As Neil Young once sang, the now shuttered Participant is gone, but not forgotten.
Some of Tinseltown’s leading talents like Regina King, George Clooney, Ava DuVernay, Daniel Dae Kim, Martin Sheen, Regina King, Alfonso Cuaron, Matt Damon, Diego Luna and more have joined up with the National Domestic Workers Alliance to express “gratitude and pride” in the work put out by the Jeff Skoll-created shingle over the last two decades. At the same time, the A-Listers are imploring the ever increasingly conglomerated industry to keep their eyes on the social impact prize.
“As we say goodbye to Participant, we must underscore that values-based storytelling is needed now more than ever; to expand the room for debate, to open our hearts to experiences vastly different from our own, to immerse us in the beauty of humanity’s complexities,” the star-studded letter says. “And in the face of unprecedented change and uncertainty,...
Some of Tinseltown’s leading talents like Regina King, George Clooney, Ava DuVernay, Daniel Dae Kim, Martin Sheen, Regina King, Alfonso Cuaron, Matt Damon, Diego Luna and more have joined up with the National Domestic Workers Alliance to express “gratitude and pride” in the work put out by the Jeff Skoll-created shingle over the last two decades. At the same time, the A-Listers are imploring the ever increasingly conglomerated industry to keep their eyes on the social impact prize.
“As we say goodbye to Participant, we must underscore that values-based storytelling is needed now more than ever; to expand the room for debate, to open our hearts to experiences vastly different from our own, to immerse us in the beauty of humanity’s complexities,” the star-studded letter says. “And in the face of unprecedented change and uncertainty,...
- 5/7/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Last year, the whole world was amazed by the storyline of Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall, a legal drama about a writer trying to prove innocence in her husband's death. It demonstrated the potential toxicity of not only the failed relationship, but the world around us, when people get blamed for crimes even when there’s not enough proof.
There is a 2019 movie of the same genre, telling a similar story, but on much a larger scale. Its plot revolves around Robert Bilott, the real-life environmental attorney, known for the lawsuits against the chemical company DuPont after they contaminated the whole town in West Virginia with unregulated chemicals.
This premise seems to be boring enough to put you asleep with a bunch of pretentious speeches about the need to defend our ecology. However, this drama is not only going to keep you awake, but closely follow the DuPont case.
There is a 2019 movie of the same genre, telling a similar story, but on much a larger scale. Its plot revolves around Robert Bilott, the real-life environmental attorney, known for the lawsuits against the chemical company DuPont after they contaminated the whole town in West Virginia with unregulated chemicals.
This premise seems to be boring enough to put you asleep with a bunch of pretentious speeches about the need to defend our ecology. However, this drama is not only going to keep you awake, but closely follow the DuPont case.
- 4/30/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
In early May, sandwiched between the NewFronts and the traditional broadcast (and now streaming) upfronts, a new showcase for pitches to major advertisers will make its debut.
Billed as The Way Upfronts, the series of virtual presentations slated for May 7 and 8 is a hybrid of the annual springtime spectacles of ad-supported television and the supercharged energy of a festival marketplace. Plans call for making them quarterly, in-person events, with next month’s launch edition meant to increase visibility at a time when talent will already be making the rounds and fully emerging from a strike-impaired 2023.
Oscar-winning producer and manager Michael Sugar’s company, Sugar23, is leading the new initiative, which has secured attendance from brands representing some $120 billion in spending. Those Madison Avenue dollars are drawn to the talent in the Zoom. While organizers have not shared the names of presenters to the public, the host committee for the event includes Scarlett Johansson,...
Billed as The Way Upfronts, the series of virtual presentations slated for May 7 and 8 is a hybrid of the annual springtime spectacles of ad-supported television and the supercharged energy of a festival marketplace. Plans call for making them quarterly, in-person events, with next month’s launch edition meant to increase visibility at a time when talent will already be making the rounds and fully emerging from a strike-impaired 2023.
Oscar-winning producer and manager Michael Sugar’s company, Sugar23, is leading the new initiative, which has secured attendance from brands representing some $120 billion in spending. Those Madison Avenue dollars are drawn to the talent in the Zoom. While organizers have not shared the names of presenters to the public, the host committee for the event includes Scarlett Johansson,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.NEWSAn Inconvenient Truth.Participant, the socially conscious production company, has closed, which filmmaker Julie Cohen called “devastating news to anyone who cares about documentaries.” Their twenty-year track record includes many nonfiction films, such as An Inconvenient Truth (2006), but also narrative features like Spotlight (2015) and Roma (2018).New data suggests that Hollywood production has gradually rebounded after last year’s WGA and SAG strikes, though not to the levels of the “peak TV” streaming bubble.The Archival Producers Alliance has drafted best practices for the use of generative AI in documentary, cautioning against the “danger of forever muddying the historical record.”In PRODUCTIONMartin Scorsese is reportedly developing a Frank Sinatra biopic, to star Leonardo DiCaprio as the crooner and Jennifer Lawrence as Ava Gardner.
- 4/25/2024
- MUBI
Whether it’s the role of Buddy in Edgar Wright‘s Baby Driver or Cyclone in one of the biggest films of 2022, Top Gun: Maverick, Jon Hamm is always one of the most attractive people on set. Similar was the case during his stint in his breakthrough show, Mad Men, which launched Hamm and his costar Christina Hendricks’ career to prominence.
But while Hamm was the most good-looking guy on the set, whose beauty left his costars awestruck, Hendricks’ beauty too became too much to handle for the crew on the set of Mad Men.
Christina Hendricks’ Beauty Was Too Much To Handle for the Mad Men Crew
Jon Hamm | Mad Men (via AMC)
Speaking about his experience with the two actors of the acclaimed ABC show, John Slattery recalled the impact of their looks on the rest of the crew. Playing the impossibly good-looking Don Draper in the drama,...
But while Hamm was the most good-looking guy on the set, whose beauty left his costars awestruck, Hendricks’ beauty too became too much to handle for the crew on the set of Mad Men.
Christina Hendricks’ Beauty Was Too Much To Handle for the Mad Men Crew
Jon Hamm | Mad Men (via AMC)
Speaking about his experience with the two actors of the acclaimed ABC show, John Slattery recalled the impact of their looks on the rest of the crew. Playing the impossibly good-looking Don Draper in the drama,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
A new posthumous Johnny Cash album, Songwriter, filled with previously unreleased tunes written and performed by the Man in Black is set to arrive June 28 via Mercury Nashville/UMe.
The 11-track collection features songs Cash had written over many years, then finally put to tape during a demo session at Lsi Studios in Nashville in early 1993. But that project was ultimately scrapped after Cash met Rick Rubin and the two struck up a prolific creative partnership that lasted through Cash’s death in 2003.
After Cash’s son, John Carter Cash,...
The 11-track collection features songs Cash had written over many years, then finally put to tape during a demo session at Lsi Studios in Nashville in early 1993. But that project was ultimately scrapped after Cash met Rick Rubin and the two struck up a prolific creative partnership that lasted through Cash’s death in 2003.
After Cash’s son, John Carter Cash,...
- 4/23/2024
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
An unreleased Johnny Cash album will finally see the light of day, thanks to his son John Carter Cash and a team of world-class country musicians. Titled Songwriter, the project was recorded in 1993, and will be released on June 28th via Mercury Nashville/UMe.
Songwriter features 11 songs written solely by Cash over the course of his then-40-year-long career. He made the album at Lsi Studios in Nashville during a period when he was between contracts, and it ultimately ended up shelved until his son, John Carter, and producer David “Fergie” Ferguson sought to finish it with a group of musicians who played with Cash, including Marty Stuart, Pete Abbott, the late Dave Roe, and others.
Today, ahead of the album’s release, Cash’s estate shared the single “Well Alright,” a classic story-telling song with an even-more-classic country arrangement, even down to the tinny lead guitar, train-shuffle beat, and folksy,...
Songwriter features 11 songs written solely by Cash over the course of his then-40-year-long career. He made the album at Lsi Studios in Nashville during a period when he was between contracts, and it ultimately ended up shelved until his son, John Carter, and producer David “Fergie” Ferguson sought to finish it with a group of musicians who played with Cash, including Marty Stuart, Pete Abbott, the late Dave Roe, and others.
Today, ahead of the album’s release, Cash’s estate shared the single “Well Alright,” a classic story-telling song with an even-more-classic country arrangement, even down to the tinny lead guitar, train-shuffle beat, and folksy,...
- 4/23/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
Editors note: Filmmaker and producer Davis Guggenheim directed 2006’s An Inconvenient Truth featuring Al Gore. The film won the Oscar and helped put Jeff Skoll’s social-impact-driven production company then known as Participant Media on the map, and also sounded an alarm about climate change that has become more pronounced since the film was released. In addition to documentaries, Participant was also responsible for Oscar Best Picture winners Spotlight and Green Book, and Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion, another timely topic. Guggenheim is a co-founder of Concordia Studio and most recently directed and produced Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, which won four Emmys including for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. He is the only person to direct and produce three distinct films ranking in the top 100 highest-grossing documentaries of all time. Here he penned a guest column for Deadline after learning Participant was shuttering.
- 4/23/2024
- by Davis Guggenheim
- Deadline Film + TV
At first, I was shocked by the news that Participant Media was dying. Such an appealing company. Smart. Mindful. Vibrant. Forward-thinking. The producer of intelligent films like Spotlight and Green Book, with a distinctly progressive message.
How could this be?
Then it finally hit me. Whatever else may have happened—announcing the shutdown, proprietor Jeff Skoll cited “revolutionary” changes in the entertainment business—Participant went under, I believe, because most of high-end Hollywood jumped into the company’s basically sound but modestly sized boat. The purpose-film niche was swamped.
It’s almost hard to remember that 20 years ago, when Participant was founded, the notion of a self-consciously message-oriented, activist film company was actually novel.
But, cinematically speaking, it was a much different world in 2004. The top movie that year was Shrek 2—not much message there. Culturally, the big story was a religious film, The Passion of the Christ. That hasn’t happened since.
How could this be?
Then it finally hit me. Whatever else may have happened—announcing the shutdown, proprietor Jeff Skoll cited “revolutionary” changes in the entertainment business—Participant went under, I believe, because most of high-end Hollywood jumped into the company’s basically sound but modestly sized boat. The purpose-film niche was swamped.
It’s almost hard to remember that 20 years ago, when Participant was founded, the notion of a self-consciously message-oriented, activist film company was actually novel.
But, cinematically speaking, it was a much different world in 2004. The top movie that year was Shrek 2—not much message there. Culturally, the big story was a religious film, The Passion of the Christ. That hasn’t happened since.
- 4/21/2024
- by Michael Cieply
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s festival season on Snapchat, and the app is joining the crowd with a plethora of filters, Discover content, and geo-located goodies. The fun begins at Coachella, where Snapchat is offering an array of coverage over two weekends.
Snapchat kicked off its Coachella celebration during the weekend of April 13, when the music and arts festival returned to its usual home in the California desert. In-app features designed for concertgoers will continue to be available as Coachella heads into its second weekend, which runs through April 21.
The tentpole includes a curated collection of Stories, which can be found in the Discover tab of the Snapchat app. Geo-fenced filters allow users to share the “fun,” “vibes,” and “fits” they encounter while attending Coachella. Some of those filters will be used in challenges that will run on Spotlight, Snapchat’s TikTok-style format. As per usual, Snap will attach cash prizes to those competitions.
Snapchat kicked off its Coachella celebration during the weekend of April 13, when the music and arts festival returned to its usual home in the California desert. In-app features designed for concertgoers will continue to be available as Coachella heads into its second weekend, which runs through April 21.
The tentpole includes a curated collection of Stories, which can be found in the Discover tab of the Snapchat app. Geo-fenced filters allow users to share the “fun,” “vibes,” and “fits” they encounter while attending Coachella. Some of those filters will be used in challenges that will run on Spotlight, Snapchat’s TikTok-style format. As per usual, Snap will attach cash prizes to those competitions.
- 4/19/2024
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
End of an era, end of a business model, end of a gravy train, end of the world. There were plenty of mixed emotions this week in response to the closure of Oscar-winning production company Participant, and at the very least the industry has agreed something has come to an end.
When Variety broke the news Tuesday that billionaire Jeff Skoll’s 20-year-old company will shut down — after fetching 21 Oscars and introducing a business model that prioritized social impact a bit more than profits – many in the industry were rattled. Not just that mid-level, standalone financier and producer had left the market, but what that means for the viability of movies and TV shows that ask vital questions about justice and the humanity’s future.
“The end of Participant Media is devastating news to anyone who cares about documentaries,” director Julie Cohen wrote bluntly on X. She’s the co-director...
When Variety broke the news Tuesday that billionaire Jeff Skoll’s 20-year-old company will shut down — after fetching 21 Oscars and introducing a business model that prioritized social impact a bit more than profits – many in the industry were rattled. Not just that mid-level, standalone financier and producer had left the market, but what that means for the viability of movies and TV shows that ask vital questions about justice and the humanity’s future.
“The end of Participant Media is devastating news to anyone who cares about documentaries,” director Julie Cohen wrote bluntly on X. She’s the co-director...
- 4/19/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
The Bold and the Beautiful spoilers for Friday, April 19, 2024 reveal that Lauren Fenmore Baldwin (Tracey E. Bregman) tells Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) about Sugar.
Coming Up On The Bold And The Beautiful
Meanwhile, John “Finn” Finnegan (Tanner Novlan), Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton), Hope Logan (Annika Noelle), and Steffy Forrester Finnegan (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) all worry about Deacon’s mental health. Keep reading to find out what is coming up in the next episode of the CBS soap opera.
Deacon Sharpe’s Name Drop
B&b spoilers for Friday, April 19 reveal that Deacon can’t stop obsessing about Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) possibly being alive.
Multiple people have confronted Deacon and told him to stop. Deacon can’t and won’t, though. In fact, Deacon keeps telling everyone about his theories instead of investigating it first.
At the end of Thursday’s episode, Lauren stopped dead in her tracks when Deacon mentioned the name “Sugar.
Coming Up On The Bold And The Beautiful
Meanwhile, John “Finn” Finnegan (Tanner Novlan), Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton), Hope Logan (Annika Noelle), and Steffy Forrester Finnegan (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) all worry about Deacon’s mental health. Keep reading to find out what is coming up in the next episode of the CBS soap opera.
Deacon Sharpe’s Name Drop
B&b spoilers for Friday, April 19 reveal that Deacon can’t stop obsessing about Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) possibly being alive.
Multiple people have confronted Deacon and told him to stop. Deacon can’t and won’t, though. In fact, Deacon keeps telling everyone about his theories instead of investigating it first.
At the end of Thursday’s episode, Lauren stopped dead in her tracks when Deacon mentioned the name “Sugar.
- 4/18/2024
- by Taylor Hancen Rios
- Celebrating The Soaps
The shocking news that Participant, a leading producer of specialized/independent features with a socially relevant interest as well many top documentaries, is shutting down immediately hit the industry hard Tuesday. With a profile of co-produced films over the last 20 years that rivals any other company’s slate, this was devastating news.
Founder and owner Jeff Skoll’s decision to shut down his company will impact the production of a certain kind of specialized film, particularly in the documentary field. Never a distributor, and most often collaborating with other production companies, Participant was still a significant force for most of its two decades.
But what’s the real impact of this move? Jonathan Dana, a veteran distribution executive and producer, commented, “It didn’t fail. It just ran its course.” That typifies much of the insider reaction, which relates to the specific purpose and goals of the company.
‘Spotlight’ © Open...
Founder and owner Jeff Skoll’s decision to shut down his company will impact the production of a certain kind of specialized film, particularly in the documentary field. Never a distributor, and most often collaborating with other production companies, Participant was still a significant force for most of its two decades.
But what’s the real impact of this move? Jonathan Dana, a veteran distribution executive and producer, commented, “It didn’t fail. It just ran its course.” That typifies much of the insider reaction, which relates to the specific purpose and goals of the company.
‘Spotlight’ © Open...
- 4/18/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
James Warburton, MD and CEO of Seven West Media, one of Australia’s largest media conglomerates, has resigned following a series of scandals. He was scheduled to depart the company in December, but now exits with immediate effect following a board meeting on Thursday.
In a filing to the Australian Stock Exchange, Seven West said that Jeff Howard, currently its chief finance officer, will take over as MD and CEO with effect from Friday. Craig Haskins will act as interim CFO until a successor to Howard is appointed.
Seven West owns the Seven Network and its affiliates, the 7plus: 7News digital platform and newspapers including The West Australian and the Sunday Times. Its proprietor and chairman, Kerry Stokes thanked Warburton for “his contribution over many years.”
Among the scandals, one was recently revealed in a court case that did not directly involve Seven, but instead appeared to reveal much about it.
In a filing to the Australian Stock Exchange, Seven West said that Jeff Howard, currently its chief finance officer, will take over as MD and CEO with effect from Friday. Craig Haskins will act as interim CFO until a successor to Howard is appointed.
Seven West owns the Seven Network and its affiliates, the 7plus: 7News digital platform and newspapers including The West Australian and the Sunday Times. Its proprietor and chairman, Kerry Stokes thanked Warburton for “his contribution over many years.”
Among the scandals, one was recently revealed in a court case that did not directly involve Seven, but instead appeared to reveal much about it.
- 4/18/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Jeff Skoll, the billionaire philanthropist who launched Participant 20 years ago to champion socially conscious films, is closing down the impact producer-financier behind Spotlight, Roma, and Green Book.
In a memo to staff on Tuesday morning eBay co-founder Skoll said, ”I founded Participant with the mission of creating world-class content that inspires positive social change, prioritizing impact alongside commercial sustainability. Since then, the entertainment industry has seen revolutionary changes in how content is created, distributed and consumed.”
The statement hinted at what may have driven the Canadian’s “very difficult decision”. Studios and streamers are scrutinising their spend more than ever,...
In a memo to staff on Tuesday morning eBay co-founder Skoll said, ”I founded Participant with the mission of creating world-class content that inspires positive social change, prioritizing impact alongside commercial sustainability. Since then, the entertainment industry has seen revolutionary changes in how content is created, distributed and consumed.”
The statement hinted at what may have driven the Canadian’s “very difficult decision”. Studios and streamers are scrutinising their spend more than ever,...
- 4/16/2024
- ScreenDaily
After 20 years, Participant is shutting down.
Founder Jeff Skoll announced the news in a note to staff Tuesday, writing, “after much reflection, I have made the very difficult decision to wind down company operations.” During its run, the company was behind best picture winners Green Book and Moonlight, and docs such as An Inconvenient Truth and Rbg.
EBay co-founder Skoll founded the company in 2004 with a dual mission of making money and inspiring social change through entertainment (the company later moved into television and other ventures). It has helped produce and finance a slew of high-profile awards contenders. Its films won 21 Oscars and its series won 18 Emmys. It earned more than $3.3 billion at the box office. Veteran studio executive David Linde has been running Participant since 2016; previous execs involved in Participant include Ricky Strauss.
It was heavily involved in the nonfiction space, with its shuttering sure to send ripples through that community.
Founder Jeff Skoll announced the news in a note to staff Tuesday, writing, “after much reflection, I have made the very difficult decision to wind down company operations.” During its run, the company was behind best picture winners Green Book and Moonlight, and docs such as An Inconvenient Truth and Rbg.
EBay co-founder Skoll founded the company in 2004 with a dual mission of making money and inspiring social change through entertainment (the company later moved into television and other ventures). It has helped produce and finance a slew of high-profile awards contenders. Its films won 21 Oscars and its series won 18 Emmys. It earned more than $3.3 billion at the box office. Veteran studio executive David Linde has been running Participant since 2016; previous execs involved in Participant include Ricky Strauss.
It was heavily involved in the nonfiction space, with its shuttering sure to send ripples through that community.
- 4/16/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Participant, the media company behind films like “Spotlight,” “Green Book,” “Roma,” and many more, is shutting its doors after 20 years in operation.
Jeff Skoll, who founded the company in 2004, informed the staff in a memo (obtained by IndieWire) that Participant would “wind down company operations.”
Nearly all of Participant’s roughly 100 staffers are being let go with no new content or production in the works. Only Participant’s library of 135 films remaining.
“I founded Participant with the mission of creating world-class content that inspires positive social change, prioritizing impact alongside commercial sustainability,” Skoll wrote. “Since then, the entertainment industry has seen revolutionary changes in how content is created, distributed and consumed.”
Participant’s 135 titles, half of them documentaries and also including five series, have earned $3.3 billion at the global box office. Participant has produced two Best Picture winners and earned 21 Oscars total from 86 nominations, as well as 18 Emmys on 62 nominations.
Jeff Skoll, who founded the company in 2004, informed the staff in a memo (obtained by IndieWire) that Participant would “wind down company operations.”
Nearly all of Participant’s roughly 100 staffers are being let go with no new content or production in the works. Only Participant’s library of 135 films remaining.
“I founded Participant with the mission of creating world-class content that inspires positive social change, prioritizing impact alongside commercial sustainability,” Skoll wrote. “Since then, the entertainment industry has seen revolutionary changes in how content is created, distributed and consumed.”
Participant’s 135 titles, half of them documentaries and also including five series, have earned $3.3 billion at the global box office. Participant has produced two Best Picture winners and earned 21 Oscars total from 86 nominations, as well as 18 Emmys on 62 nominations.
- 4/16/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Financier and producer Participant is shuttering after 20 years. Founder Jeff Skoll alerted staff at 10:30Am, Deadline has confirmed.
The production’s m.o. was to bring content to the world that was socially conscious, read their Oscar Best Picture winners Spotlight and Universal’s Green Book, as well as DreamWorks’ Oscar winner Lincoln. All in Participant counts 135 films, five series, 21 Oscars including two Best Pictures, four Best Documentaries and two Best International Features, 18 Primetime Emmys and north of $3.3 billion in global box office.
Skoll told staffers, as you can read below, that it was a “very difficult decision” and stems from it being “the right time for me to evaluate my next chapter and approach to tackling the pressing issues of our time.” He also mentioned that he hasn’t been involved in the day-to-day management of the studio.
Skoll is a Canadian engineer, billionaire who was the first president of eBay.
The production’s m.o. was to bring content to the world that was socially conscious, read their Oscar Best Picture winners Spotlight and Universal’s Green Book, as well as DreamWorks’ Oscar winner Lincoln. All in Participant counts 135 films, five series, 21 Oscars including two Best Pictures, four Best Documentaries and two Best International Features, 18 Primetime Emmys and north of $3.3 billion in global box office.
Skoll told staffers, as you can read below, that it was a “very difficult decision” and stems from it being “the right time for me to evaluate my next chapter and approach to tackling the pressing issues of our time.” He also mentioned that he hasn’t been involved in the day-to-day management of the studio.
Skoll is a Canadian engineer, billionaire who was the first president of eBay.
- 4/16/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Participant, the 20-year-old film and television production company whose mission was to inspire social justice and humanitarian action, is shutting down.
Founder Jeff Skoll broke the news to a staff of roughly 100 on Tuesday. Established in 2004, Participant co-produced or co-financed a number of notable movies including best picture Oscar winners “Spotlight” and “Green Book,” as well as Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” and the breakthrough documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”
Almost all of Participant’s employees will be dismissed, multiple sources familiar with its plans said, and no new content development or production will be pursued. What’s left will be a skeletal holding company overseeing the Participant library, which represents interests in the 135 films it has made.
“I founded Participant with the mission of creating world-class content that inspires positive social change, prioritizing impact alongside commercial sustainability. Since then, the entertainment industry has seen revolutionary changes in how content is created,...
Founder Jeff Skoll broke the news to a staff of roughly 100 on Tuesday. Established in 2004, Participant co-produced or co-financed a number of notable movies including best picture Oscar winners “Spotlight” and “Green Book,” as well as Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” and the breakthrough documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”
Almost all of Participant’s employees will be dismissed, multiple sources familiar with its plans said, and no new content development or production will be pursued. What’s left will be a skeletal holding company overseeing the Participant library, which represents interests in the 135 films it has made.
“I founded Participant with the mission of creating world-class content that inspires positive social change, prioritizing impact alongside commercial sustainability. Since then, the entertainment industry has seen revolutionary changes in how content is created,...
- 4/16/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Following a gala closing night celebration featuring Steve Buscemi and his film “The Listener,” the 2024 Sarasota Film Festival has announced its awards — with several prominent indies taking the top prizes. This 26th edition of the Florida festival celebrating independent film gave the Narrative Feature Jury Prize to Josh Margolin’s Sundance breakout “Thelma,” starring June Squibb and the late Richard Roundtree. “Sugarcane” won the Documentary Feature Jury Prize.
Speaking for the narrative feature jury, filmmaker Alex Hedison, in awarding the prize to “Thelma,” said the group found the movie to celebrate “what Hollywood cinema so infrequently does: age. The extraordinary performances by June Squib and Richard Roundtree are at the center of ‘Thelma,’ surrounded by an excellent supporting cast who serve as a surrogate for the audience in reminding them of the significance of living their best lives with the kind of action and adventure life affords us if we...
Speaking for the narrative feature jury, filmmaker Alex Hedison, in awarding the prize to “Thelma,” said the group found the movie to celebrate “what Hollywood cinema so infrequently does: age. The extraordinary performances by June Squib and Richard Roundtree are at the center of ‘Thelma,’ surrounded by an excellent supporting cast who serve as a surrogate for the audience in reminding them of the significance of living their best lives with the kind of action and adventure life affords us if we...
- 4/15/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Plot: An insider account of how the women of “Newsnight” secured Prince Andrew’s infamous 2019 interview about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Review: Sometimes, pursuing a news story is as fascinating as the story itself. From All The President’s Men to Spotlight, countless films have looked at the reporters and journalists who have investigated the most significant revelations of all time and have garnered awards for the recreation of the tireless journey. The distance between the event and the dramatization often reminds audiences of the stakes at play, but Scoop chronicles a news story that occurred just six years ago. Led by Billie Piper as the producer who secured the shocking interview alongside Gillian Anderson, Romola Garai, Keeley Hawes, and Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew, Scoop has some exciting stories from an insider’s point of view. Still, it fails to generate anything we did not already get from the broadcast itself.
Review: Sometimes, pursuing a news story is as fascinating as the story itself. From All The President’s Men to Spotlight, countless films have looked at the reporters and journalists who have investigated the most significant revelations of all time and have garnered awards for the recreation of the tireless journey. The distance between the event and the dramatization often reminds audiences of the stakes at play, but Scoop chronicles a news story that occurred just six years ago. Led by Billie Piper as the producer who secured the shocking interview alongside Gillian Anderson, Romola Garai, Keeley Hawes, and Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew, Scoop has some exciting stories from an insider’s point of view. Still, it fails to generate anything we did not already get from the broadcast itself.
- 4/7/2024
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Netflix doesn’t at all try to hold back from making fun of Prince Andrew in their latest film, Scoop. The Philip Martin-directed film is based on former BBC editor Sam McAlister’s book about securing one of the most sensational interviews of Prince Andrew in the history of the BBC. The context is rather grave, as the interview was focused on the grim subject of Andrew’s friendship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Billie Piper is electrifying as McAlister, and so is Gillian Anderson, who plays Emily Maitlis, the famous British journalist who took the interview. But it is Rufus Sewell who delivers the standout performance as the controversial Prince. However, the film still falls quite flat, as, at the end of the day, it doesn’t really offer anything substantial to the viewers. Despite all the brilliant performances, Scoop remains just another Netflix...
- 4/6/2024
- by Rohitavra Majumdar
- Film Fugitives
Australia’s Seven West Media and its Seven network may risk reputational damage following Federal Court revelations in Sydney on Thursday and Friday.
The defamation case was brought by former Liberal Party political aide Bruce Lehrmann against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson. It does not directly involve Seven.
Lehrmann was tried in court in 2022 over the alleged rape of another political aide, Brittany Higgins, in Canberra in 2021. But the case and a retrial were abandoned with no findings against him.
Lehrmann’s defamation case alleges that Network 10 and Wilkinson have made false claims that he raped Higgins.
Network 10 and Higgins have said that they would defend their reporting as “substantially true.”
In late 2022, Seven, Australia’s most-watched TV network, aired an exclusive two-part interview with Lehrmann. But how its “Spotlight” investigative news program obtained that interview is now the subject of intense debate.
In court on Thursday, former...
The defamation case was brought by former Liberal Party political aide Bruce Lehrmann against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson. It does not directly involve Seven.
Lehrmann was tried in court in 2022 over the alleged rape of another political aide, Brittany Higgins, in Canberra in 2021. But the case and a retrial were abandoned with no findings against him.
Lehrmann’s defamation case alleges that Network 10 and Wilkinson have made false claims that he raped Higgins.
Network 10 and Higgins have said that they would defend their reporting as “substantially true.”
In late 2022, Seven, Australia’s most-watched TV network, aired an exclusive two-part interview with Lehrmann. But how its “Spotlight” investigative news program obtained that interview is now the subject of intense debate.
In court on Thursday, former...
- 4/5/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
On November 16, 2019, the BBC got a “scoop” that just might have saved Britain’s premier network for news. That is the night it aired its seemingly impossible “get” of Hrh Prince Andrew actually sitting down with the BBC’s signature news show, Newsnight, to talk about the raging scandal over his relationship with the notorious Jeffrey Epstein, as well as his alleged sexual encounters with Virginia Roberts. However, the facts of the matter, such as they were, are not at all what the new Netflix film Scoop is all about.
Instead, much like She Said, The Post, Spotlight and All the President’s Men, the emphasis here is on the reporters, four key woman journalists who incredibly negotiated a sit-down interview with Andrew when such a thing would be unthinkable. They pulled it all off just at a time when facts themselves were on trial and the future of legitimate newsgathering...
Instead, much like She Said, The Post, Spotlight and All the President’s Men, the emphasis here is on the reporters, four key woman journalists who incredibly negotiated a sit-down interview with Andrew when such a thing would be unthinkable. They pulled it all off just at a time when facts themselves were on trial and the future of legitimate newsgathering...
- 4/4/2024
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
The release of ‘Echo’ show brought several new things to the MCU. It was the first show to air under the Marvel Spotlight banner and the first character-driven R-rated show. Despite the relatively unknown character helming it, it achieved decent success. The most groundbreaking thing about ‘Echo’ was the fact that the showrunners were forced to canonize Netflix’s ‘The Defenders Saga’ and add it to the official MCU timeline.
Yes, doing this opened up some potential plotholes that will presumably be ironed out in future projects, but it had to be done. Kingpin played a massive role in ‘Echo’ and his backstory played a massive role, the showrunners had no choice but to add Netflix’s shows to the MCU Timeline despite not referencing them at all in prior Disney+ projects. Brad Winderbaum explained their train of thought in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
We finally said it out loud.
Yes, doing this opened up some potential plotholes that will presumably be ironed out in future projects, but it had to be done. Kingpin played a massive role in ‘Echo’ and his backstory played a massive role, the showrunners had no choice but to add Netflix’s shows to the MCU Timeline despite not referencing them at all in prior Disney+ projects. Brad Winderbaum explained their train of thought in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
We finally said it out loud.
- 3/21/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
Anonymous Content Brazil, a CAA-backed partnership between São Paulo-based Rt Features and Anonymous Content, has kicked off production on its first scripted project, a TV adaptation of Raphael Montes’ bestseller “Perfect Days” for Globo Brazil’s giant streaming platform, Globoplay.
The eight-episode adaptation is directed by International Emmy-winning helmer Joana Jabace (“Precious Pearl”) from scripts penned by Claudia Jouvin (“The Nightshifter”).
In “Perfect Days,” Clarice (played by Julia Dalavia), a carefree, budding screenwriter, playfully kisses Téo, an awkward medical student, to rile her college boyfriend. But the joke escalates into a nightmare when Téo, fixated on making Clarice love him, abducts her for a frantic road trip across Rio de Janeiro. His obsession intensifies, driving him to extreme lengths to safeguard their supposed perfect life.
The series also stars Jaffar Bambirra (“A vida pela frente”), Débora Bloch (“Segunda chamada”) and Fabiula Nascimento (“The Night Shifter”).
“We are proud of...
The eight-episode adaptation is directed by International Emmy-winning helmer Joana Jabace (“Precious Pearl”) from scripts penned by Claudia Jouvin (“The Nightshifter”).
In “Perfect Days,” Clarice (played by Julia Dalavia), a carefree, budding screenwriter, playfully kisses Téo, an awkward medical student, to rile her college boyfriend. But the joke escalates into a nightmare when Téo, fixated on making Clarice love him, abducts her for a frantic road trip across Rio de Janeiro. His obsession intensifies, driving him to extreme lengths to safeguard their supposed perfect life.
The series also stars Jaffar Bambirra (“A vida pela frente”), Débora Bloch (“Segunda chamada”) and Fabiula Nascimento (“The Night Shifter”).
“We are proud of...
- 3/20/2024
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Think about the experience of sitting and watching a movie. What is it about that big, wonderful image that connects with you? If you’re a diehard cineaste the answer might be the film’s cinematography or its use of music, special effects, sound design or something else. But for most audiences, chances are that the primary point of connection is the characters—and probably the actors embodying them.
It’s these performances that we identify with, root against and even lust after. But as much as their agents and managers might care for you to believe otherwise, actors don’t pop up in these roles by accident. Enter the Casting Director.
One of the most important (and unsung) positions on any film crew, the Casting Director is the person responsible for assembling the actors tasked with translating the script’s character description and dialogue into flesh-and-blood.
Below, we’ve...
It’s these performances that we identify with, root against and even lust after. But as much as their agents and managers might care for you to believe otherwise, actors don’t pop up in these roles by accident. Enter the Casting Director.
One of the most important (and unsung) positions on any film crew, the Casting Director is the person responsible for assembling the actors tasked with translating the script’s character description and dialogue into flesh-and-blood.
Below, we’ve...
- 3/18/2024
- by Matt Warren
- Film Independent News & More
This is not a groundbreaking or an especially hot take, but it is, sadly, an evergreen one that has only become more glaringly obvious in the age of fake news, partisan media, and Twitter (currently known as X). While the work of real journalists remains an undisputed and important pillar of our democracy, it can never have too many advocates in its corner to ring that bell. Unfortunately, scripted television isn’t often one of them.
Now, we’ll preface this by saying film has long been a champion of the hard work and sweeping change that can come from true, boots-on-the-ground journalism, with sterling examples like All the President’s Men, Spotlight, The Post, and Good Night, and Good Luck. But TV has far fewer worthy examples to its credit.
Now, we’ll preface this by saying film has long been a champion of the hard work and sweeping change that can come from true, boots-on-the-ground journalism, with sterling examples like All the President’s Men, Spotlight, The Post, and Good Night, and Good Luck. But TV has far fewer worthy examples to its credit.
- 3/18/2024
- by Hunter Ingram
- Primetimer
Since novelist and screenwriter Alex Garland first made the leap to directing with 2014 sci-fi "Ex Machina," he's rapidly become one of the most interesting filmmakers around. Garland delivered a strong follow-up with 2017's "Annihilation," before dipping into surrealist folk horror with 2022's "Men." His foothold in genre films meant that his new film, "Civil War," was instinctively given the science fiction label, but Garland has clarified that there's really nothing sci-fi about it.
"Civil War" is set in a time that could be anywhere from the present day to a few years from now, in a version of the United States that has fractured into conflict between the "official" government, the "Florida alliance," and an "illegal secessionist government" formed by the united states of Texas and California. At least, that's how the situation is characterized in the trailer by Nick Offerman's Potus, whom seasoned war journalist Lee (Kirsten Dunst...
"Civil War" is set in a time that could be anywhere from the present day to a few years from now, in a version of the United States that has fractured into conflict between the "official" government, the "Florida alliance," and an "illegal secessionist government" formed by the united states of Texas and California. At least, that's how the situation is characterized in the trailer by Nick Offerman's Potus, whom seasoned war journalist Lee (Kirsten Dunst...
- 3/15/2024
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
The British Film Institute’s Film Audience Network (BFI Fan) has unveiled Spotlight, a programme to invest in what it has identified as “culturally underserved communities”.
Spotlight will see additional BFI National Lottery funding invested in eight local areas across the UK to boost audience choice and improve access to screenings of independent film.
For BFI Fan 2023-2026, the BFI ringfenced £1.85m National Lottery funding for Spotlight. It takes a hyper-local approach to developing screenings in eight areas, each identified as having little or no screening provision by their local BFI Fan film hubs.
The Spotlight areas and partners set...
Spotlight will see additional BFI National Lottery funding invested in eight local areas across the UK to boost audience choice and improve access to screenings of independent film.
For BFI Fan 2023-2026, the BFI ringfenced £1.85m National Lottery funding for Spotlight. It takes a hyper-local approach to developing screenings in eight areas, each identified as having little or no screening provision by their local BFI Fan film hubs.
The Spotlight areas and partners set...
- 3/13/2024
- ScreenDaily
With the 2024 Oscars in the rearview mirror, it’s time to start looking toward 2025. It’s early, but not too early to start making predictions about what movies might contend for the Oscars next year.
The 97th Academy Awards may wind up dominated by an unusual number of blockbuster sequels to films that won big previously. There are also some period pieces, some comeback vehicles, and some movies that were featured on last year’s list that got held back for this year.
Here are 20 films to know for the 2025 Oscars. Some of them are locks, some of them are long shots, and all of them are worth keeping an eye on throughout 2024 as their Academy Awards chances rise and fall.
“A Real Pain”
One of three films on this list that have screened publicly as of publication time, road dramedy “A Real Pain” was the buzziest title out of Sundance this year.
The 97th Academy Awards may wind up dominated by an unusual number of blockbuster sequels to films that won big previously. There are also some period pieces, some comeback vehicles, and some movies that were featured on last year’s list that got held back for this year.
Here are 20 films to know for the 2025 Oscars. Some of them are locks, some of them are long shots, and all of them are worth keeping an eye on throughout 2024 as their Academy Awards chances rise and fall.
“A Real Pain”
One of three films on this list that have screened publicly as of publication time, road dramedy “A Real Pain” was the buzziest title out of Sundance this year.
- 3/12/2024
- by Liam Mathews
- Gold Derby
Lily Gladstone’s remarkable performance in Martin Scorsese’s cinematic masterpiece, Killers of the Flower Moon, has garnered her widespread acclaim on a global scale. As accolades pour in from all corners, there is one individual whose celebration of her talent shines especially bright: Gladstone’s lifelong friend, Josh Ryder.
Ryder’s unwavering support for Gladstone has been a constant throughout their shared journey, from childhood days to the glitzy world of Hollywood.
Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon
In a display of unwavering support, Ryder not only cheers Gladstone on from the sidelines but also boldly predicts her triumph at the prestigious Oscars. Ryder’s admiration for Gladstone transcends the bounds of friendship, blossoming into a profound reverence for her craft and dedication.
Josh Ryder and Lily Gladstone: A Tale of Lifelong Friendship Under Hollywood’s Spotlight
Lily Gladstone and Josh Ryder (Source: X)
Josh Ryder and...
Ryder’s unwavering support for Gladstone has been a constant throughout their shared journey, from childhood days to the glitzy world of Hollywood.
Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon
In a display of unwavering support, Ryder not only cheers Gladstone on from the sidelines but also boldly predicts her triumph at the prestigious Oscars. Ryder’s admiration for Gladstone transcends the bounds of friendship, blossoming into a profound reverence for her craft and dedication.
Josh Ryder and Lily Gladstone: A Tale of Lifelong Friendship Under Hollywood’s Spotlight
Lily Gladstone and Josh Ryder (Source: X)
Josh Ryder and...
- 3/9/2024
- by Pritha Roy
- FandomWire
The 2024 Oscar nominees for Best Actor are Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”), Colman Domingo (“Rustin”), Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”), Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”), and Jeffrey Wright (“American Fiction”). Murphy (16/5) is favored to win by our odds, followed in order by Giamatti (18/5), Cooper (9/2), Wright (9/2), and Domingo (9/2).
Whereas last year’s lead male lineup was the first in almost nine decades to consist entirely of Oscars newcomers, this one includes three rookies and two general veterans. Standing alone in having already competed for this specific award is Cooper, who was previously recognized for “Silver Linings Playbook” (2013), “American Sniper” (2015), and “A Star Is Born” (2019). Since he personally helmed both “A Star Is Born” and “Maestro,” he is now the fourth person to direct himself to multiple acting nominations, following Laurence Olivier, Warren Beatty, and Clint Eastwood.
Cooper is concurrently nominated for co-writing the original screenplay for “Maestro” with past winner Josh Singer and is directly involved...
Whereas last year’s lead male lineup was the first in almost nine decades to consist entirely of Oscars newcomers, this one includes three rookies and two general veterans. Standing alone in having already competed for this specific award is Cooper, who was previously recognized for “Silver Linings Playbook” (2013), “American Sniper” (2015), and “A Star Is Born” (2019). Since he personally helmed both “A Star Is Born” and “Maestro,” he is now the fourth person to direct himself to multiple acting nominations, following Laurence Olivier, Warren Beatty, and Clint Eastwood.
Cooper is concurrently nominated for co-writing the original screenplay for “Maestro” with past winner Josh Singer and is directly involved...
- 3/8/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
The 2024 Oscar nominees for Best Supporting Actor are Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”), Robert De Niro (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”), Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”), and Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”). Our odds currently show Downey (3/1) triumphing, followed in order of likelihood by Gosling (39/10), Ruffalo (9/2), De Niro (9/2), and Brown (9/2).
At 80, De Niro ranks as the ninth oldest nominee in the history of this category, which was established just six years before he was born. Less than eight years separate him from record holder Christopher Plummer, whose victory at 82 for “Beginners” (2012) would put him solely ahead of De Niro on the winners list. As it happens, De Niro already sits in sixth place among the youngest supporting male champs, having triumphed at 31 on his very first bid for “The Godfather Part II” (1975).
Having also achieved a Best Actor victory for “Raging Bull” (1981), De Niro is indeed the only member...
At 80, De Niro ranks as the ninth oldest nominee in the history of this category, which was established just six years before he was born. Less than eight years separate him from record holder Christopher Plummer, whose victory at 82 for “Beginners” (2012) would put him solely ahead of De Niro on the winners list. As it happens, De Niro already sits in sixth place among the youngest supporting male champs, having triumphed at 31 on his very first bid for “The Godfather Part II” (1975).
Having also achieved a Best Actor victory for “Raging Bull” (1981), De Niro is indeed the only member...
- 3/8/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
We Oscarologists (ridiculous name) spend our time trying to read certain tea leaves to figure out what a potential Best Picture winner typically needs to win in order to take home the Oscars’ top prize. Best Director was once the most important category to excel in. Then it was Best Editing that we thought a Best Picture hopeful needed to check off. Then, recently, the combination of a writing Oscar and an acting win has proven to be a powerful one for eventual Best Picture winners. But what do the stats say? Well, we’ve combed through every Best Picture winner of this century and documented which other Oscars they won. We then tallied those figures up in this below handy chart:
*A note: For a detailed breakdown of exactly what Oscars each Best Picture winner of this century won, head here while you can find a full breakdown of...
*A note: For a detailed breakdown of exactly what Oscars each Best Picture winner of this century won, head here while you can find a full breakdown of...
- 3/8/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
The films in contention for the 2024 Best Original Screenplay Oscar are “Anatomy of a Fall,” “The Holdovers,” “Maestro,” “May December,” and “Past Lives.” Our odds currently indicate that “Anatomy of a Fall” (16/5) will take the prize, followed in order of likelihood by “The Holdovers” (37/10), “Past Lives” (9/2), “Maestro” (9/2), and “May December” (9/2).
Of the eight individual writers behind these five films, only Josh Singer (“Maestro”) has earned recognition in this category before. Indeed, he is looking to go two-for-two here after succeeding on his 2016 bid for “Spotlight,” which he co-wrote with its director, Tom McCarthy. Coincidentally, he shares his new nomination with the director of “Maestro,” Bradley Cooper, who also has a personal stake in the Best Picture and Best Actor races as a producer and star of the same film.
With this original writing notice, Cooper’s Oscars resume now includes five different categories, the remaining two of which are Best...
Of the eight individual writers behind these five films, only Josh Singer (“Maestro”) has earned recognition in this category before. Indeed, he is looking to go two-for-two here after succeeding on his 2016 bid for “Spotlight,” which he co-wrote with its director, Tom McCarthy. Coincidentally, he shares his new nomination with the director of “Maestro,” Bradley Cooper, who also has a personal stake in the Best Picture and Best Actor races as a producer and star of the same film.
With this original writing notice, Cooper’s Oscars resume now includes five different categories, the remaining two of which are Best...
- 3/7/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Exclusive: Ahead of its world premiere at SXSW on Saturday (March 9), feature doc Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics has found an international distributor in the UK’s Rainmaker Content.
The 90-minute film from Canada’s White Pine Pictures investigates the global addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics to human health. The film is an official selection of the SXSW Festival 2024 Documentary Spotlight.
Rainmaker has bagged worldwide sales rights. Two of its key execs, Greg Phillips and Vicky Ryan, have worked with White Pine execs for almost 20 years. While at Kew Media Distribution (Kmd) and Content Media, they represented White Pine titles such as hard-driving TV drama series The Border; feature doc Toxic Beauty; and Margaret Atwood: A Word After a Word After a Word is Power.
Plastic People has been positioned as the follow-up film to Toxic Beauty.
The synopsis for Plastic People notes that...
The 90-minute film from Canada’s White Pine Pictures investigates the global addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics to human health. The film is an official selection of the SXSW Festival 2024 Documentary Spotlight.
Rainmaker has bagged worldwide sales rights. Two of its key execs, Greg Phillips and Vicky Ryan, have worked with White Pine execs for almost 20 years. While at Kew Media Distribution (Kmd) and Content Media, they represented White Pine titles such as hard-driving TV drama series The Border; feature doc Toxic Beauty; and Margaret Atwood: A Word After a Word After a Word is Power.
Plastic People has been positioned as the follow-up film to Toxic Beauty.
The synopsis for Plastic People notes that...
- 3/7/2024
- by Jesse Whittock and Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
“Anatomy of a Fall” is the clear favorite to win Best Original Screenplay this year but nominees “The Holdovers,” “Past Lives,” “Maestro,” and “May December” are all hoping to spoil the party. But is “Anatomy of a Fall’s” status as frontrunner as solid as it seems? It’s won a bunch of precursor awards, sure, but what about the academy?
What movies do they like best in this category? Let’s take a look at the last 10 winners of Best Original Screenplay to see what they can tell us about the academy’s tastes in this category, and how that affects “Anatomy of a Fall” and this year’s nominees.
As you can see, drama is the order of the day for academy voters. Five out of the last 10 winners here have been serious fare: Kenneth Branagh‘s “Belfast,” Emerald Fennell‘s “Promising Young Woman,” and Kenneth Lonergan‘s...
What movies do they like best in this category? Let’s take a look at the last 10 winners of Best Original Screenplay to see what they can tell us about the academy’s tastes in this category, and how that affects “Anatomy of a Fall” and this year’s nominees.
As you can see, drama is the order of the day for academy voters. Five out of the last 10 winners here have been serious fare: Kenneth Branagh‘s “Belfast,” Emerald Fennell‘s “Promising Young Woman,” and Kenneth Lonergan‘s...
- 3/6/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Comb through the Oscar nominations this year and you’ll find that there records being broken left, right, and center while more records could be matched or broken at the ceremony this coming Sunday on March 10.
One of those such records concerns the Best Original Screenplay category, in which the nominees are “Anatomy of a Fall” (Justine Triet and Arthur Harari), “The Holdovers” (David Hemingson), “Maestro” (Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer), “May December” (Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik), and “Past Lives” (Celine Song).
It’s “Maestro” co-scribe Singer we’re looking at here for his work in penning the Netflix biopic. This is his second nomination. His first bid came in 2016, when he won this very category, Best Original Screenplay, alongside director Tom McCarthy for “Spotlight.” It’s interesting that Singer now has two nominations in the same category, both of which came for co-writing a script based on a...
One of those such records concerns the Best Original Screenplay category, in which the nominees are “Anatomy of a Fall” (Justine Triet and Arthur Harari), “The Holdovers” (David Hemingson), “Maestro” (Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer), “May December” (Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik), and “Past Lives” (Celine Song).
It’s “Maestro” co-scribe Singer we’re looking at here for his work in penning the Netflix biopic. This is his second nomination. His first bid came in 2016, when he won this very category, Best Original Screenplay, alongside director Tom McCarthy for “Spotlight.” It’s interesting that Singer now has two nominations in the same category, both of which came for co-writing a script based on a...
- 3/6/2024
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Refresh for latest: Oppenheimer continued its romp through awards season by winning the top film prize at the American Society of Cinematographers’ 38th annual ASC Awards, which were handed out Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton. See the winners list below.
Hoyte van Hoytema won for Oppenheimer, which is up for Best Cinematography at the Oscars next weekend. He will vie against the same quartet he beat for the ASC prize: Edward Lachman for El Conde, Matthew Libatique for Maestro, Rodrigo Prieto for Killers of the Flower Moon and Robbie Ryan, Poor Things (Searchlight).
The group’s film winner has gone on to claim the Academy Award nearly half of the time — 17 times in its 37 years — but not last year. Mandy Walker won the ASC’s top film prize in 2023, but the Academy Award went to James Friend for All Quiet on the Western Front.
Related: Ace Eddie Awards: ‘Oppenheimer...
Hoyte van Hoytema won for Oppenheimer, which is up for Best Cinematography at the Oscars next weekend. He will vie against the same quartet he beat for the ASC prize: Edward Lachman for El Conde, Matthew Libatique for Maestro, Rodrigo Prieto for Killers of the Flower Moon and Robbie Ryan, Poor Things (Searchlight).
The group’s film winner has gone on to claim the Academy Award nearly half of the time — 17 times in its 37 years — but not last year. Mandy Walker won the ASC’s top film prize in 2023, but the Academy Award went to James Friend for All Quiet on the Western Front.
Related: Ace Eddie Awards: ‘Oppenheimer...
- 3/4/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
“Oppenheimer” cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema won Feature Film at the 38th ASC Awards, March 3 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The Oscar favorite beat the other four Oscar nominees: “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” Poor Things,” and “El Conde”.
This marked van Hoytema’s first ASC win after three nominations (including “Dunkirk” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”) and positions the Dutch-Swedish cinematographer for his first Oscar win. Significantly, “Oppenheimer” represents the culmination of his experimental IMAX collaboration with director Christopher Nolan. The duo achieved a new kind of intimate spectacle with this psychological thriller about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Best Actor nominee Cillian Murphy), the “father of the atomic bomb.” Van Hoytema used the large-format IMAX camera to explore the landscape of faces; namely, Oppenheimer’s in color from his perspective and Salieri-like adversary Admiral Lewis Strauss’ (Best Supporting Actor nominee Robert Downey Jr.) in black-and-white from his.
What a...
This marked van Hoytema’s first ASC win after three nominations (including “Dunkirk” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”) and positions the Dutch-Swedish cinematographer for his first Oscar win. Significantly, “Oppenheimer” represents the culmination of his experimental IMAX collaboration with director Christopher Nolan. The duo achieved a new kind of intimate spectacle with this psychological thriller about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Best Actor nominee Cillian Murphy), the “father of the atomic bomb.” Van Hoytema used the large-format IMAX camera to explore the landscape of faces; namely, Oppenheimer’s in color from his perspective and Salieri-like adversary Admiral Lewis Strauss’ (Best Supporting Actor nominee Robert Downey Jr.) in black-and-white from his.
What a...
- 3/4/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Dialling into a unique relationship dynamic that isn’t portrayed in cinema, Marie Amachoukeli, who won the Camera d’Or award at the 2014 edition of the Cannes Film Festival for Party Girl (co-directed and written with Claire Burger and Samuel Theis) moved into her solo directorial outing with a story that was always there… Titled Àma Gloria and receiving its world premiere in the Critics’ Week section in Cannes in 2023, it made its Sundance debut as one of four Spotlight section films this past January — and introduced audiences to the diminutive but towering performance from Cléo – a little six-year old child dealing with her own interpersonal issues and heartbreak.…...
- 2/28/2024
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
The 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards are being handed out Sunday, February 25, from Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, CA in a show hosted by comedian, actress and “SNL” alumnus Aidy Bryant. On the film side, the nominations were dominated by “American Fiction,” “Past Lives” and “May December,” which picked up five nods apiece. Those three films are up for Best Feature along with “All of Us Strangers,” “Passages” and “We Grown Now.” Best Director is a contest between Andrew Haigh (“All of Us Strangers”), Todd Haynes (“May December”), William Oldroyd (“Eileen”), Ira Sachs (“Passages”) and Celine Song (“Past Lives”).
Of the nominated features, only “American Fiction” and “Past Lives” are also in the running for Best Picture at the Oscars, while none of the nominated directors are up for Academy Awards. However, on the off chance that either “American Fiction” or “Past Lives” manages to take the top prize at...
Of the nominated features, only “American Fiction” and “Past Lives” are also in the running for Best Picture at the Oscars, while none of the nominated directors are up for Academy Awards. However, on the off chance that either “American Fiction” or “Past Lives” manages to take the top prize at...
- 2/25/2024
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
Gold Derby is backstage at the 39th Annual Indie Spirit Awards on the beach in Santa Monica, CA on Sunday, February 25, hosted by comedian, actress and “SNL” alumnus Aidy Bryant. We’ll bring you all of the up-to-date details on the presenters, nominees and winners. (See the complete winners list here.) Read on for the 2024 Spirits live blog.
The kudofest is streaming live on IMDb’s YouTube Channel as well as Film Independent’s YouTube and Twitter accounts starting at 2 p.m. Pst/5 p.m. Est.
On the film side, the nominations were dominated by “American Fiction,” “Past Lives” and “May December,” which picked up five nods apiece. Those three films are up for Best Feature along with “All of Us Strangers,” “Passages” and “We Grown Now.” Since 2012, Film Independent and the Spirits have forecast 7 of 12 Best Picture winners at the Academy Awards, including “The Artist” (2012), “12 Years a Slave...
The kudofest is streaming live on IMDb’s YouTube Channel as well as Film Independent’s YouTube and Twitter accounts starting at 2 p.m. Pst/5 p.m. Est.
On the film side, the nominations were dominated by “American Fiction,” “Past Lives” and “May December,” which picked up five nods apiece. Those three films are up for Best Feature along with “All of Us Strangers,” “Passages” and “We Grown Now.” Since 2012, Film Independent and the Spirits have forecast 7 of 12 Best Picture winners at the Academy Awards, including “The Artist” (2012), “12 Years a Slave...
- 2/25/2024
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
With tight races for Lead Actor and Lead Actress, suspense ran high before the first award show to stream live on Netflix, the two-hour commercial-free 30th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Saturday night. “Fucks” were allowed, as Idris Elba proved at the top of the show, followed by “Beef” winner Ali Wong and many others.
There were few surprises among the motion picture winners. The big winner of the night was the riveting historical epic “Oppenheimer” (Universal), which solidified its dominance during the Oscar voting period February 22-27 before the Oscar show on ABC March 10. “Oppenheimer” took home Best Cast in a Motion Picture as well as Male Actor in a Leading Role for Cillian Murphy and Supporting Actor for Robert Downey, Jr., whose win Oscar night seems inevitable. Murphy now takes a substantial lead after his BAFTA win against popular rival Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”). The “Oppenheimer” cast was...
There were few surprises among the motion picture winners. The big winner of the night was the riveting historical epic “Oppenheimer” (Universal), which solidified its dominance during the Oscar voting period February 22-27 before the Oscar show on ABC March 10. “Oppenheimer” took home Best Cast in a Motion Picture as well as Male Actor in a Leading Role for Cillian Murphy and Supporting Actor for Robert Downey, Jr., whose win Oscar night seems inevitable. Murphy now takes a substantial lead after his BAFTA win against popular rival Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”). The “Oppenheimer” cast was...
- 2/25/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The 39th Independent Spirit Awards will stream live on Film Independent and IMDb’s YouTube channels on Sunday, February 25. Scroll down to see our official odds in all 12 film categories (with our predicted winners highlighted in gold) and be sure to make or update your own predictions while there’s still time.
Heading into the ceremony, which will be hosted by comic actress Aidy Bryant, “American Fiction,” “May December,” and “Past Lives” stand as the year’s nominations leaders with five apiece. They will all face off in the top category of Best Picture, along with “Passages” (four total bids), “All of Us Strangers” (three), and “We Grown Now” (three).
Last year’s Spirit Awards previewed the Oscars success of “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which left both ceremonies with seven wins including Best Picture. Over the years, only eight recipients of the academy’s highest honor have first clinched the corresponding Spirit Award,...
Heading into the ceremony, which will be hosted by comic actress Aidy Bryant, “American Fiction,” “May December,” and “Past Lives” stand as the year’s nominations leaders with five apiece. They will all face off in the top category of Best Picture, along with “Passages” (four total bids), “All of Us Strangers” (three), and “We Grown Now” (three).
Last year’s Spirit Awards previewed the Oscars success of “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which left both ceremonies with seven wins including Best Picture. Over the years, only eight recipients of the academy’s highest honor have first clinched the corresponding Spirit Award,...
- 2/23/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Christopher Nolan‘s “Oppenheimer” will notch another incredibly important precursor win on its path to the Oscars at the upcoming 35th Producers Guild of America Awards on Sunday, Feb. 25. According to our official odds, the blockbuster film will take home the honor of Best Picture. The ceremony includes other film categories such as animated and documentary feature and television trophies for drama, comedy, limited series and more. Scroll down for our official PGA Awards odds in 10 categories with our winner predictions highlighted in gold.
A victory for “Oppenheimer” here would be significant because, more often than not, the winner at PGA goes on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Since 2000, the two prizes have gone hand-in-hand 16 times. The exceptions are film years 2001 (when PGA opted for “Moulin Rouge!” and the Oscars awarded “A Beautiful Mind”), 2004 (“The Aviator” / “Million Dollar Baby”), 2005 (“Brokeback Mountain” / “Crash”), 2006 (“Little Miss Sunshine” / “The Departed...
A victory for “Oppenheimer” here would be significant because, more often than not, the winner at PGA goes on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Since 2000, the two prizes have gone hand-in-hand 16 times. The exceptions are film years 2001 (when PGA opted for “Moulin Rouge!” and the Oscars awarded “A Beautiful Mind”), 2004 (“The Aviator” / “Million Dollar Baby”), 2005 (“Brokeback Mountain” / “Crash”), 2006 (“Little Miss Sunshine” / “The Departed...
- 2/23/2024
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
Lily Gladstone made Oscar history as the first Native American to be nominated in the Best Actress category for her role in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” While we thought she would try her luck in the featured category, she opted to campaign in lead. Her importance to the plot suggests that she is a co-star, despite her screen-time (especially in the second half of the film and compared to that of Leonardo DiCaprio).
It isn’t often that a performance that could go supporting is campaigned as a lead, but it’s happened in the past – even the very recent past.
SEEOscar Experts say it’s Emma Stone vs. Lily Gladstone for Best Actress
Last year, Michelle Williams was at one point the odds-on favorite to win Best Supporting Actress for “The Fabelmans.” Though her reason for going lead in anyone’s guess, some suggest that...
It isn’t often that a performance that could go supporting is campaigned as a lead, but it’s happened in the past – even the very recent past.
SEEOscar Experts say it’s Emma Stone vs. Lily Gladstone for Best Actress
Last year, Michelle Williams was at one point the odds-on favorite to win Best Supporting Actress for “The Fabelmans.” Though her reason for going lead in anyone’s guess, some suggest that...
- 2/23/2024
- by Sebastian Ochoa Mendoza
- Gold Derby
Usher announced his upcoming Past, Present and Future Tour, only a few days before his much anticipated Super Bowl Halftime Show.
It seems to have been done on purpose, though, as his stage presence on Sunday incited even more excitement to the annual football championship, providing fans a glimpse of what his 2024 tour will be like.
“I was not exaggerating when I shared with the world that my performance would be a celebration of the past 30 years of my career,” Usher said of his Halftime performance. “I will never forget the energy from the cast and crew, the fans in the stadium, the guest performers and the adrenaline from this monumental milestone in my career.”
“I’m so happy everyone enjoyed it, my goal always is to bring people together and feel good through my music and performance,” the multi-Grammy-winner added.
The tour will kick off in Atlanta and will...
It seems to have been done on purpose, though, as his stage presence on Sunday incited even more excitement to the annual football championship, providing fans a glimpse of what his 2024 tour will be like.
“I was not exaggerating when I shared with the world that my performance would be a celebration of the past 30 years of my career,” Usher said of his Halftime performance. “I will never forget the energy from the cast and crew, the fans in the stadium, the guest performers and the adrenaline from this monumental milestone in my career.”
“I’m so happy everyone enjoyed it, my goal always is to bring people together and feel good through my music and performance,” the multi-Grammy-winner added.
The tour will kick off in Atlanta and will...
- 2/23/2024
- by Rose Anne Cox-Peralta
- Uinterview
Mark Ruffalo, currently in the home stretch of the campaign for his Best Supporting Actor nomination for “Poor Things,” recently spoke with GQ and floated a theory as to why we won’t see him lead a film for his most widely-known character.
“I’d love to do a standalone Hulk,” he said, speaking about his superhero persona in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “I just don’t think that’s ever going to happen,” he added, explaining “it’s very expensive if you did a whole movie, which is why they use the Hulk so sparingly. I priced myself out!”
He was sure to say that it was the computer-generated imagery that was so costly – all those processors churning away to make his enormous green muscles look real – and not his salary, of course!
The actor, who still works on the Broadway stage from time to time, also batted away...
“I’d love to do a standalone Hulk,” he said, speaking about his superhero persona in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “I just don’t think that’s ever going to happen,” he added, explaining “it’s very expensive if you did a whole movie, which is why they use the Hulk so sparingly. I priced myself out!”
He was sure to say that it was the computer-generated imagery that was so costly – all those processors churning away to make his enormous green muscles look real – and not his salary, of course!
The actor, who still works on the Broadway stage from time to time, also batted away...
- 2/22/2024
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
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