Amazon Prime Video’s “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” is taking this Emmy race seriously.
With stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine leading the charge, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” which draws inspiration from the 2005 movie featuring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, is set to compete in the drama categories at this year’s awards ceremony.
Crafted by Glover and Francesca Sloane, the show’s debut season stretches across eight episodes, centering on John and Jane Smith, secret agents who pose as a married couple while working for a shadowy corporation. Its blend of comedy and drama offered the potential to categorize it in either genre for awards consideration.
Read: All Primetime Emmy predictions in every category on Variety’s Awards Circuit.
Glover, already an Emmy favorite for his role in FX’s “Atlanta,” is in contention for five Emmy nods this year: drama series, actor in a drama series, directing in...
With stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine leading the charge, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” which draws inspiration from the 2005 movie featuring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, is set to compete in the drama categories at this year’s awards ceremony.
Crafted by Glover and Francesca Sloane, the show’s debut season stretches across eight episodes, centering on John and Jane Smith, secret agents who pose as a married couple while working for a shadowy corporation. Its blend of comedy and drama offered the potential to categorize it in either genre for awards consideration.
Read: All Primetime Emmy predictions in every category on Variety’s Awards Circuit.
Glover, already an Emmy favorite for his role in FX’s “Atlanta,” is in contention for five Emmy nods this year: drama series, actor in a drama series, directing in...
- 4/4/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane are bringing Mr and Mrs Smith to the small screen, here’s the trailer.
2005 was a good year for action films. Jet Li gave one of his greatest performances opposite Bob Hoskins in Unleashed and Christopher Nolan kicked of his iconic trilogy with Batman Begins.
Another hugely successful film that year was Mr And Mrs Smith. It saw Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie play a married couple who, unbeknownst to each other, are both world class assassins. The film originally cast Nicole Kidman to star opposite Pitt, but scheduling conflicts with The Stepford Wives meant she had to drop out.
Doug Liman directed the film from a screenplay by Simon Kinberg, and while it is by no means perfect, it remains a hugely enjoyable, rollicking ride.
Now, Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane have brought the story to the small screen.
The synopsis reads as follows:...
2005 was a good year for action films. Jet Li gave one of his greatest performances opposite Bob Hoskins in Unleashed and Christopher Nolan kicked of his iconic trilogy with Batman Begins.
Another hugely successful film that year was Mr And Mrs Smith. It saw Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie play a married couple who, unbeknownst to each other, are both world class assassins. The film originally cast Nicole Kidman to star opposite Pitt, but scheduling conflicts with The Stepford Wives meant she had to drop out.
Doug Liman directed the film from a screenplay by Simon Kinberg, and while it is by no means perfect, it remains a hugely enjoyable, rollicking ride.
Now, Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane have brought the story to the small screen.
The synopsis reads as follows:...
- 12/12/2023
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
When you’re reading a good book, you can picture it in your mind. And the same goes for cinematographers when they read a script. “It’s inevitable that you imagine things as you read the script,” M. David Mullen (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) tells Gold Derby at our Meet the Experts: Cinematography roundtable with fellow Emmy nominees Christian Sprenger (“Atlanta”), Igor Martinovic (“George and Tammy”), Anastas N. Michos (“Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities”), Sean Porter (“The Old Man”) and Jon Joffin (“Schmigadoon!”).
Watch the exclusive video interview above for the roundtable. Click on each name above to watch that person’s individual chat.
Mullen tries hard not to visualize the script if he has not met with the director yet. “You want to talk to the director and get a sense of their vision first before you’re too far on the wrong track,” he says. “I...
Watch the exclusive video interview above for the roundtable. Click on each name above to watch that person’s individual chat.
Mullen tries hard not to visualize the script if he has not met with the director yet. “You want to talk to the director and get a sense of their vision first before you’re too far on the wrong track,” he says. “I...
- 8/10/2023
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
“Elvis” director of photography Mandy Walker won Feature Film at the ASC Awards March 5, when the American Society of Cinematographers handed out its honors at the 37th annual awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Walker’s win in the feature film category could prove prescient; 17 out of the last 36 years found the ASC film winner winning the Academy Award. But it’s worth noting that Oscar nominees “Tár” and “All Quiet on the Western Front” were not among the ASC nominees.
In the TV categories, “The Old Man” took awards for Motion Picture, Limited Series, or Pilot Made for Television and Episode of a One-Hour Television Series – Commercial, while “Barry” won Episode of a Half-Hour Television Series for its Season 3 finale and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” won Episode of a One-Hour Television Series – Non-Commercial for its Season 4 finale.
In addition, several honorary awards were handed out. Egot winner Viola Davis...
Walker’s win in the feature film category could prove prescient; 17 out of the last 36 years found the ASC film winner winning the Academy Award. But it’s worth noting that Oscar nominees “Tár” and “All Quiet on the Western Front” were not among the ASC nominees.
In the TV categories, “The Old Man” took awards for Motion Picture, Limited Series, or Pilot Made for Television and Episode of a One-Hour Television Series – Commercial, while “Barry” won Episode of a Half-Hour Television Series for its Season 3 finale and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” won Episode of a One-Hour Television Series – Non-Commercial for its Season 4 finale.
In addition, several honorary awards were handed out. Egot winner Viola Davis...
- 3/6/2023
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
Elvis cinematographer Mandy Walker cracked a glass ceiling on Sunday, becoming the first woman to win the American Society of Cinematographers Award in the feature competition during the 37th ASC Awards.
The crowd at the Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom erupted with applause and gave Walker a lengthy standing ovation as her name was called.
“This is for all the women that win this award after me,” she said to enthusiastic applause, and she looked for to more women breaking more glass ceilings. “Thijs is an inclusive, representative community,” she said, adding, “I didn’t cry, I thought I was going to cry.”
She thanked Elvis director Baz Luhrmann for allowing her to “create magic with him;” Catherine Martin for her “support and inspiration; and her crew for “dancing with the camera and flying with the camera” during Austin Butler’s performance as Elvis.
Walker’s bold lensing of Elvis...
The crowd at the Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom erupted with applause and gave Walker a lengthy standing ovation as her name was called.
“This is for all the women that win this award after me,” she said to enthusiastic applause, and she looked for to more women breaking more glass ceilings. “Thijs is an inclusive, representative community,” she said, adding, “I didn’t cry, I thought I was going to cry.”
She thanked Elvis director Baz Luhrmann for allowing her to “create magic with him;” Catherine Martin for her “support and inspiration; and her crew for “dancing with the camera and flying with the camera” during Austin Butler’s performance as Elvis.
Walker’s bold lensing of Elvis...
- 3/6/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mandy Walker has won the American Society of Cinematographers feature-film award for “Elvis,” making her the first woman ever to win that award. She is only the third female nominee in the category, after Rachel Morrison for “Mudbound” in 2018 and Ari Wegner for “The Power of the Dog” last year.
Walker now has the chance to become the first woman to win the Oscar for cinematography, where she is also the third female nominee in the gender-neutral Oscars category that took the longest to nominate a woman. Her competitors at the Oscars include two who were also nominated by the ASC, Roger Deakins for “Empire of Light” and Darius Khondji for “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truth,” along with James Friend for “All Quiet on the Western Front” and Florian Hoffmeister for “Tar.”
“This is for all the women who will win the award after me, and for...
Walker now has the chance to become the first woman to win the Oscar for cinematography, where she is also the third female nominee in the gender-neutral Oscars category that took the longest to nominate a woman. Her competitors at the Oscars include two who were also nominated by the ASC, Roger Deakins for “Empire of Light” and Darius Khondji for “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truth,” along with James Friend for “All Quiet on the Western Front” and Florian Hoffmeister for “Tar.”
“This is for all the women who will win the award after me, and for...
- 3/6/2023
- by Steve Pond and Jason Clark
- The Wrap
The American Society of Cinematographers has unveiled the nominations for its 37th annual ASC Awards, honoring the year’s best in feature film, documentary and television cinematography.
The society’s marquee Theatrical Feature Film nominees are Roger Deakins for Empire of Light, Greig Fraser for The Batman , Darius Khondji for Bardo, Claudio Miranda for Top Gun: Maverick and Mandy Walker for Elvis.
Fraser won the ASC’s top prize last year for Dune, en route to winning the Cinematography Oscar. The ASC film winner has won the Academy Award nearly half of the time — 17 times in its 36 years.
On the small-screen front, the only program that made a return trip to the nominations was Hacks, which again is up for Episode of a Half-Hour Television Series.
Here are the nominees for the 2023 ASC Awards:
Theatrical Feature Film Nominees
Roger Deakins, Empire of Light (Searchlight Pictures)
Greig Fraser, The Batman (Warner Bros.)
Darius Khondji,...
The society’s marquee Theatrical Feature Film nominees are Roger Deakins for Empire of Light, Greig Fraser for The Batman , Darius Khondji for Bardo, Claudio Miranda for Top Gun: Maverick and Mandy Walker for Elvis.
Fraser won the ASC’s top prize last year for Dune, en route to winning the Cinematography Oscar. The ASC film winner has won the Academy Award nearly half of the time — 17 times in its 36 years.
On the small-screen front, the only program that made a return trip to the nominations was Hacks, which again is up for Episode of a Half-Hour Television Series.
Here are the nominees for the 2023 ASC Awards:
Theatrical Feature Film Nominees
Roger Deakins, Empire of Light (Searchlight Pictures)
Greig Fraser, The Batman (Warner Bros.)
Darius Khondji,...
- 1/9/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The cinematographers of “The Batman,” “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths,” “Elvis,” “Empire of Light” and “Top Gun: Maverick” have received nominations from the American Society of Cinematographers, the ASC announced on Monday.
Last year’s winner, “Dune” cinematographer Greig Fraser, was nominated again for “The Batman.” Darius Khondji received the nomination for “Bardo,” Claudio Miranda for “Top Gun,” Mandy Walker for “Elvis” and cinematography legend Roger Deakins received his record 17th ASC nomination for “Empire of Light.”
The nomination makes “Elvis” cinematographer Mandy Walker only the third woman to be nominated in the top feature-film category by the ASC, after Rachel Morrison for “Black Panther” and Ari Wegner for “The Power of the Dog.” No female cinematographer has ever won in the category.
Also Read:
Cinematographer Roger Deakins Fears That Moviegoing Has ‘Changed Beyond Repair’
The nominations bypassed “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “The Fabelmans,” “Tar” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once,...
Last year’s winner, “Dune” cinematographer Greig Fraser, was nominated again for “The Batman.” Darius Khondji received the nomination for “Bardo,” Claudio Miranda for “Top Gun,” Mandy Walker for “Elvis” and cinematography legend Roger Deakins received his record 17th ASC nomination for “Empire of Light.”
The nomination makes “Elvis” cinematographer Mandy Walker only the third woman to be nominated in the top feature-film category by the ASC, after Rachel Morrison for “Black Panther” and Ari Wegner for “The Power of the Dog.” No female cinematographer has ever won in the category.
Also Read:
Cinematographer Roger Deakins Fears That Moviegoing Has ‘Changed Beyond Repair’
The nominations bypassed “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “The Fabelmans,” “Tar” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once,...
- 1/9/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Mandy Walker’s bold lensing of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis made her the third woman to ever be nominated in the feature category of the American Society of Cinematographers’ ASC Awards, which announced it nominations on Monday.
The feature nominees in the competitive 37th ASC Awards race are Walker; Roger Deakins for Empire of Light; Greig Fraser for The Batman; Darius Khondji for Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths; and Claudio Miranda for Top Gun: Maverick.
Walker is now in a select group of just three women who have been nominated in the ASC feature competition. Rachel Morrison was nominated in 2018 for Mudbound, followed by Ari Wegner, who was nominated in 2022 for The Power of the Dog. Morrison and Wegner both went on to earn historic Oscar nominations.
With his work on Sam Mendes’ drama Empire of Light, Deakins extends his record number of ASC feature nominations to a remarkable 17 noms.
The feature nominees in the competitive 37th ASC Awards race are Walker; Roger Deakins for Empire of Light; Greig Fraser for The Batman; Darius Khondji for Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths; and Claudio Miranda for Top Gun: Maverick.
Walker is now in a select group of just three women who have been nominated in the ASC feature competition. Rachel Morrison was nominated in 2018 for Mudbound, followed by Ari Wegner, who was nominated in 2022 for The Power of the Dog. Morrison and Wegner both went on to earn historic Oscar nominations.
With his work on Sam Mendes’ drama Empire of Light, Deakins extends his record number of ASC feature nominations to a remarkable 17 noms.
- 1/9/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Stranger Things,” “Euphoria,” “The White Lotus” and “Squid Game” were the big winners on Night 2 of the Creative Arts Emmys.
The Creative Arts Emmys, which honor outstanding artistic and technical achievement in various television program genres, guest performances and exceptional work in the animation, reality and documentary categories, were held in Downtown Los Angeles, at the Microsoft Theater, the show spread out across two nights because of the many, many categories featured.
HBO’s “Euphoria” earned five total awards, including Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Colman Domingo, and Outstanding Choreography for a Scripted Program, tying with “Stranger Things,” which also picked up five, including for Music Supervision. HBO’s “The White Lotus” also got five, including Main Title Theme Music.
Netflix’s “Squid Game” took home four Emmys, including Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Lee You-mi.
Saturday brought big wins for music-related shows, including “The Beatles: Get Back,...
The Creative Arts Emmys, which honor outstanding artistic and technical achievement in various television program genres, guest performances and exceptional work in the animation, reality and documentary categories, were held in Downtown Los Angeles, at the Microsoft Theater, the show spread out across two nights because of the many, many categories featured.
HBO’s “Euphoria” earned five total awards, including Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Colman Domingo, and Outstanding Choreography for a Scripted Program, tying with “Stranger Things,” which also picked up five, including for Music Supervision. HBO’s “The White Lotus” also got five, including Main Title Theme Music.
Netflix’s “Squid Game” took home four Emmys, including Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Lee You-mi.
Saturday brought big wins for music-related shows, including “The Beatles: Get Back,...
- 9/4/2022
- by Jolie Lash
- The Wrap
The second night of the Creative Arts Emmys will take place on Sunday night, where hot races such as guest acting, music and stunts will be revealed.
History could be made with “Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers” from Disney+ could be the first animated movie to win for outstanding television movie, after becoming the first ever to be nominated.
However, we could see if HBO will be in line to make history if it takes the category for Barry Levinson’s “The Survivor.” HBO is able to win all the top series categories for drama (“Succession”), comedy (“Barry” or “Hacks”) and limited (“The White Lotus”). It would be the first network in history to win all four if achieved.
The guest categories are going to give some hints to the Primetime ceremony taking place on Monday, Sept. 12. We could see Nathan Lane win his long overdue Emmy for his role...
History could be made with “Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers” from Disney+ could be the first animated movie to win for outstanding television movie, after becoming the first ever to be nominated.
However, we could see if HBO will be in line to make history if it takes the category for Barry Levinson’s “The Survivor.” HBO is able to win all the top series categories for drama (“Succession”), comedy (“Barry” or “Hacks”) and limited (“The White Lotus”). It would be the first network in history to win all four if achieved.
The guest categories are going to give some hints to the Primetime ceremony taking place on Monday, Sept. 12. We could see Nathan Lane win his long overdue Emmy for his role...
- 9/4/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
In 2017, Donald Glover made history by bagging Best Comedy Directing and Best Comedy Actor Emmys for “Atlanta” and thus became the respective first and second Black artist to conquer those categories. Having just picked up his third acting Emmy bid for the FX show, he follows Redd Foxx (“Sanford and Son”), Robert Guillaume (“Benson”), Don Cheadle (“House of Lies”) and Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”) as the fifth Black leading man to earn as many TV academy notices for a single comedy series.
Glover has chosen “Sinterklaas is Coming to Town” as the episode that best represents his work in the third season of “Atlanta.” The installment focuses on Glover’s Earn Marks as he struggles to manage a European concert tour for his cousin, Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles (Brian Tyree Henry). After bailing the rapper out of an Amsterdam jail, Marks becomes increasingly aware of the city’s racially insensitive holiday...
Glover has chosen “Sinterklaas is Coming to Town” as the episode that best represents his work in the third season of “Atlanta.” The installment focuses on Glover’s Earn Marks as he struggles to manage a European concert tour for his cousin, Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles (Brian Tyree Henry). After bailing the rapper out of an Amsterdam jail, Marks becomes increasingly aware of the city’s racially insensitive holiday...
- 8/23/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
The five Emmy Award-nominated cinematographers who participated in our Gold Derby Meet the Experts: Cinematography panel are known not just for creating some of the most indelible images on television last year but for consistency in their collaborators. Each has been nominated for their show previously and frequently works together with the same directors and crew.
See over 150 interviews with 2022 Emmy contenders
“Something I learned throughout my film school years, is that it’s worth trusting the people you’re working with, especially directors you elect to work with,” “Euphoria” cinematographer and Emmy nominee Marcell Rev tells Gold Derby in our exclusive video interview. “Because when you’re in film school, and when you’re starting out, you’re really focused on your part in this machine. I think you have to learn – or at least I had to learn – to listen and to actually understand what’s going on...
See over 150 interviews with 2022 Emmy contenders
“Something I learned throughout my film school years, is that it’s worth trusting the people you’re working with, especially directors you elect to work with,” “Euphoria” cinematographer and Emmy nominee Marcell Rev tells Gold Derby in our exclusive video interview. “Because when you’re in film school, and when you’re starting out, you’re really focused on your part in this machine. I think you have to learn – or at least I had to learn – to listen and to actually understand what’s going on...
- 8/8/2022
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
When FX comedy series “Atlanta” returned after a four-year gap between its second and third seasons, viewers might have been surprised to find an episode without the main characters in central roles. The Season 3 premiere, “Three Slaps,” only briefly features star Donald Glover in a scene right before the credits roll. Instead, the episode is about a teen boy named Loquareeous, who leaves his home and winds up in the foster care of two white women who are not the virtuous caretakers they appear to outside eyes. (The episode was inspired by a real-life tragedy.)
For cinematographer Christian Sprenger that presented a unique challenge: to immediately hook the “Atlanta” audience after a long time away but without the characters that make up the show.
See over 150 interviews with 2022 Emmy contenders
“We knew that the audience was going to be very thirsty for our main cast if you back on screen,...
For cinematographer Christian Sprenger that presented a unique challenge: to immediately hook the “Atlanta” audience after a long time away but without the characters that make up the show.
See over 150 interviews with 2022 Emmy contenders
“We knew that the audience was going to be very thirsty for our main cast if you back on screen,...
- 8/8/2022
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Five top TV cinematographers will reveal secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2022 Emmy Awards nominees. They will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Thursday, August 4, at 4:00 p.m. Pt; 7:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Christopher Rosen and a roundtable chat with all of the group together.
RSVP today to our entire ongoing Emmy contenders panel series by clicking here to book your free reservation. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2022 nominees:
Atlanta (FX)
Synopsis: Earn and his cousin Alfred, based in Atlanta, try to make their way in the world through the rap scene.
Bio: Christian Sprenger won at the Emmys previously for “Atlanta” and had a nomination for “Glow.
RSVP today to our entire ongoing Emmy contenders panel series by clicking here to book your free reservation. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2022 nominees:
Atlanta (FX)
Synopsis: Earn and his cousin Alfred, based in Atlanta, try to make their way in the world through the rap scene.
Bio: Christian Sprenger won at the Emmys previously for “Atlanta” and had a nomination for “Glow.
- 7/28/2022
- by Chris Beachum and Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Click here to read the full article.
After going almost four years between seasons two and three, FX’s Atlanta will now release seasons three and four within a few months.
The Disney-owned cable network has set a September premiere for the fourth and final season of Donald Glover’s Emmy-winning series (with a specific date still to be announced). The premiere will come about four months after the last episode of season three aired on May 10.
FX also released a teaser for the final season — though it’s light on any kind of story details and heavy on surreal imagery, from a piano falling from the sky to a striped alligator scaling the wall of a liquor store. (Watch it below.)
After spending season three in Europe, Earn (Glover), Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry), Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) and Van (Zazie Beetz) return to their hometown. “But the question is,” the show’s logline reads,...
After going almost four years between seasons two and three, FX’s Atlanta will now release seasons three and four within a few months.
The Disney-owned cable network has set a September premiere for the fourth and final season of Donald Glover’s Emmy-winning series (with a specific date still to be announced). The premiere will come about four months after the last episode of season three aired on May 10.
FX also released a teaser for the final season — though it’s light on any kind of story details and heavy on surreal imagery, from a piano falling from the sky to a striped alligator scaling the wall of a liquor store. (Watch it below.)
After spending season three in Europe, Earn (Glover), Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry), Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) and Van (Zazie Beetz) return to their hometown. “But the question is,” the show’s logline reads,...
- 7/22/2022
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Variety shines a light on the teams you may have missed this Emmys season.
“Abbott Elementary”
Camera Operators
As fans of “The Office” know, half of the humor of a mockumentary is the camera angles, swiftly cut-ting to a reaction shot or zoom-ing in on a ridiculous moment. The cameras on ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” never miss a beat, and the operators feel like just another hilarious scene partner. — Sasha Urban
“The Great”
Food Designer
Food, sumptuous food. “The Great’s” second season served up a feast fit for royal banquets. Peter (Nicholas Hoult) and Catherine (Elle Fanning) ate their way through the Hulu show. It’s creator Tony McNamara who decides what goes on that table and production designer Francesca Di Mottola and her team who come up with the squirrels and rats and other meaty things that the cast have to eat. — Jazz Tangcay
“Legendary”
Emcee
The category is … fabulous emcees!
“Abbott Elementary”
Camera Operators
As fans of “The Office” know, half of the humor of a mockumentary is the camera angles, swiftly cut-ting to a reaction shot or zoom-ing in on a ridiculous moment. The cameras on ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” never miss a beat, and the operators feel like just another hilarious scene partner. — Sasha Urban
“The Great”
Food Designer
Food, sumptuous food. “The Great’s” second season served up a feast fit for royal banquets. Peter (Nicholas Hoult) and Catherine (Elle Fanning) ate their way through the Hulu show. It’s creator Tony McNamara who decides what goes on that table and production designer Francesca Di Mottola and her team who come up with the squirrels and rats and other meaty things that the cast have to eat. — Jazz Tangcay
“Legendary”
Emcee
The category is … fabulous emcees!
- 6/22/2022
- by Sasha Urban, Jazz Tangcay, Carole Horst, Carson Burton and Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
This debut feature from Dave Franco (co-written with Joe Swanberg) is a horror-thriller concerning a group of friends who rent an upscale villa by the coast, getting far more than they bargained for in the process. A weekend of hiking, drinking and partying soon gives way to paranoia, tension and eventual violence. Although the trailer gives away much of the plot, I'll keep this review relatively spoiler-free.
The first thing to say about The Rental is that it looks impressive. It's often a concern when an actor turns their hand to film-making that they'll botch it and turn out something slapdash or second-rate, but it must be said that Franco has a good eye for composition and, along with his cinematographer Christian Sprenger, has crafted a fine looking film with solid perfor...
The first thing to say about The Rental is that it looks impressive. It's often a concern when an actor turns their hand to film-making that they'll botch it and turn out something slapdash or second-rate, but it must be said that Franco has a good eye for composition and, along with his cinematographer Christian Sprenger, has crafted a fine looking film with solid perfor...
- 7/23/2020
- QuietEarth.us
A diabolically clever script by actor-turned-director Dave Franco and mumblecore pioneer Joe Swanberg, The Rental has a simple premise: Take two couples with volatile sexual dynamics, have them rent an AirBNB for a weekend on the rugged Oregon coast, mix in secret cameras and the presence of a peeping psycho, and spike the steadily-building suspense with psychological insights. Yes, this is well-covered territory — see the recent You Should Have Left, which didn’t work at all. Yet Franco’s behind-the-cameras debut is sure to strike a chord for Covid-trapped audiences.
- 7/22/2020
- by Peter Travers
- Rollingstone.com
Whenever an actor steps behind the camera, I’m always fascinated to see what they choose that first directorial project to be. Especially when they’re writing as well as directing, there’s a big-time curiosity factor about what kind of a movie they opt to craft. In the case of Dave Franco, a well-known actor, mostly for comedic work, he’s opted to make a gnarly bit of horror for his first time out. It may seem like an odd mixture, but boy is he up to the task. Thoroughly confident and wildly effective, this is the sort of unsettling fright flick that a veteran of the genre would have crafted. Kudos to Franco for pulling it off, and later on this week, you’ll be able to see for yourself when IFC puts it out on VOD. It’s one not to miss. The film is a horror offering,...
- 7/20/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Terror in a hotel or motel (or motel shower) has been done to death, but bringing horror to the familiar trappings of an Airbnb is simple, brilliant, and surprisingly untapped before now. An ideal breeding ground for paranoid delusions––or horrific realities––it was only a matter of time before filmmakers embraced the innate weirdness at play here. Hands raised if you’d predicted those filmmakers would be Dave Franco and Joe Swanberg.
Franco makes his directorial debut with The Rental, a sturdy, small-scale thriller that makes little lasting impact but certainly succeeds in providing some clever jolts. The actor-turned-directed teamed with the prolific Swanberg on the screenplay, which was a wise move as the film certainly has some of the relationship-driven dark comedy Swanberg has brought to films like Drinking Buddies and Digging for Fire.
Franco brings a clean, ultra-professional style to The Rental, a film in which it...
Franco makes his directorial debut with The Rental, a sturdy, small-scale thriller that makes little lasting impact but certainly succeeds in providing some clever jolts. The actor-turned-directed teamed with the prolific Swanberg on the screenplay, which was a wise move as the film certainly has some of the relationship-driven dark comedy Swanberg has brought to films like Drinking Buddies and Digging for Fire.
Franco brings a clean, ultra-professional style to The Rental, a film in which it...
- 7/20/2020
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
Alison Brie has collected nominations from Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards for her performance as Ruth Wilder in “Glow.” The actress, who previously had starring roles in “Community” and “Mad Men,” is hoping for her first Emmy nomination soon for Season 2 of “Glow.”
Brie recently spoke with Gold Derby contributing writer Kevin Jacobsen about the challenges of working on “Glow,” the core relationships Ruth has with Debbie (Betty Gilpin) and Sam (Marc Maron) and how she handles personal disappointment in her career. Watch the exclusive video interview above and read the complete interview transcript below.
SEEBetty Gilpin Interview: ‘Glow’
Gold Derby: So Alison, I actually wanted to rewind before Season 2 to where you guys were nominated for 10 Emmy Awards for Season 1, including Best Comedy Series, and there were two wins for the show, for production design and stunt coordination. What was the response from the...
Brie recently spoke with Gold Derby contributing writer Kevin Jacobsen about the challenges of working on “Glow,” the core relationships Ruth has with Debbie (Betty Gilpin) and Sam (Marc Maron) and how she handles personal disappointment in her career. Watch the exclusive video interview above and read the complete interview transcript below.
SEEBetty Gilpin Interview: ‘Glow’
Gold Derby: So Alison, I actually wanted to rewind before Season 2 to where you guys were nominated for 10 Emmy Awards for Season 1, including Best Comedy Series, and there were two wins for the show, for production design and stunt coordination. What was the response from the...
- 7/2/2019
- by Kevin Jacobsen
- Gold Derby
Adrian Peng Correia admits that taking over as cinematographer for the second season of “Glow” was “an interesting conflict.” On the one hand, you have to “honor something that has already been done for the first season.” On the other hand, you have to “express yourself with camera in a different way.” Correia spoke about his work at Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts Btl panel, hosted by managing editor Chris Beachum. The event took place on Thursday, May 30, at the Landmark Theater in Los Angeles. Watch our exclusive video interview with Correia above.
See Betty Gilpin interview: ‘Glow’
Before assuming his duties on the Netflix series about a group of women working as professional wrestlers in the 1980s, Correia spoke with original Dp Christian Sprenger to discuss “a few things that he would’ve liked to see continue on the show.” He also talked to creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch,...
See Betty Gilpin interview: ‘Glow’
Before assuming his duties on the Netflix series about a group of women working as professional wrestlers in the 1980s, Correia spoke with original Dp Christian Sprenger to discuss “a few things that he would’ve liked to see continue on the show.” He also talked to creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch,...
- 6/3/2019
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
In Guava Island, a musician (Donald Glover) incurs the wrath of a tropical despot when his plans for a celebratory music festival threaten to shutter the fictional isle’s silk factory for a day. The film, which runs 55 minutes with musical interludes from Glover’s alter ego Childish Gambino, features many of the talents behind the FX show Atlanta. That includes Emmy winning cinematographer Christian Sprenger, who spoke to Filmmaker about working on location in Cuba and his magic formula for making the Alexa Lf look like 16mm film. Guava Island is currently streaming on […]...
- 4/30/2019
- by Matt Mulcahey
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
In Guava Island, a musician (Donald Glover) incurs the wrath of a tropical despot when his plans for a celebratory music festival threaten to shutter the fictional isle’s silk factory for a day. The film, which runs 55 minutes with musical interludes from Glover’s alter ego Childish Gambino, features many of the talents behind the FX show Atlanta. That includes Emmy winning cinematographer Christian Sprenger, who spoke to Filmmaker about working on location in Cuba and his magic formula for making the Alexa Lf look like 16mm film. Guava Island is currently streaming on […]...
- 4/30/2019
- by Matt Mulcahey
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
“The creators had asked for a way to create dynamics with the camera in terms of energy to give a more propulsive quality to some of the wrestling matches,” Adrian Peng Correia says to Gold Derby in an exclusive interview (watch the video above) about handling the cinematography on Netflix’s “Glow” for its second season. Correia further explains that “trying to find a way to elevate the visuals for the second season, particularly because there was going to be much more involved wrestling” drove his decisions about camerawork and lighting.
SEEour interview with the costume designer of “Glow.”
For Emmy consideration in Best Half-Hour Cinematography, in which Christian Sprenger was nominated last year for the first season, Correia has submitted the episode “Mother of All Matches.” He explains, “That episode to me is really the crux of the season.” If the episode does well enough in a popular vote...
SEEour interview with the costume designer of “Glow.”
For Emmy consideration in Best Half-Hour Cinematography, in which Christian Sprenger was nominated last year for the first season, Correia has submitted the episode “Mother of All Matches.” He explains, “That episode to me is really the crux of the season.” If the episode does well enough in a popular vote...
- 4/29/2019
- by Riley Chow
- Gold Derby
Donald Glover described “Guava Island” as “one of my favorite projects I’ve ever worked on,” and it shows: Every minute of this hour-long short film/music video hybrid exudes the passion of the team behind it. Directed by Hiro Murai, who also helmed the beloved “This Is America” video and has earned acclaim for his work on “Atlanta,” “Barry,” and “Legion,” it’s nevertheless billed as a Childish Gambino film — and that may be its Achilles heel. For all of the film’s vibrant energy, “Guava Island” isn’t a standalone work so much as a tie-in to its creator and star’s ever-ascending career that offers limited rewards to anyone who isn’t already on board.
It’s made with care and precision — cinematographer Christian Sprenger, who also works on “Atlanta” and shot on grainy 16mm, is the absolute Mvp — but there isn’t much content behind the...
It’s made with care and precision — cinematographer Christian Sprenger, who also works on “Atlanta” and shot on grainy 16mm, is the absolute Mvp — but there isn’t much content behind the...
- 4/13/2019
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
‘Guava Island’ Plot and Trailer Revealed — How to Stream Donald Glover’s ‘City of God’–Inspired Film
“Guava Island” details have finally been revealed and, as IndieWire first reported last August, the project is much larger in scope than either a music video or a visual album. Directed by Hiro Murai, the film stars Donald Glover as a local musician whose attempts to throw a festival for his island community take unexpected turns. Rihanna stars as the girlfriend of Glover’s character, while Letitia Wright has been cast in an undisclosed role.
Glover is rolling out “Guava Island” this weekend via numerous events and streaming platforms. The world premiere screening will take place at the Coachella Music Festival on Thursday, April 11, the day before Glover’s music persona Childish Gambino headlines the festival. “Guava Island” will screen in a specially constructed theater built for the event and play on the Coachella grounds until the end of the festival.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. Pt on Saturday, April...
Glover is rolling out “Guava Island” this weekend via numerous events and streaming platforms. The world premiere screening will take place at the Coachella Music Festival on Thursday, April 11, the day before Glover’s music persona Childish Gambino headlines the festival. “Guava Island” will screen in a specially constructed theater built for the event and play on the Coachella grounds until the end of the festival.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. Pt on Saturday, April...
- 4/11/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
“Guava Island,” the highly anticipated movie starring Donald Glover, Rihanna, and Letitia Wright, could finally be ready to world premiere this weekend. Numerous outlets, including Vulture, Pitchfork, and Refinery29 have cited an official YouTube press release that confirms “Guava Island” will world premiere during YouTube’s live stream of Coachella’s first weekend. Glover’s music persona Childish Gambino is one of the festival’s headlining acts and is set to perform Friday, April 12.
Refinery29 quotes the YouTube Press release as saying: “YouTube’s Weekend 1 live stream, presented by T-Mobile in the Us, and Garnier and Coca-Cola in Canada, will give music fans around the world the best seats in the desert for groundbreaking performances from their favourite artists when they tune into Coachella’s YouTube Channel on any screen and within the YouTube Music app. In addition, fans will get treated to a one-time premiere of the new Childish Gambino film,...
Refinery29 quotes the YouTube Press release as saying: “YouTube’s Weekend 1 live stream, presented by T-Mobile in the Us, and Garnier and Coca-Cola in Canada, will give music fans around the world the best seats in the desert for groundbreaking performances from their favourite artists when they tune into Coachella’s YouTube Channel on any screen and within the YouTube Music app. In addition, fans will get treated to a one-time premiere of the new Childish Gambino film,...
- 4/9/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
“Guava Island,” the mysterious and highly secretive project from Donald Glover and Rihanna, was the talk of the Glover-backed Pharos festival in New Zealand over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. A nearly two-minute preview of the film was screened at the festival, footage from which has found its way online (via Variety) and is picking up traction with fans of the two music superstars. While some have predicted “Guava Island” is a music video, the preview describes the project as “A Childish Gambino Film.”
The first footage from “Guava Island” that screened at Pharos festival confirms new details about the project, including a storyline that involves Glover and Rihanna’s characters in a relationship and Glover’s character getting kidnapped. The film is set in Cuba and shot on location. Glover’s longtime collaborator Hiro Murai, who has shot numerous Gambino music videos and episodes of “Atlanta,” directed the project. The...
The first footage from “Guava Island” that screened at Pharos festival confirms new details about the project, including a storyline that involves Glover and Rihanna’s characters in a relationship and Glover’s character getting kidnapped. The film is set in Cuba and shot on location. Glover’s longtime collaborator Hiro Murai, who has shot numerous Gambino music videos and episodes of “Atlanta,” directed the project. The...
- 11/26/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
‘Atlanta’ Shut Out Completely on Emmys Night as ‘Maisel’ and ‘Barry’ Steal the Post-‘Veep’ Spotlight
Monday’s Emmys broadcast began with the satirical song and dance number, “We Solved It,” referring to solving the diversity problem on TV. Of course, the joke was that the problem hadn’t been fixed, and the comedy category sadly proved that. Both “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Barry” took home Emmys in the major categories, leaving “Atlanta” shut out.
Donald Glover’s FX comedy was considered a frontrunner when it earned 16 nominations for its stellar second season. After having won two Emmys last year, it seemed that it was a shoo-in for awards dominance this year, especially on the heels of Glover’s ubiquity on the big screen, on “Saturday Night Live,” and in music. But after taking home three Creative Arts Emmys — for sound editing, cinematography, and guest actor Katt Williams — that was the end of the “Atlanta” Emmys run for the year.
The Emmys telecast began with the comedy categories,...
Donald Glover’s FX comedy was considered a frontrunner when it earned 16 nominations for its stellar second season. After having won two Emmys last year, it seemed that it was a shoo-in for awards dominance this year, especially on the heels of Glover’s ubiquity on the big screen, on “Saturday Night Live,” and in music. But after taking home three Creative Arts Emmys — for sound editing, cinematography, and guest actor Katt Williams — that was the end of the “Atlanta” Emmys run for the year.
The Emmys telecast began with the comedy categories,...
- 9/18/2018
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
Christina Pickles won her first Emmy for her work in Break a Hip.The Creative Arts Primetime Emmys were distributed Saturday at a ceremony in Los Angeles, with multiple wins going to HBO's Game of Thrones, Netflix's The Crown, and Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Check out a complete list of winners below.
TV movie: USS Callister: Black Mirror
Guest actor in a comedy series: Katt Williams, Atlanta
Cinematography for a single-camera series (one hour): Adriano Goldman, The Crown
Cinematography for a single-camera series (half-hour): Christian Sprenger, Atlanta
Hairstyling for a single-camera series: Westworld
Makeup for a single-camera series (non-prosthetic): Westworld
Children’s program: The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special
Contemporary costumes: The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Creative achievement in interactive media within a scripted program: Westworld Chaos Takes Control Interactive Experience.
Original interactive program: Nasa Jpl: Cassini...
Check out a complete list of winners below.
TV movie: USS Callister: Black Mirror
Guest actor in a comedy series: Katt Williams, Atlanta
Cinematography for a single-camera series (one hour): Adriano Goldman, The Crown
Cinematography for a single-camera series (half-hour): Christian Sprenger, Atlanta
Hairstyling for a single-camera series: Westworld
Makeup for a single-camera series (non-prosthetic): Westworld
Children’s program: The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special
Contemporary costumes: The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Creative achievement in interactive media within a scripted program: Westworld Chaos Takes Control Interactive Experience.
Original interactive program: Nasa Jpl: Cassini...
- 9/9/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards honoring the best in casting, technical achievement, guest acting and more across TV movies, animated programs, shorts and documentaries are being handed out this weekend from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
“USS Callister (Black Mirror)” won the award for Outstanding Television Movie. Samira Wiley, Ron Cephas, Tiffany Haddish, Katt Williams and more all took home Emmys for winning in Guest Acting categories. Christina Pickles, at 83-years-old, won her first Emmy out of seven nominations in her career. And “Game of Thrones” returned to the Emmys in style, winning seven Emmys so far. “The Assiassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” won four Emmys.
Also Read: Constance Wu, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey Among 70th Emmy Awards Presenters
There are so many awards categories (96 in total) that it’ll take two nights to hand them all out — the event will continue on Sunday.
Below is the...
“USS Callister (Black Mirror)” won the award for Outstanding Television Movie. Samira Wiley, Ron Cephas, Tiffany Haddish, Katt Williams and more all took home Emmys for winning in Guest Acting categories. Christina Pickles, at 83-years-old, won her first Emmy out of seven nominations in her career. And “Game of Thrones” returned to the Emmys in style, winning seven Emmys so far. “The Assiassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” won four Emmys.
Also Read: Constance Wu, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey Among 70th Emmy Awards Presenters
There are so many awards categories (96 in total) that it’ll take two nights to hand them all out — the event will continue on Sunday.
Below is the...
- 9/8/2018
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
On Tuesday, a photo surfaced showing Rihanna posing with Donald Glover, supposedly on a film set in Cuba, causing immediate speculation about the nature of the project. It was accompanied by a report from the Cuban culture magazine Vistar, claiming that the two performers were shooting a mysterious project called “Guava Island,” which would also feature actors Nonso Anozie, Letitia Wright and be directed by Glover’s long-time collaborator Hiro Murai.
For Rihanna’s rabid fanbase, who collectively have become experts tracking and dissecting her every move, there were plenty of tea leaves to read. The singer’s much anticipated ninth studio album – she was in the studio earlier this year – is expected to drop this fall. Meanwhile Childish Gambino (Glover’s rapping moniker) was just announced Monday as the featured performer at Rihanna’s Diamond Ball charity event on September 13.
With the Cuban project appearing to be Rihanna-centric, Vistar...
For Rihanna’s rabid fanbase, who collectively have become experts tracking and dissecting her every move, there were plenty of tea leaves to read. The singer’s much anticipated ninth studio album – she was in the studio earlier this year – is expected to drop this fall. Meanwhile Childish Gambino (Glover’s rapping moniker) was just announced Monday as the featured performer at Rihanna’s Diamond Ball charity event on September 13.
With the Cuban project appearing to be Rihanna-centric, Vistar...
- 8/17/2018
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Cameras and lenses can make a huge difference on a project, something this year’s Emmy-nominated cinematographers know something about. IndieWire reached out to this year’s nominees for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour), Single-Camera Series (One Hour), and Limited Series or Movie, and asked them which format, camera and lenses they used. But just as important, we asked them why they were the right tools to achieve their show’s unique look.
Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour)
The nominees for outstanding cinematography in this category are Christian Sprenger (“Atlanta” and “Glow”), Paula Huidobro (“Barry”), Justin Brown (“The End Of The F***ing World”), Patrick Cady (“Insecure”), and Tobias Datum (“Mozart In The Jungle”).
Last Year’s Winner: David Miller for “Veep.”
“Atlanta”
Format: 3.2K ProRes4444
Camera: Arri Amira
Lens: Kowa Cine Prominar Spherical Primes, Angenieux 45-120mm, Canon 8-64mm (S16)
Christian Sprenger: “Atlanta” is...
Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour)
The nominees for outstanding cinematography in this category are Christian Sprenger (“Atlanta” and “Glow”), Paula Huidobro (“Barry”), Justin Brown (“The End Of The F***ing World”), Patrick Cady (“Insecure”), and Tobias Datum (“Mozart In The Jungle”).
Last Year’s Winner: David Miller for “Veep.”
“Atlanta”
Format: 3.2K ProRes4444
Camera: Arri Amira
Lens: Kowa Cine Prominar Spherical Primes, Angenieux 45-120mm, Canon 8-64mm (S16)
Christian Sprenger: “Atlanta” is...
- 8/15/2018
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
When it comes to Emmy nominations for below-the-line talent, traditional broadcaster NBC more than held its own in the major Creative Arts categories, tying HBO and besting juggernaut Netflix. The Peacock network broadcast three of the 13 shows that amassed seven or more noms in such areas as cinematography, production design and editing. HBO also had three shows in that arena; FX and Netflix each scored two, while Amazon, Hulu and Showtime each had one. Here’s an appraisal of those strongly crafted programs by some of the artisans who helped create them.
Atlanta / FX (seven noms)
The challenges facing editor Kyle Reiter on “Atlanta” were not the usual ones, “where you’re fixing problems and searching for the best takes,” he says. All the performances are so good that “there are an infinite number of ways of dealing with it, and it’s simply daunting.” It helped, he adds, that...
Atlanta / FX (seven noms)
The challenges facing editor Kyle Reiter on “Atlanta” were not the usual ones, “where you’re fixing problems and searching for the best takes,” he says. All the performances are so good that “there are an infinite number of ways of dealing with it, and it’s simply daunting.” It helped, he adds, that...
- 8/3/2018
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
There’s a trend, that started with franchise blockbusters a decade ago and has been picked up in the world of TV, where studios associate size and scope with large budgets. Not that long ago it was not a source of pride how over-budget “Waterworld” went, or that Joss Whedon’s “Firefly” was sprawled over multiple stages and became Fox’s most expensive show ever.
Now HBO and Netflix want you to know their world-building shows push the cinematic boundaries of peak TV with a spare-no-expense attitude toward production values, and as a result are able to pad its Emmy nomination totals with a wide assortment of craft categories.
Epic fantasy, period and sci-fi world-building become easy boxes to check off for flagship series like “Westworld” (14 Btl noms), “Game of Thrones” (11 Btl noms), “The Handmaid’s Tale” (9 Btl noms), “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (9 Btl noms), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel...
Now HBO and Netflix want you to know their world-building shows push the cinematic boundaries of peak TV with a spare-no-expense attitude toward production values, and as a result are able to pad its Emmy nomination totals with a wide assortment of craft categories.
Epic fantasy, period and sci-fi world-building become easy boxes to check off for flagship series like “Westworld” (14 Btl noms), “Game of Thrones” (11 Btl noms), “The Handmaid’s Tale” (9 Btl noms), “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (9 Btl noms), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel...
- 7/12/2018
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
With over 500 scripted shows on TV and streaming platforms, one of the mandates of “peak TV” is that in order to get the audience’s attention shows need to be bold. While that certainly has impacted the type of stories being told, it also applies to visual storytelling. One of the most noticeable shifts in the last couple of years is that not only are half-hour shows pushing the envelope in terms of narrative structure, but how they have redefined what we expect in terms of the cinematography and filmic language in a TV comedy.
This year three sophomore shows – in three very different ways – have brought a cinematic style that challenges the notion that TV comedy must depend on the dialogue to carry the story. IndieWire talked to the cinematographers, directors and creators behind “Atlanta,” “Dear White People,” and “The Good Place” to go behind-the-scenes and learn how these...
This year three sophomore shows – in three very different ways – have brought a cinematic style that challenges the notion that TV comedy must depend on the dialogue to carry the story. IndieWire talked to the cinematographers, directors and creators behind “Atlanta,” “Dear White People,” and “The Good Place” to go behind-the-scenes and learn how these...
- 6/22/2018
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Right from the start of season two, “Atlanta” primed its audience to expect the unexpected: an opening sequence centered on a robbery involving characters the audience had never met, and a storyline that ended with a tragedy left unresolved. But nothing could prepare the audience for “Teddy Perkins,” in which the show’s creator and star, Donald Glover, donned a white-face prosthetic mask and played the aging Michael Jackson-like titular character living in a spooky mansion where Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) comes to pick up a piano. The bottle episode was the show’s biggest detour, unfolding like a horror mystery, as Darius can’t tell what danger lies underneath Teddy’s polite demeanor.
For years, Hiro Murai – who has directed 14 of the show’s 21 episodes and also serves as co-executive producer – has been Glover’s go-to collaborator on both the show and Glover’s musical side projects. Together, they...
For years, Hiro Murai – who has directed 14 of the show’s 21 episodes and also serves as co-executive producer – has been Glover’s go-to collaborator on both the show and Glover’s musical side projects. Together, they...
- 6/4/2018
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
In 2007 a group of four comics and creators joined to form Good Neighbor, a sketch comedy team that would go on to breach the ranks of Saturday Night Live. The group is known mostly for Kyle Mooney, a weirdo comic voice whose left-of-center SNL skits often get cut for time. Mooney stars in Good Neighbor’s feature film debut, Brigsby Bear, directed by fellow group member Dave McCary. The film tells the story of a secluded young man with an unhealthy obsession with a TV show literally no one has ever seen. Below, Dp Christian Sprenger speaks to the film’s tricky tone, which eschews […]...
- 1/24/2017
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
You wouldn’t expect the Coen Brother’s bleak, nihilistic Best Picture-winner “No Country for Old Men” (2007) to be the main source of visual inspiration for a TV comedy, but that’s the first title cinematographer Christian Sprenger brings up when discussing his work on “The Last Man on Earth.” In our exclusive audio interview (listen below), Sprenger cited Oscar-nominated D.P. Roger Deakins’ use of “very static, wide, well-graphically composed shots that are very classic storytelling” as a major point of reference for him when figuring out the style of the show. He further elaborates, “It takes place in a desert, and there’s lots of hot, direct sunlight, and we really liked the confidence in the photography that they had to let things be dark or let things be super bright.” -Break- So what exactly, you may ask, does such austere camerawork have to do with a show...
- 5/4/2015
- Gold Derby
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