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Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Good Will Hunting has been regarded as the beginning of their careers in Hollywood. While both had starred in other works over the years, none were as significant as this. The film became a classic for many reasons, starring Robin Williams, alongside Damon and Affleck also playing an important role in the story. While their performances were impeccable, other contributions helped them win an Oscar for the film.

Matt Damon and Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting | Miramax Films

Damon and Affleck were the ones who actually wrote the film, having crafted the script together and then pitched it to the studio. While that is impressive on its own, many would be surprised to know that the original movie was very different.

The Original Story of Good Will Hunting Was Very Different

First drafts of a film rarely ever get turned into the final product.

The 1997 movie awards season was shaping up to be surprisingly competitive in the early fall of that year. "L.A. Confidential," "Boogie Nights," and "The Sweet After" were making serious noise, while summer sleepers "The Full Monty" and "Ulee's Gold" appeared likely to stay in the picture as everyone awaited the arrival of presumed heavy hitters like Steven Spielberg's "Amistad," James L. Brooks' "As Good as It Gets," and Quentin Tarantino's "Jackie Brown." But when James Cameron's "Titanic," a wildly expensive coin flip from a director best known for popcorn flicks, began screening for critics and guilds in early November, everything clicked into place. The boat movie was an Oscar lock for Best Picture and Director, "As Good as It Gets" had Best Actor and Actress sewn up, and everyone else was playing for the honor to be nominated.

The one no one saw coming, at least...

Exclusive: Effective immediately, Walt Disney’s President of Motion Picture Studios Sean Bailey, who turned the company’s animation vault into a multibillion-dollar live-action movie business, is departing after 15 years on the lot. Searchlight co-president David Greenbaum will take on a newly created role. He’ll be president of Disney Live action and president of 20th Century Studios.

Greenbaum’s new title will be President, Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios. He’ll report to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman. Steve Asbell will continue to serve as President, 20th Century Studios, a role he’s had since March 2020. He will report to Greenbaum.

This splits up the Searchlight Pictures executive team of Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield, two of the most highly regarded execs in the prestige film space who right now have Poor Things squarely in the Best Picture race and other Oscar categories. That duo succeeded longtime leaders Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley,...

In 2015, producer Kevin J. Walsh was clearing out a last-minute parking lot location for Manchester by the Sea’s most memorable scene, and just seven years later, he found himself on one of several battlefields that would define Ridley Scott’s latest historical epic, Napoleon.

Financed by Apple Original Films and distributed by Sony, the Joaquin Phoenix-led film just outperformed expectations with $32.7 million over the five-day Thanksgiving window, and Walsh believes that Napoleon’s production and distribution arrangement is the ideal way forward for streamers who want to make big-budget plays. With the possible exception of Netflix, the remaining streamers haven’t been able to justify the expense of streaming-exclusive blockbusters, but Napoleon has now established that streaming services and traditional studios can work together in mutually beneficial ways.

“We have two studios that are the best at what they do, and they’re working together. So, for us,...

All references to the author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling, have now been removed from the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle for her “transphobic” remarks.

Project Manager Chris Moore wrote in a blog post in March to criticize the acclaimed actor for her “hateful” comments and updated the public regarding the museum’s policy with Harry Potter displays.

Referring to Rowling as a “Dementor,” one of the many supernatural beings in the Harry Potter universe known for sucking the life out of their victims, the post referred to her anti-trans remarks as well as various other accusations against the author, including “the support of antisemitic creators, the racial stereotypes that she used while creating characters, the incredibly white wizarding world, the fat shaming, the lack of Lgbtqia+ representation, the super-chill outlook on the bigotry and othering of those that don’t fit into the standard wizarding world,...

A Seattle museum has removed all traces of J.K. Rowling from a “Harry Potter” exhibit due to the author’s divisive transphobic comments.

As Deadline reports, Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture has excised Rowing from its display of “Harry Potter” memorabilia, with project manager Chris Moore — who is transgender — explaining the decision in a blog post decrying Rowling’s “super hateful and divisive” statements about transgender people.

“There’s a certain cold, heartless, joy-sucking entity in the world of ‘Harry Potter’ and, this time, it is not actually a Dementor,” Moore wrote.

Read More: J.K. Rowling Says She Knew Anti-Trans Views Would Upset ‘Harry Potter’ Fans And Compares Trans Activists To Death Eaters

“Her transphobic viewpoints are front and centre these days, but we can’t forget all the other ways that she’s problematic: the support of antisemitic creators, the racial stereotypes that she used while creating characters,...

Los Angeles, Aug 6 (Ians) The Seattle based Museum of Pop Culture (Mpc or MoPOC) which is dedicated as implied by its name to celebrate pop culture has removed all exhibitions of English author J.K Rowling from its Harry Potter exhibition in light of her alleged “transphobic views.”

As reported by Deadline, the Mopc had previously published a blog explaining its decision to airbrush Rowling from its display, due to her controversial views and allegedly negative views.

Project manager Chris Moore, who is transgender, wrote in the piece: “There’s a certain cold, heartless, joy-sucking entity in the world of Harry Potter and, this time, it is not actually a Dementor.”

“We would love to go with the internet’s theory that these books were actually written without an author, but this certain person is a bit too vocal with her super hateful and divisive views to be ignored.”

“For the time being,...

A US museum has removed all trace of Harry Potter creator Jk Rowling from its exhibition celebrating the schoolboy wizard and his friends.

The Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle had previously published a blog explaining its decision to airbrush Rowling from its display, due to her “super hateful and divisive” views.

Project manager Chris Moore, who is transgender, wrote in the piece:

“There’s a certain cold, heartless, joy-sucking entity in the world of Harry Potter and, this time, it is not actually a Dementor.

“We would love to go with the internet’s theory that these books were actually written without an author, but this certain person is a bit too vocal with her super hateful and divisive views to be ignored.

“For the time being, the curators decided to remove any of her artefacts from this gallery to reduce her impact.

“It’s not a perfect solution,...

It’s funny, as a child of the 90s, many peers of the same generation never once heard that the Arnold Schwarzenegger satirical send-up of action movies, Last Action Hero, was an unpopular flop. It was odd, sure. But it was fun. In a follow-up of yesterday’s report on Schwarzenegger’s candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the muscular icon responds to the newfound audience for the John McTiernan action comedy. Schwarzenegger was bombarded with criticism when the movie was released, but now he’s pleasantly surprised to see the reception coming around as he thinks it’s under-appreciated.

While he hit big with another action comedy, True Lies, just a year later, Arnold comes to Last Action Hero‘s defense when asked about what he feels is his most underrated role, even citing it as a victim in a political crossfire. He answered, “Last Action Hero. It was slaughtered before anybody saw it.

A mural dedicated to the late Paul O’Grady has been covered up days after it was painted in Manchester.

The drag performer and presenter died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on 28 March aged 67.

Following the news, artist Chris Moore – who goes by the name Manchester Murals – created a tribute to O’Grady on the Fallowfield Loop in south Manchester.

Moore painted a large black-and-white mural showing the dog-loving presenter alongside a spaniel with a tennis ball in its mouth.

However, just a few days later, the mural was covered up by another artist’s piece.

Speaking to BBC News, Moore said that, while it was a “shame” his painting had been covered, this was just “part of the street art scene”.

“There were lots of people who went to visit it who were really disappointed on the day and people who planned to visit it over the coming days to remember Paul,...

A mural dedicated to the late Paul O’Grady has been covered up days after it was painted in Manchester.

The drag performer and presenter died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on 28 March aged 67.

Following the news, artist Chris Moore – who goes by the name Manchester Murals – created a tribute to O’Grady on the Fallowfield Loop in south Manchester.

Moore painted a large black-and-white mural showing the dog-loving presenter alongside a spaniel with a tennis ball in its mouth.

However, just a few days later, the mural was covered up by another artist’s piece.

Speaking to BBC News, Moore said that, while it was a “shame” his painting had been covered, this was just “part of the street art scene”.

“There were lots of people who went to visit it who were really disappointed on the day and people who planned to visit it over the coming days to remember Paul,...

After reuniting onscreen last year in Ridley Scott's "The Last Duel," Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are ready to embark on a new entrepreneurial phase in their careers by heading up their own production company. Per The Wrap, Affleck and Damon will serve as the chief executive officer (CEO) and chief creative officer (Cco) of the new independent film studio, Artists Equity.

Affleck and Damon are reportedly teaming with business leader Gerry Cardinale and his investment firm RedBird Capital Partners to make Artists Equity a profit-sharing venture for "established and emerging filmmakers" and all production hands. The L.A.-based company will enlist Michael Joe, a one-time exec at Universal Pictures and STX Films (the latter of which sold last year for 173 million), as the chief operating officer of Artists Equity. The studio's first project is the forthcoming "Air Jordan," the now-titled movie about the Nike shoe brand, which...

"Pride Never Dies. Join us for weekly watch parties celebrating indie filmmakers on the forefront of the Queer Horror revolution." Salem Horror Fest and the Horror Queers Podcast are teaming up once again for Frightgown! The six-week virtual screening series highlights queer indie horror and will raise funds for The Trevor Project. Kicking off on Wednesday, July 13th with So Vam, we have all the details:

Salem Ma - July 6, 2022 - Salem Horror Fest and the Horror Queers Podcast will resurrect their Frightgown fundraiser on Wednesday, July 13 and run weekly through August 17 at 7:30 pm Est, kicking off with the new film So Vam from 17-year-old trans filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay. The six-week series will showcase recent projects featuring queer horror stories and filmmakers.

Frightgown organizers Kay Lynch and Joe Lipsett state: “The momentum for Queer Horror is real. It’s an exciting time for new and independent voices. While Pride Month is over,...

Canada returns to Mipcom this year after several years of physical absence, and will present its new eco-friendly Canada Pavilion, connecting homegrown producers and production companies with the international market for networking, financing, co-production, acquisitions and sales opportunities.

“Telefilm is excited for Canada to have its first physical presence at Mipcom after nearly two years of participating in international events virtually,” says Francesca Accinelli, Telefilm Canada VP of promotion, communication and international relations.

Among those attending in person are producers such as Toronto-based Julian De Zotti, who admits that he simply can’t handle doing yet another virtual festival or market. “The magic that comes with those accidental meetings or drinks at an after-party is what can lead to great collaborations and deals, and you just can’t get that virtually,” he says. De Zotti is hoping to secure additional international territories for his six-episode dramatic comedy series, “For the Record,...

The Sundance Institute Board of Trustees today named Ebs Burnough to serve as the nonprofit’s next Chair, Board of Trustees, starting in October.

The org also announced today two new Vice Chairs of the Board: Walt Disney Studios President of Production Sean Bailey and Producer Gigi Pritzker, who will also begin their roles in October. Bailey was most recently the Chair of the 2021 Festival Task Force, is the Chair of the Board’s Marketing Committee and sits on the CEO Search Committee. Pritzker currently Chairs the Building Committee and sits on the Racial Equity and Justice Task Force and the CEO Search Committee.

Burnough was appointed as the Board’s Vice Chair in 2020, and will succeed Pat Mitchell when her term as Chair expires in October. She will continue on as a Trustee when Burnough assumes the role of Chair. Mitchell is a 25-year Trustee, serving as Chair of the Development Committee,...

A group of 108 producers have banded together to form the Producers Union, a supervisory union and collective bargaining organization for feature film producers in the United States.

Spearheading the organization are Rebecca Green (“It Follows”) and Chris Moore (“Manchester by the Sea”). The group has elected an executive committee with Green as its president and Effie T. Brown (“Dear White People”) as vice president.

Currently, the union currently excludes documentary and TV producers, although “our goal is to eventually include documentary and television producers,” the site states. “We chose to be very specific in our work with the assumption that we could get off the ground faster if we focused on one type of producer first. Once we have industry support, we can decide whether to expand our reach.”

Under the National Labor Relations Act, producers are recognized as supervisors and excluded from the protections of federal labor law. Under legal advisement,...

There’s a new union in town: the Producers Union, which is the first all-new Hollywood labor union to be formed in decades.

More than 100 indie feature filmmakers have unanimously ratified its constitution, and more than 300 have signed letters of intent to join. “After decades of working without basic protections, low and/or inconsistent wages, no employer healthcare contributions and an industry insistence that they should work for free to demonstrate their commitment, film producers are taking a stand,” organizers said in a statement.

The Producers Union website launches today.

Rebecca Green is the new union’s first president. Green, whose producing credits include It Follows and I’ll See You in My Dreams, is the founder and editor-in-chief of Dear Producer, a website designed “to challenge archaic business models that stifle diverse and original voices and to advocate for innovation, transparency, and fiscal responsibility from our industry.”

She teamed up...

A group of 108 film producers announced Thursday that they are seeking to form a union, as they aim to address low pay and skimpy health care benefits.

Calling itself the Producers Union, the group wants to negotiate a minimum basic agreement that will provide health benefits and set a floor for producer fees.

“We’re one of the very few people on a set that don’t have a union,” said Rebecca Green, producer of “It Follows” and the lead organizer of the group. “We’re seen as the ones making all the money. But the majority of producers are really struggling to pay their bills.”

Producers are considered supervisors or employers under the law, which creates enormous hurdles to any effort to organize. The Producers Guild of America — which represents 8,000 members — fought over a span of decades to represent producers in labor negotiations with the studios. But those efforts...

A group of 108 Hollywood feature film producers announced Thursday that they intend to form a new Producers’ Union to organize for better wages and working conditions from studios, networks and streaming giants.

Rebecca Green, whose producing credits include the 2013 horror film “It Follows,” was announced as the first president, with other officers including Vice Presidents Effie T. Brown (“Dear White People”) and Monique Walton (“Bull”), Secretary Avril Z. Speaks (“Hosea”) and Treasurer Chris Moore (“Manchester by the Sea”).

The union would be the first to represent film producers, whom Green noted have often struggled to make a decent living from their work despite the rise in production with the onslaught of content-starved streaming services.

“In a recent Dear Producer survey, we found that more than 44% of producers in the U.S. — almost half — weren’t able to make a living from producing in 2020,” Green said. “That is beyond unacceptable and...

Rebecca Green leads charge, teamed up with Chris Moore.

More than 100 producers have formed the Producers Union, a collective bargaining organisation that will address what its founders say is a lack of basic protections resulting in unsustainable wages and a lack of employer healthcare contributions for US producers.

The 108-strong group has been led by It Follows producer Rebecca Green who conducted nearly two years of research and outreach, and has teamed up a while ago with Manchester By The Sea and American Pie producer Chris Moore.

The Union unanimously ratified its constitution on March 6 and elected an inaugural governing...

Project Greenlight has received the green light, again. The docuseries originally produced by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Sean Bailey, and Chris Moore for HBO has been revived by HBO Max with Issa Rae leading the show, which will now focus on the “next generation of talented female filmmakers who are given the chance to direct a […]

The post ‘Project Greenlight’ is Getting Resurrected at HBO Max With Issa Rae Calling the Shots appeared first on /Film.

Project Greenlight is coming back. HBO Max has given an eight-episode series order to a new installment, from Issa Rae and Miramax Television. It is a reinvention of the critically acclaimed original Miramax and HBO docuseries.

Project Greenlight will focus on the next generation of talented female filmmakers who are given the chance to direct a feature film. Rae will appear in every episode as an Executive Producer, providing guidance and mentorship to the aspiring filmmakers. The finished film will then premiere on HBO Max.

“At HBO Max, we are committed to providing a platform for diverse, up-and-coming talent, said Jennifer O’Connell, executive vice president, Non-Fiction and Live-Action Family, HBO Max. “Issa is uniquely skilled in this space, and we are thrilled to be partnering with her and Miramax as a promising group of filmmakers is inspired and challenged with their biggest opportunity yet.”

Project Greenlight stems from Rae’s...

Ian Colletti (Preacher), Dawn Olivieri (House of Lies) and Denyce Lawton (Tyler Perry’s House of Payne) are set for recurring roles opposite Daniel Dae Kim and Tony Goldwyn in The Hot Zone: Anthrax, the second installment of National Geographic’s scripted anthology series. Filming is underway in Toronto.

The Hot Zone: Anthrax takes place in 2001, just weeks after 9/11, where another deadly act of terrorism rocked the United States. Letters containing anthrax were sent to unsuspecting victims in Florida, Washington, D.C. and New York. The anonymous assault claimed five lives and caused panic throughout the country. Despite interagency turf wars and many false leads, an unlikely team of scientists, FBI agents and government departments slowly closed in on a shocking prime suspect.

Colletti will play Agent Chris Moore, a newbie to the bureau with a dry sense of humor. A graduate of Quantico and is eager to learn under a seasoned agent,...

More than 70 industry sessions confirmed to run alongside market and screenings from November 9-13.

Conversations with Neon distribution head Elissa Federoff and Solstice Studios head Mark Gill, industry panels addressing the pandemic and intimacy on set, and a look at Hollywood podcasts are among the initial line-up of AFM 2020 Online.

More than 70 industry sessions are confirmed to run alongside the market and screenings from November 9-13 which, like so many others has gone virtual during the pandemic.

The AFM’s opening Conference, The Future Of Film, will feature one-on-one conversations with Gill, whose Solstice Studios released Unhinged, the first major...

The American Film Market has unveiled its initial speakers, topics and programming calendar for AFM 2020 Online with sessions on Nov. 9-13 alongside the AFM’s marketplace and screenings.

The AFM’s opening conference — The Future of Film — will launch with Mark Gill, president and CEO of Solstice Studios, discussing how independent film, the marketplace and audience consumption will change in the near future. Elissa Federoff, president of distribution for Neon, will then discuss the future of feature film distribution and exhibition.

Gill had the first new film in theaters since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown with “Unhinged,” and Federoff made history for her company with four Academy Awards for “Parasite,” which became the third highest-grossing foreign language film ever released in the U.S.

This year’s lineup will take place wholly online and will bring 200 speakers to two stages for conferences, panels, conversations, workshops, podcasts and presentations. John Cena, SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris,...

The list of candidates for the 2020 Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors election is now out, with the winner in each branch being chosen directly from these entries rather than whittling it down to four finalists in each, as has been done previously. The list of candidates is made up of qualified AMPAS members who actually submit themselves.

Also new this year in the streamlined timetable, as Deadline exclusively reported May 16. The winners for the 17 open slots on the 54-member board will be chosen by preferential balloting, just like Best Picture race at the Oscars. Voting begins Monday and ballots are due back June 5.

The actors branch is the largest in the Academy and it also has drawn the biggest field of contenders for the one spot that is up. Incumbent governor Whoopi Goldberg is running for re-election against past governor Ed Begley Jr. vying to return to the board.

The list of candidates for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 2020-2021 Board of Governors has been unveiled to members.

Voting begins on June 1 and ends on June 5.

Candidates run for three-year terms with a maximum of three terms. Each branch has three seats on the board. Only one of those seats is open each year because terms are staggered.

The candidates were posted on the Academy members’ portal on Friday afternoon. Below is the complete list (divided by branch) of those running for spots on the board.

Actors

Michael Lee Aday

Ed Begley, Jr.

Robert Carradine

Nicolas Coster

Colman Domingo

Richard Dreyfuss

Spencer Garrett

Bruce Glover

Whoopi Goldberg (incumbent)

James Keach

Stacy Keach

Peter Wong

Jodi Long

Tim Matheson

Joe Pantoliano

Lou Diamond Phillips

Andrea Riseborough

Andrew Stevens

Rita Wilson

Casting Directors

Kerry Barden

Richard Hicks

Margery Simkin

Debra Zane

Cinematographers

Andrzej Bartkowiak

Richard P. Crudo

Svetlana Cvetko...

Lori McCreary, Franklin Leonard, Ted Gagliano, Leslye Headland, Dan Goor, Alexandra Rushfield, Hayden Schlossberg and Deadline’s Pete Hammond are among the names that have been added to the final roster of speakers and moderators for the 11th annual Produced By Conference, set for this weekend at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank.

The annual confab presented by the Producers Guild of America features two days of panels and workshops, including a Producers Mashup event that will include the likes of Erik Feig, Gary Goetzman, Mark Gordon, Matthew Weiner and Yolanda T. Cochran participating in sessions that give attendees the opportunity to learn from and network with producers and executives across film, TV and digital media.

Sessions this year feature conversations with the likes of Warner Bros’ Toby Emmerich and Peter Roth, Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito, Mindy Kaling and Nancy Meyers, and Quibi’s Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman. They...

Coming off one of its most contentious years in history, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences has sent out its list of candidates for its Board of Governors elections late this month.

The Board of Governors directs the Academy’s strategic vision, preserves the organization’s financial health, and assures the fulfillment of its mission.

Governors attend 6-8 board meetings annually (in person or by video conference when out of town). Each Governor also serves on one board oversight committee and their branch’s executive committee, and they are expected to represent their branch at numerous Academy events through the year.

Governors have fiduciary responsibilities imposed by state law to serve the Academy’s best interests, by acting with responsibility and care when approving annual goals presented by management, as well as major policies concerning governance.

CEO Dawn Hudson oversees a staff of more than 300 who conduct the Academy’s day-to-day business.

Wild Eye Releasing presents Blessed are the Children!? in the vein of an old-school '80s slasher hits DVD and VOD this month. Also: Xtro Hi-Def version release details, The Church teaser trailer / release details, and Kevin Doherty's Horrormania '79: Memoirs of a Ten Year Old Horror Fan novel details.

Watch a Blessed are the Children Exclusive Clip: "In the classic tradition of the 1980’s slasher film” (Horror News), Wild Eye Releasing deliver Blessed are the Children, a Reagan-era slasher throwback that’s part Halloween, part Black Christmas, and all frights, premiering on DVD and VOD October 23.

Something sinister is following Traci and her friends – who are behind the masks!?

Traci Patterson (Kaley Ball), an adrift 20-something who's still reeling from the death of her father and her breakup with an abusive fiancé (Jordan Boyd), discovers that she's pregnant. With the help of her friends, Erin and Mandy,...

Blessed Are the Thrills This Halloween. Wild Eye Releasing will be releasing Blessed Are the Children, written and directed by Chris Moore (of the upcoming Triggered) on VOD and DVD on October 23rd, 2018 – just in time for Halloween. This terrifying thriller stars Kaley Ball, Keni Bounds, Arian Thigpen as friends who find themselves […]

The post Blessed Are The Children Hits VOD & DVD This Halloween appeared first on Dread Central.

Stars: Kaley Ball, Keni Bounds, Arian Thigpen, Jordan Boyd, Michael Kinslow, David Moncrief, Cheryl Abernathy, Jennifer Wilder, Hope Prybylski, Claire Mayronne, George Mayronne | Written by Chris Moore, Chris Wesley | Directed by Chris Moore

After being dumped by her violent boyfriend, things soon become worse for Traci Paterson (Kaley Ball) as she finds out that she is also pregnant. Feeling too young to handle the responsibility and uncertainty regarding the identity of the father, after discussing the situation with her house mates Mandy Crane (Keni Bounds) and Erin Peters (Arian Thigpen), she decides the best thing she could so is have an abortion.

Upon arriving at the abortion clinic, Traci notices two menacing looking protestors standing outside with a banner which says, ‘God Hates You’. An unwelcoming sight at any time, but the message is made all the more sinister by the fact their identities are concealed behind hooded tops and...

The Producers Guild of America’s annual Produced By Conference next month in Los Angeles has rounded out its list of participants including adding Barry co-creators Bill Hader and Alec Berg for a “Conversation With” session.

Skydance Television president Marcy Ross and Hyde Park Entertainment group boss Ashok Amritraj are also among those that have been added to the lineup for the two-day event, set for June 9-10 on the Paramount lot.

They newcomers join already announced attendees including Marvel’s Kevin Feige, Paramount’s Jim Gianopulos, Justin Simien Lena Waithe, Errol Morris and Dan Harmon, along with producers like Charles D. King, Larry Gordon, Stephanie Allain, Paul Feig, Neal H. Moritz, Ian Bryce, Donald DeLine, Tracey Edmonds, Lucy Fisher, Lynette Howell Taylor, James F. Lopez, Chris Moore, Ronald D. Moore, Mary Parent, Stacy Rukeyser, Doug Wick and more.

The 10th annual event will also feature a panel on Hulu...

In today’s film news roundup, Paul Feig and Neal Moritz are added to the Produced By Conference, a “Jumanji” double feature gets scheduled, and Jean-Luc Godard’s “The Image Book” gets bought.

Conference Additions

The Producers Guild of America has added Paul Feig and Neal Moritz as speakers at its 10th annual Produced By Conference, which will be held June 9 and 10 at Paramount Pictures Studios.

Moritz will be joining Jim Gianopulos in his headlining “Conversations With…” session. Additional speakers include Stephanie Allain, Ian Bryce, Donald DeLine, Tracey Edmonds, Lucy Fisher, Lynette Howell Taylor, James F. Lopez, Chris Moore, Ronald D. Moore, Mary Parent, Stacy Rukeyser, and Doug Wick.

The Produced By Conference will bring back its Mentoring Roundtables to give attendees a chance to ask questions about their own projects in development and learn in a more personalized, intimate setting with one-on-one feedback. No pitching is allowed — the roundtables...

The Producers Guild of America unveiled a new wave of participants for its 10th annual Produced By Conference next month. Among those added to the lineup are Dear White People producer Stephanie Allain, Bridesmaids director-producer Paul Feig, Fast and the Furious producer Neal H. Moritz along with Ian Bryce, Donald DeLine, Tracey Edmonds, Lucy Fisher, Lynette Howell Taylor, James F. Lopez, Chris Moore, Ronald D. Moore, Mary Parent, Stacy Rukeyser, Doug Wick and more.

The event is set for June 9-10 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

In addition to a roster of speakers, the event will include Mentor Roundtables on June 9 which allow attendees a chance to ask questions about their own projects in development and learn in a more personalized, intimate setting with real one-on-one feedback (side note: no pitching allowed in these roundtables). The event will also feature the second annual “Producers Mashup” on June 10. The session...

Blessed are the Children is a new thriller from co-writer and director Chris Moore, which was selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival on Friday 19th January. I got chance to ask actress Kaley Ball a few questions about What we can expect from the film, what preparation she did for the role and what it was like working on set.

What can we expect from the film Blessed are the Children?

Blessed are the Children is a provocative thriller set within layers of comedy and intriguing character development. It pays homage to some cornerstone horror movie tropes, but it also delivers some uniquely intimate moments in terms of the characters’ navigation of the storyline. The movie is both comedically entertaining and physically jarring to experience.

Can you tell me a little bit about your character?

Traci is a millennial smart-ass to say the least; her primary defence mechanism...

Blessed are the Children is new thriller from co-writer and director Chris Moore, which was been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival on Friday 19th January. I got chance to ask actress Keni Bounds a few questions about what audiences can expect from the film, the preparation she did for the role and what makes the film stand out in the genre.

What can we expect from the film Blessed are the Children?

You can expect to laugh and scream and pretty much be creeped out. I was in the movie and still can’t watch it without covering my eyes. You can also expect to have Fun! This movie will have your screaming in fear one second and howling with laughter the next.

Can you tell me a little bit about your character?

Mandy is very motherly and very protective of her best friends. She is definitely...

Blessed are the Children is new thriller from co-writer and director Chris Moore, which has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival on Friday 19th January. I got chance to ask actress Arian Thigpen a few questions about how she became involved in the film, what makes Blessed are the Children stand out in the horror genre and her favorite scene to film.

What can we expect from the film Blessed are the Children?

Blessed are the Children is a fun thriller. It’s got plenty of moments to frighten you, lots of comedy, and a really fun score.

Can you tell me a little bit about your character?

Erin is a 26-year-old virgin who is a bit of a musical theatre nerd. She lives with her two best friends, who encourage her to get out of her shell. I love that her arc has her moving from...

When filmmakers Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau first set out to make their stunning documentary “Trophy,” about the complex industry of big-game hunting and conservation in Africa and the U.S., they thought it would be an exposé.

“We really wanted to shame the industry,” Clusiau said in a Q&A after a screening of the film at the International Documentary Association’s annual documentary screening series. “And then we realized it’s not so black and white.”

When they met South African rhino farmer John Hume, who argues that the legal trade of rhino horn will prevent poaching and keep the species alive, Zimbabwean anti-poaching wildlife officer Chris Moore, who works to keep communities safe from predators in part by working with big game hunters, and many others featured in the film, their opinion changed.

Said Schwarz, “In the long run we found that in this subject we all...

A panel of undertakers might have had better news for producers than the profit participation experts who gathered Saturday afternoon at the Produced By conference on the Fox lot. Their consensus: For a variety of reasons, backend cash in the form of profit participations is becoming ever more scarce.

"Once upon a time," said producer Chris Moore (Manchester by the Sea, American Pie), "the contractual definitions of backend participations mattered, and it was possible to shake money loose from the studios by challenging their accounting statements. But today?"

“Definitions are so hard to enforce,” he added, that they are “almost...

Keep up with the always-hopping film festival world with our weekly Film Festival Roundup column. Check out last week’s Roundup right here.

Lineup Announcements

– Hot Docs has announced the ten documentary features that will screen in this year’s Special Presentations program. Special Presentations features a high-profile collection of world and international premieres, award winners from the recent international festival circuit and works by master filmmakers or featuring some star subjects.

Special Presentations will screen as part of the 2017 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, running April 27 – May 7. The complete Special Presentations program and the full selection of films to screen at Hot Docs 2017 will be announced on March 21, including the 2017 opening night film.

The new titles include: “Bill Nye: Science Guy,” “Chasing Coral,” “Dolores,” “Elian,” “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower,” “In Loco Parentis,” “Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press,” “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World,” “Strong Island” and “The Workers Cup.

In his career, Matt Damon has earned Oscar noms for lead actor (Good Will Hunting, The Martian), supporting actor (Invictus) and has won one for original screenplay with Ben Affleck (Hunting).

But with Manchester by the Sea, the 46-year-old has his first producing nomination, along with Kimberly Steward, Kevin Walsh, Lauren Beck and Chris Moore, for a film he once planned to direct and star in. Damon spoke with THR about making the movie on budget, how the awards have changed since his 1998 win and why Ben Affleck always will choose him over Jimmy Kimmel.

How did you first...

La La Land wins top prize at the ceremony.

La La Land was the big winner at the 2017 Baftas, winning five prizes, including best film, best director (Damien Chazelle) and best actress (Emma Stone).

Casey Affleck won leading actor for Manchester by the Sea, with Dev Patel (Lion) and Viola Davis (Fences) winning supporting actor and actress.

I, Daniel Blake won outstanding British film.

The 2017 Baftas took place on Feb 12 at the Royal Albert Hall and were once again hosted once again by Stephen Fry.

Read: Eight talking points ahead of the BaftasThe full list of winners

Winners in bold.

Best Filmarrival Dan Levine, Shawn Levy, David Linde, Aaron RyderI, Daniel Blake Rebecca O’BrienLA La Land Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, Marc PlattMANCHESTER By The Sea Lauren Beck, Matt Damon, Chris Moore, Kimberly Steward, Kevin J. WalshMOONLIGHT Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Adele RomanskiLEADING Actressamy Adams ArrivalEMILY Blunt The Girl on the TrainEMMA Stone La La LandMERYL Streep...

La La Land, Arrival, Nocturnal Animals and I, Daniel Blake among films competing for Bafta glory.

The 2017 Baftas take place on Feb 12 at the Royal Albert Hall and are hosted once again by Stephen Fry.

The show is broadcast on BBC One on a time delay, but Screen will be following the action as it happens from around 6:45Gmt and updating the winners as they are announced, below.

Read: Eight talking points ahead of the BaftasThe nominations

Winners in bold.

Leading Actorandrew Garfield Hacksaw RidgeCASEY Affleck Manchester by the SeaJAKE Gyllenhaal Nocturnal AnimalsRYAN Gosling La La LandVIGGO Mortensen Captain FantasticCINEMATOGRAPHYARRIVAL Bradford YoungHELL Or High Water Giles NuttgensLA La Land Linus SandgrenLION Greig FraserNOCTURNAL Animals Seamus McGarveyORIGINAL Screenplayhell Or High Water Taylor SheridanI, Daniel Blake Paul LavertyLA La Land Damien ChazelleMANCHESTER By The Sea Kenneth LonerganMOONLIGHT Barry JenkinsOutstanding British contribution to cinemaCURZON Cinemassupporting Actoraaron Taylor-johnson Nocturnal AnimalsDEV Patel LionHUGH Grant Florence Foster JenkinsJEFF Bridges Hell or High...

Manchester by the Sea

Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD

Lionsgate

2016 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 137 min. / Street Date February 21, 2017 / 39.99

Starring – Casey Affleck, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, Liam McNeill, C.J. Wilson, Gretchen Mol, Michelle Williams, Matthew Broderick.

Cinematography – Jody Lee Lipes

Film Editor – Jennifer Lame

Original Music – Lesley Barber

Produced by Lauren Beck, Matt Damon, Chris Moore, Kimberly Steward

Written and Directed by Kenneth Lonergan

A major Oscar contender, Kenneth Longergan’s Manchester by the Sea is certainly sobering, yet is nowhere near as depressing as the initial word on the street would have had us believe. We all know of tragedies that happen all the time, things that we go to sleep at night praying won’t happen to us. Bad things happen to people and not all of it is their own fault — accidents, weather-related calamities, sudden catastrophic health issues. The rule of positive thinking tells us to continue onward like herd animals,...

The nominations for the 89th Academy Awards are in and La La Land leads the pack with 14 nominations! I knew La La Land was going to explode at this event, and it's probably going to end up taking home many of the awards is was nominated for. The 14 nominations ties the record with 1997's Titanic and 1950's All About Eve.

Arrival ended up with eight nominations as did Moonlight, while Hacksaw Ridge, Lion, and Manchester by the Sea all got six. Deadpool ended up with zero nominations. I was hoping to see it somewhere on the list, but it looks like all that hype didn't work.

Every film and actor who was nominated for their work deserves to be on this list, so congratulations to them all! There are so many great films and actors to root for, but there can be only one winner in each category.

Jimmy Kimmel...

A woman kneels down, sets a black rhino in her sights, and pulls the trigger on the majestic animal, sending it careening to the ground. Immediately a crew rushes to the animal, straps its enormous jaw closed, and takes an electric saw to its horn. Cut to a portly older gentleman explaining in heavily accented South African English that for the rhino, the procedure is akin to having its wisdom teeth pulled. It’s for their own good, he explains: Poachers won’t kill a hornless rhino.

There are two sides to every story in “Trophy,” a sweeping new documentary from Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau. Capturing footage as unbelievable as the disturbing underworld of big-game hunting it seeks to understand, “Trophy” tells a story as captivating as its images are beautiful.

Read More: The Orchard and CNN Acquire Documentary ‘Trophy’ — Sundance 2017

The portly gentleman is John Hume, a rhino...

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The Merc With a Mouth isn’t a character to play by the rulebook, so it’s almost fitting that Deadpool, the scrappy little underdog that arguably became 2016’s biggest success story, has flipped the bird at convention to collect a series of nominations during the most prestigious period on the Hollywood calendar: awards season.

Marquee blockbusters, particularly those based on comic book characters, often struggle to make much of a dent on the awards circuit, but to date, Tim Miller’s R-rated solo movie has landed a Golden Globes nomination and, perhaps most surprising of all, a nomination for a Writer’s Guild Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Now, you can add the PGAs to Deadpool‘s growing collection.

More News From The Web

Yes, the nominees for 2017’s Producers Guild Awards have been announced, and Deadpool is,...

© 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation..

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today the motion picture nominations for the 28th Annual Producers Guild Awards. The categories are The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures and The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures.

All 2017 Producers Guild Award winners will be announced on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. This year, the Producers Guild will present special honors to Tom Rothman (Milestone Award), James L. Brooks (Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television), Irwin Winkler (David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures), the feature film Loving (Stanley Kramer Award), and Megan Ellison (Visionary Award).

The 2017 Producers Guild Awards Co-Chairs are Donald De Line and Amy Pascal. Sponsors of this year’s event include: Buick, Official Automotive Partner of the Awards, Delta Air Lines, Official Airline Partner of the PGA...

A version of this article originally appeared on ew.com.

La La Land and Moonlight take one step closer to clinching best picture nominations at the Academy Awards as the Producers Guild of America — one of the most influential guilds in the entertainment industry — announces its annual slate of award nominees.

The 7,500-strong union, comprised of producing teams in film, television, and new media, revealed its crop of honorees on Tuesday, firming up best picture frontrunner La La Land‘s bid for further awards season domination after the Damien Chazelle-directed musical became the most decorated film in Golden Globes history Sunday night.