The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has returned to its annual spring ritual and announced its 2024-25 Board of Governors today. Among new first-time governors are Patricia Cardoso (Real Women Have Curves), elected to the Directors branch, and Jennifer Fox, who has produced the past several Governors Awards ceremonies, who was elected governor of the Producers Branch. Leaving the board from those positions are current Directors Branch Governor Susanne Bier and Producers Governor Jennifer Todd.
Other first-timers named today are K.K. Barrett for Production Designers, Chris Tashima for Short Films and Andy Nelson for the Sound Branch. Returning to the board after a hiatus is Lois Burwell from Makeup and Hairstylists branch.
Here are the incumbent governors re-elected to the 2024-25 board:
Rita Wilson, Actors Branch
Kim Taylor-Coleman, Casting Directors Branch
Paul Cameron, Cinematographers Branch
Eduardo Castro, Costume Designers Branch
Jean Tsien, Documentary Branch
Pam Abdy, Executives Branch
Terilyn A. Shropshire,...
Other first-timers named today are K.K. Barrett for Production Designers, Chris Tashima for Short Films and Andy Nelson for the Sound Branch. Returning to the board after a hiatus is Lois Burwell from Makeup and Hairstylists branch.
Here are the incumbent governors re-elected to the 2024-25 board:
Rita Wilson, Actors Branch
Kim Taylor-Coleman, Casting Directors Branch
Paul Cameron, Cinematographers Branch
Eduardo Castro, Costume Designers Branch
Jean Tsien, Documentary Branch
Pam Abdy, Executives Branch
Terilyn A. Shropshire,...
- 6/10/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
The new Academy board of 55 members for the 2024-25 season comprises 53% women, while 27% of governors belong to an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.
The Academy announced on Monday that the following governors have been elected for the first time: Patricia Cardoso, directors branch; Jennifer Fox, producers branch; K.K. Barrett, production design branch; Chris Tashima, short films branch; and Andy Nelson, sound branch.
The following have been re-elected: Rita Wilson, actors branch; Kim Taylor-Coleman, casting directors branch; Paul Cameron, cinematographers branch; Eduardo Castro, costume designers branch; Jean Tsien, documentary branch; Pam Abdy, executives branch; Terilyn A. Shropshire, film editors branch; Laura C.
The Academy announced on Monday that the following governors have been elected for the first time: Patricia Cardoso, directors branch; Jennifer Fox, producers branch; K.K. Barrett, production design branch; Chris Tashima, short films branch; and Andy Nelson, sound branch.
The following have been re-elected: Rita Wilson, actors branch; Kim Taylor-Coleman, casting directors branch; Paul Cameron, cinematographers branch; Eduardo Castro, costume designers branch; Jean Tsien, documentary branch; Pam Abdy, executives branch; Terilyn A. Shropshire, film editors branch; Laura C.
- 6/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the newly elected Board of Governors for the 2024-2025 year.
Elected to the board for the first time are “Real Women Have Curves” director Patricia Cardoso, Oscar-nominated production designer K.K. Barrett (“Her”), two-time Oscar-winning sound designer Andy Nelson (“Saving Private Ryan” and “Les Misérables”), and producer Jennifer Fox, who has helmed the past four Governors Awards. Oscar winner Chris Tashima (“Visas and Virtue”) was elected to the board, representing the shorts branch, following the split from animation earlier this year.
Additionally, 11 incumbents were re-elected to the board: Rita Wilson (actors), Kim Taylor-Coleman (casting directors), Paul Cameron (cinematographers), Eduardo Castro (costume designers), Jean Tsien (documentary), Pam Abdy (executives), Terilyn A. Shropshire (film editors), Laura C. Kim (marketing and public relations), Lesley Barber (music), Brooke Breton (visual effects) and Howard A. Rodman (writers). Oscar-winning makeup artist Lois Burwell (“Braveheart”) is returning to the Board after a hiatus.
Elected to the board for the first time are “Real Women Have Curves” director Patricia Cardoso, Oscar-nominated production designer K.K. Barrett (“Her”), two-time Oscar-winning sound designer Andy Nelson (“Saving Private Ryan” and “Les Misérables”), and producer Jennifer Fox, who has helmed the past four Governors Awards. Oscar winner Chris Tashima (“Visas and Virtue”) was elected to the board, representing the shorts branch, following the split from animation earlier this year.
Additionally, 11 incumbents were re-elected to the board: Rita Wilson (actors), Kim Taylor-Coleman (casting directors), Paul Cameron (cinematographers), Eduardo Castro (costume designers), Jean Tsien (documentary), Pam Abdy (executives), Terilyn A. Shropshire (film editors), Laura C. Kim (marketing and public relations), Lesley Barber (music), Brooke Breton (visual effects) and Howard A. Rodman (writers). Oscar-winning makeup artist Lois Burwell (“Braveheart”) is returning to the Board after a hiatus.
- 6/10/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The results are in after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held elections for 17 seats on its 55-person board of governors, and the newly constituted board will include five rookies, one comeback kid and 11 continuing incumbents.
The five first-time governors will be Patricia Cardoso (directors branch), a 1996 Student Academy Award winner best known for helming 2002’s Real Women Have Curves, who will succeed Susanne Bier; Jennifer Fox (producers), an Oscar nominee for Michael Clayton and five-time producer of the Academy’s Governors Awards, who will succeed Jennifer Todd; K.K. Barrett (production design), an Oscar nominee for Her, who will succeed Tom Duffield; Andy Nelson (sound), a 24-time Oscar nominee who has taken home statuettes for Saving Private Ryan and Les Misérables, who will succeed Gary C. Bourgeois; and Chris Tashima (short films), an Oscar winner for the live action short Visas and Virtue, who becomes the first governor of the short films branch.
The five first-time governors will be Patricia Cardoso (directors branch), a 1996 Student Academy Award winner best known for helming 2002’s Real Women Have Curves, who will succeed Susanne Bier; Jennifer Fox (producers), an Oscar nominee for Michael Clayton and five-time producer of the Academy’s Governors Awards, who will succeed Jennifer Todd; K.K. Barrett (production design), an Oscar nominee for Her, who will succeed Tom Duffield; Andy Nelson (sound), a 24-time Oscar nominee who has taken home statuettes for Saving Private Ryan and Les Misérables, who will succeed Gary C. Bourgeois; and Chris Tashima (short films), an Oscar winner for the live action short Visas and Virtue, who becomes the first governor of the short films branch.
- 6/10/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fresh off some big executive moves, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced its newly elected 2024-2025 Board of Governors. The governors, whose advise on what should be the Academy’s strategic vision, help preserve the organization’s financial health, and assure the fulfillment of its mission, are set to take office at the first scheduled board meeting of the new term.
Incumbent governors, reelected to the board after a three-year term, include actress Rita Wilson and Warner Bros. Pictures executive Pam Abdy. Among those elected to the board for the first time is producer Jennifer Fox, who has helmed the Academy’s Governors Awards several years running.
The Academy has 19 branches total, each represented by three governors, except for the recently established Animation Branch, represented by two governors; the recently established Short Films Branch, represented by one governor; and the Production and Technology Branch, represented by one governor.
Incumbent governors, reelected to the board after a three-year term, include actress Rita Wilson and Warner Bros. Pictures executive Pam Abdy. Among those elected to the board for the first time is producer Jennifer Fox, who has helmed the Academy’s Governors Awards several years running.
The Academy has 19 branches total, each represented by three governors, except for the recently established Animation Branch, represented by two governors; the recently established Short Films Branch, represented by one governor; and the Production and Technology Branch, represented by one governor.
- 6/10/2024
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Screenwriter Eric Roth has written an adaptation of the sci-fi short story called I Am Waiting For You, reportedly for Dune director Denis Villeneuve.
Having made what is currently the highest grossing film of 2024, Dune: Part Two, the logical question is: what does director Denis Villeneuve make next? There’s been talk about turning his Dune saga into a trilogy with Dune: Messiah, but the filmmaker has previously said “it would be healthy” to make something slightly different before he returns to Arrakis.
Among the potential films we know about there’s his long-discussed Cleopatra epic; an adaptation of Arthur C Clarke’s sci-fi novel Rendezvous With Rama, an adaptation of the non-fiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario.
Then there’s a slightly more mysterious sci-fi film said to be “about space and time”, written by Eric Roth, who also wrote the adapted screenplay of Rendezvous With Rama. When Roth...
Having made what is currently the highest grossing film of 2024, Dune: Part Two, the logical question is: what does director Denis Villeneuve make next? There’s been talk about turning his Dune saga into a trilogy with Dune: Messiah, but the filmmaker has previously said “it would be healthy” to make something slightly different before he returns to Arrakis.
Among the potential films we know about there’s his long-discussed Cleopatra epic; an adaptation of Arthur C Clarke’s sci-fi novel Rendezvous With Rama, an adaptation of the non-fiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario.
Then there’s a slightly more mysterious sci-fi film said to be “about space and time”, written by Eric Roth, who also wrote the adapted screenplay of Rendezvous With Rama. When Roth...
- 6/10/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
Veteran director David Fincer worked alongside iconic actor Morgan Freeman when they created and shot the 1995 film Se7en. Portraying the role of Detective Somerset in the crime/mystery film, Freeman loved Fincher’s work and the two decided to work together again.
Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman in Seven
However, Fincher never got to make his dream film with Morgan Freeman due to the latter’s failing health in the year 2008. With passing time and no hopes left, Fincher’s dream film was later picked up by Dune director Denis Villeneuve and he describes it as “Arrival on steroids”!
David Fincher Wanted His Dream Film With Morgan Freeman
Rendezvous With Rama is a 1973 sci-fi novel by writer Arthur C. Clarke (who also wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey). Naturally, veteran director David Fincher wanted to adapt the 1972 novel into a film starring Morgan Freeman in one of the lead roles.
David Fincher.
Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman in Seven
However, Fincher never got to make his dream film with Morgan Freeman due to the latter’s failing health in the year 2008. With passing time and no hopes left, Fincher’s dream film was later picked up by Dune director Denis Villeneuve and he describes it as “Arrival on steroids”!
David Fincher Wanted His Dream Film With Morgan Freeman
Rendezvous With Rama is a 1973 sci-fi novel by writer Arthur C. Clarke (who also wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey). Naturally, veteran director David Fincher wanted to adapt the 1972 novel into a film starring Morgan Freeman in one of the lead roles.
David Fincher.
- 6/2/2024
- by Visarg Acharya
- FandomWire
Stephen J. Rivele, the screenwriter whose 1995 collaboration on Nixon with Oliver Stone and longtime writing partner Christopher Wilkinson earned the trio an Oscar nomination, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Pasadena, California, on May 17. He was 75.
His death was announced by son Eli Rivele and Wilkinson.
A published author, playwright and poet, Rivele shared a 30-year career with Wilkinson. In addition to Nixon, their credits include Ali, the 2001 Muhammad Ali biopic starring Will Smith and co-written by director Michael Mann and Eric Roth; Copying Beethoven, the 2006 drama starring Ed Harris as the great composer; and Birth of the Dragon, the 2016 martial arts film with Philip Wan-lung Ng as Bruce Lee.
Rivele and Wilkinson had story credits for such other notable biopics as Miles Ahead (2015), directed by and starring Don Cheadle as jazz giant Miles Davis; and Pawn Sacrifice (2014), with Tobey Maguire as chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer.
Born May 6, 1949, in Philadelphia,...
His death was announced by son Eli Rivele and Wilkinson.
A published author, playwright and poet, Rivele shared a 30-year career with Wilkinson. In addition to Nixon, their credits include Ali, the 2001 Muhammad Ali biopic starring Will Smith and co-written by director Michael Mann and Eric Roth; Copying Beethoven, the 2006 drama starring Ed Harris as the great composer; and Birth of the Dragon, the 2016 martial arts film with Philip Wan-lung Ng as Bruce Lee.
Rivele and Wilkinson had story credits for such other notable biopics as Miles Ahead (2015), directed by and starring Don Cheadle as jazz giant Miles Davis; and Pawn Sacrifice (2014), with Tobey Maguire as chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer.
Born May 6, 1949, in Philadelphia,...
- 5/30/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Rolling off its acquisition of Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis,” Italy’s leading independent distributor Eagle Pictures has scooped Italian remake rights to French smash hit “A Little Something Extra,” along with a raft of high-profile projects shopped at the Cannes Film Market.
The company, which is owned by veteran producer-distributor Tarak Ben Ammar, will produce and distribute the Italian remake of “A Little Something Extra” (“Un Ptit truc en plus), Artus’ heartwarming family comedy which has taken the French box office by storm, selling a whooping 3.4 million tickets in theaters in three weeks.
“It’s a delightful film about a father and his son who rob a little jewelry shop in a small town and as they’re looking a place to hide, they get on a bus without realizing that it’s taking them to a summer camp for young adults with disabilities,” Ben Ammar said. “They all...
The company, which is owned by veteran producer-distributor Tarak Ben Ammar, will produce and distribute the Italian remake of “A Little Something Extra” (“Un Ptit truc en plus), Artus’ heartwarming family comedy which has taken the French box office by storm, selling a whooping 3.4 million tickets in theaters in three weeks.
“It’s a delightful film about a father and his son who rob a little jewelry shop in a small town and as they’re looking a place to hide, they get on a bus without realizing that it’s taking them to a summer camp for young adults with disabilities,” Ben Ammar said. “They all...
- 5/25/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Martin Scorsese’s epic Killers of the Flower Moon shined a light on one of the lesser-known dark chapters of American history – the wholesale slaughter of dozens of members of the Osage Indian Nation by their supposed guardians, neighbors and friends. A dramatic gut-punch of a film, it was adapted by Scorsese and Eric Roth from the 2017 David Grann book of the same name. The book took about five years to research, and the film took just as long to arrive on the big screen, with both taking great pains to authentically communicate the tragic nature of the Osage murders. While the film obviously takes a handful of liberties necessary to dramatize Grann’s book, by all accounts it’s an incredibly faithful telling of the story, accurately recreating the book’s major events as realistically as possible. Let’s take a look at What Really Happened to Killers of the Flower Moon.
- 5/22/2024
- by Eric Walkuski
- JoBlo.com
In 1994, you couldn't escape "Forrest Gump." The Robert Zemeckis-directed comedy-drama starring Tom Hanks was huge — it hauled in $678.2 million at the worldwide box office, which made it the second-highest-grossing film of '94 (the first-highest grossing film was "The Lion King"). From there, "Forrest Gump" would go on to Oscar glory, winning six Academy Awards — Best Picture, Best Director for Robert Zemeckis, Best Actor for Tom Hanks, Best Adapted Screenplay for Eric Roth, Best Visual Effects, and Best Film Editing for Arthur Schmidt. It was a cultural phenomenon, and TV reruns would eventually make it even more ubiquitous.
The story follows Forrest Gump, a man with an Iq of 75 who somehow stumbles through several major events in American history throughout the 1960s and 70s. This concept allowed Zemeckis to use what was then cutting-edge visual effects that would drop Hanks into historical footage and have him "interacting" with real-life prominent...
The story follows Forrest Gump, a man with an Iq of 75 who somehow stumbles through several major events in American history throughout the 1960s and 70s. This concept allowed Zemeckis to use what was then cutting-edge visual effects that would drop Hanks into historical footage and have him "interacting" with real-life prominent...
- 5/19/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Amidst the pomp and circumstance surrounding the Imperium delegation’s arrival to the Atreides home world of Caladan, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), has a practical question. “How much did it cost them, traveling all this way for this formality?” he asks his Mentat Thufir Hawat at the start of Dune. And then Thufir, played by Stephen McKinley Henderson, does something weird. He doesn’t whip out a palm pilot or consult his calculator watch. He instead rolls his eyes into the back of his head for a couple of seconds and then produces an answer: “Three Guild Navigators, a total of one-point-four-six-million-sixty-two Solaris roundtrip.” Director Denis Villeneuve nor his co-writers Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth explain what any of those words mean in the script, or why Thufir does that weird thing with his eyes. And viewers easily chalk it up just another weird thing in this unfamiliar world.
- 5/15/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
For many years, Frank Herbert's "Dune" saga was described as impossible to adapt. Oh, people tried (check out our ranking of the "Dune" movies/TV here), but it wasn't until director Denis Villeneuve's two recent "Dune" films (with a third movie forthcoming) that one of these efforts was acclaimed. Villeneuve went from making a sequel to "Blade Runner" to adapting a story deemed a white whale. You can't say he doesn't have ambition, but even he has his limits.
Speaking to IndieWire in 2022, "Dune" screenwriter Eric Roth described his original pitch for the movie's opening sequence. Essentially, it was the Book of Genesis, Arrakis edition: "I started the movie with what would seem to be 'Genesis — 'and God created'— and you think you're seeing the formation of the Earth. And it's Dune, with wild animals, things you've never seen."
Roth remembered Villeneuve's answer, "This is magnificent, but...
Speaking to IndieWire in 2022, "Dune" screenwriter Eric Roth described his original pitch for the movie's opening sequence. Essentially, it was the Book of Genesis, Arrakis edition: "I started the movie with what would seem to be 'Genesis — 'and God created'— and you think you're seeing the formation of the Earth. And it's Dune, with wild animals, things you've never seen."
Roth remembered Villeneuve's answer, "This is magnificent, but...
- 5/12/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
New transmedia company Iconic Arts launched Tuesday with $3.1 million in financing at a $20 million pre-seed valuation. The entertainment studio boasts support from screenwriter Eric Roth, Grammy winning artist Will.i.am and exec vets of Disney, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Jp Morgan.
Iconic Arts, which has opened offices in both Los Angeles and Tokyo, is founded by Steven Haddadian, Alec Roth, Matthew Medney, Mo Yazdani and Jack Sheehan.
Per Iconic Arts, “For the last year, the team has been developing an original slate of IP by using a unique workflow which combines talented creators with emerging technologies such as a set of proprietary AI-powered tools that help lower cost of development by up to 90%, while derisking negative audience sentiment. For example, one tool enables creators to materialize worlds for Ugc platforms such as Fortnite, Roblox or any multiplayer native environment with no code, while maintaining their art direction. These Ugc platforms serve...
Iconic Arts, which has opened offices in both Los Angeles and Tokyo, is founded by Steven Haddadian, Alec Roth, Matthew Medney, Mo Yazdani and Jack Sheehan.
Per Iconic Arts, “For the last year, the team has been developing an original slate of IP by using a unique workflow which combines talented creators with emerging technologies such as a set of proprietary AI-powered tools that help lower cost of development by up to 90%, while derisking negative audience sentiment. For example, one tool enables creators to materialize worlds for Ugc platforms such as Fortnite, Roblox or any multiplayer native environment with no code, while maintaining their art direction. These Ugc platforms serve...
- 5/8/2024
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Imagine what it was like in the 1990s -- and being constantly told and reminded that Tarantino was revolutionizing cinema.
Not only was Quentin Tarantino's indie project being worshiped by film critics in 1994, but it was also being staged as the antithesis to the year's other subversive comedy, Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks.
Forrest Gump represented traditional values and innocence. (Though screenwriter Eric Roth nor Winston Groom ever intended the character that way)
Pulp Fiction represented cynicism and brutality triumphing over good intentions. It was an Oscar race partly conceived by Miramax and Harvey Weinstein, who, believe it or not, used to be good at other things besides...well, you know.
It was impossible for Gen X not to embrace Pulp Fiction as their generation's movie and the one that most spoke to their maturing culture. Maybe amid the media storm, I was the only one who saw what was happening.
Not only was Quentin Tarantino's indie project being worshiped by film critics in 1994, but it was also being staged as the antithesis to the year's other subversive comedy, Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks.
Forrest Gump represented traditional values and innocence. (Though screenwriter Eric Roth nor Winston Groom ever intended the character that way)
Pulp Fiction represented cynicism and brutality triumphing over good intentions. It was an Oscar race partly conceived by Miramax and Harvey Weinstein, who, believe it or not, used to be good at other things besides...well, you know.
It was impossible for Gen X not to embrace Pulp Fiction as their generation's movie and the one that most spoke to their maturing culture. Maybe amid the media storm, I was the only one who saw what was happening.
- 5/4/2024
- by Michael Arangua
- TVfanatic
Five full weeks after the Oscars, the Writers Guild of America finally got around to giving out its awards. Oscar winner Cord Jefferson (“American Fiction”) won the original screenplay prize while David Hemingson (“The Holdovers”) picked up the adapted screenplay trophy; he had lost at the Oscars to “Anatomy of a Fall,” which was ineligible here.
Three other scripts deemed ineligible by the WGA went on to win Oscars in the past decade: “Birdman” (2015; original), “The Father” (2021; adapted), and “Belfast” (2022; original). During that time, 68 of the WGA Awards nominees numbered among the 100 screenplays that reaped Oscar bids.
Two other Oscar contenders — “Poor Things,” and “The Zone of Interest” — were ruled out of the running by the guild before nominations were announced way back on Feb. 21. The WGA included “Barbie” in the original lineup while the academy had it over in adapted. That was the third time in a decade that...
Three other scripts deemed ineligible by the WGA went on to win Oscars in the past decade: “Birdman” (2015; original), “The Father” (2021; adapted), and “Belfast” (2022; original). During that time, 68 of the WGA Awards nominees numbered among the 100 screenplays that reaped Oscar bids.
Two other Oscar contenders — “Poor Things,” and “The Zone of Interest” — were ruled out of the running by the guild before nominations were announced way back on Feb. 21. The WGA included “Barbie” in the original lineup while the academy had it over in adapted. That was the third time in a decade that...
- 4/15/2024
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
David Hemingson’s The Holdovers at Focus Features won original screenplay and Cord Jefferson’s Oscar-winning American Fiction from Amazon MGM Studios took adapted honours at the strike-delayed Writers Guild Awards on Sunday.
This was a second major adapted screenplay award in relatively short order for Jefferson after last month’s Oscar win.
The Holdovers prevailed in an original screenplay category that included Barbie and May December, but not the Oscar winner Anatomy Of A Fall, rendered ineligible here because it was not produced under a Writers Guild of America (WGA) contract.
The best documentary screenplay award went to Errol Morris for The Pigeon Tunnel.
This was a second major adapted screenplay award in relatively short order for Jefferson after last month’s Oscar win.
The Holdovers prevailed in an original screenplay category that included Barbie and May December, but not the Oscar winner Anatomy Of A Fall, rendered ineligible here because it was not produced under a Writers Guild of America (WGA) contract.
The best documentary screenplay award went to Errol Morris for The Pigeon Tunnel.
- 4/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
David Hemingson’s The Holdovers at Focus Features won original screenplay and Cord Jefferson’s Oscar-winning American Fiction from Amazon MGM Studios took adapted honours at the strike-delayed Writers Guild Awards on Sunday.
This was a second major adapted screenplay award in relatively short order for Jefferson after last month’s Oscar win.
The Holdovers prevailed in an original screenplay category that included Barbie and May December, but not the Oscar winner Anatomy Of A Fall, rendered ineligible here because it was not produced under a Writers Guild of America (WGA) contract.
The best documentary screenplay award went to Errol Morris for The Pigeon Tunnel.
This was a second major adapted screenplay award in relatively short order for Jefferson after last month’s Oscar win.
The Holdovers prevailed in an original screenplay category that included Barbie and May December, but not the Oscar winner Anatomy Of A Fall, rendered ineligible here because it was not produced under a Writers Guild of America (WGA) contract.
The best documentary screenplay award went to Errol Morris for The Pigeon Tunnel.
- 4/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
Writer/director Cord Jefferson on the set of ‘American Fiction’ (Photo credit: Claire Folger © 2023 Orion Releasing LLC)
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) stretched out the awards season, handing out their annual awards during ceremonies held in Los Angeles and New York on April 14, 2024. Niecy Nash-Betts (Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story) had the honor of hosting the Writers Guild of America West’s ceremony while Josh Gondelman (Desus & Mero) handled hosting duties for the Writers Guild of America East.
The final season of Succession was recognized with Drama Series and Episodic Drama awards, and the first season of The Last of Us snagged the New Series trophy. The Bear and Beef continued their winning streaks, scoring Comedy Series and Limited Series wins.
David Hemingson’s The Holdovers and Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction were recognized as the best original and adapted screenplays of 2023. And Errol Morris’ The Pigeon Tunnel took...
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) stretched out the awards season, handing out their annual awards during ceremonies held in Los Angeles and New York on April 14, 2024. Niecy Nash-Betts (Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story) had the honor of hosting the Writers Guild of America West’s ceremony while Josh Gondelman (Desus & Mero) handled hosting duties for the Writers Guild of America East.
The final season of Succession was recognized with Drama Series and Episodic Drama awards, and the first season of The Last of Us snagged the New Series trophy. The Bear and Beef continued their winning streaks, scoring Comedy Series and Limited Series wins.
David Hemingson’s The Holdovers and Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction were recognized as the best original and adapted screenplays of 2023. And Errol Morris’ The Pigeon Tunnel took...
- 4/15/2024
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
With the 2024 Oscars and the 2023 Emmys firmly in the rearview mirror, the film and TV awards calendar is all but ready to return to normalcy after last years Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes disrupted the first half of award season. The last major event to be impacted by the altered schedule is today’s WGA Awards, which took place in an unusual post-Oscars slot after the strikes forced the guild to delay its voting process. As most of Hollywood looks ahead to the 2024 film and TV slate, today’s concurrent ceremonies in Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium and New York City’s Edison Ballroom gave award watchers one last chance to celebrate the best screenwriting of 2023.
David Hemingson’s “The Holdovers” won the night’s marquee award for Original Screenplay, beating out heavyweights including Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach’s “Barbie” and Celine Song’s “Past Lives.” In the Adapted Screenplay category,...
David Hemingson’s “The Holdovers” won the night’s marquee award for Original Screenplay, beating out heavyweights including Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach’s “Barbie” and Celine Song’s “Past Lives.” In the Adapted Screenplay category,...
- 4/15/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
‘Succession’ has gone out with one final bang: The HBO drama won two Writers Guild of America Awards on Sunday night — the most of any series — for best drama series and also for best drama episode. Creator Jesse Armstrong was on hand in New York to accept the award, while several of the show’s writers were also in LA to accept the honor.
This reps the final major awards show where “Succession” (which ended its run last May) was still eligible. Besides best drama, the show also won the episodic drama prize, for the episode “Living+,” written by Georgia Pritchett and Will Arbery.
The WGA Awards recognized the best of 2023’s television and film via its annual event held this year at the Hollywood Palladium for the West Coast edition and at New York’s Edison Ballroom for the East Coast ceremony.
Big winners on the film side included “American Fiction” writer Cord Jefferson,...
This reps the final major awards show where “Succession” (which ended its run last May) was still eligible. Besides best drama, the show also won the episodic drama prize, for the episode “Living+,” written by Georgia Pritchett and Will Arbery.
The WGA Awards recognized the best of 2023’s television and film via its annual event held this year at the Hollywood Palladium for the West Coast edition and at New York’s Edison Ballroom for the East Coast ceremony.
Big winners on the film side included “American Fiction” writer Cord Jefferson,...
- 4/14/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Director Denis Villeneuve is currently developing Dune: Messiah, but it’s also being reported that he’ll adapt the non-fiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario after that.
We heard last month that a sequel to this year’s sci-fi opus Dune: Part Two was greenlit and in the process of being written at Legendary Entertainment. While Dune: Messiah bubbles on the stove, though, it’s being reported that director Denis Villeneuve has another project in the works at Legendary – an adaptation of the book Nuclear War: A Scenario.
A New York Times best seller by Annie Jacobsen, Nuclear War is described by its publisher Penguin as a “edge-of-your-seat thriller” with the author basing her what-if vision of armageddon on interviews with military experts.
Deadline reports that Legendary has bought the rights to the novel, and that Villeneuve is expected to make Nuclear War after he’s finished Dune: Messiah.
It...
We heard last month that a sequel to this year’s sci-fi opus Dune: Part Two was greenlit and in the process of being written at Legendary Entertainment. While Dune: Messiah bubbles on the stove, though, it’s being reported that director Denis Villeneuve has another project in the works at Legendary – an adaptation of the book Nuclear War: A Scenario.
A New York Times best seller by Annie Jacobsen, Nuclear War is described by its publisher Penguin as a “edge-of-your-seat thriller” with the author basing her what-if vision of armageddon on interviews with military experts.
Deadline reports that Legendary has bought the rights to the novel, and that Villeneuve is expected to make Nuclear War after he’s finished Dune: Messiah.
It...
- 4/5/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
In 1994, American cinema experienced a surge of exceptional films, among which Forrest Gump stands out prominently. Starring Tom Hanks, this heartwarming tale captured the hearts of audiences. While it didn’t quite surpass the popularity of The Lion King, which dominated the box office, Forrest Gump still made an impressive $679 million, according to The Numbers.
Tom Hanks in and as Forrest Gump
The film won six Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor for Tom Hanks, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Eric Roth. Forrest Gump was based on Winston Groom’s novel of the same name.
SUGGESTEDTom Hanks’ ‘Forrest Gump’ Fame Destroyed His Son’s Life, Caused Him To Be Angry and “Self-Destructive”: “I wasn’t even famous”
Tom Hanks is notably among the world’s most popular actors and has been associated with some of the greatest films of all time. But in Forrest Gump movie, there was Tom...
Tom Hanks in and as Forrest Gump
The film won six Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor for Tom Hanks, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Eric Roth. Forrest Gump was based on Winston Groom’s novel of the same name.
SUGGESTEDTom Hanks’ ‘Forrest Gump’ Fame Destroyed His Son’s Life, Caused Him To Be Angry and “Self-Destructive”: “I wasn’t even famous”
Tom Hanks is notably among the world’s most popular actors and has been associated with some of the greatest films of all time. But in Forrest Gump movie, there was Tom...
- 4/3/2024
- by Prantik Prabal Roy
- FandomWire
Sony is opening Miramax’s Here stateside as a platform release, going to New York City and Los Angeles on November 15, then a limited break on November 22, followed by a wide opening on November 27.
The movie reps the first time that filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and scribe Eric Roth have all worked together since the Best Picture Oscar-winning 1994 smash Forrest Gump.
The pic follows multiple families and a special place they inhabit — traveling through generations and capturing the human experience in its purest form. Here is based on the graphic novel by Richard McGuire.
Producers are Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, Derek Hogue and Bill Block. EPs are Jeremy Johns, Andrew Golov and Thom Zadra. The movie also stars Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly and Michelle Dockery.
Also going wide on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is Disney’s Moana 2 and Universal’s Wicked.
Miramax will handle overseas on Here.
The movie reps the first time that filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and scribe Eric Roth have all worked together since the Best Picture Oscar-winning 1994 smash Forrest Gump.
The pic follows multiple families and a special place they inhabit — traveling through generations and capturing the human experience in its purest form. Here is based on the graphic novel by Richard McGuire.
Producers are Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, Derek Hogue and Bill Block. EPs are Jeremy Johns, Andrew Golov and Thom Zadra. The movie also stars Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly and Michelle Dockery.
Also going wide on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is Disney’s Moana 2 and Universal’s Wicked.
Miramax will handle overseas on Here.
- 3/29/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Sony Pictures’ forthcoming drama feature Here, reuniting the creative forces behind Forrest Gump, is getting a prime awards season spot on the theatrical calendar.
Sony announced Friday that the film from director Robert Zemeckis, writer Eric Roth, and stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright is set for a platform release this November. Here will hit Los Angeles and New York theaters Nov. 15 ahead of a limited release the following week, before going wide Nov. 27.
Zemeckis directs Here from a script he wrote with Roth that is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Richard McGuire. It tells the story of multiple families over the course of generations and a location that is special to them.
Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly and Michelle Dockery round out the ensemble cast. Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, Derek Hogue and Bill Block serve as producers.
The Hollywood Reporter reported last year that Hanks and...
Sony announced Friday that the film from director Robert Zemeckis, writer Eric Roth, and stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright is set for a platform release this November. Here will hit Los Angeles and New York theaters Nov. 15 ahead of a limited release the following week, before going wide Nov. 27.
Zemeckis directs Here from a script he wrote with Roth that is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Richard McGuire. It tells the story of multiple families over the course of generations and a location that is special to them.
Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly and Michelle Dockery round out the ensemble cast. Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, Derek Hogue and Bill Block serve as producers.
The Hollywood Reporter reported last year that Hanks and...
- 3/29/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Miramax’s “Here,” which reunites “Forrest Gump” filmmaker Robert Zemeckis with stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, will get a three-step platform release this November from TriStar Pictures.
The film will premiere exclusively in L.A. and N.Y. on Nov. 15, followed by a limited release on Nov. 22, and a wide release on Nov. 27.
This summer marks 30 years since “Forrest Gump” first premiered. Zemeckis re-teamed with writer Eric Roth to pen the script for “Here,” which is based on the innovative 2014 graphic novel of the same name by Richard McGuire. It’s described as an original film about multiple families and a special place they inhabit. The story travels through generations, capturing the human experience in its purest form for a tale of love, loss, laughter and life.
Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly and Michelle Dockery will also star. In January 2023, it was revealed that Hanks and Wright would be digitally de-aged for the ambitious project,...
The film will premiere exclusively in L.A. and N.Y. on Nov. 15, followed by a limited release on Nov. 22, and a wide release on Nov. 27.
This summer marks 30 years since “Forrest Gump” first premiered. Zemeckis re-teamed with writer Eric Roth to pen the script for “Here,” which is based on the innovative 2014 graphic novel of the same name by Richard McGuire. It’s described as an original film about multiple families and a special place they inhabit. The story travels through generations, capturing the human experience in its purest form for a tale of love, loss, laughter and life.
Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly and Michelle Dockery will also star. In January 2023, it was revealed that Hanks and Wright would be digitally de-aged for the ambitious project,...
- 3/29/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Actor Taraji P. Henson collaborated with Oscar-winner Brad Pitt for the David Fincher film Curious Case of Benjamin Button. But she figured she’d be the last person Fincher would cast in the picture.
Taraji P. Henson was surprised she ended up being cast in David Fincher’s film Taraji P. Henson | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
David Fincher and Brad Pitt were already very familiar with each other by the time Benjamin Button came around. But working with the two was a completely different experience for the Empire star. According to an interview from Black Film, Henson acquired the role thanks to a mutual acquaintance.
“Laray Mayfield, who brilliantly cast Benjamin Button. She had seen my performance in Hustleand Flow and actually called David Fincher from the theater and telling him she found Queenie, the part that I play,” Henson said. “This was two years before the film was greenlit, packaged and put together.
Taraji P. Henson was surprised she ended up being cast in David Fincher’s film Taraji P. Henson | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
David Fincher and Brad Pitt were already very familiar with each other by the time Benjamin Button came around. But working with the two was a completely different experience for the Empire star. According to an interview from Black Film, Henson acquired the role thanks to a mutual acquaintance.
“Laray Mayfield, who brilliantly cast Benjamin Button. She had seen my performance in Hustleand Flow and actually called David Fincher from the theater and telling him she found Queenie, the part that I play,” Henson said. “This was two years before the film was greenlit, packaged and put together.
- 3/29/2024
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
If the $579 million at the box office and 93% Rotten Tomatoes score weren’t enough, Quebecois director Denis Villeneuve got one of the greatest boosts one can receive in his field. None other than Steven Spielberg, who knows a thing or two about science fiction, interviewed the “Dune: Part Two” director for the DGA’s “Director’s Cut” podcast, and told him “you have made one of the most brilliant science fiction films I’ve ever seen.”
The creator of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” continued by extolling Villeneuve’s “world-building” prowess, by placing him on a Mount Olympus with several other greats. “Starting with [Georges] Méliès and Disney and Kubrick, George Lucas. Ray Harryhausen, I include in that list. Fellini built his own worlds. Tim Burton. Obviously Wes Anderson, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Guillermo del Toro. The list goes on but it...
The creator of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” continued by extolling Villeneuve’s “world-building” prowess, by placing him on a Mount Olympus with several other greats. “Starting with [Georges] Méliès and Disney and Kubrick, George Lucas. Ray Harryhausen, I include in that list. Fellini built his own worlds. Tim Burton. Obviously Wes Anderson, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Guillermo del Toro. The list goes on but it...
- 3/28/2024
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
The Writers Guild of America West announced on Tuesday that American Fiction writer-director Cord Jefferson has been named recipient of the 2024 Paul Selvin Award for the Amazon MGM Studios film, for which he won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay earlier this month.
Additionally, American Fiction — based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett — is nominated for the WGA Award for best adapted screenplay.
The comedy, which stars Oscar nominee Jeffrey Wright as a frustrated novelist who writes a satirical book under a pen name that exposes the publishing industry’s limited view of Black life, has garnered numerous awards in addition to the Oscar, including the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, a BAFTA award for best adapted screenplay and Film Independent Spirit Awards for best actor (Wright) and adapted screenplay. The film was also named as one of the year’s best by the...
Additionally, American Fiction — based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett — is nominated for the WGA Award for best adapted screenplay.
The comedy, which stars Oscar nominee Jeffrey Wright as a frustrated novelist who writes a satirical book under a pen name that exposes the publishing industry’s limited view of Black life, has garnered numerous awards in addition to the Oscar, including the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, a BAFTA award for best adapted screenplay and Film Independent Spirit Awards for best actor (Wright) and adapted screenplay. The film was also named as one of the year’s best by the...
- 3/26/2024
- by Tyler Coates
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgård, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Charlotte Rampling | Written by Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts | Directed by Denis Villeneuve
With 2021’s Dune, co-writers Eric Roth, Jon Spaihts, and director Denis Villeneuve phenomenally brought to screen the vibrant world that Frank Herbert crafted in his 1965 novel. Dune: Part Two adapts the remainder of the iconic novel, taking place a few hours after the previous film’s climactic knife-fight.
On Arrakis, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), have united with the Fremen. Intending to learn their ways and become part of their army, Paul wishes to enact revenge on House Harkonnen for destroying his family – although he is rattled by visions of a terrible and bloodied future.
While the prior film enticed viewers into this compelling universe by focusing on world-building and political manoeuvring,...
With 2021’s Dune, co-writers Eric Roth, Jon Spaihts, and director Denis Villeneuve phenomenally brought to screen the vibrant world that Frank Herbert crafted in his 1965 novel. Dune: Part Two adapts the remainder of the iconic novel, taking place a few hours after the previous film’s climactic knife-fight.
On Arrakis, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), have united with the Fremen. Intending to learn their ways and become part of their army, Paul wishes to enact revenge on House Harkonnen for destroying his family – although he is rattled by visions of a terrible and bloodied future.
While the prior film enticed viewers into this compelling universe by focusing on world-building and political manoeuvring,...
- 3/15/2024
- by James Rodrigues
- Nerdly
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys
2024 Oscars Predictions:
Best Adapted Screenplay Oppenheimer, from left: Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock, Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, 2023. © Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
Weekly Commentary: Cord Jefferson stands on the brink of potentially making history in the adapted screenplay category with “American Fiction,” potentially becoming only the second...
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys
2024 Oscars Predictions:
Best Adapted Screenplay Oppenheimer, from left: Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock, Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, 2023. © Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
Weekly Commentary: Cord Jefferson stands on the brink of potentially making history in the adapted screenplay category with “American Fiction,” potentially becoming only the second...
- 3/7/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
With a script on the go, great early box office numbers in the can and key financiers up for it, a third Dune film – Dune: Messiah – is looking like a certainty.
Dune: Part Two is in cinemas right now and happily, everything looks to be going well for Denis Villeneuve’s big-budget slice of sci-fi cinema. The film is getting great reviews (here’s ours) and making plenty of cash at the box office too.
Our own Ryan Lambie called it ‘2024’s first truly great multiplex film’ and critics tend to be in agreement that the ever-reliant Villeneuve has done the business again.
Those good vibes seem to have extended as far as Legendary Entertainment, the film’s production company and co-financier. The company’s CEO, Josh Grode was asked this week about a third Dune film and he expressed confidence that it would happen, stating:
“We have to...
Dune: Part Two is in cinemas right now and happily, everything looks to be going well for Denis Villeneuve’s big-budget slice of sci-fi cinema. The film is getting great reviews (here’s ours) and making plenty of cash at the box office too.
Our own Ryan Lambie called it ‘2024’s first truly great multiplex film’ and critics tend to be in agreement that the ever-reliant Villeneuve has done the business again.
Those good vibes seem to have extended as far as Legendary Entertainment, the film’s production company and co-financier. The company’s CEO, Josh Grode was asked this week about a third Dune film and he expressed confidence that it would happen, stating:
“We have to...
- 3/5/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
The film industry is no stranger to massive budgets. Blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame and Jurassic World have made it abundantly clear that spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a single movie is often regarded as the norm. Nevertheless, Denis Villeneuve’s latest flick, Dune 2, is shaking things up by proving that it’s possible to create masterpieces with a massive budget (on a $190 m budget).
The film, despite having strong female characters, has established itself as a box office winner. Contrary to popular belief, that the importance of female characters leads to the downfall of a movie, Dune 2 has proved itself to be an engaging cinematic masterpiece.
Timothée Chalamet in a still from Dune 2
Villeneuve thought that discipline needed to be as “economic as possible, specifically with dialogue”, so he attempted to find that “equilibrium onscreen”. With stunning visuals, a gripping storyline, and top-notch performances from the cast,...
The film, despite having strong female characters, has established itself as a box office winner. Contrary to popular belief, that the importance of female characters leads to the downfall of a movie, Dune 2 has proved itself to be an engaging cinematic masterpiece.
Timothée Chalamet in a still from Dune 2
Villeneuve thought that discipline needed to be as “economic as possible, specifically with dialogue”, so he attempted to find that “equilibrium onscreen”. With stunning visuals, a gripping storyline, and top-notch performances from the cast,...
- 3/4/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two was released earlier this week to overwhelmingly positive reviews with many calling it the director’s masterpiece. The film starred Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, Stellan Skarsgard, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, and more. The film continues the story of Paul Atreides and his quest to be the Lisan al Gaib.
The two-part Dune franchise by Villeneuve is an extensive adaptation of the first novel by Frank Herbert and chronicles the Atreides House’s shift from their home planet of Caladan to the desert planet of Arrakis, where they face threats from the evil Harkonnens. A pivotal scene between Baron Harkonnen and Duke Leto was turned into a joke by social media as they compared it to the FX series The Bear. Spoilers ahead.
Pivotal Dune: Part One Scene Turns Into The Bear Joke Oscar Isaac in Dune: Part One
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune...
The two-part Dune franchise by Villeneuve is an extensive adaptation of the first novel by Frank Herbert and chronicles the Atreides House’s shift from their home planet of Caladan to the desert planet of Arrakis, where they face threats from the evil Harkonnens. A pivotal scene between Baron Harkonnen and Duke Leto was turned into a joke by social media as they compared it to the FX series The Bear. Spoilers ahead.
Pivotal Dune: Part One Scene Turns Into The Bear Joke Oscar Isaac in Dune: Part One
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune...
- 3/3/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
The USC Libraries announced the winners for the 36th annual USC Libraries Scripter Award, which honors the year’s best film and television adaptations, as well as the works on which they are based. This group of academics, industry professionals, and critics (for which I vote) is often predictive of the Adapted Screenplay Oscar race.
For the second year in a row, “Slow Horses” took home the prize for episodic series; Cord Jefferson won the 2024 award for film adaptation; both he and the author of the novel he adapted, Percival Everett, were in attendance. Jefferson thanked Everett for trusting him with his 2001 novel, which he felt was written just for him. “He has managed to mine my novel for the material he needed to make this film,” said Everett, who teaches at USC. “And then I sat back and did nothing. So good job. Thank you.”
“I wouldn’t be here without without him,...
For the second year in a row, “Slow Horses” took home the prize for episodic series; Cord Jefferson won the 2024 award for film adaptation; both he and the author of the novel he adapted, Percival Everett, were in attendance. Jefferson thanked Everett for trusting him with his 2001 novel, which he felt was written just for him. “He has managed to mine my novel for the material he needed to make this film,” said Everett, who teaches at USC. “And then I sat back and did nothing. So good job. Thank you.”
“I wouldn’t be here without without him,...
- 3/3/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The 36th annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards on Saturday named Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction its outstanding film adaptations, giving the Oscar-nominated script a boost leading into next weekend’s Academy Awards.
Apple TV+’s Slow Horses won in the episodic series category for a second year in a row during the ceremony tonight at the University of Southern California’s Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library.
The Scripters honor writers of the year’s most accomplished film and episodic TV series adaptations, as well as the writers of the works on which they are based.
American Fiction, written by Jefferson based on the novel Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, was joined on tonight’s finalist list by two other Oscar nominees, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Tony McNamara’s Poor Things. Also nominated tonight were Ava DuVernay’s Origin and Martin Scorsese and Eric Roth’s Killers of the Flower Moon.
Apple TV+’s Slow Horses won in the episodic series category for a second year in a row during the ceremony tonight at the University of Southern California’s Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library.
The Scripters honor writers of the year’s most accomplished film and episodic TV series adaptations, as well as the writers of the works on which they are based.
American Fiction, written by Jefferson based on the novel Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, was joined on tonight’s finalist list by two other Oscar nominees, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Tony McNamara’s Poor Things. Also nominated tonight were Ava DuVernay’s Origin and Martin Scorsese and Eric Roth’s Killers of the Flower Moon.
- 3/3/2024
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The writers behind the feature American Fiction and the TV adaptation Slow Horses took home the top honors at the USC Scripter Awards, which honors the best adapted projects of the year. Both the original authors as well as the screenwriters share the award.
In the film category, American Fiction (Cord Jefferson’s adaptation of Percival Everett’s novel Erasure) topped fellow nominees Killers of the Flower Moon (Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of David Grann’s book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI); Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer); Origin (Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents); and Poor Things (Tony McNamara’s adaptation of Aliasdair Gray’s novel of the same name).
On the TV side,...
In the film category, American Fiction (Cord Jefferson’s adaptation of Percival Everett’s novel Erasure) topped fellow nominees Killers of the Flower Moon (Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of David Grann’s book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI); Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer); Origin (Ava DuVernay’s adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents); and Poor Things (Tony McNamara’s adaptation of Aliasdair Gray’s novel of the same name).
On the TV side,...
- 3/3/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This article contains massive spoilers for Dune: Part Two.
Author and producer Brian Herbert is no stranger to the world of Dune. As the son of Frank Herbert, the visionary writer who published the first Dune novel in 1965, Brian saw firsthand his father create the mythology of Arrakis and the legend of the Kwisatz Haderach. He also would go on to add to that mythology, with Brian co-writing numerous Dune novels of his own. So it should not be taken lightly when he praised this past week the completion of Denis Villeneuve’s two-part Dune adaptation.
“I saw Dune: Part Two at a private studio screening,” Brian Herbert wrote on social media, “and it is gratifying to see my father’s story told with such great care. When the new movie is combined with Dune: Part One it is by far the best film interpretation of Frank Herbert’s classic...
Author and producer Brian Herbert is no stranger to the world of Dune. As the son of Frank Herbert, the visionary writer who published the first Dune novel in 1965, Brian saw firsthand his father create the mythology of Arrakis and the legend of the Kwisatz Haderach. He also would go on to add to that mythology, with Brian co-writing numerous Dune novels of his own. So it should not be taken lightly when he praised this past week the completion of Denis Villeneuve’s two-part Dune adaptation.
“I saw Dune: Part Two at a private studio screening,” Brian Herbert wrote on social media, “and it is gratifying to see my father’s story told with such great care. When the new movie is combined with Dune: Part One it is by far the best film interpretation of Frank Herbert’s classic...
- 3/1/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Eric Roth wanted Robert Zemeckis to make a sequel to 1997’s Contact – but the conversation didn’t get very far.
In a very special episode of the Film Stories podcast, I’ve had the enormous pleasure of chatting at length to Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth. You can find the episode right here…
Early on in the conversation, he talks about working with director Robert Zemeckis, the pair of whom both took home Oscars for Forrest Gump. They’ve reteamed on another movie that’s due later this year by the name of Here, but Eric Roth told me he’d originally approached Zemeckis with an idea for something else.
“I called Bob actually to see if he’d be interested in me writing Contact 2 for him, because I really liked that. I really like that whole arena”.
Zemeckis, in Roth’s words, quickly declined the idea, with difficulties surrounding getting...
In a very special episode of the Film Stories podcast, I’ve had the enormous pleasure of chatting at length to Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth. You can find the episode right here…
Early on in the conversation, he talks about working with director Robert Zemeckis, the pair of whom both took home Oscars for Forrest Gump. They’ve reteamed on another movie that’s due later this year by the name of Here, but Eric Roth told me he’d originally approached Zemeckis with an idea for something else.
“I called Bob actually to see if he’d be interested in me writing Contact 2 for him, because I really liked that. I really like that whole arena”.
Zemeckis, in Roth’s words, quickly declined the idea, with difficulties surrounding getting...
- 3/1/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth produced a script for a Cher biopic – but the star has rejected the screenplay. More here.
If we go all the way back to May of 2021, it was reported that Cher had given the idea of a biopic of her life story the go ahead. It was being set up at Universal Pictures, and was being produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, along with Cher. Craymer and Goetzman had produced Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, in which Cher has a memorable cameo.
At that point it was announced that Cher’s “dear dear friend”, screenwriter Eric Roth, had been recruited to pen the screenplay. That’s the Eric Roth who won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Forrest Gump, and who recently matched the record for penning the most films nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award.
Eric Roth is also the latest guest on the Film Stories podcast,...
If we go all the way back to May of 2021, it was reported that Cher had given the idea of a biopic of her life story the go ahead. It was being set up at Universal Pictures, and was being produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, along with Cher. Craymer and Goetzman had produced Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, in which Cher has a memorable cameo.
At that point it was announced that Cher’s “dear dear friend”, screenwriter Eric Roth, had been recruited to pen the screenplay. That’s the Eric Roth who won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Forrest Gump, and who recently matched the record for penning the most films nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award.
Eric Roth is also the latest guest on the Film Stories podcast,...
- 3/1/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
At 28, Timothée Chalamet is five years older than he was when he shot Denis Villeneuve’s first iteration of “Dune” (2021), adapted by Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts from Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi saga, which Villeneuve had adored since his early teens and had the sense to split into two parts. That film ran 155 minutes and cost $165 million against a pandemic global gross of $404 million, controversially released day and date by Warner Bros. in theaters and on HBO Max. It scored 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and won six craft categories.
Villeneuve, who mixes the sensitivity of an artist with the drive of an ambitious studio director, revels in big-scale epics like 2017’s “Blade Runner 2049” ($260 million worldwide). This time, with “Dune: Part Two,” he has the chance to smash a global blockbuster. Ten minutes longer than “Part One” and budgeted at $190 million, after strike delays, “Part Two” finally explodes in...
Villeneuve, who mixes the sensitivity of an artist with the drive of an ambitious studio director, revels in big-scale epics like 2017’s “Blade Runner 2049” ($260 million worldwide). This time, with “Dune: Part Two,” he has the chance to smash a global blockbuster. Ten minutes longer than “Part One” and budgeted at $190 million, after strike delays, “Part Two” finally explodes in...
- 2/29/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
This article contains mild spoilers from the Dune novel.
Director Denis Villeneuve faced many dilemmas when crafting the finale of his two-part Dune adaptation. Frank Herbert’s narrative is sprawling, and the climactic confrontation between Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and the forces of the Emperor (Christopher Walken) was full of landmines in terms of excessive exposition and outdated sensibilities. In fact, as last lines of a famous book go, we’re not sure if “we who carry the name of concubine—history will call us wives” would have flown for modern audiences buying tickets to this weekend’s Dune: Part Two. So it is not a spoiler to tell you Villeneuve did not include that bit of dialogue in his movie.
“No,” the director agrees when we bring up that problematic sign-off, which shifts some of the story’s strongest characters back into traditional female roles. “It’s a book...
Director Denis Villeneuve faced many dilemmas when crafting the finale of his two-part Dune adaptation. Frank Herbert’s narrative is sprawling, and the climactic confrontation between Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and the forces of the Emperor (Christopher Walken) was full of landmines in terms of excessive exposition and outdated sensibilities. In fact, as last lines of a famous book go, we’re not sure if “we who carry the name of concubine—history will call us wives” would have flown for modern audiences buying tickets to this weekend’s Dune: Part Two. So it is not a spoiler to tell you Villeneuve did not include that bit of dialogue in his movie.
“No,” the director agrees when we bring up that problematic sign-off, which shifts some of the story’s strongest characters back into traditional female roles. “It’s a book...
- 2/28/2024
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Denis Villeneuve movies offer some of the most compelling visuals you'll see in modern filmmaking. "Blade Runner 2049," for instance, somehow managed to evoke the immersive atmosphere and tone of Ridley Scott's original movie while making everything feel larger and even more hauntingly dystopian. Of course, it helps when you work with cinematographers of Roger Deakins' caliber, or production designers such as Patrice Vermette, who won an Oscar for his work on Villeneuve's "Dune." But there's no doubt that, even without his esteemed cohorts, Villeneuve has a unique talent for crafting memorable and evocative visuals.
In fact, the visuals are much more important to Villeneuve than pretty much anything else. Prior to "Dune" the director hadn't written one of his own films since breaking into Hollywood with 2013's "Prisoners." Even "Dune" and its sequel "Dune: Part Two" were co-written with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth. All of which...
In fact, the visuals are much more important to Villeneuve than pretty much anything else. Prior to "Dune" the director hadn't written one of his own films since breaking into Hollywood with 2013's "Prisoners." Even "Dune" and its sequel "Dune: Part Two" were co-written with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth. All of which...
- 2/27/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Denis Villeneuve is on one heck of a winning streak these days -- a "heater," as the kids might say. The director behind jaw-dropping films like "Enemy" and "Sicario" followed up his early success by turning himself into a household name, first making 2016's "Arrival" into an Academy Awards darling before unleashing "Blade Runner 2049" on the masses. Now, the filmmaker who once made a feature-length thriller about Hugh Jackman punching Paul Dano into a pulp has graduated to the blockbuster big leagues. With 2021's "Dune," Villeneuve and co-writers Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth took a classic sci-fi novel long considered to be "unadaptable" and somehow delivered a crowd-pleasing hit, one that has had audiences hungry for the sequel ever since.
Now that delays caused by the pandemic and then the writers' and actors' strikes are behind us, it's finally time for fans to inhale a handful of spice and...
Now that delays caused by the pandemic and then the writers' and actors' strikes are behind us, it's finally time for fans to inhale a handful of spice and...
- 2/26/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
This is the latest round in this year’s 35 boxes theory: the WGA nominations. This theory tracks a film’s support across the industry throughout awards season. The test is made up of 35 boxes, each one presenting a key nomination or win that a potential Best Picture champion typically needs to get in order to win the Oscars’ big prize. All of the big awards organizations are involved here, including the Golden Globes, the SAGs, DGAs, PGAs, the BAFTAs, the Critics Choice Awards, and more.
The idea is, the more boxes a film ticks off, the greater the movie’s support across the industry, the higher the chance that flick has of winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards. For example, in 2019, “Green Book” won 23 of these 35 boxes before winning Best Picture at the Oscars. Conversely, “Roma” filled in only 19 boxes while both “BlacKkKlansman” and “The Favourite” were at 20. Each...
The idea is, the more boxes a film ticks off, the greater the movie’s support across the industry, the higher the chance that flick has of winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards. For example, in 2019, “Green Book” won 23 of these 35 boxes before winning Best Picture at the Oscars. Conversely, “Roma” filled in only 19 boxes while both “BlacKkKlansman” and “The Favourite” were at 20. Each...
- 2/23/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
As was the case last year, only six of the current 10 Oscar nominees for screenplay achieved similar recognition from the Writers Guild of America. Three of the four films that were excluded from the WGA rosters revealed on February 21 – “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Poor Things,” and “The Zone of Interest” – had been deemed ineligible in January, while “Maestro” simply failed to garner enough support from the guild.
Although it’s competing for the adapted screenplay Oscar, “Barbie” is included in the WGA’s original lineup. This marks the third such instance in 10 years, following the cases of “Whiplash” (2015) and “Moonlight” (2017), the latter of which won the favor of both organizations. The remaining original WGA contenders are “Air” and Oscar hopefuls “The Holdovers,” “May December,” and “Past Lives.”
The films presently running first and second in Gold Derby’s adapted Oscar race – “Oppenheimer” and “American Fiction” – will also face off at the WGA Awards,...
Although it’s competing for the adapted screenplay Oscar, “Barbie” is included in the WGA’s original lineup. This marks the third such instance in 10 years, following the cases of “Whiplash” (2015) and “Moonlight” (2017), the latter of which won the favor of both organizations. The remaining original WGA contenders are “Air” and Oscar hopefuls “The Holdovers,” “May December,” and “Past Lives.”
The films presently running first and second in Gold Derby’s adapted Oscar race – “Oppenheimer” and “American Fiction” – will also face off at the WGA Awards,...
- 2/21/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Every year, folks scratch their heads over the “strange” omissions from the Writers Guild Award nominations. That’s because the Writers Guild of America refuses to accept as awards-eligible any movie that did not sign with them; thus, many British and European movies are left out of the nominations, as well as animated fare.
This won’t hurt these “overlooked” films at the Oscars: they won’t get a boost, but many non-wga nominees have gone on to collect Oscars, Quentin Tarantino among them. This year’s favorite to win the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, for example, Justine Triet and Arthur Harrari’s French courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Fall,” won the BAFTA Award, but is ineligible for the WGA.
Because the WGA pushed back their awards show so late, we already know the Oscar-nominated writers. Those WGA nominees could gain momentum during the Oscar voting, which starts February 22 and...
This won’t hurt these “overlooked” films at the Oscars: they won’t get a boost, but many non-wga nominees have gone on to collect Oscars, Quentin Tarantino among them. This year’s favorite to win the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, for example, Justine Triet and Arthur Harrari’s French courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Fall,” won the BAFTA Award, but is ineligible for the WGA.
Because the WGA pushed back their awards show so late, we already know the Oscar-nominated writers. Those WGA nominees could gain momentum during the Oscar voting, which starts February 22 and...
- 2/21/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The Oscar-nominated song “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” by Scott George has a deep meaning. The lyrics, sung in Osage, invite listeners to stand up, be tall and be proud. “We’re still here after all of that,” George says.
What George is referring to is the true story of the Osage murders and tragedy that is the basis of Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated film “Killers of the Flower Moon.” George made history when he became the first Osage writer to be nominated for an Academy Award, finding himself being recognized alongside Billie Eilish, Mark Ronson, Diane Warren and Jon Batiste in the original song category.
George knew the “Moon” story when he received the call to write a song for the film. “Some of my relatives were involved in it, and it was difficult to watch,” he admits. But the story was an important one that needed to be told.
What George is referring to is the true story of the Osage murders and tragedy that is the basis of Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated film “Killers of the Flower Moon.” George made history when he became the first Osage writer to be nominated for an Academy Award, finding himself being recognized alongside Billie Eilish, Mark Ronson, Diane Warren and Jon Batiste in the original song category.
George knew the “Moon” story when he received the call to write a song for the film. “Some of my relatives were involved in it, and it was difficult to watch,” he admits. But the story was an important one that needed to be told.
- 2/21/2024
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
The strike-delayed nominations for the 2024 Writers Guild Awards are out. Check out the list below.
In a flipping of the script this season, the WGA Awards will be held on April 14 – more than a month after the Academy Awards.
As always, the Writers Guild of America has different eligibility requirements than the Movie Academy, so some awards-season favorite scripts are missing from today’s nominations.
Related: Oscar Nominations: Diversified Voting Throws The Love Around As ‘Oppenheimer’ Tops With 13, With ‘Poor Things’, ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ And ‘Barbie’ Close Behind – Full List
The guild and the Oscars mostly are on the same page for Original Screenplay, with both nominating The Holdovers, May December and Past Lives. The WGA also cited Air, while the Academy went with Anatomy of a Fall and Maestro. But the Writers Guild also has Barbie on its Original List, whereas the script for 2023’s No. 1 movie...
In a flipping of the script this season, the WGA Awards will be held on April 14 – more than a month after the Academy Awards.
As always, the Writers Guild of America has different eligibility requirements than the Movie Academy, so some awards-season favorite scripts are missing from today’s nominations.
Related: Oscar Nominations: Diversified Voting Throws The Love Around As ‘Oppenheimer’ Tops With 13, With ‘Poor Things’, ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ And ‘Barbie’ Close Behind – Full List
The guild and the Oscars mostly are on the same page for Original Screenplay, with both nominating The Holdovers, May December and Past Lives. The WGA also cited Air, while the Academy went with Anatomy of a Fall and Maestro. But the Writers Guild also has Barbie on its Original List, whereas the script for 2023’s No. 1 movie...
- 2/21/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The nominees for the 2024 Writers Guild of America Awards are finally here.
The Writers Guild of America West (Wgaw) and Writers Guild of America East (Wgae) have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in screenwriting, television, new media, news, radio/audio, and promotional writing for 2023.
Oscar-nominated screenplays for “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “May December,” “Past Lives,” “American Fiction,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and “Oppenheimer” were expected WGA nominations. However, surprise nods for “Air,” “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” and “Nyad” prove the WGA Awards still have a few tricks up their sleeve. If you’re wondering, “Poor Things” was not eligible because it wasn’t produced under a WGA contract, per a source close to the project.
Despite now taking place one month after the Academy Awards, the WGA nominations still carry weight this season — and could be a deciding factor for final Oscar voting. As IndieWire’s Anne Thompson predicted,...
The Writers Guild of America West (Wgaw) and Writers Guild of America East (Wgae) have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in screenwriting, television, new media, news, radio/audio, and promotional writing for 2023.
Oscar-nominated screenplays for “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “May December,” “Past Lives,” “American Fiction,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and “Oppenheimer” were expected WGA nominations. However, surprise nods for “Air,” “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” and “Nyad” prove the WGA Awards still have a few tricks up their sleeve. If you’re wondering, “Poor Things” was not eligible because it wasn’t produced under a WGA contract, per a source close to the project.
Despite now taking place one month after the Academy Awards, the WGA nominations still carry weight this season — and could be a deciding factor for final Oscar voting. As IndieWire’s Anne Thompson predicted,...
- 2/21/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
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