British public broadcaster Channel 4 says it will lay off around 240 workers and sell its London-based headquarters as the television network works to reign in expenses as part of a broader restructuring of its business.
The layoffs will affect around one in five workers at the television network, which employs slightly more than 1,200 employees in the United Kingdom and certain other territories.
Additionally, Channel 4 affirmed its £90 million (around U.S. $114 million) headquarters in London will be put on the market, and the broadcaster will open a central London office that is smaller and shift more of its remaining workforce to work-from-home roles.
Channel 4 has been under mounting pressure to curb its operational spending as it shifts its core business away from television advertising revenue with an eye toward digital advertising and content licensing opportunities.
“With 600 roles based outside London by the end of 2025, lower headcount in London overall, and a shift to flexible working,...
The layoffs will affect around one in five workers at the television network, which employs slightly more than 1,200 employees in the United Kingdom and certain other territories.
Additionally, Channel 4 affirmed its £90 million (around U.S. $114 million) headquarters in London will be put on the market, and the broadcaster will open a central London office that is smaller and shift more of its remaining workforce to work-from-home roles.
Channel 4 has been under mounting pressure to curb its operational spending as it shifts its core business away from television advertising revenue with an eye toward digital advertising and content licensing opportunities.
“With 600 roles based outside London by the end of 2025, lower headcount in London overall, and a shift to flexible working,...
- 1/30/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Channel 4 is merging several commissioning departments including TV drama and film and leaving its Horseferry Road premises as the network sets out its layoffs plan and five-year strategy.
The network has unveiled a Fast Forward blueprint to suppliers, staff and press in the past few minutes. There will be a “substantial” number of layoffs in commissioning, according to content boss Ian Katz, with several mergers incoming.
Caroline Hollick’s TV drama department is coming together with new Film4 boss Ollie Madden’s team. Meanwhile, documentaries and factual entertainment, which make the likes of 24 Hours in Custody and Gogglebox, are coming together, as are entertainment and reality – commissioners of Married at First Sight and The Last Leg. Portfolio channel E4 is also restructuring, with commissions at E4 going through relevant genres and digital reporting straight to Katz.
“We know that this is also a very difficult time for the indie...
The network has unveiled a Fast Forward blueprint to suppliers, staff and press in the past few minutes. There will be a “substantial” number of layoffs in commissioning, according to content boss Ian Katz, with several mergers incoming.
Caroline Hollick’s TV drama department is coming together with new Film4 boss Ollie Madden’s team. Meanwhile, documentaries and factual entertainment, which make the likes of 24 Hours in Custody and Gogglebox, are coming together, as are entertainment and reality – commissioners of Married at First Sight and The Last Leg. Portfolio channel E4 is also restructuring, with commissions at E4 going through relevant genres and digital reporting straight to Katz.
“We know that this is also a very difficult time for the indie...
- 1/29/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
07 August 2023 — Today, Canadian-Dutch-Korean singer-songwriter, Jeon Somi, is back and better than ever, as she releases her brand-new EP entitled Game Plan along with the music video for the energetic lead single, “Fast Forward”.
The 5-track EP follows Jeon Somi’s 2021 debut album, Xoxo, and marks a new chapter for the pop superstar, as she has evolved both musically and as an artist, offering a more elevated look and sound. She also partook in songwriting 3 of the album’s tracks showing her growth as an singer-songwriter. Hitmakers Teddy, 24 and R.Tee contribute to the album’s production and are recognized as the team behind the global hits of Blackpink.
In addition to the EP, Jeon Somi also releases the music video for lead single, “Fast Forward”. The track is an upbeat dance-leaning anthem reminiscent of Madonna’s classic hit, “Vogue”, and the music video is a perfect representation of Jeon Somi’s evolution,...
The 5-track EP follows Jeon Somi’s 2021 debut album, Xoxo, and marks a new chapter for the pop superstar, as she has evolved both musically and as an artist, offering a more elevated look and sound. She also partook in songwriting 3 of the album’s tracks showing her growth as an singer-songwriter. Hitmakers Teddy, 24 and R.Tee contribute to the album’s production and are recognized as the team behind the global hits of Blackpink.
In addition to the EP, Jeon Somi also releases the music video for lead single, “Fast Forward”. The track is an upbeat dance-leaning anthem reminiscent of Madonna’s classic hit, “Vogue”, and the music video is a perfect representation of Jeon Somi’s evolution,...
- 8/8/2023
- by Music Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Music
In today’s Global Bulletin, Entertainment One picks up the rights to Australian drama “The Newsreader,” Banijay reorganizes in Iberia, “Downton Abbey” lands on BritBox, Sony Pictures Television hires Jo Porter and Warner Bros. International will distribute Hungry Bear Media’s new game show.
Series
Entertainment One (eOne) has acquired international distribution rights to “The Newsreader,” a new drama series coming to ABC TV in Australia, produced by Werner Film Productions.
Set in the 1980s, the series unspools in a high energy newsroom, turning on the relationship between a young TV reporter and the show’s star female anchor. The cast features several high-profile actors including Anna Torv (“Mindhunter”), Sam Reid (“Lambs of God”), Robert Taylor (“Longmire”), Stephen Peacocke (“Whiskey Tango Foxtrot”), Chai Hansen (“The New Legends of Monkey”) and Marg Downey (“Fast Forward”).
“The Newsreader” is backed by major investments from Screen Australia and the ABC and financed with support from Film Victoria.
Series
Entertainment One (eOne) has acquired international distribution rights to “The Newsreader,” a new drama series coming to ABC TV in Australia, produced by Werner Film Productions.
Set in the 1980s, the series unspools in a high energy newsroom, turning on the relationship between a young TV reporter and the show’s star female anchor. The cast features several high-profile actors including Anna Torv (“Mindhunter”), Sam Reid (“Lambs of God”), Robert Taylor (“Longmire”), Stephen Peacocke (“Whiskey Tango Foxtrot”), Chai Hansen (“The New Legends of Monkey”) and Marg Downey (“Fast Forward”).
“The Newsreader” is backed by major investments from Screen Australia and the ABC and financed with support from Film Victoria.
- 11/25/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Mark Ruse. (Photo: Annie Beach)
Mark Ruse, who was partnered with Stephen Luby in Ruby Entertainment for 20 years, died unexpectedly on Saturday. He was 64.
In a career spanning more than 30 years, Ruse produced more than 250 hours of prime-time comedy and drama, more than 20 hours of documentaries and 300 hours of live television.
“Mark was a true gentleman; incredibly talented, understated and generous, he gave many lucky people a leg up in the industry,” Julie Marlow, screen industry consultant and former Film Victoria director, tells If. “He was a joy to deal with and will be sadly missed by so many.”
Luby said of his colleague and close friend: “Mark was a man of incredible integrity, kindness, creativity, intelligence, dedication, work ethic, humour and goodness.
“His express philosophy was to ‘enable other people’s talents to shine.’ He loved to support and nurture people’s creative journeys (including mine).
“Producer skills developed...
Mark Ruse, who was partnered with Stephen Luby in Ruby Entertainment for 20 years, died unexpectedly on Saturday. He was 64.
In a career spanning more than 30 years, Ruse produced more than 250 hours of prime-time comedy and drama, more than 20 hours of documentaries and 300 hours of live television.
“Mark was a true gentleman; incredibly talented, understated and generous, he gave many lucky people a leg up in the industry,” Julie Marlow, screen industry consultant and former Film Victoria director, tells If. “He was a joy to deal with and will be sadly missed by so many.”
Luby said of his colleague and close friend: “Mark was a man of incredible integrity, kindness, creativity, intelligence, dedication, work ethic, humour and goodness.
“His express philosophy was to ‘enable other people’s talents to shine.’ He loved to support and nurture people’s creative journeys (including mine).
“Producer skills developed...
- 5/11/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
L-r: Fred Schepisi, Minister Martin Foley, Andrew Knight, Film Victoria CEO Caroline Pitcher, Film Victoria president Ian Robertson, Claire Dobbin, Jan Sardi, John Howie and Tony Reed.
Film Victoria’s annual screen awards were held yesterday evening, honouring writer/producer Andrew Knight, director Daina Reid, games advocate Tony Reed and Melbourne International Film Festival (Miff) chair Claire Dobbin.
Knight, whose credits include TV shows such as Fast Forward, Full Frontal, SeaChange and Jack Irish and features like The Water Diviner, Ali’s Wedding and Hacksaw Ridge, was recognised with the Jan Sardi Award for his significant achievements as a screenwriter.
Daina Reid was presented Fred Schepisi Award for significant achievement in directing. Reid began her career in television as a comedy writer and actor, before moving into directing. Her creidts include Blue Heelers, The Secret Life of Us, Rush, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Offspring, Nowhere Boys, The Secret River,...
Film Victoria’s annual screen awards were held yesterday evening, honouring writer/producer Andrew Knight, director Daina Reid, games advocate Tony Reed and Melbourne International Film Festival (Miff) chair Claire Dobbin.
Knight, whose credits include TV shows such as Fast Forward, Full Frontal, SeaChange and Jack Irish and features like The Water Diviner, Ali’s Wedding and Hacksaw Ridge, was recognised with the Jan Sardi Award for his significant achievements as a screenwriter.
Daina Reid was presented Fred Schepisi Award for significant achievement in directing. Reid began her career in television as a comedy writer and actor, before moving into directing. Her creidts include Blue Heelers, The Secret Life of Us, Rush, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Offspring, Nowhere Boys, The Secret River,...
- 4/4/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
In the music industry, big advance payments are old hat: A new artist lands a hit and a bunch of labels rush over waving multi-million-dollar checks for his or her next album. But the high bets are often risky, and the cash only goes to a handful of names every year. Amuse, a Swedish music startup that bills itself as a reimagined record label, is aiming to ease both problems with its new royalties payment system.
Called “Fast Forward,” the program, unveiled Tuesday, uses machine learning coupled with Amuse’s...
Called “Fast Forward,” the program, unveiled Tuesday, uses machine learning coupled with Amuse’s...
- 2/5/2019
- by Amy X. Wang
- Rollingstone.com
Documentarian and director Lauren Greenfield has launched a production company, Girl Culture Films, to address the lack of diversity behind the camera in the advertising industry.
Greenfield, who directed the documentary “The Queen of Versailles” and Always’ #LikeAGirl Campaign, created the company with her partners Frank Evers to represent directors for commercial projects and branded content opportunities to amplify female and diverse voices in the advertising world.
Girl Culture’s roster features filmmakers across genres, such as Catherine Hardwicke (“Miss Bala”), Karyn Kusama (“Destroyer”), and Amy Berg (“West of Memphis”).
“After the experience of the #LikeAGirl campaign, I started Girl Culture Films to ensure that women have a bigger voice in the cultural conversation — in which advertising is a driving force,” Greenfield said in a statement. “I knew it was crucial to appeal to audiences through storytelling, so our roster is comprised of incredible directors with varied styles that can...
Greenfield, who directed the documentary “The Queen of Versailles” and Always’ #LikeAGirl Campaign, created the company with her partners Frank Evers to represent directors for commercial projects and branded content opportunities to amplify female and diverse voices in the advertising world.
Girl Culture’s roster features filmmakers across genres, such as Catherine Hardwicke (“Miss Bala”), Karyn Kusama (“Destroyer”), and Amy Berg (“West of Memphis”).
“After the experience of the #LikeAGirl campaign, I started Girl Culture Films to ensure that women have a bigger voice in the cultural conversation — in which advertising is a driving force,” Greenfield said in a statement. “I knew it was crucial to appeal to audiences through storytelling, so our roster is comprised of incredible directors with varied styles that can...
- 1/29/2019
- by Rachel Yang
- Variety Film + TV
Review by Peter BelsitoFor the past 25 years acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Lauren Greenfield has travelled the world, documenting with ethnographic precision and an artist’s sensitivity a vast range of cultural movements and moments.
Yet, after so much seeking and searching, she realized that much of her work pointed at one uniting phenomenon: wealth culture. With her new film, Generation Wealth, she puts the pieces of her life’s work together for in an incendiary investigation into the pathologies that have created the richest society the world has ever seen.
Spanning consumerism, beauty, gender, body commodification, aging and more, Greenfield has created a comprehensive cautionary tale about a culture heading straight for the cliff’s edge. Generation Wealth, simultaneously a deeply personal journey, rigorous historical essay, and raucously entertaining expose, bears witness to the global boom-bust economy, the corrupted American Dream and the human costs of capitalism, narcissism and greed.
Yet, after so much seeking and searching, she realized that much of her work pointed at one uniting phenomenon: wealth culture. With her new film, Generation Wealth, she puts the pieces of her life’s work together for in an incendiary investigation into the pathologies that have created the richest society the world has ever seen.
Spanning consumerism, beauty, gender, body commodification, aging and more, Greenfield has created a comprehensive cautionary tale about a culture heading straight for the cliff’s edge. Generation Wealth, simultaneously a deeply personal journey, rigorous historical essay, and raucously entertaining expose, bears witness to the global boom-bust economy, the corrupted American Dream and the human costs of capitalism, narcissism and greed.
- 8/6/2018
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but I can often spend hours upon hours trawling through iTunes looking for new movies to buy… Usually I’ll randomly come across a title I haven’t seen in years and use the “Cast & Crew” links to make my way down the rabbit hole to the more obscure side of Apple’s digital movie service.
Now whilst many will decry that iTunes is a terrible VOD service due to Apple’s desire to lock its audience to their platforms, if you have an Apple TV or iPad be aware – there are some truly obscure films hidden away in the depths of the vast collection of movies. Some of which have been made available in the UK for the first time since VHS and a Lot that have been added to the service in their original uncut form!
So, with...
Now whilst many will decry that iTunes is a terrible VOD service due to Apple’s desire to lock its audience to their platforms, if you have an Apple TV or iPad be aware – there are some truly obscure films hidden away in the depths of the vast collection of movies. Some of which have been made available in the UK for the first time since VHS and a Lot that have been added to the service in their original uncut form!
So, with...
- 3/24/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Pioneering actor to receive BAFTA’s highest honour.
BAFTA is to honour Us actor Sidney Poitier with its Fellowship honour at the Ee British Academy Film Awards in London on Feb 14.
Awarded annually, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or games.
Fellows previously honoured for their work in film include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor, Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Lee, Martin Scorsese, Alan Parker and Helen Mirren. Mike Leigh received the Fellowship at last year’s Film Awards.
Poitier said: “I am extremely honored to have been chosen to receive the Fellowship and my deep appreciation to the British Academy for the recognition.”
The pioneering actor’s award-winning career includes six BAFTA nominations, including one BAFTA win for The Defiant Ones (1958), and a British Academy Britannia Award for Lifetime...
BAFTA is to honour Us actor Sidney Poitier with its Fellowship honour at the Ee British Academy Film Awards in London on Feb 14.
Awarded annually, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or games.
Fellows previously honoured for their work in film include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor, Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Lee, Martin Scorsese, Alan Parker and Helen Mirren. Mike Leigh received the Fellowship at last year’s Film Awards.
Poitier said: “I am extremely honored to have been chosen to receive the Fellowship and my deep appreciation to the British Academy for the recognition.”
The pioneering actor’s award-winning career includes six BAFTA nominations, including one BAFTA win for The Defiant Ones (1958), and a British Academy Britannia Award for Lifetime...
- 1/12/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The Bahamas International Film Festival (Biff) has announced that Academy Award® winner and renowned global icon Sir Sidney Poitier has agreed to the naming of the prestigious Career Achievement Award at the Bahamas International Film Festival the “Sir Sidney Poitier Tribute Award.” Biff founder and executive director Leslie Vanderpool made the announcement.
“There is no person on Earth who is better suited to have the Career Achievement Award be named after him,” Vanderpool said. “Poitier is one of the finest actors for generations and is, simply put, an icon and a legend.” The American Film Institute named him among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time.
Poitier stretched his reach within the industry on film and on stage acting in productions such as "A Raisin in the Sun" (1959) and "Lysistrata." For his film role in "The Defiant Ones," Poitier was the first male actor of African descent to be nominated for a competitive Academy Award in 1958. A few years later in 1964, Poitier was the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in a riveting and memorable performance as Homer Smith in Ralph Nelson’s "Lilies of The Field."
Thirty-eight years after receiving the Best Actor award, Poitier received an honorary tribute from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in recognition of his remarkable accomplishments as an artist and as a human being. In 2009, Poitier was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States of America’s highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama.
A global legend, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1968 and highly respected author, director and “actor’s actor,” with more than fifty films and television shows to his credit, Poitier has starred in some of Hollywood’s most important and biggest films and earned critics’ praise for several commanding performances. Poitier’s reputation solidified with leading roles in mainstream films: "No Way Out" (1950), "Blackboard Jungle" (1955), "The Bedford Incident" and "A Patch Of Blue" (1965). The most successful films that catapulted Poitier’s career in 1967 where, "To Sir with Love," "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner" and "In the Heat of the Night."
Directing was not far away from his achievements having a directorial debut with the western "Buck and the Preacher" soon followed by "Uptown Saturday Night," "Let’s Do It Again," "A Piece Of The Action," "Stir Crazy," "Hanky Panky," "Fast Forward’ and ‘Ghost Dad."
From 1995 to 2003, Poitier served as a member of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company. Proud to represent The Bahamas, Sir Sidney was the Bahamian Ambassador to Japan, a position held from 2002 to 2007, while being the Ambassador of The Bahamas to Unesco.
What makes this addition so momentous is that he is a Bahamian who believes in building future generations of filmmakers while honoring the actors and actresses who broke ground, furthermore, upholding their careers with poise. Sir Sidney possesses a true love and appreciation for the people of The Bahamas.
One of the Bahamas International Film Festival’s missions is to ensure youth in The Bahamas have the opportunity to remember Sir Sidney while celebrating the achievements of others within the film industry.
“Leslie Vanderpool’s efforts have been extraordinary in making it possible for The Bahamas to have not only a film festival, but to also attract some of the great film artists and filmmakers from around the world. People like Johnny Depp, Nicolas Cage, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Glover, Alan Arkin, Sir Sean Connery, Sophie Okonedo, Lee Daniels, Lenny Kravitz and my own daughter Sydney Tamiia Poitier, who have found, to their great surprise, that the Bahamas is moving swiftly toward a bona fide motion picture community--all of which have been structured by the imaginative young Bahamians who have committed themselves to The Bahamas having a film community of its own,” Poitier said.
Adding to his many achievements, Poitier has published four best sellers "This Life," "The Measure of A Man," "Life Beyond Measure: Letters to my Great-Grand Daughter" and "Montaro Caine." Additionally, he has many talents having recorded an album with the composer Fred Katz called ‘Poitier Meets Plato’ reciting passages from Plato’s writings.
Family is most important for Sir Sidney, He and his wife Joanna Shimkus, a Canadian-born former actress of Lithuanian and Irish descent have two daughters Anika and Sydney Tamiia Poitier. Poitier has four daughters Beverly, Pamela, Sherri and Gina from a previous marriage. In addition to his six daughters, Poitier has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Leslie Vanderpool and Sydney T. Poitier will be instrumental in overseeing the granting of the Sir Sidney Poitier Tribute Awards.
“There is no person on Earth who is better suited to have the Career Achievement Award be named after him,” Vanderpool said. “Poitier is one of the finest actors for generations and is, simply put, an icon and a legend.” The American Film Institute named him among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time.
Poitier stretched his reach within the industry on film and on stage acting in productions such as "A Raisin in the Sun" (1959) and "Lysistrata." For his film role in "The Defiant Ones," Poitier was the first male actor of African descent to be nominated for a competitive Academy Award in 1958. A few years later in 1964, Poitier was the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in a riveting and memorable performance as Homer Smith in Ralph Nelson’s "Lilies of The Field."
Thirty-eight years after receiving the Best Actor award, Poitier received an honorary tribute from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in recognition of his remarkable accomplishments as an artist and as a human being. In 2009, Poitier was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States of America’s highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama.
A global legend, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1968 and highly respected author, director and “actor’s actor,” with more than fifty films and television shows to his credit, Poitier has starred in some of Hollywood’s most important and biggest films and earned critics’ praise for several commanding performances. Poitier’s reputation solidified with leading roles in mainstream films: "No Way Out" (1950), "Blackboard Jungle" (1955), "The Bedford Incident" and "A Patch Of Blue" (1965). The most successful films that catapulted Poitier’s career in 1967 where, "To Sir with Love," "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner" and "In the Heat of the Night."
Directing was not far away from his achievements having a directorial debut with the western "Buck and the Preacher" soon followed by "Uptown Saturday Night," "Let’s Do It Again," "A Piece Of The Action," "Stir Crazy," "Hanky Panky," "Fast Forward’ and ‘Ghost Dad."
From 1995 to 2003, Poitier served as a member of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company. Proud to represent The Bahamas, Sir Sidney was the Bahamian Ambassador to Japan, a position held from 2002 to 2007, while being the Ambassador of The Bahamas to Unesco.
What makes this addition so momentous is that he is a Bahamian who believes in building future generations of filmmakers while honoring the actors and actresses who broke ground, furthermore, upholding their careers with poise. Sir Sidney possesses a true love and appreciation for the people of The Bahamas.
One of the Bahamas International Film Festival’s missions is to ensure youth in The Bahamas have the opportunity to remember Sir Sidney while celebrating the achievements of others within the film industry.
“Leslie Vanderpool’s efforts have been extraordinary in making it possible for The Bahamas to have not only a film festival, but to also attract some of the great film artists and filmmakers from around the world. People like Johnny Depp, Nicolas Cage, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Glover, Alan Arkin, Sir Sean Connery, Sophie Okonedo, Lee Daniels, Lenny Kravitz and my own daughter Sydney Tamiia Poitier, who have found, to their great surprise, that the Bahamas is moving swiftly toward a bona fide motion picture community--all of which have been structured by the imaginative young Bahamians who have committed themselves to The Bahamas having a film community of its own,” Poitier said.
Adding to his many achievements, Poitier has published four best sellers "This Life," "The Measure of A Man," "Life Beyond Measure: Letters to my Great-Grand Daughter" and "Montaro Caine." Additionally, he has many talents having recorded an album with the composer Fred Katz called ‘Poitier Meets Plato’ reciting passages from Plato’s writings.
Family is most important for Sir Sidney, He and his wife Joanna Shimkus, a Canadian-born former actress of Lithuanian and Irish descent have two daughters Anika and Sydney Tamiia Poitier. Poitier has four daughters Beverly, Pamela, Sherri and Gina from a previous marriage. In addition to his six daughters, Poitier has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Leslie Vanderpool and Sydney T. Poitier will be instrumental in overseeing the granting of the Sir Sidney Poitier Tribute Awards.
- 7/12/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Since modern movie making began Hollywood executives have always looked upon something successful and wondered "How can we do it again"? Whether it was the rash of formulaic teen comedies in the '90s that followed "Clueless" or the attempts to clone the Japanese horror trope of "The Ring" or countless other examples, movie studios and producers haven't been able to help themselves avoid ridiculous levels of copycat syndrome. All you need to do is cast a similar star, hire a director to mimic the first film's tone, find a way to make it just different enough to seem "original" and you've got an easy product to market to a global audience. The latest trend producers can't seem to get enough of? Rip offs of the Liam Neeson blockbuster "Taken" and that’s likely why someone decided to option Jean-Patrick Manchette's 1981 novel "The Prone Gunman” as a movie in the first place.
- 3/17/2015
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
I must have met E.O. around the winter of ‘96. He was that kid from around the way that was in Spike Lee’s Clockers. We’d catch each other in the heights here and there but not often enough. Years later I decided to make my own short film. I sent Elvis the script. He was down. We shot with a few hundred dollars on the Canon Xl (the Excalibur of its time) on the stoops, brownstones and rooftops of Harlem, New York.
The film had some sweet humble success with festivals all things considering. I still don’t know how best to direct actors but Nolasco always had that razor sharp focus when it came to his craft. He made it seem effortless but I knew it came from years of discipline. He’s gone on to work with some of the best and after a few pilots that weren’t picked up, ABC will debut "American Crime," an anthology series based on class, race & gender politics created by Academy Award-winner John Ridley, on March 5th. Fast forward, 2015, there’s nothing like seeing your homeboy’s billboard on Sunset and Vine.
LatinoBuzz: Do you recall that first moment you wanted to be an actor?
Elvis: I can honestly say that...that moment of wanting to be an actor, was a moment that found me. After many early years of dancing, it was not until I arrived at George Washington High School, where I was faced with the options of what I wanted as my extra curriculum studies. Now, the only thing on that list that came close to dancing was "Introduction to Theatre". I said "well maybe I can get to dance in this class"... (Not So). It was my drama teacher Robert Stonebridge who after the first few weeks in his class he saw something in me, that I of course did not see in myself. He challenged me to play the role of Bill Starbuck in the play The Rainmaker. From that moment on, I found my voice, my body felt something magical and new, I felt comfortable, I finally was introduced to a new form of expression, the freedom of expression, the art to play. That was the moment and I never looked back. Thank You Mr. Stonebridge.
LatinoBuzz: What was the most discouraging moment you have ever experienced?
Elvis: That's a good question. I feel that the times I've had experience those moments, it has been when I've allowed outside voices to try and deter me from my path, my passion. Those voices can be very discouraging and destructive to one's journey. Today, I make sure to listen to the voice inside me, the voice of the heart, the voice of my passion, my truth.
LatinoBuzz: Who has been the biggest influence in your life and work?
Elvis: That's a long list, however I'll narrow it down to this many... My mother, my father, who have taught me the importance of hard work in a very dignified way. My aunts and uncles, who have taught me the value of family, music, dance and history. My good friend Robert (Fileo) Lewis, who has taught me the power of unconditional love. My brothers and sisters, especially my younger brother Yanko "Valentin", who is always, and I mean always busy and relevant, I'm telling you that kid don't stop. Work wise...Spike Lee, Darnell Martin, John Ridley...And tons of many, many more...
LatinoBuzz: What's your take on the ‘Whitewashing’ Hollywood has been accused of lately?
Elvis: The Whitewash of Hollywood is not new but the broader conversation that we are having about it is. The fact that people of color are not the only ones involved in the public conversation about it, is new. That's a good thing for everyone involved. Diversity in film and television benefits society as a whole.
LatinoBuzz: You did a one-man show based on Junot Diaz’ Purlizter Prize awarded ‘The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao’ – you didn’t find that daunting at all? We are talking a very celebrated novel.
Elvis: Oscar Wao? Daunting? Nah! When this project was brought to my attention, I was immediately in and up for the challenge. I, at that time (2010) had already read Junot Diaz' previous works, had read The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao two times, therefore I was of fan, a fan of the book and of Junot’s work. Now, having said that, to sit in a stuffy New York City basement at a theatre on 36th street with the great director Elise Thoron for two whole weeks (lost count of the hours) and together work on the adaptation of this magnificent, extraordinary and compelling Pulitzer prize winning novel...Ok, I think we can now revisit that word... ‘daunting”... Lol. We were able to narrow it down to an hour and 10 minutes and tell the beautiful story of Oscar De Leon and Yunior and audiences loved it. Truly a pleasure to take on this story on stage.
LatinoBuzz: I always have to ask this: Your dream role, dream director, dream co-star.
Elvis: Dream Role? I would say, playing Sidney Poitier on the big screen. Directors? Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Lee Daniels. Co-Star? Will Smith.
Do the social media lovin’!
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1Fozjcx
Twitter: @Eonolasco
Airing times and schedule for American Crime can be found here: http://abc.go.com/shows/american-crime
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook...
The film had some sweet humble success with festivals all things considering. I still don’t know how best to direct actors but Nolasco always had that razor sharp focus when it came to his craft. He made it seem effortless but I knew it came from years of discipline. He’s gone on to work with some of the best and after a few pilots that weren’t picked up, ABC will debut "American Crime," an anthology series based on class, race & gender politics created by Academy Award-winner John Ridley, on March 5th. Fast forward, 2015, there’s nothing like seeing your homeboy’s billboard on Sunset and Vine.
LatinoBuzz: Do you recall that first moment you wanted to be an actor?
Elvis: I can honestly say that...that moment of wanting to be an actor, was a moment that found me. After many early years of dancing, it was not until I arrived at George Washington High School, where I was faced with the options of what I wanted as my extra curriculum studies. Now, the only thing on that list that came close to dancing was "Introduction to Theatre". I said "well maybe I can get to dance in this class"... (Not So). It was my drama teacher Robert Stonebridge who after the first few weeks in his class he saw something in me, that I of course did not see in myself. He challenged me to play the role of Bill Starbuck in the play The Rainmaker. From that moment on, I found my voice, my body felt something magical and new, I felt comfortable, I finally was introduced to a new form of expression, the freedom of expression, the art to play. That was the moment and I never looked back. Thank You Mr. Stonebridge.
LatinoBuzz: What was the most discouraging moment you have ever experienced?
Elvis: That's a good question. I feel that the times I've had experience those moments, it has been when I've allowed outside voices to try and deter me from my path, my passion. Those voices can be very discouraging and destructive to one's journey. Today, I make sure to listen to the voice inside me, the voice of the heart, the voice of my passion, my truth.
LatinoBuzz: Who has been the biggest influence in your life and work?
Elvis: That's a long list, however I'll narrow it down to this many... My mother, my father, who have taught me the importance of hard work in a very dignified way. My aunts and uncles, who have taught me the value of family, music, dance and history. My good friend Robert (Fileo) Lewis, who has taught me the power of unconditional love. My brothers and sisters, especially my younger brother Yanko "Valentin", who is always, and I mean always busy and relevant, I'm telling you that kid don't stop. Work wise...Spike Lee, Darnell Martin, John Ridley...And tons of many, many more...
LatinoBuzz: What's your take on the ‘Whitewashing’ Hollywood has been accused of lately?
Elvis: The Whitewash of Hollywood is not new but the broader conversation that we are having about it is. The fact that people of color are not the only ones involved in the public conversation about it, is new. That's a good thing for everyone involved. Diversity in film and television benefits society as a whole.
LatinoBuzz: You did a one-man show based on Junot Diaz’ Purlizter Prize awarded ‘The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao’ – you didn’t find that daunting at all? We are talking a very celebrated novel.
Elvis: Oscar Wao? Daunting? Nah! When this project was brought to my attention, I was immediately in and up for the challenge. I, at that time (2010) had already read Junot Diaz' previous works, had read The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao two times, therefore I was of fan, a fan of the book and of Junot’s work. Now, having said that, to sit in a stuffy New York City basement at a theatre on 36th street with the great director Elise Thoron for two whole weeks (lost count of the hours) and together work on the adaptation of this magnificent, extraordinary and compelling Pulitzer prize winning novel...Ok, I think we can now revisit that word... ‘daunting”... Lol. We were able to narrow it down to an hour and 10 minutes and tell the beautiful story of Oscar De Leon and Yunior and audiences loved it. Truly a pleasure to take on this story on stage.
LatinoBuzz: I always have to ask this: Your dream role, dream director, dream co-star.
Elvis: Dream Role? I would say, playing Sidney Poitier on the big screen. Directors? Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Lee Daniels. Co-Star? Will Smith.
Do the social media lovin’!
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1Fozjcx
Twitter: @Eonolasco
Airing times and schedule for American Crime can be found here: http://abc.go.com/shows/american-crime
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook...
- 3/4/2015
- by Juan Caceres
- Sydney's Buzz
Season 11 of the dance reality show So You Think You Can Dance (Sytycd) featured not one but three Bollywood pieces by the Bollytastic choreographer Nakul Dev Mahajan! We were lucky enough to talk with him about Ricky and Valerie’s wonderful piece to ‘Dilliwali Girlfriend’. Now we get the scoop on the other two numbers because the fabulous choreographer took time out of his busy schedule not only after the Bollywood Disco number but also last week’s Ghagra to chat with us! With the Sytycd finale tonight we present Nakul Dev Mahajan on all things Sytycd Bollywood in this exclusive interview!
Bollywood Disco
I think for them to make it more interesting or different they added a disco phrase to it, as So You Think You Can Dance’s first disco Bollywood number. I think not for the Bollywood fans out there but for the rest of America, the general public,...
Bollywood Disco
I think for them to make it more interesting or different they added a disco phrase to it, as So You Think You Can Dance’s first disco Bollywood number. I think not for the Bollywood fans out there but for the rest of America, the general public,...
- 9/3/2014
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
Superheroes might be big business in the movie world right now, but that hasn't always been the case. Despite the success of the early Christopher Reeve Superman films and Tim Burton's Batman outings, the genre was something of a poisoned chalice for filmmakers throughout the '80s and '90s. Buoyed by Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie, Hollywood mined the pages of DC and Marvel Comics in search of the next big thing. Unfortunately, small budgets and shaky scripts resulted in a string of flops ranging from Supergirl (1983) to Howard the Duck (1986). And yet, impossibly, things would get even worse for the comic book genre in the years that followed.
In 1989, the same year Tim Burton's Batman hit cinemas, Dolph Lundgren led The Punisher, a violent action-thriller based on Marvel character Frank Castle. A vigilante who takes revenge on criminals after his family is murdered in a mob killing,...
In 1989, the same year Tim Burton's Batman hit cinemas, Dolph Lundgren led The Punisher, a violent action-thriller based on Marvel character Frank Castle. A vigilante who takes revenge on criminals after his family is murdered in a mob killing,...
- 3/26/2014
- Digital Spy
Lets face it; most of us, if not all of us have dabbled with videogames at some point. Even if you haven’t and don’t know your joystick from your joypad you’ll have heard of the likes of Pacman, Sonic, Mario, Streetfighter and so on. Unfortunately over the years, video games that have been the inspiration for movies have ranged from rubbish to septic. But now, thanks to Wreck-It Ralph that trend has changed in a smashing big way. Finally, the words video games and movie can go together without people cringing, running away or feeling a little queasy. Wreck-It Ralph has been knocking around Disney since the 80’s where it had the working title of High Score. Fast forward to the late 90’s and that changed to Joe Jump. Mid 00’s it was titled Reboot Ralph and now, as you can imagine, it’s called Wreck-It Ralph.
- 2/3/2013
- by noreply@blogger.com (Vic Barry)
- www.themoviebit.com
Reuters has launched ReutersTV, a new YouTube channel that will cover hard news, finance, politics and technology, the company announced Tuesday. The new channel is part of YouTube’s programming initiative, announced in October of 2011, which unites YouTube and almost 100 partners to create Internet-based programming. Reuters, with which TheWrap has a content syndication partnership, is the biggest news provider of YouTube's partners. Among the 10 shows that will air are “Felix TV,” featuring finance blogger Felix Salmon, “Tech Tonic,” hosted by social media editor Anthony De Rosa and “Fast Forward” a show...
- 1/17/2012
- by Lucas Shaw
- The Wrap
Veteran actress Doris Belack has died at the age of 85.
The Tootsie star passed away in New York City on Tuesday, just four months after the death of her theatre producer husband Philip Rose. She is believed to have died of natural causes.
Belack began her career with a number of TV roles in the 1950s, and in 1955 she performed on the Poetry of the Negro with Sidney Poitier - a record produced by her husband, Rose.
She went on to appear in movies such as Tootsie, Fast Forward and Batteries Not Included, before returning to TV with guest roles in Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, Sisters and Ellen.
Belack made regular appearances as Judge Margaret Barry in cop shows Law & Order and Law & Order: Svu and her last TV role came in a 2003 episode of Sex and the City.
A public memorial for Belack and Rose will be held on 17 October at New York's Ambassador Theater.
The Tootsie star passed away in New York City on Tuesday, just four months after the death of her theatre producer husband Philip Rose. She is believed to have died of natural causes.
Belack began her career with a number of TV roles in the 1950s, and in 1955 she performed on the Poetry of the Negro with Sidney Poitier - a record produced by her husband, Rose.
She went on to appear in movies such as Tootsie, Fast Forward and Batteries Not Included, before returning to TV with guest roles in Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, Sisters and Ellen.
Belack made regular appearances as Judge Margaret Barry in cop shows Law & Order and Law & Order: Svu and her last TV role came in a 2003 episode of Sex and the City.
A public memorial for Belack and Rose will be held on 17 October at New York's Ambassador Theater.
- 10/7/2011
- WENN
Remember Hollywood hotties Briana Evigan and Sharni Vinson grooving their way into stardom in the dance flicks Step Up 2: The Streets in 2008 and its follow up Step Up 3D in 2010 respectively? The two dancing sizzlers who scorched up the screen in the two films are ready to form a united force …all for the privilege of dancing with Prabhu Deva in choreographer Remo D'Souza's dance flick that goes on the floors in November. Remo who has already signed his two fellow-choreographers Prabhu Deva and Ganesh Acharya, was keen to give his 3D dance flick an international flick. Reportedly, Remo's producer Utv approached Briana Evigan and Sharni Vinson who immediately agreed when they heard Prabhu Deva was the man they would have to shake their booty with. Says Remo, "More than Prabhu Deva, the two ladies are excited about Bollywood. Now my challenge is how to make Prabhu's choreography look unique.
- 9/8/2011
- by Subhash K. Jha
- BollywoodHungama
After his electrifying performance as Blacula (1972), the great William Marshall was briefly considered a worthy successor to Christopher Lee's vampire king. A respected Shakespearean actor with an impressive theatre background, he was set to become a major horror star of the seventies, but like his fellow stage actor Robert Quarry, who achieved the same status as Count Yorga, his film career faded rapidly after the genre went through a radical re-think following the commercial success of The Exorcist (1973).
Marshall remained in New York to train in as an actor and director in Grand Opera and Shakespeare, although he had to support himself in a variety of jobs before making his professional stage debut. At 6ft 5inches, he was an impressively built, handsome, strong-featured actor with a booming bass baritone voice to match his towering presence. Not surprisingly, he quickly built up a formidable reputation as America's finest Shakespearean actor,...
Marshall remained in New York to train in as an actor and director in Grand Opera and Shakespeare, although he had to support himself in a variety of jobs before making his professional stage debut. At 6ft 5inches, he was an impressively built, handsome, strong-featured actor with a booming bass baritone voice to match his towering presence. Not surprisingly, he quickly built up a formidable reputation as America's finest Shakespearean actor,...
- 2/15/2011
- Shadowlocked
We just discovered that a network is going to remake the infamous show of yesteryear The Odd Couple!
In case you are unfamiliar with The Odd Couple, it was originally a 1965 Broadway play by Neil Simon, which was followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spin offs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot is about two mismatched roommates, one neat and uptight, the other more easygoing.
The show is about the two characters, one named Felix Ungar, who is a neurotic, neat freak newswriter (photographer in the television series), is thrown out by his wife, and moves in with his friend Oscar Madison, a messy sportswriter. In its original Broadway run, Ungar was played by Art Carney and Madison by Walter Matthau. Matthau was later replaced with Jack Klugman.
Fast forward to 2010 and we hear that Comedy Central...
In case you are unfamiliar with The Odd Couple, it was originally a 1965 Broadway play by Neil Simon, which was followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spin offs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot is about two mismatched roommates, one neat and uptight, the other more easygoing.
The show is about the two characters, one named Felix Ungar, who is a neurotic, neat freak newswriter (photographer in the television series), is thrown out by his wife, and moves in with his friend Oscar Madison, a messy sportswriter. In its original Broadway run, Ungar was played by Art Carney and Madison by Walter Matthau. Matthau was later replaced with Jack Klugman.
Fast forward to 2010 and we hear that Comedy Central...
- 5/8/2010
- by noreply@blogger.com (The Humor Mill Magazine)
- Humor Mill Magazine
Wesley Mead Robert Mclaughlin Aug 22, 2016
From almost 20 years of South Park, here are its 25 best episodes featuring World Of Warcraft, Game Of Thrones parodies and more...
It’s funny how time can shift our perceptions. Long, long ago, way back in 1997, South Park was a counter-cultural revolutionary of a TV show, an ode to all things sexual and scatological that looked like it had been animated in the creators’ garden shed. Best noted for the ire it drew from parents’ groups and the weekly deaths of perma-hoodied fourth-grader Kenny, it bore all the markings of a flash-in-the-pan success, tie-in merchandise quickly shifted by the million and a movie fast-tracked to the multiplexes almost immediately.
Fast forward nearly twenty (twenty!) years later, and far from having been consigned to television history, South Park is an establishment icon; still brave and boundary-pushing, but revered by the majority, not feared, as much a...
From almost 20 years of South Park, here are its 25 best episodes featuring World Of Warcraft, Game Of Thrones parodies and more...
It’s funny how time can shift our perceptions. Long, long ago, way back in 1997, South Park was a counter-cultural revolutionary of a TV show, an ode to all things sexual and scatological that looked like it had been animated in the creators’ garden shed. Best noted for the ire it drew from parents’ groups and the weekly deaths of perma-hoodied fourth-grader Kenny, it bore all the markings of a flash-in-the-pan success, tie-in merchandise quickly shifted by the million and a movie fast-tracked to the multiplexes almost immediately.
Fast forward nearly twenty (twenty!) years later, and far from having been consigned to television history, South Park is an establishment icon; still brave and boundary-pushing, but revered by the majority, not feared, as much a...
- 4/10/2008
- Den of Geek
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