuitive enough and plans to make a number of foundational changes in order to make showering your favourite Pokémon with gifts and praise worth the hassle once more. Continue through the break below for...
We learned a while ago, of course, that the developer plans to introduce dedicated online battles for Trainers to enjoy early next year, but that’s not all it has in store. Joining – and perhaps preceding, if the tentative “roll out around the world by 2020” Eta is any indication – that ambitious update in the weeks ahead will be a total overhaul to one of Pokémon Go‘s core mechanics, the Buddy system.
As it turns out, Niantic believes the feature’s current iteration is far from rewarding or intuitive enough and plans to make a number of foundational changes in order to make showering your favourite Pokémon with gifts and praise worth the hassle once more. Continue through the break below for...
- 12/17/2019
- by Joe Pring
- We Got This Covered
Food Network has ordered a second, longer season of “Buddy vs. Duff.”
The series follows reality stars and bakers Buddy Valastro and Duff Goldman, who face-off in an epic baking battle for the chance to be crowned the undisputed king of cake. The first season was six episodes in length, with Goldman taking the title. The second season has been extended to eight episodes.
Production begins this week on the new season, which will “challenge every aspect of what it means to be a true pastry artist and cake master,” according to Food Network.
Also Read: Food Network Cooks Up Girl Scout Cookies Baking Competition Show
“Audiences were captivated by the real-life rivalry between Buddy and Duff, the extraordinary intensity of the competition and the exquisite works of art created by these two titans of baking,” said Food Network president Courtney White. “As the biggest names in cake, they have...
The series follows reality stars and bakers Buddy Valastro and Duff Goldman, who face-off in an epic baking battle for the chance to be crowned the undisputed king of cake. The first season was six episodes in length, with Goldman taking the title. The second season has been extended to eight episodes.
Production begins this week on the new season, which will “challenge every aspect of what it means to be a true pastry artist and cake master,” according to Food Network.
Also Read: Food Network Cooks Up Girl Scout Cookies Baking Competition Show
“Audiences were captivated by the real-life rivalry between Buddy and Duff, the extraordinary intensity of the competition and the exquisite works of art created by these two titans of baking,” said Food Network president Courtney White. “As the biggest names in cake, they have...
- 12/10/2019
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
John Saavedra Nov 14, 2019
Google Stadia is launching this month without all of its features in place. Here's what you want be able to do on Stadia at launch.
Google Stadia, the cloud gaming service that will allow players to access their games seamless between all of their devices, is launching on Nov. 19, but not with the full suite of features it advertised at Gdc and E3 2019. During an Ama on Reddit, the Stadia team revealed what features players won't be able to access at launch. Those features include Stadia's achievement system, several multiplayer connectivity options such as Crowd Play, and even Day 1 access to the controller in some cases.
Per the latter, customers who pre-ordered the Stadia Founder's Edition will get their codes to access the service on their phones and Chrome browsers at launch, but the physical kit containing the controller and the Chromecast Ultra you need to play...
Google Stadia is launching this month without all of its features in place. Here's what you want be able to do on Stadia at launch.
Google Stadia, the cloud gaming service that will allow players to access their games seamless between all of their devices, is launching on Nov. 19, but not with the full suite of features it advertised at Gdc and E3 2019. During an Ama on Reddit, the Stadia team revealed what features players won't be able to access at launch. Those features include Stadia's achievement system, several multiplayer connectivity options such as Crowd Play, and even Day 1 access to the controller in some cases.
Per the latter, customers who pre-ordered the Stadia Founder's Edition will get their codes to access the service on their phones and Chrome browsers at launch, but the physical kit containing the controller and the Chromecast Ultra you need to play...
- 11/14/2019
- Den of Geek
MollywoodAfter seven years of its release, Anoop Menon, the writer of the film, took to his social media page to hint at the possibility of making a sequel. Digital NativeTrivandrum Lodge, which released on September 21, 2012, was one of the biggest hits. After seven years of its release, Anoop Menon, the writer of the film, took to his social media page to hint at the possibility of making a sequel. He wrote, “7 years of Trivandrum lodge..as the prospect of a sequel looms large revisiting those days of abandon...” Could this possibly mean that a sequel is on the cards? Written by Anoop Menon and directed by V K Prakash, Trivandrum Lodge starred Jayasurya, Anoop Menon, Honey Rose and Bhavana in the lead roles. Incidentally, Anoop Menon will be making his directorial debut with the Malayalam movie King Fish. He will be playing the main lead in this flick with actor Ranjith in an important role.
- 9/26/2019
- by Luke
- The News Minute
As documentary pitches go, a study of service dogs and their humans is as critic-proof, in its own way, as a Marvel spectacular: It will have a particular audience at “hello” (or perhaps that should be “heel”) regardless of execution. Which is to say that veteran Dutch docmaker Heddy Honigmann’s “Buddy” doesn’t need to be as delicate and intelligent as it is to work, but its thoughtful, unsentimental gaze makes an already guaranteed awww-fest into something more substantially affecting. Examining a diverse half-dozen of dog-person pairs at close but not overly invasive quarters, the film captures the remarkable breadth and depth of assistance these canine aides offer their variously disabled, trauma-afflicted or special-needs owners. An unsurprising hit with audiences on the docfest circuit, “Buddy” is bound for a long life in ancillary.
A humane, straightforward stylist who began in narrative cinema before making a non-fiction name for herself in the 1990s,...
A humane, straightforward stylist who began in narrative cinema before making a non-fiction name for herself in the 1990s,...
- 5/3/2019
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
"It was such a revelation that I could surrender myself to him." Grasshopper Film has debuted an official Us trailer for a documentary titled Buddy, the latest film made by renowned Dutch-Peruvian filmmaker Heddy Honigmann. The film is a poignant and carefully composed portrait of six service dogs and their owners. "Fascinating, multi-talented, indispensable dogs and their loving masters." Heddy spends time with six disabled (or elderly) individuals, many of them from the Netherlands, and shows us how important & connected each owner is with their respective service doggie. It's a very lovely, humble, heartwarming film about how much of a difference dogs make in this world. A must-see for any and every dog lover out there. And I'm glad that Grasshopper is bringing this film to Us cinemas this spring. A worthwhile doc to discover. Here's the official Us trailer (+ a poster) for Heddy Honigmann's documentary Buddy, from YouTube: Fascinating,...
- 3/12/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
In today’s film news roundup, Alex Woolf and Imogen Poots are cast in a crime drama, Laura Dern gets a film festival honor and doggie movie “Buddy” gets distribution.
Casting
Alex Wolff and Imogen Poots are set to star in writer/director Joey Klein’s upcoming crime drama “Castle in the Ground.”
Wolff is portraying a teenager in a small town dealing with the untimely death of his mother. He befriends his charismatic but troubled next-door neighbor, who embroils him in a world of addiction and violence just as the opioid epidemic takes hold. Principal photography is currently underway in Sudbury, Canada.
Wolf starred Ari Aster’s “Hereditary” alongside Toni Collette, “House of Tomorrow” opposite Asa Butterfield, and “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” alongside Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart and in the recently wrapped untitled Jumanji sequel. Poots’ credits include ” Green Room,” “Frank & Lola,” “Sweet Virginia,” and “The Art of Self-Defense.
Casting
Alex Wolff and Imogen Poots are set to star in writer/director Joey Klein’s upcoming crime drama “Castle in the Ground.”
Wolff is portraying a teenager in a small town dealing with the untimely death of his mother. He befriends his charismatic but troubled next-door neighbor, who embroils him in a world of addiction and violence just as the opioid epidemic takes hold. Principal photography is currently underway in Sudbury, Canada.
Wolf starred Ari Aster’s “Hereditary” alongside Toni Collette, “House of Tomorrow” opposite Asa Butterfield, and “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” alongside Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart and in the recently wrapped untitled Jumanji sequel. Poots’ credits include ” Green Room,” “Frank & Lola,” “Sweet Virginia,” and “The Art of Self-Defense.
- 3/11/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Following a six-year run on ABC, Cmt and Hulu, Nashville is headed for the Great White Way. Lionsgate, the powerhouse Hollywood studio that produced the drama series in conjunction with ABC Studios, has revealed plans to breathe new life into the show’s familiar characters with an upcoming Broadway musical.
Scott Delman, a 10-time Tony Award winner who has produced or co-produced 55 Broadway productions, including the musicals Mean Girls, Hello Dolly!, American Idiot and The Book of Mormon, has acquired the live theatrical rights from Lionsgate and ABC Studios and...
Scott Delman, a 10-time Tony Award winner who has produced or co-produced 55 Broadway productions, including the musicals Mean Girls, Hello Dolly!, American Idiot and The Book of Mormon, has acquired the live theatrical rights from Lionsgate and ABC Studios and...
- 3/5/2019
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
MollywoodAnoop, who is also the director of the film, plays a king in the modern times and filmmaker Ranjith plays his happy-go-lucky uncle.Digital NativeAnoop Menon will be making his directorial debut with the Malayalam movie King Fish. He will be playing the main lead in this film with director Ranjith playing an important role as well. King Fish is the tale of a king set in the modern times. Named Bhaskara Varma, Anoop will be playing Ranjith’s nephew in the film. Ranjith’s character in the film is named Neelakanta Varma. A poster of the film was released recently, showing one of them playing the guitar and the other listening – might remind you of the film Beautiful where Anoop Menon played the guitar for Jayasurya’s character but in King Fish, he is the listener. The film will have three heroines - Durga Krishna, Niranjana Anoop and Np Nisa.
- 2/23/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
The Museum of Modern Art has unveiled the full festival lineup for the 18th edition of Doc Fortnight, an annual showcase of the best in nonfiction film. The movies cover a range of topics, touching on everything from the cinematic legacy of Wyatt Earp to a deep look at Ferguson, Missouri, the Midwestern city that exploded into national consciousness when Michael Brown was shot by a police officer.
This year’s festival, which runs from Feb. 21 to 28 and boasts more than 17 documentary features, the bulk of which were directed by female filmmakers. That choice is an important one, because it comes at a time when attention is being focused on the film industry for failing to provide more directing opportunities to women.
The series opens with the premiere of “Serendipity,” a new offering from Prune Nourry that explores the artist’s use of various forms of media, including photography, film,...
This year’s festival, which runs from Feb. 21 to 28 and boasts more than 17 documentary features, the bulk of which were directed by female filmmakers. That choice is an important one, because it comes at a time when attention is being focused on the film industry for failing to provide more directing opportunities to women.
The series opens with the premiere of “Serendipity,” a new offering from Prune Nourry that explores the artist’s use of various forms of media, including photography, film,...
- 1/9/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Axs TV has ordered an expanded 12-episode second season of its hit reality series Real Money starring rocker Eddie Money and his family. The series is slated to premiere in early 2019, with production beginning this summer.
The 12-episode order is up from its 10-episode freshman season. Real Money joined fellow Axs TV original Rock & Roll Road Trip With Sammy Hagar in the Sunday Night Rocks block. The two series were the most popular original programs in 2018, along with The Big Interview with Dan Rather, according to the network.
“Season one of Real Money took viewers behind the stage and into the home of one of the most iconic voices in music,” said Evan Haiman, Axs TV’s vice president of music programming and production. “Eddie and his family really resonated with our viewers, shining a light on the highs, lows, and hijinks behind the multi-platinum stardom. Axs TV is proud...
The 12-episode order is up from its 10-episode freshman season. Real Money joined fellow Axs TV original Rock & Roll Road Trip With Sammy Hagar in the Sunday Night Rocks block. The two series were the most popular original programs in 2018, along with The Big Interview with Dan Rather, according to the network.
“Season one of Real Money took viewers behind the stage and into the home of one of the most iconic voices in music,” said Evan Haiman, Axs TV’s vice president of music programming and production. “Eddie and his family really resonated with our viewers, shining a light on the highs, lows, and hijinks behind the multi-platinum stardom. Axs TV is proud...
- 6/13/2018
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Buddy (1997) Director: Caroline Thompson Cast: Rene Russo, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Cumming After a bit of a break, Awfully Good Movies is roaring back to life in time for Dwayne Johnson.s latest sci-fi actioner Rampage, and if you thought The Rock has it bad trying to keep his pet gorilla from destroying the city, wait until you see Rene Russo have a gorilla act as her adopted son in 1997.s true life family... Read More...
- 4/12/2018
- by Jesse Shade
- JoBlo.com
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