News

In today’s Global Bulletin, Blue Ant Media and Content Catalyst Fund team to promote women creatives working in unscripted; Abacus Media Rights secures rights to “Four Hours at the Capitol”; La Biennale di Venezia opens the call for applicants to this year’s Venice Gap-Finance Market; Goldfinch picks two video game IPs to develop as film and TV projects; and Fremantle acquires “Good With Wood” in several key territories.

Unscripted

International production, distribution and channel operation company Blue Ant Media will partner with Julie Bristow’s recently launched development and funding outfit Content Catalyst Fund (Ccf) to develop, produce and distribute female-led unscripted content for the Canadian and global marketplaces.

Ccf will handle scouting and identifying standout unscripted project ideas for development and eventual production, focusing on true crime, lifestyle and documentary series. Blue Ant will then step in and produce and eventually distribute the selected projects in collaboration with Ccf,

“I think color is one of the best storytelling devices that we have,” explains costume designer Alexandra Byrne. “It is a kind of subliminal signpost. You’re guiding the audience’s instinctive response to something.” The Oscar winner used color to great effect while bringing Regency-era clothing to life in “Emma.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.

“Emma” isn’t the first time Byrne has tackled a Jane Austen adaptation. She previously designed the outfits for “Persuasion” (winning a BAFTA TV Award in the process). It was her first ever film, with the designer admitting she “had not a clue what I was doing.” That allowed her to work off of her intuition, after amassing mountains of research of course (which she notes was more difficult back in 1995 before the internet inundated us with information and images). “There is a great joy in trusting your instinct,” says Byrne. Her work

Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year's contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.

To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective

Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season

2021 SAG Awards Predictions:

Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture

Updated: Feb. 3, 2021

While its difficult for young performers to be nominated at the Oscars, the SAG awards are far more open to nominating them, as seen by

“The Boys in the Band” stands as one of the biggest casting stories of the year. That is a big boost to the prospects for this Netflix release at the upcoming SAG Awards. The story, by the late Mart Crowley, focuses on a group of gay friends gathered at a birthday party. It’s 1968. One year before the Stonewall Riots cracked open the gay rights movement. When the play premiered Off-Broadway that year, it was the first time audiences saw a genuine depiction of gay life on stage. This legacy was honored in the 2018 Broadway revival which starred only out men. That same group reprised their performances on film.

And that ensemble is big. Nine actors will appear on the SAG ballot: Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, Robin de Jesus, Tuc Watkins, Michael Benjamin Washington, Charlie Carver, and Brian Hutchinson. Such large ensembles have reigned supreme with this awards body.

According to VancouverFilm.Net, The CW has decided to take another shot at "The Lost Boys" live-action TV series, after the network passed on a TV pilot directed by Catherine Hardwicke ("Twilight") that updated the comic book reading, vampire-killing 'Frog Brothers' into the 'Frog Sisters':

"...still mourning the death of her husband, 'Lucy' is forced to move back home to 'Santa Carla', California — something she’s dreaded since causing a town scandal 27 years ago, when she ditched her boyfriend to run off with another man.

"Lucy's elder son 'Michael' planning to attend 'Columbia Medical' school is thrown off by the diagnosis that he shares the same genetic weakness that killed his father. The only thing that consoles him is the friendship he strikes up with 'Stella', a young woman who runs a concession stand on the Santa Carla boardwalk.

"Stella takes to Michael, but she's not single: Her boyfriend is the sexy,

NBC's tradition of live musicals at the holidays continues with this year's Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical, and yes, you definitely recognize the man behind the green. That's Matthew Morrison, best known as high-school teacher Will Schuester from Glee. But as musical-theater fans already know, Glee is far from Morrison's only musical credit.

Years before he broke into the big time with Glee, Morrison had a steady career as a rising star on Broadway. He was in the original cast of Hairspray, originating the role of teen heartthrob Link Larkin in the Tony-winning hit musical back in 2002. A few years later, he earned his own first Tony nomination with The Light in the Piazza, playing Fabrizio Naccarelli, a determined and romantic young Italian who woos the show's heroine, Clara. His last role on Broadway pre-Glee was in the revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic South Pacific, playing WWII-era Marine Lt.

When Anya Taylor-Joy’s “Emma” sauntered on to our cinema screens earlier this year, it wasn’t the first time audiences experienced the story of Jane Austen’s meddling heroine. Gwyneth Paltrow previously embodied the role in a 1996 film version. That original incarnation had a decent reception at the Oscars, but the 2020 update is poised to perform even better.

The 2020 adaptation from Focus Features has one major factor boosting its chances. The film debuted in theaters on February 20, 2020. That was just a couple weeks before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered movie houses around the country. “Emma” was indeed the last film I saw in theaters, and I imagine the same is true for many industry professionals. In a chaotic year where films either had to postpone a theatrical run or head straight to video-on-demand, “Emma” will likely stick out in voters’ memories as one of their final movie theater experiences of

According to VancouverFilm.Net, The CW has decided to take another shot at "The Lost Boys" live-action TV series, after the network passed on a TV pilot directed by Catherine Hardwicke ("Twilight") that updated the comic book reading, vampire-killing 'Frog Brothers' into the 'Frog Sisters':

"...still mourning the death of her husband, 'Lucy' is forced to move back home to 'Santa Carla', California — something she’s dreaded since causing a town scandal 27 years ago, when she ditched her boyfriend to run off with another man.

"Lucy's elder son 'Michael' planning to attend 'Columbia Medical' school is thrown off by the diagnosis that he shares the same genetic weakness that killed his father. The only thing that consoles him is the friendship he strikes up with 'Stella', a young woman who runs a concession stand on the Santa Carla boardwalk.

"Stella takes to Michael, but she's not single: Her boyfriend is the sexy,

For some, the prospect of former Pixar director Brenda Chapman (“Brave”) making her live-action debut will make “Come Away” seem exciting. For others, it’s the film’s literary conceit that appeals: What if Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan had been siblings? And then there’s the casting of Angelina Jolie and David Oyelowo as the parents, which suggests certain possibilities in terms of how the story might deal with certain seldom-examined social dynamics within its period setting — possibilities that internet trolls have targeted with racist comments.

Alas, “Come Away” squanders all of these opportunities on a ponderous family drama that even Netflix (where concept is everything and quality is often beside the point) wasn’t interested in acquiring when it premiered at Sundance back in January. At the festival, the film was overshadowed by “Wendy,” but even in the straight-to-streaming doldrums of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s hard

NBC is inviting the Grinch to share its holiday season: The network will air a two-hour production of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical! on December 9. Staged at the Troubadour Theatre in London, the musical production will star Glee‘s Matthew Morrison as the small-hearted Grinch and Denis O’Hare as his hapless mutt Max played on Broadway during the holiday seasons of 2006 and 2007.

In the NBC version, the Cindy-Lou Who character will be played by young newcomer Amelia Minto. Producers have also assembled an ensemble of musical theater actors from London’s West End to complete the cast.

“Dr. Seuss is an indelible part of all of our lives and we’re thrilled to bring a stage production of The Grinch Musical! to our audience,” said Doug Vaughan, Executive Vice President, Special Programs, NBC Entertainment. “This is a perfect addition to our annual holiday program traditions and a telecast the entire family will enjoy.”

The staging is by director Max Webster, and Julia Knowles directs for television. Additional script material is by Simon Nye, with sets by designer Peter Bingemann.

Previous musicals staged in recent years by NBC The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, The Wiz, Hairspray and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.

Though Morrison became a household name on Glee, he has an extensive stage background, including roles in Broadway’s Footloose, Hairspray, and The Light in the Piazza. More recently, Morrison starred as J.M. Barrie in the Broadway musical Finding Neverland. Additional TV credits include The Good Wife, Grey’s Anatomy and American Horror Story: 1984. Morrison is represented by Podwall Entertainment, ICM Partners and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical is presented in association with Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Running Subway, produced by Penny Lane Entertainment Television and Simon Friend Entertainment. Lee Connolly, Simon Friend, Joshua Rosenblum and James Sanna serve as executive producers. Morrison also serves as a producer on the telecast.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical! will air on NBC Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. Et/Pt from the Troubadour Theatre in London.

The musical event was announced this morning on the Today show:

.@NBC will air a two-hour production of “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical” on Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. Et/Pt. pic.twitter.com/S6nVKWP9rl

— Today (@TODAYshow) November 10, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic might be keeping theater’s lights dimmed, but the year won’t be entirely without musicals: NBC announced Tuesday that it will stage a holiday production of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical!, with Glee‘s Matthew Morrison filling the title role.

Unlike NBC’s previous musicals, The Grinch will not be performed live. Rather, the two-hour production will be filmed at the Troubadour Theatre in London and will air on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 8/7c.

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A new trailer for Angelina Jolie's next feature, Come Away, has now been released, and shows the Oscar-winning actress raising her two children, who just so happen to be Alice from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Peter from J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. The movie will be centered around the classic literary characters, who in Come Away are depicted as siblings.

As the trailer shows, the plot of Come Away focuses on how the family's life is disrupted after the death of the eldest son. This leads to both Alice and Peter attempting to remedy the tragedy in their own way, and help their parents overcome their grief. As the story progresses, the two children begin to descend into worlds made of their own imagination, with both of them embarking on individual adventures, Alice entering Wonderland and Peter, Neverland.

As the voiceover in the trailer explains, Come Away is about Alice,

Veteran filmmaker Marc Forster has been tapped to direct the feature adaptation of the graphic novel “White Bird: A Wonder Story” for Mandeville Films and Lionsgate. The story of the graphic novel stems from the same universe as Lionsgate’s 2017 film “Wonder.” Yes, that Jacob Tremblay, Owen Wilson, and Julia Roberts-led “Wonder,” which earned a sneaky Oscar nomination for Makeup and Hairstyling.

Continue reading ‘White Bird’: Marc Forster To Expand The ‘Wonder’ Cinematic Universe With His Latest Film For Lionsgate at The Playlist.

Lionsgate has signed Marc Forster to direct the drama “White Bird: A Wonder Story,” a year after buying the feature films rights to the R.J. Palacio graphic novel.

The studio adapted Palacio’s popular book “Wonder” into a 2017 feature film starring Jacob Tremblay, Owen Wilson and Julia Roberts. “Wonder” was an impressive performer at the box office with $330 million worldwide.

“White Bird” centers on a young Jewish girl hidden away by a boy and his family in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Recounted by Grandmere to her grandson, Julian (a character first introduced to audiences in “Wonder”), the story demonstrates the power of kindness to change hearts, build bridges and even save lives.

Forster’s directing credits include “Neverland,” which was nominated for a best picture Academy Award; “Christopher Robin”; “World War Z”; “Quantum of Solace”; “The Kite Runner”; and “Stranger Than Fiction.” He will direct “White Bird” from a screenplay by Mark Bomback.

World War Z filmmaker Marc Forster has boarded Lionsgate’s feature adaptation of White Bird: A Wonder Story, a creative graphic novel drawn from the universe of the 2017 Lionsgate-Mandeville Films hit pic Wonder which grossed $306M WW. Forster returns to the studio where he directed the Oscar-winning Monster’s Ball 19 years ago.

In White Bird: A Wonder Story from author R.J. Palacio, Julian Albans, the 11-year-old bully who left Beecher Prep, is still waiting for that insight when he is visited by his Grandmère from Paris and is transformed by her remarkable story of compassion and courage. Grandmère’s fairy-tale life before the war abruptly changes as the Nazis occupy France, and the outcast classmate who she once shunned becomes her savior and best friend.

Scribe Mark Bomback is adapting White Bird, his previous credits include The Art of Racing in the Rain, War for the Planet of the Apes.

Mark Bomback adapts R.J. Palacio’s graphic novel.

Lionsgate has signed Marc Forster to direct White Bird: A Wonder Story, building out from the studio’s 2017 $305m global hit Wonder.

Mark Bomback adapted R.J. Palacio’s graphic novel and Wonder producers David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman of Mandeville Films reprise their roles alongside Palacio also serving as producer.

White Bird: A Wonder Story centres on Julian Albans, the 11-year-old bully from the original feature, who has a life-changing encounter with this grandmother from France

Her seemingly perfect life as a youngster before the war changed under Nazi occupation and

Marc Forster is set to direct White Bird: A Wonder Story, the movie adaptation based on R.J. Palacio’s graphic novel of the same name, for Wonder producers Lionsgate and Mandeville Films.

The World War Z director will helm the creative companion from the universe of the 2017 Lionsgate box office hit Wonder. Forster is also the director of Finding Neverland, Christopher Robin, Quantum of Solace, The Kite Runner, Stranger than Fiction and Lionsgate’s Monster’s Ball.

“To direct the adaptation, Marc Forster brings not only mastery of his craft but a tender heart and gentle vision for a story ...

Johnny Depp will be awarded the Camerimage Award for “an actor with unique visual sensitivity” at the EnergaCamerimage Film Festival. “Minamata,” starring Depp, will be the closing film of the 28th edition of the event, which focuses on cinematography.

Due to the pandemic, Depp will be unable to accept the award in person, but will connect to the ceremony remotely from the U.S. Depp has appeared in person at other fall festivals, including Zurich and San Sebastian, but Covid-19 levels have now risen across Europe.

The screening of “Minamata,” which was directed by Andrew Levitas and shot by cinematographer Benoît Delhomme, will take place on Nov. 21 in Toruń’s Jordanki Festival Center, following the closing gala and awards ceremony. The festival announced its competition lineup at the weekend, which includes critics’ favorites “Ammonite” and “Nomadland.”

“Minamata,” Levitas’ sophomore feature, tells the story of how war photographer W. Eugene Smith

Prepare to feel pleasantly nostalgic, as the beloved locomotive with the slightly creepy face, Thomas the Tank Engine, is chugging his way back onto the big screen courtesy of Mattel Films and Marc Forster's production company 2Dux². Described as a mixture of CGI and live-action akin to Alvin and the Chipmunks and Detective Pikachu, the script for the new take on Thomas & Friends is ready to go with director Marc Forster on board to helm the project.

"Thomas has been a personal favorite of mine since childhood," said Marc Forster. "I couldn't be more excited to be working with Robbie and the entire team at Mattel, and embarking on this beautiful journey with such a timeless property."

Forster is best known for directing the apocalyptic action horror World War Z starring Brad Pitt and the twenty-second movie in the James Bond franchise and second starring Daniel Craig, Quantum of Solace.

The popular animated franchise, Thomas & Friends, is all set to be converted into a feature film.

Hollywood filmmaker Marc Forster will direct the film, reports variety.com. Forster's repertoire includes entertainers as varied as "Finding Neverland", "Quantum Of Solace", "The Kite Runner" and "World War Z".

The animated TV series "Thomas & Friends" is now in its 24th season. Based on The Railway Series of books by Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son Christopher, the series follows the adventures of a group of locomotives and other vehicles in the fictional Island of Sodor. --ians/sim/vnc