Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Dead Ringers and a Queen Charlotte celebration.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie special screening
Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Seth Rogen and Sebastian Maniscalco attended a special screening in Los Angeles on Saturday for their Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath, Sebastian Maniscalco, Nintendo’s Takumi Kawagoe, Christ Pratt, Brian Tyler, Charlie Day, Nintendo’s Koji Kondo, Illumination CEO Chris Melendandri, Kevin Michael Richardson (Bottom second L-r) Seth Rogen, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Jack Black Chris Pratt and Charlie Day Anya Taylor-Joy
Dead Ringers premiere
On Monday, Prime Video hosted the world premiere of psychological thriller series Dead Ringers in NYC, with star and EP Rachel Weisz along cast members Britne Oldford, Poppy Liu,...
The Super Mario Bros. Movie special screening
Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Seth Rogen and Sebastian Maniscalco attended a special screening in Los Angeles on Saturday for their Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath, Sebastian Maniscalco, Nintendo’s Takumi Kawagoe, Christ Pratt, Brian Tyler, Charlie Day, Nintendo’s Koji Kondo, Illumination CEO Chris Melendandri, Kevin Michael Richardson (Bottom second L-r) Seth Rogen, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Jack Black Chris Pratt and Charlie Day Anya Taylor-Joy
Dead Ringers premiere
On Monday, Prime Video hosted the world premiere of psychological thriller series Dead Ringers in NYC, with star and EP Rachel Weisz along cast members Britne Oldford, Poppy Liu,...
- 4/7/2023
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Though most kudos events are competitive, the annual AFI Awards, honoring 21 film and TV works, proved communal. Sarah Polley chatted with Michelle Williams, Jerry Bruckheimer was deep in conversation with James Cameron, the “Better Call Saul” talent huddled with “Reservation Dogs” and Steven Spielberg enthused about “The Bear” to the show’s team and FX Networks chairman John Landgraf.
The luncheon Jan. 13 at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills was filled with 250 industry heavy-hitters, but the scene-stealer was someone who had no attachment to any of the honored works: Al Pacino, who closed the event with a 10-minute speech that seemed rambling and hilarious, but proved to be pointed and concluded with a bang.
Before the event started, Universal Pictures chairwoman Donna Langley praised the annual gathering to Variety, saying: “It reminds us of the dignity and elegance of the industry as we gather here to celebrate artistry.”
In December, AFI...
The luncheon Jan. 13 at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills was filled with 250 industry heavy-hitters, but the scene-stealer was someone who had no attachment to any of the honored works: Al Pacino, who closed the event with a 10-minute speech that seemed rambling and hilarious, but proved to be pointed and concluded with a bang.
Before the event started, Universal Pictures chairwoman Donna Langley praised the annual gathering to Variety, saying: “It reminds us of the dignity and elegance of the industry as we gather here to celebrate artistry.”
In December, AFI...
- 1/14/2023
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
Don’t mess with success. That’s the G-rated version of an old showbiz mantra, and it applies to the AFI Awards, which on Jan. 13 will continue with the same format that has worked for two decades.
While the Oscars struggle with TV ratings and other issues, and the Golden Globes are working to restore their luster, the AFI Awards, again at the Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills, holds onto a formula that was devised for the org’s third annual kudos handouts in 2003.
Every year, the team addresses whether changes are needed, AFI president-ceo Bob Gazzale tells Variety. “And we keep coming back to the same format, because it celebrates everyone equally.”
Winners are announced in advance, so there’s no suspense, and there’s no pressure to make acceptance speeches.
During awards season, filmmakers and execs drag themselves to various events, but people actually want to go to the AFI Awards.
While the Oscars struggle with TV ratings and other issues, and the Golden Globes are working to restore their luster, the AFI Awards, again at the Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills, holds onto a formula that was devised for the org’s third annual kudos handouts in 2003.
Every year, the team addresses whether changes are needed, AFI president-ceo Bob Gazzale tells Variety. “And we keep coming back to the same format, because it celebrates everyone equally.”
Winners are announced in advance, so there’s no suspense, and there’s no pressure to make acceptance speeches.
During awards season, filmmakers and execs drag themselves to various events, but people actually want to go to the AFI Awards.
- 1/12/2023
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
Newly knighted Sir Sam Mendes mixed with onscreen sovereigns (from “The Crown” and “Game of Thrones”) and Hollywood royalty at the 20th annual AFI Awards, presented Jan. 4 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Mendes was there representing “1917,” one of the 22 film and TV works saluted by the awards. Though the guest list was regal, the mood is always relaxed, since there are no TV cameras, no acceptance speeches, no pressure and no suspense: honorees were announced on Dec. 4.
Walt Disney Television’s Peter Rice schmoozed with Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Billy Porter chatted with Kit Harington, and Laura Dern was deep in conversation with Pitt as other guests talked on subjects ranging from Iran to the accelerated Oscar schedule; all of them offered mutual congratulations for a year that was exception for both films and TV works.
Aside from “1917,” the chosen movies were “The Farewell,” “The Irishman,” “Jojo Rabbit,...
Mendes was there representing “1917,” one of the 22 film and TV works saluted by the awards. Though the guest list was regal, the mood is always relaxed, since there are no TV cameras, no acceptance speeches, no pressure and no suspense: honorees were announced on Dec. 4.
Walt Disney Television’s Peter Rice schmoozed with Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Billy Porter chatted with Kit Harington, and Laura Dern was deep in conversation with Pitt as other guests talked on subjects ranging from Iran to the accelerated Oscar schedule; all of them offered mutual congratulations for a year that was exception for both films and TV works.
Aside from “1917,” the chosen movies were “The Farewell,” “The Irishman,” “Jojo Rabbit,...
- 1/4/2020
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
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As brave women come forward to tell their stories of innocence destroyed and opportunities lost, I have been thinking about Jean Firstenberg and wondering if she's thinking about me.
In 1980, I moved from Berkeley, where I directed documentaries, to Los Angeles in order to attend the prestigious American Film Institute Center for Advanced Film Studies Directing Fellowship. We "directing fellows," a class of 30 with only three women, would spend a year making short dramatic videos. Three or four aspiring directors would be chosen to return for a second-year film, which was the Golden Ticket, providing cash and...
As brave women come forward to tell their stories of innocence destroyed and opportunities lost, I have been thinking about Jean Firstenberg and wondering if she's thinking about me.
In 1980, I moved from Berkeley, where I directed documentaries, to Los Angeles in order to attend the prestigious American Film Institute Center for Advanced Film Studies Directing Fellowship. We "directing fellows," a class of 30 with only three women, would spend a year making short dramatic videos. Three or four aspiring directors would be chosen to return for a second-year film, which was the Golden Ticket, providing cash and...
- 11/3/2017
- by Ilana Bar-Din Giannini
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In 1965, when Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation to create the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, he vowed to launch a new center that would preserve the history of American film and train its next generation of storytellers. Since the American Film Institute's inception two years later, few people have been as central to its mission as Jean Picker Firstenberg, who served as president and CEO from 1980 to 2007, and is now president emerita. The co-author of a new book, Becoming AFI: 50 Years Inside the American Film Institute (written with James...
- 10/19/2017
- by Stephen Galloway
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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In 1974, less than a decade into the institute's existence, Mathilde Krim, the wife of United Artists head Arthur Krim and future co-founder of amfAR, wrote a letter to AFI founding director George Stevens Jr. asking a simple question: "Why are there no women directors?"
"Not only did she have the idea [for the Directing Workshop for Women], she got the money for it [from the Rockefeller Foundation]," says Jean Picker Firstenberg, who served as AFI's CEO and director from 1980 to 2007. The inaugural class launched with a student body made up of mostly famous actresses who wanted...
In 1974, less than a decade into the institute's existence, Mathilde Krim, the wife of United Artists head Arthur Krim and future co-founder of amfAR, wrote a letter to AFI founding director George Stevens Jr. asking a simple question: "Why are there no women directors?"
"Not only did she have the idea [for the Directing Workshop for Women], she got the money for it [from the Rockefeller Foundation]," says Jean Picker Firstenberg, who served as AFI's CEO and director from 1980 to 2007. The inaugural class launched with a student body made up of mostly famous actresses who wanted...
- 10/6/2017
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Women In Film is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women, encouraging creative projects by women, and expanding and enhancing portrayals of women in all forms of global media. Given that women comprise fifty percent of the population, Wif's ultimate goal is to see the same gender parity reflected on and off screen. Founded in 1973, Wif focuses on advocacy and education, provides scholarships, grants and film finishing funds and works to preserve the legacies of all women working in the entertainment community.
Since 1977, Women In Film, Los Angeles has annually honored outstanding women in the entertainment industry – women who lead by example, who are creative, groundbreaking, and who excel at their chosen fields. This year’s Crystal + Lucy Awards® fundraising dinner, in support of Wif La’s educational and philanthropic programs and its advocacy for gender parity for women throughout the industry, is being held on Tuesday, June 16 in the Los Angeles Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City. The 2015 Crystal + Lucy Awards is sponsored by Max Mara, BMW of North America, and Tiffany & Co.
This year’s Crystal + Lucy Award honorees are:
2015 Crystal Award for Excellence in Film – Nicole Kidman 2015 Lucy Award for Excellence in Television – Jill Soloway 2015 Dorothy Arzner Directors Award® – Ava DuVernay The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future®” 2015 – Kate Mara Presented by Nicola Maramotti Global Brand Ambassador for Max Mara
2015 Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award – Sue Kroll 2015 Sue Mengers Award – Toni Howard
Cathy Schulman , President of Women In Film, Los Angeles, said in making the announcement, “We are proud to celebrate an extraordinary line-up of honorees this year. Each one of these women has made extraordinary contributions to the media art, and as a group they have forged sustainable careers that are emblematic of the positive and long overdue change that is taking root for women in Hollywood.”
Iris Grossman, President Emerita of Women In Film, Los Angeles, returning this year as Chair of the Awards, said “This year’s honorees are all women who have helped change the face of the business. Through their insight, determination, resilience and talent, they add substance and depth to their creative endeavors and to the entertainment industry as a whole.”
About the Honorees
Nicole Kidman / Crystal Award for Excellence in Film
The Crystal Awards were established in 1977 to honor outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry. Past recipients include Cate Blanchett, Laura Linney, Viola Davis, Annette Bening, Donna Langley, Jennifer Aniston, Diane English and the cast of The Women, Renée Zellweger, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Diane Lane, Halle Berry, Laura Ziskin, Jessica Lange, Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster, Angela Bassett, Meg Ryan, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Alfre Woodard, Polly Platt, Lauren Shuler Donner, Diane Warren, Amy Heckerling, Paula Weinstein, Martha Coolidge, Buffy Shutt and Kathy Jones, Gale Anne Hurd, Nancy Malone, Maya Angelou, Lily Tomlin, Ruby Dee, Penny Marshall, Jessica Tandy, Barbara Boyle, Nikki Rocco, Jean Firstenberg, Lee Remick, Lina Wertmuller, Bette Davis, Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, Sherry Lansing, Nora Ephron, Dawn Steel, Fay Kanin, Lillian Gish, Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close and Amy Pascal.
Academy Award winning actress Nicole Kidman is internationally-recognized for her range and versatility. In 2002, Kidman was honored with her first Oscar nomination for her performance in the innovative musical, "Moulin Rouge!" For that role, and her performance in the psychological thriller "The Others," she received dual 2002 Golden Globe nominations, winning for Best Actress in a Musical. In 2003, Kidman won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award and a Berlin Silver Bear for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in Stephen Daldry’s "The Hours." In 2010 Kidman starred in "Rabbit Hole," for which she received Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best Actress. The film was developed by Kidman’s production company, Blossom Films. In October 2012 Kidman starred in Lee Daniel’s "The Paperboy." Her performance earned her an Aacta, Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe nomination.
Upcoming films include "Strangerland," "The Family Fang" and "Genius." Kidman is currently in production on "The Secret in Their Eyes." Next up, she will being shooting The Weinstein Company’s "Lion."
In January of 2006, Kidman was awarded Australia’s highest honor, the Companion in the Order of Australia. She was also named, and continues to serve, as Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, Un Women, whose goals are to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality, to raise awareness of the infringement on women’s human rights around the world and to end violence against women. Along with her husband, Keith Urban, she has helped raise millions over the years for the Women’s Cancer Program which is a world-renowned center for research into the causes, treatment, prevention, and eventual cure of women’s cancer.
Jill Soloway / Lucy Award for Excellence in Television
The Lucy Awards were founded in 1994 by Joanna Kerns, Bonny Dore and Loreen Arbus and are presented in association with the Lucille Ball Estate. They were named for Lucille Ball, who was not only a legendary actress and comedienne, but also a producer, studio owner, creator and director. They are given to recognize women and men and their creative works that exemplify the extraordinary accomplishments she embodied; whose excellence and innovation have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television. Past recipients include: Kerry Washington, The Women Of "Mad Men" (Christina Hendricks, January Jones, Elisabeth Moss, Jessica Paré, Kiernan Shipka), Bonnie Hammer, Nina Tassler, Courteney Cox, Holly Hunter, Salma Hayek, Shonda Rhimes and the women of "Grey’s Anatomy," Geena Davis, Debra Messing and Megan Mullally, Blythe Danner, Lily Tomlin, Rosie O’Donnell, Amy Brenneman, Tyne Daley, Phyllis Diller, Marcy Carsey, Carol Burnett, Barbara Walters, Shari Lewis, Garry Marshall, Angela Lansbury, Marlo Thomas, Gary David Goldberg, Diahann Carroll, Tracey Ullman, Fred Silverman, Imogene Coca, Camryn Manheim, Norman Lear, Bud Yorkin and the casts of "Sex and the City," " If These Walls Could Talk" and "If These Walls Could Talk 2."
Jill Soloway is the creator of Amazon Studios' Golden Globe-winning, "Transparent," a dark, deep, silly family series about boundaries, love and secrets.
Soloway won the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival for her first feature, "Afternoon Delight." She recently founded WifeyTv, an internet brand producing and curating content to ignite the feminist revolution. Soloway is a three-time Emmy nominee for her work writing and producing "Six Feet Under."
She co-created the theater experiences, "Real Live Brady Bunch," "Miss Vagina Pageant," "Hollywood Hellhouse" and "Sit N Spin," and co-founded the community organization East Side Jews. Soloway lives with her family in Silver Lake.
Ava DuVernay / Dorothy Arzner Directors Award
Dorothy Arzner was the first female member of the Directors Guild of America. In her honor, the Dorothy Arzner Directors Award® was established to recognize the important role women directors play in the film and television industries. Past recipients include: Jennifer Lee, Sofia Coppola, Pamela Fryman, Lisa Cholodenko, Catherine Hardwicke, Nancy Meyers, Barbra Streisand, Mimi Leder, Barbara Kopple, Gillian Armstrong, Lian Lunson, Joey Lauren Adams and Nicole Holofcener.
Nominated for two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, five Critics Choice awards, eight NAACP Image Awards and five Independent Spirit Awards, writer/director Ava DuVernay's most recent film "Selma" chronicles the historic 1965 voting rights campaign led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
She won the Best Director Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012 for her acclaimed feature "Middle of Nowhere." Her previous narrative and documentary work includes the feature film "I Will Follow" and the documentaries Venus Vs.," "My Mic Sounds Nice" and "This is The Life."
In 2010, DuVernay founded the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (Affrm), a grassroots collective that distributes work from filmmakers of color. Prior to her directorial career, she worked as a film marketer and publicist for more than 14 years through her company, The DuVernay Agency.
Kate Mara / The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future” Award
The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future” Award® was inaugurated at Women In Film’s 2006 Crystal + Lucy Awards®. As the 13th year as presenting sponsor and longstanding Women In Film partner, Max Mara identifies an actress who is experiencing a turning point in her career through her work in the film and television industries with focus on her contributions to the community at large and recognizes her outstanding personal achievements and embodiment of style and grace. Past recipients include: Rose Byrne, Hailee Steinfeld, Chloë Grace Moretz, Katie Holmes, Zoë Saldana, Elizabeth Banks, Ginnifer Goodwin, Emily Blunt and Maria Bello.
Kate Mara made her feature film debut in "Random Hearts" for director Sydney Pollack. She then co-starred in Ang Lee’s "Brokeback Mountain" in which she portrayed Heath Ledger’s daughter. She also appeared in the Academy Award nominated film "127 Hours" with James Franco for director Danny Boyle and she co-starred in "Transcendence" alongside Johnny Depp and Morgan Freeman, which marked the directorial debut of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister.
Mara recently completed filming on location in Budapest director Ridley Scott’s outer space action film The Martian alongside Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain. Last fall, she completed filming the psychological thriller "Man Down" in which she plays the wife of a war veteran, played by Shia Labeouf and "Captive" in which she stars with David Oyelowo as a single mother struggling with meth addiction in the adaptation of the best-selling book An Unlikely Angel. This summer she will film "Morgan" for director Luke Scott, son of Ridley Scott, who will produce. Audiences will next see her star in "Fantastic Four" alongside Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell.
She received an Emmy Award® nomination for her role in David Fincher’s critically acclaimed television series, "House of Cards" in which she co-starred alongside Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright.
Sue Kroll/ Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award
The Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award was created to honor the late director and great mentor Bruce Paltrow. This year, Wif Presenting Sponsor Tiffany & Co. has joined the Paltrow family in recognizing an entertainment industry professional who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to mentoring and supporting the next generation of filmmakers and executives. Past honorees include Kathleen Kennedy and Sherry Lansing.
Sue Kroll is President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures. As marketing chief, she oversees the strategic creation and implementation of marketing campaigns for the Studio’s global releases and collaborates closely with the Studio’s principals on the strategic development of its slate of films.
Her leadership of global marketing has propelled the studio’s releases to record-breaking box office and myriad awards. Most recently, the Best Picture Oscar nominee "American Sniper" became the top-grossing domestic film release of 2014 and has grossed more than $500 million worldwide. Other recent successes include the "Harry Potter," "Dark Knight," and "The Hobbit" film series, as well as such award-winning pictures as "Gravity," "Argo" and "The Departed."
Kroll joined Warner Bros. in 1994 and headed International Marketing from 2000 to 2008, when she was named to her current role at the studio. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Film Independent, the Los Angeles-based non-profit that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, and is one of the inaugural members of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program.
Toni Howard / Sue Mengers Award
The Sue Mengers Award , named for the legendary agent and given for the first time in 2015, will be presented annually to a representative who is, and has been, instrumental in guiding careers. Sue Mengers was an icon in the entertainment industry. She was one of the most influential talent agents of her time, when women were not the norm, and she was devoted to her clients.
Toni Howard is a partner at ICM Partners. Toni joined the agency’s talent department in 1991 and quickly became a leader in the division, having served as its department head for the better part of a decade. She oversees a celebrated and eclectic group of actors who appear in film, television and on stage and have garnered an astonishing 46 Academy Award® nominations, 148 Emmy® nominations, and 125 Golden Globe® nominations. Among her award-winning clients are Alan Alda, Candice Bergen, Michael Caine, Bobby Cannavale, Edie Falco, Samuel L. Jackson, Topher Grace, Holly Hunter, Michael Keaton, Nathan Lane, Spike Lee, Laura Linney, Catherine O’Hara, Lily Rabe, Christina Ricci, Tim Robbins, Michael Sheen, Maggie Smith, James Spader, Julia Stiles, and Christopher Walken. Throughout her career at ICM Partners, Toni has mentored many young agents to incredibly successful careers of their own.
Prior to joining ICM, Toni was an agent at the William Morris Agency for seven years. She began her entertainment industry career as a casting director, working on such iconic projects as "Tootsie," "Superman," "The Right Stuff" and "Something About Amelia."
Recognized by her distinctive voice, Toni was cast by director Alexander Payne as the voice of agent ‘Evelyn Berman-Silverman’ in the film "Sideways."...
Since 1977, Women In Film, Los Angeles has annually honored outstanding women in the entertainment industry – women who lead by example, who are creative, groundbreaking, and who excel at their chosen fields. This year’s Crystal + Lucy Awards® fundraising dinner, in support of Wif La’s educational and philanthropic programs and its advocacy for gender parity for women throughout the industry, is being held on Tuesday, June 16 in the Los Angeles Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City. The 2015 Crystal + Lucy Awards is sponsored by Max Mara, BMW of North America, and Tiffany & Co.
This year’s Crystal + Lucy Award honorees are:
2015 Crystal Award for Excellence in Film – Nicole Kidman 2015 Lucy Award for Excellence in Television – Jill Soloway 2015 Dorothy Arzner Directors Award® – Ava DuVernay The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future®” 2015 – Kate Mara Presented by Nicola Maramotti Global Brand Ambassador for Max Mara
2015 Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award – Sue Kroll 2015 Sue Mengers Award – Toni Howard
Cathy Schulman , President of Women In Film, Los Angeles, said in making the announcement, “We are proud to celebrate an extraordinary line-up of honorees this year. Each one of these women has made extraordinary contributions to the media art, and as a group they have forged sustainable careers that are emblematic of the positive and long overdue change that is taking root for women in Hollywood.”
Iris Grossman, President Emerita of Women In Film, Los Angeles, returning this year as Chair of the Awards, said “This year’s honorees are all women who have helped change the face of the business. Through their insight, determination, resilience and talent, they add substance and depth to their creative endeavors and to the entertainment industry as a whole.”
About the Honorees
Nicole Kidman / Crystal Award for Excellence in Film
The Crystal Awards were established in 1977 to honor outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry. Past recipients include Cate Blanchett, Laura Linney, Viola Davis, Annette Bening, Donna Langley, Jennifer Aniston, Diane English and the cast of The Women, Renée Zellweger, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Diane Lane, Halle Berry, Laura Ziskin, Jessica Lange, Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster, Angela Bassett, Meg Ryan, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Alfre Woodard, Polly Platt, Lauren Shuler Donner, Diane Warren, Amy Heckerling, Paula Weinstein, Martha Coolidge, Buffy Shutt and Kathy Jones, Gale Anne Hurd, Nancy Malone, Maya Angelou, Lily Tomlin, Ruby Dee, Penny Marshall, Jessica Tandy, Barbara Boyle, Nikki Rocco, Jean Firstenberg, Lee Remick, Lina Wertmuller, Bette Davis, Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, Sherry Lansing, Nora Ephron, Dawn Steel, Fay Kanin, Lillian Gish, Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close and Amy Pascal.
Academy Award winning actress Nicole Kidman is internationally-recognized for her range and versatility. In 2002, Kidman was honored with her first Oscar nomination for her performance in the innovative musical, "Moulin Rouge!" For that role, and her performance in the psychological thriller "The Others," she received dual 2002 Golden Globe nominations, winning for Best Actress in a Musical. In 2003, Kidman won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award and a Berlin Silver Bear for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in Stephen Daldry’s "The Hours." In 2010 Kidman starred in "Rabbit Hole," for which she received Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best Actress. The film was developed by Kidman’s production company, Blossom Films. In October 2012 Kidman starred in Lee Daniel’s "The Paperboy." Her performance earned her an Aacta, Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe nomination.
Upcoming films include "Strangerland," "The Family Fang" and "Genius." Kidman is currently in production on "The Secret in Their Eyes." Next up, she will being shooting The Weinstein Company’s "Lion."
In January of 2006, Kidman was awarded Australia’s highest honor, the Companion in the Order of Australia. She was also named, and continues to serve, as Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, Un Women, whose goals are to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality, to raise awareness of the infringement on women’s human rights around the world and to end violence against women. Along with her husband, Keith Urban, she has helped raise millions over the years for the Women’s Cancer Program which is a world-renowned center for research into the causes, treatment, prevention, and eventual cure of women’s cancer.
Jill Soloway / Lucy Award for Excellence in Television
The Lucy Awards were founded in 1994 by Joanna Kerns, Bonny Dore and Loreen Arbus and are presented in association with the Lucille Ball Estate. They were named for Lucille Ball, who was not only a legendary actress and comedienne, but also a producer, studio owner, creator and director. They are given to recognize women and men and their creative works that exemplify the extraordinary accomplishments she embodied; whose excellence and innovation have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television. Past recipients include: Kerry Washington, The Women Of "Mad Men" (Christina Hendricks, January Jones, Elisabeth Moss, Jessica Paré, Kiernan Shipka), Bonnie Hammer, Nina Tassler, Courteney Cox, Holly Hunter, Salma Hayek, Shonda Rhimes and the women of "Grey’s Anatomy," Geena Davis, Debra Messing and Megan Mullally, Blythe Danner, Lily Tomlin, Rosie O’Donnell, Amy Brenneman, Tyne Daley, Phyllis Diller, Marcy Carsey, Carol Burnett, Barbara Walters, Shari Lewis, Garry Marshall, Angela Lansbury, Marlo Thomas, Gary David Goldberg, Diahann Carroll, Tracey Ullman, Fred Silverman, Imogene Coca, Camryn Manheim, Norman Lear, Bud Yorkin and the casts of "Sex and the City," " If These Walls Could Talk" and "If These Walls Could Talk 2."
Jill Soloway is the creator of Amazon Studios' Golden Globe-winning, "Transparent," a dark, deep, silly family series about boundaries, love and secrets.
Soloway won the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival for her first feature, "Afternoon Delight." She recently founded WifeyTv, an internet brand producing and curating content to ignite the feminist revolution. Soloway is a three-time Emmy nominee for her work writing and producing "Six Feet Under."
She co-created the theater experiences, "Real Live Brady Bunch," "Miss Vagina Pageant," "Hollywood Hellhouse" and "Sit N Spin," and co-founded the community organization East Side Jews. Soloway lives with her family in Silver Lake.
Ava DuVernay / Dorothy Arzner Directors Award
Dorothy Arzner was the first female member of the Directors Guild of America. In her honor, the Dorothy Arzner Directors Award® was established to recognize the important role women directors play in the film and television industries. Past recipients include: Jennifer Lee, Sofia Coppola, Pamela Fryman, Lisa Cholodenko, Catherine Hardwicke, Nancy Meyers, Barbra Streisand, Mimi Leder, Barbara Kopple, Gillian Armstrong, Lian Lunson, Joey Lauren Adams and Nicole Holofcener.
Nominated for two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, five Critics Choice awards, eight NAACP Image Awards and five Independent Spirit Awards, writer/director Ava DuVernay's most recent film "Selma" chronicles the historic 1965 voting rights campaign led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
She won the Best Director Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012 for her acclaimed feature "Middle of Nowhere." Her previous narrative and documentary work includes the feature film "I Will Follow" and the documentaries Venus Vs.," "My Mic Sounds Nice" and "This is The Life."
In 2010, DuVernay founded the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (Affrm), a grassroots collective that distributes work from filmmakers of color. Prior to her directorial career, she worked as a film marketer and publicist for more than 14 years through her company, The DuVernay Agency.
Kate Mara / The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future” Award
The Women In Film Max Mara “Face of the Future” Award® was inaugurated at Women In Film’s 2006 Crystal + Lucy Awards®. As the 13th year as presenting sponsor and longstanding Women In Film partner, Max Mara identifies an actress who is experiencing a turning point in her career through her work in the film and television industries with focus on her contributions to the community at large and recognizes her outstanding personal achievements and embodiment of style and grace. Past recipients include: Rose Byrne, Hailee Steinfeld, Chloë Grace Moretz, Katie Holmes, Zoë Saldana, Elizabeth Banks, Ginnifer Goodwin, Emily Blunt and Maria Bello.
Kate Mara made her feature film debut in "Random Hearts" for director Sydney Pollack. She then co-starred in Ang Lee’s "Brokeback Mountain" in which she portrayed Heath Ledger’s daughter. She also appeared in the Academy Award nominated film "127 Hours" with James Franco for director Danny Boyle and she co-starred in "Transcendence" alongside Johnny Depp and Morgan Freeman, which marked the directorial debut of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister.
Mara recently completed filming on location in Budapest director Ridley Scott’s outer space action film The Martian alongside Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain. Last fall, she completed filming the psychological thriller "Man Down" in which she plays the wife of a war veteran, played by Shia Labeouf and "Captive" in which she stars with David Oyelowo as a single mother struggling with meth addiction in the adaptation of the best-selling book An Unlikely Angel. This summer she will film "Morgan" for director Luke Scott, son of Ridley Scott, who will produce. Audiences will next see her star in "Fantastic Four" alongside Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell.
She received an Emmy Award® nomination for her role in David Fincher’s critically acclaimed television series, "House of Cards" in which she co-starred alongside Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright.
Sue Kroll/ Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award
The Tiffany & Co. / Bruce Paltrow Mentorship Award was created to honor the late director and great mentor Bruce Paltrow. This year, Wif Presenting Sponsor Tiffany & Co. has joined the Paltrow family in recognizing an entertainment industry professional who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to mentoring and supporting the next generation of filmmakers and executives. Past honorees include Kathleen Kennedy and Sherry Lansing.
Sue Kroll is President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures. As marketing chief, she oversees the strategic creation and implementation of marketing campaigns for the Studio’s global releases and collaborates closely with the Studio’s principals on the strategic development of its slate of films.
Her leadership of global marketing has propelled the studio’s releases to record-breaking box office and myriad awards. Most recently, the Best Picture Oscar nominee "American Sniper" became the top-grossing domestic film release of 2014 and has grossed more than $500 million worldwide. Other recent successes include the "Harry Potter," "Dark Knight," and "The Hobbit" film series, as well as such award-winning pictures as "Gravity," "Argo" and "The Departed."
Kroll joined Warner Bros. in 1994 and headed International Marketing from 2000 to 2008, when she was named to her current role at the studio. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Film Independent, the Los Angeles-based non-profit that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, and is one of the inaugural members of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program.
Toni Howard / Sue Mengers Award
The Sue Mengers Award , named for the legendary agent and given for the first time in 2015, will be presented annually to a representative who is, and has been, instrumental in guiding careers. Sue Mengers was an icon in the entertainment industry. She was one of the most influential talent agents of her time, when women were not the norm, and she was devoted to her clients.
Toni Howard is a partner at ICM Partners. Toni joined the agency’s talent department in 1991 and quickly became a leader in the division, having served as its department head for the better part of a decade. She oversees a celebrated and eclectic group of actors who appear in film, television and on stage and have garnered an astonishing 46 Academy Award® nominations, 148 Emmy® nominations, and 125 Golden Globe® nominations. Among her award-winning clients are Alan Alda, Candice Bergen, Michael Caine, Bobby Cannavale, Edie Falco, Samuel L. Jackson, Topher Grace, Holly Hunter, Michael Keaton, Nathan Lane, Spike Lee, Laura Linney, Catherine O’Hara, Lily Rabe, Christina Ricci, Tim Robbins, Michael Sheen, Maggie Smith, James Spader, Julia Stiles, and Christopher Walken. Throughout her career at ICM Partners, Toni has mentored many young agents to incredibly successful careers of their own.
Prior to joining ICM, Toni was an agent at the William Morris Agency for seven years. She began her entertainment industry career as a casting director, working on such iconic projects as "Tootsie," "Superman," "The Right Stuff" and "Something About Amelia."
Recognized by her distinctive voice, Toni was cast by director Alexander Payne as the voice of agent ‘Evelyn Berman-Silverman’ in the film "Sideways."...
- 4/6/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Four extraordinary film directors .Frank Capra, John Ford, John Huston and Billy Wilder . received a stamping ovation today with the issuance of the Great Film Directors First-Class Forever stamps. The dedication took place at the American Film Institute Silver Theatre and Cultural Center where some of their works were showcased. Available nationwide today, the stamps can be purchased online at usps.com/shop, by calling 1-800-stamp-24 (1-800-782-6724) or by visiting Post Offices.
“With these stamps, we’re bringing these filmmakers out from behind their cameras and putting them in the spotlight so that we can learn more about them,” said Samuel Pulcrano, U.S. Postal Service vice president, Corporate Communications in dedicating the stamps. “Movies offer a window into our history and heritage and tell the story of America. Similar to movies, stamps honor our past and celebrate our achievements while encouraging us to learn more about the people,...
“With these stamps, we’re bringing these filmmakers out from behind their cameras and putting them in the spotlight so that we can learn more about them,” said Samuel Pulcrano, U.S. Postal Service vice president, Corporate Communications in dedicating the stamps. “Movies offer a window into our history and heritage and tell the story of America. Similar to movies, stamps honor our past and celebrate our achievements while encouraging us to learn more about the people,...
- 5/23/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The National Board of Review have announced their winners. Their ceremony will be held on.
Film: Up In The Air
Director: Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Actor (tie): Morgan Freeman, Invictus and George Clooney, Up In The Air
This is Clooney's 3rd personal Nbr prize in 7 years. The situation with Clint Eastwood is yet more extreme. This is Clint's 4th personal Nbr prize in 10 years. Every film he's made since 2003 has found a home in their top ten list -- all seven of them, even Flags of Our Fathers -- and in two of those year's his films hogged 20% of their top ten list. In addition to Clint's 4 prizes, 2 of his films have won their Best Picture prize. Actress: Carey Mulligan, An Education
Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Is this an awards season meme we didn't see coming ("time to honor Woody!") or a minor wave that will subside before Oscars hit shore?...
Film: Up In The Air
Director: Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Actor (tie): Morgan Freeman, Invictus and George Clooney, Up In The Air
This is Clooney's 3rd personal Nbr prize in 7 years. The situation with Clint Eastwood is yet more extreme. This is Clint's 4th personal Nbr prize in 10 years. Every film he's made since 2003 has found a home in their top ten list -- all seven of them, even Flags of Our Fathers -- and in two of those year's his films hogged 20% of their top ten list. In addition to Clint's 4 prizes, 2 of his films have won their Best Picture prize. Actress: Carey Mulligan, An Education
Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Is this an awards season meme we didn't see coming ("time to honor Woody!") or a minor wave that will subside before Oscars hit shore?...
- 12/5/2009
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The National Board of Review has named Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air as the top film of 2009. The New-York based organization is traditionally the first to announce their picks for the year’s best and they like the Paramount picture starring George Clooney, which conveniently opens this weekend in limited release.
Aside from best feature, the film won three other awards. Clooney picked up best actor in a tie with Morgan Freeman of Invictus, supporting actress went to Anna Kendrick, and Reitman received kudos for the adapted screenplay (my favorite script).
Other notables: Clint Eastwood was recognized as the best director for Invictus (Nbr liked him last year for Gran Torino), Carey Mulligan for best actress in An Education, and documentary front-runner The Cove won. The biggest surprises were Woody Harrelson winning best supporting actor for The Messenger and Star Trek on their top 10 of the year. Don’t get me wrong,...
Aside from best feature, the film won three other awards. Clooney picked up best actor in a tie with Morgan Freeman of Invictus, supporting actress went to Anna Kendrick, and Reitman received kudos for the adapted screenplay (my favorite script).
Other notables: Clint Eastwood was recognized as the best director for Invictus (Nbr liked him last year for Gran Torino), Carey Mulligan for best actress in An Education, and documentary front-runner The Cove won. The biggest surprises were Woody Harrelson winning best supporting actor for The Messenger and Star Trek on their top 10 of the year. Don’t get me wrong,...
- 12/4/2009
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
The winners of 2009 National Board of Review have been announced on Thursday, December 3, revealing the domination of "Up in the Air". The drama comedy becomes the big winner as it manages to grab four prizes, including Best Film award.
The film also aids George Clooney to get the Best Actor title, which he shares with "Invictus" actor Morgan Freeman. Additionally, "Up in the Air" brings recognition to its star Anna Kendrick who wins Best Supporting Actress, as well as gives Best Adapted Screenplay award for screenwriters Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner.
Other movies which are among the winners include "Up" for Best Animated Feature, and "The Fantastic Mr. Fox" which gives Special Filmmaking Achievement Award for director, producer and scribe Wes Anderson. Meanwhile, "The Hurt Locker" star Jeremy Renner receives an award for Breakthrough Performance by an Actor. The National Board of Review awards will be presented at the annual...
The film also aids George Clooney to get the Best Actor title, which he shares with "Invictus" actor Morgan Freeman. Additionally, "Up in the Air" brings recognition to its star Anna Kendrick who wins Best Supporting Actress, as well as gives Best Adapted Screenplay award for screenwriters Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner.
Other movies which are among the winners include "Up" for Best Animated Feature, and "The Fantastic Mr. Fox" which gives Special Filmmaking Achievement Award for director, producer and scribe Wes Anderson. Meanwhile, "The Hurt Locker" star Jeremy Renner receives an award for Breakthrough Performance by an Actor. The National Board of Review awards will be presented at the annual...
- 12/4/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Director Jason Reitman's "Up in the Air" won big at the 2009 National Board of Review Awards. The movie, based on Walter Kirn's novel, won the Best Film of the Year, while its star, George Clooney, won Best Actor tied with Morgan Freeman for "Invictus."
"Up in the Air" also won Best Supporting Actress for Anna Kendrick, and Reitman and Sheldon Turner won Best Adapted Screenplay.
(Check out my interview with Jason Reitman, Anna Kendrick, and Vera Farmiga for "Up in the Air")
And the winners of the 2009 National Board of Review Awards are:
Film: "Up in the Air"
Director: Clint Eastwood, "Invictus"
Actor: George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Actress: Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Foreign Language Film: "A Prophet"
Documentary:"The Cove"
Animated Feature: "Up"
Ensemble Cast: "It's Complicated" (Meryl Streep,...
"Up in the Air" also won Best Supporting Actress for Anna Kendrick, and Reitman and Sheldon Turner won Best Adapted Screenplay.
(Check out my interview with Jason Reitman, Anna Kendrick, and Vera Farmiga for "Up in the Air")
And the winners of the 2009 National Board of Review Awards are:
Film: "Up in the Air"
Director: Clint Eastwood, "Invictus"
Actor: George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Actress: Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
Supporting Actor: Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Foreign Language Film: "A Prophet"
Documentary:"The Cove"
Animated Feature: "Up"
Ensemble Cast: "It's Complicated" (Meryl Streep,...
- 12/3/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Hey there, my prediction came true, and perhaps this gut feeling I have about Jason Reitman's Up In the Air is accurate as the National Board of Review just named the Paramount pic the best film of 2009.
Continuing its reign, George Clooney also won Best Actor in a shared prize with Morgan Freeman who stars in Invictus as Nelson Mandela, and my current pic to win the Oscar Best Actress, Carey Mulligan, took top honors in the Best Actress category for An Education.
Anna Kendrick continued the Up In the Air love with a Best Supporting Actress win and Reitman was also recognized for Best Adapted Screenplay.
However, Eastwood maintained his Nbr presence with a Best Director win as well as seeing Invictus get listed as one of the top ten films of the year alongside the likes of Star Trek, Where the Wild Things Are, Inglourious Basterds and 500 Days of Summer.
Continuing its reign, George Clooney also won Best Actor in a shared prize with Morgan Freeman who stars in Invictus as Nelson Mandela, and my current pic to win the Oscar Best Actress, Carey Mulligan, took top honors in the Best Actress category for An Education.
Anna Kendrick continued the Up In the Air love with a Best Supporting Actress win and Reitman was also recognized for Best Adapted Screenplay.
However, Eastwood maintained his Nbr presence with a Best Director win as well as seeing Invictus get listed as one of the top ten films of the year alongside the likes of Star Trek, Where the Wild Things Are, Inglourious Basterds and 500 Days of Summer.
- 12/3/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Jason Reitman's comic drama "Up in the Air" cruised to new altitudes Thursday as the New York-based National Board of Review named it best film of the year.
The Paramount release, which opens today in limited engagements, also picked up three other trophies: best actor for George Clooney, who plays a corporate road warrior and who shared the award with Morgan Freeman, who stars as Nelson Mandela in "Invictus"; supporting actress for Anna Kendrick, whose character threatens to bring Clooney down to earth; and adapted screenplay for Reitman and Sheldon Turner.
Warner Bros.' South African-set drama "Invictus" also figured prominently in the Nbr kudos. In addition to Freeman's nod, it earned Clint Eastwood best director honors. The film also received one of the group's Freedom of Expression Awards.Carey Mulligan was named best actress for her turn as a spirited British schoolgirl just beginning to taste London's swingin' '60s in "An Education.
The Paramount release, which opens today in limited engagements, also picked up three other trophies: best actor for George Clooney, who plays a corporate road warrior and who shared the award with Morgan Freeman, who stars as Nelson Mandela in "Invictus"; supporting actress for Anna Kendrick, whose character threatens to bring Clooney down to earth; and adapted screenplay for Reitman and Sheldon Turner.
Warner Bros.' South African-set drama "Invictus" also figured prominently in the Nbr kudos. In addition to Freeman's nod, it earned Clint Eastwood best director honors. The film also received one of the group's Freedom of Expression Awards.Carey Mulligan was named best actress for her turn as a spirited British schoolgirl just beginning to taste London's swingin' '60s in "An Education.
- 12/3/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Below are the top 10 TV shows of 2008, according to the AFI Awards. All of the following programs were snubbed after being on last year's list issued by the American Film Institute: "Dexter," "Everybody Hates Chris," "Friday Night Lights," "30 Rock," "Ugly Betty." Also missing are such new TV programs as "True Blood," "The Mentalist" and "The Starter Wife." 10 Best TV Programs Of 2008 "Breaking Bad" "In Treatment" "John Adams" "Life" "Lost" "Mad Men" "The Office" "Recount" "The Shield" "The Wire" The American Film Institute Awards TV jury was chaired by Richard Frank, AFI Trustee Emeritus. The jurors: Neal Baer, writer, producer; John Caldwell, UCLA; Jean Picker Firstenberg, AFI president emerita; Mary McNamara,...
- 12/15/2008
- by tomoneil
- Gold Derby
Opting to promote from within, the American Film Institute has named 15-year AFI executive Bob Gazzale president and CEO. He will assume the post Nov. 1, replacing Jean Picker Firstenberg, who has led the AFI since 1980.
Gazzale, a film historian and Emmy-nominated television producer, was the unanimous choice of the AFI's board of trustees, board chairman Howard Stringer said Tuesday in making the announcement. The board also named Firstenberg president emeritus and a lifetime trustee.
Gazzale becomes only the third head of the AFI, created by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1967. George Stevens Jr. served as its first president until 1980.
Firstenberg announced her resignation in June, saying she would step down in the fall after the AFI had celebrated its 40th anniversary, an event that was marked June 8 at the AFI's Life Achievement Award dinner honoring Al Pacino.
"After considering a diverse and impressive group of candidates, AFI's board agreed that Bob Gazzale's passion for American film and the character and quality with which he upholds the standards of AFI will lead us proudly into the 21st century," Stringer said. "Or as we say in the movies, we searched for brain, heart and courage and found it all in our own backyard."
Bob Daly, the former Warner Bros. co-chairman who served on the search committee, said Firstenberg invited board members to make recommendations, "and a lot of board members recommended him right from the beginning. Within the AFI, he's very well known, and having handled the Life Achievement Awards and a lot of the (TV) specials, he's well liked within the creative community and knows how to deal with artists and producers."...
Gazzale, a film historian and Emmy-nominated television producer, was the unanimous choice of the AFI's board of trustees, board chairman Howard Stringer said Tuesday in making the announcement. The board also named Firstenberg president emeritus and a lifetime trustee.
Gazzale becomes only the third head of the AFI, created by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1967. George Stevens Jr. served as its first president until 1980.
Firstenberg announced her resignation in June, saying she would step down in the fall after the AFI had celebrated its 40th anniversary, an event that was marked June 8 at the AFI's Life Achievement Award dinner honoring Al Pacino.
"After considering a diverse and impressive group of candidates, AFI's board agreed that Bob Gazzale's passion for American film and the character and quality with which he upholds the standards of AFI will lead us proudly into the 21st century," Stringer said. "Or as we say in the movies, we searched for brain, heart and courage and found it all in our own backyard."
Bob Daly, the former Warner Bros. co-chairman who served on the search committee, said Firstenberg invited board members to make recommendations, "and a lot of board members recommended him right from the beginning. Within the AFI, he's very well known, and having handled the Life Achievement Awards and a lot of the (TV) specials, he's well liked within the creative community and knows how to deal with artists and producers."...
- 6/27/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After its well-received world premiere at the 14th Santa Barbara International Film Festival in March, Mark McLaughlin's short feature documentary on film preservation has earned a brief encounter with ticket buyers at Laemmle's Music Hall in Beverly Hills.
If nothing else, "Keepers of the Frame" is an engaging celebration of early cinema and a rousing plea for supporting the cause of saving often historically priceless entertainment and art.
Though it is too short and severely outdated in some instances, "Keepers of the Frame" is an adequate enough introduction to the ins and outs of saving old nitrate films, but there's little new information and nothing at all about digital storage, which is believed will become the standard approach in the future.
Furthermore, what is one to make of cheerful footage of the late Laurence Austin and Los Angeles' historic Silent Movie cinema, with no mention made of Austin's murder and the closing of the theater? In an attempt to cover a lot of ground for atmosphere and background, McLaughlin is occasionally led astray by his enthusiasm for personalities and diehard cinestes who make nominal contributions.
The usual suspects -- UCLA's Eric Aijala and Bob Gitt, AFI's Jean Firstenberg, Leonard Maltin -- lead the team of experts who passionately argue that silents, early talkies, newsreels, vintage TV shows and even home movies are cultural treasures. For those not familiar with the subject, the majority of pre-sound films are Lost Forever, while the creation of new theatrical prints for even well-known classics can be a major undertaking combining preservation and restoration.
Occasionally, gems are unearthed -- sometimes literally -- but there are many depressing shots of deteriorated reels and stacks of crumbling films way beyond help. Stan Brakhage, Mark Cantor, the late Roddy McDowall, Debbie Reynolds, Alan Alda, Forrest J Ackerman and others extol the glories of Hollywood's first 50 years and decry the short-sighted attitudes of the past that have helped breed the current generation of serious cinema archaeologists.
KEEPERS OF THE FRAME
Fox Lorber and Winstar Prods.
Mount Pilot Prods.
Writer-director: Mark McLaughlin
Producer: Randy Gitsch
Executive producer: Earl McLaughlin
Cinematographers: Rich Lerner, David McLaughlin
Editor: Roderick Kent
Music: Steve Cornell
Color/Black & White
Running time -- 70 minutes
No MPAA rating...
If nothing else, "Keepers of the Frame" is an engaging celebration of early cinema and a rousing plea for supporting the cause of saving often historically priceless entertainment and art.
Though it is too short and severely outdated in some instances, "Keepers of the Frame" is an adequate enough introduction to the ins and outs of saving old nitrate films, but there's little new information and nothing at all about digital storage, which is believed will become the standard approach in the future.
Furthermore, what is one to make of cheerful footage of the late Laurence Austin and Los Angeles' historic Silent Movie cinema, with no mention made of Austin's murder and the closing of the theater? In an attempt to cover a lot of ground for atmosphere and background, McLaughlin is occasionally led astray by his enthusiasm for personalities and diehard cinestes who make nominal contributions.
The usual suspects -- UCLA's Eric Aijala and Bob Gitt, AFI's Jean Firstenberg, Leonard Maltin -- lead the team of experts who passionately argue that silents, early talkies, newsreels, vintage TV shows and even home movies are cultural treasures. For those not familiar with the subject, the majority of pre-sound films are Lost Forever, while the creation of new theatrical prints for even well-known classics can be a major undertaking combining preservation and restoration.
Occasionally, gems are unearthed -- sometimes literally -- but there are many depressing shots of deteriorated reels and stacks of crumbling films way beyond help. Stan Brakhage, Mark Cantor, the late Roddy McDowall, Debbie Reynolds, Alan Alda, Forrest J Ackerman and others extol the glories of Hollywood's first 50 years and decry the short-sighted attitudes of the past that have helped breed the current generation of serious cinema archaeologists.
KEEPERS OF THE FRAME
Fox Lorber and Winstar Prods.
Mount Pilot Prods.
Writer-director: Mark McLaughlin
Producer: Randy Gitsch
Executive producer: Earl McLaughlin
Cinematographers: Rich Lerner, David McLaughlin
Editor: Roderick Kent
Music: Steve Cornell
Color/Black & White
Running time -- 70 minutes
No MPAA rating...
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