Category Archives: Arts and Culture

OTT.X Announces Second Annual Impact Awards

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Streaming Video Industry trade association OTT.X seeks nominations for original online programming that inspires positive action and promotes acceptance and equality.

OTT.X, the industry trade association supporting the OTT streaming ecosystem, has opened submissions for the second annual OTT.X Impact Awards. The OTT.X Impact Awards is a program created by and for the over-the-top streaming industry to recognize creators, producers, platforms and channels who are using the power of streaming video to make a positive impact. Submissions are being accepted from June 23 through September 30, 2021 for audio visual works that premiere and are distributed through OTT channels and platforms. Nominations will be announced on November 9 and winners will be announced at the Impact Awards Ceremony to be held on December 9, 2021.

“Our industry has the attention of millions of people globally,” said Mark Fisher, OTT.X President and CEO. “The stories we tell, messages we send and truths we reveal have the power to change the world. Using this power to promote understanding, acceptance, equality and to inspire positive action is a responsibility that OTT.X and our membership are committed to.” Paul Colichman, CEO of Here Media and OTT.X Impact Awards Steering Committee Chair commented, “As streaming transforms the entertainment landscape it also democratizes video content distribution. This allows for more programs that focus on social justice, equality, kindness and compassion.”

The inaugural OTT.X Impact Awards was held virtually on December 10, 2020 and recognized three winners including Here Media’s “Girls Voices Now – ‘Not Quite Here, Not Quite There’” for Impactful Short Title, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment’s “Going From Broke’ for Impactful Series, and Passion River’s “Intelligent Lives” for Impactful Full-Length Feature. To apply, visit: Visit https://www.entmerch.org/impact-awards/

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Live From NYC… Horror Writer’s Play Helps Reopen NY Theatre.

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creative media timesTHE BIG DREAM by Rollin Jewett and directed by Jay Michaels is one of the first plays to open in NYC live — months before Broadway.

Staged immersively, with characters taken from audience members itself, THE BIG DREAM tells the tale of Jack, an arrogant stage-pig who recounts his journey of how he hoofed and whored his way on stage and on film. With only the goading of an enigmatic therapist to keep him on track, Jack goes in and out of reality trying to find who he really is … if he really is.

The cast includes Matt Frenzel as the Jack of this trade; Donna White as the therapist: Zara Zeidman as his long-suffering girlfriend, Sara Minisquero as his juvenile delinquent best friend; with Andrew J. Koehler, Anthony Diaz, Rose Zisa, Michael Pichardo, Melissa Ford, and Paulina De La Parra weaving through this tale as Jack’s family, friends, business associates, teachers, and tormentors.
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AGNES World Premieres At 2021 Tribeca Film Festival

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creative media timesDirected by Mickey Reece, the horror-Drama is set to premiere at 2021 Tribeca Film Festival on June 12.

See the film’s Tribeca festival page here: https://tribecafilm.com/films/agnes-2021

The film stars Molly Quinn, Jake Horowitz, Sean Gunn, Chris Browning, Ben Hall, Mary Buss, Chris Sullivan

Here is the film’s official synopsis:
A nun’s disturbing behavior sparks rumors of demonic possession at a remote convent. When a priest-in-waiting and his disillusioned mentor are sent to investigate, their methods backfire, leaving a wake of terror and trauma.

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Life Is Straange: Coming Home #1

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comixology life is strangeThe new arc featuring backup strips with the first comic appearance of Alex Chen – lead character from the new game, Life is Strange: True Colors.

Max’s attempt to return home enters a thrilling new phase! A shocking discovery offers unexpected hope, and the epic cross-country trip with Chloe and Rachel reveals a new ally. This will be on Sale on July 7, 2021.

Life is strange remastered edition of the original game series is also set to be released on Fall 2021. Available to pre-order now from your local available to pre-order from your local comic book shop, Amazon, Forbidden Planet and ComiXology. Life is Strange 3.1: Coming Home

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Zack Snyder Reveals Forbidden Planet’s Army Of The Dead Worldwide Exclusive

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Superstar director Zack Snyder – director of Dawn of the Dead, 300, Watchmen, Sucker Punch, Man of Steel, Batman v Superman & Zack Snyder’s Justice League, has announced via retailer Forbidden Planet that he is launching an exclusive Snyder-curated Forbidden Planet edition of The Army of the Dead: The Making of the Film book.

Speaking exclusively to Forbidden Planet TV, Snyder said: “Titan Books and Forbidden Planet have done amazing work with this curated exclusive edition. It’s been a real pleasure for me to have this exclusive partnership with you guys, we’ve produced “making of” books that span my filmography and they’ve all been amazing. For me as a filmmaker, just to have this record of the work that was done to create these films – all the hard work that the artists have done – these books are a service that really allow fans to connect with how these movies are made. The Army of the Dead book is really fun, it captures a lot of the spirit of the movie and the joy we had making it. Creating this special edition was a real pleasure and I’m excited for the fans to check it out.”

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International Olympic Committee Makes Landmark Move Into Virtual Sports

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International Olympic Committee makes landmark move into virtual sports by announcing first-ever Olympic Virtual SeriesInternational Olympic Committee makes landmark move into virtual sports by announcing first-ever Olympic Virtual Series

Inaugural Olympic Virtual Series to include International Federations and Game Publishers in Baseball, Cycling, Rowing, Sailing and Motor Sport

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will partner with five International Sports Federations (IFs) and game publishers to produce the Olympic Virtual Series (OVS), the first-ever, Olympic-licensed event for physical and non-physical virtual sports.

Taking place ahead of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the OVS will begin on 13 May, continuing through to 23 June 2021. The Olympic Virtual Series will mobilise virtual sport, esports and gaming enthusiasts all around the world in order to reach new Olympic audiences, while also encouraging the development of physical and non-physical forms of sports in line with the recommendations of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The Olympic Virtual Series is a new, unique Olympic digital experience that aims to grow direct engagement with new audiences in the field of virtual sports. Its conception is in line with Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and the IOC’s Digital Strategy. It encourages sports participation and promotes the Olympic values, with a special focus on youth.”
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Mayling Ng (Suicide Squad, Scorpion) to play opposite UFC Champ Michael Bisping in The Journeyman

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aiphotoimaging aiphotographicBritish-born Eurasian actor Mayling Ng (“Wonder Woman,” “The Scorpion King: Book of Souls”) will star opposite retired UFC Middleweight Champion and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping (“xXx: Return of Xander Cage,” “Den of Thieves”) in director Dax Phelan’s boxing film, “The Journeyman.”

Set in Nortwest England, the story is about Kenny “The Beast” Breen (Bisping), an alcoholic, drug-abusing, past-his-prime journeyman boxer who, after being diagnosed with neurological damage, continues his career on the small-hall circuit at grave risk to himself and lands a fight with his former rival who’s gone on to become a star in the division. Ng will play Alina, a woman struggling to start her life over after escaping an abusive relationship, who becomes romantically involved with the boxer.

The screenplay was co-written by Phelan and British author Mark Turley, based on Turley’s book, Journeymen: The Other Side of the Boxing Business, a New Perspective on the Noble Art. The book made the long list for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 2015.

“Mayling and I have been wanting to work together for years,” Phelan said. “So, when the opportunity to write a female character from Liverpool arose, Mark and I wrote the part especially for Mayling, who was born there, anxious to show off sides of her talent that audiences haven’t seen yet.”

“Dax and Mark have written a beautiful character who’s as vulnerable as she is strong,” Ng said, “and I can’t wait to explore her many facets with [Bisping] on screen.”
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“Borat,” “Drag Race” and “WandaVision” Lead MTV Movie & TV Awards Nominees

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aiphotoimaging aiphotographicCarey Mulligan, Daniel Kaluuya, Zendaya, and the late Chadwick Boseman also scored nominations at the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards.

Fan-favorite WandaVision led the television awards with five nominations, while Borat Subsequent Moviefilm led the film awards with three nominations. RuPaul’s Drag Race leads the unscripted awards with four nominations.

Other top nominees includes “Emily in Paris” (4 nominations), “The Boys” (4 nominations) and “Bridgerton” (3 nominations).

Starting today, April 19th, fans will be able to vote for their favorites across 25 gender-neutral categories by visiting vote.mtv.com through April 30, 2021.

The 2021 “MTV Movie & TV Awards” telecast will air live on Sunday, May 16 from the Palladium in Los Angeles, CA at 9PM ET/PT.

The show’s host, presenters and further details will be revealed at a later date.

Here are this year’s nominees:

BEST MOVIE
“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”
“Judas and the Black Messiah”
“Promising Young Woman”
“Soul”
“To All the Boys: Always and Forever”

BEST SHOW
“Bridgerton”
“Cobra Kai”
“Emily in Paris”
“The Boys”
“WandaVision”

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MOVIE
Carey Mulligan – “Promising Young Woman”
Chadwick Boseman – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Daniel Kaluuya – “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Sacha Baron Cohen – “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Zendaya – “Malcolm & Marie”

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SHOW
Anya Taylor-Joy – “The Queen’s Gambit”
Elizabeth Olsen – “WandaVision”
Elliot Page – “The Umbrella Academy”
Emma Corrin – “The Crown”
Michaela Coel – “I May Destroy You”
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Award-Winning Animation Studio LAIKA Expands Into Live Action

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Oregon Studio Acquires Rights to Screenwriter John Brownlow’s Debut Action Thriller Novel Seventeen

aiphotoimaging laika studio animationLAIKA, known for the Academy Award®-nominated animated films Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings and Missing Link, is expanding into live action. The studio has optioned Seventeen, the upcoming first novel by acclaimed screenwriter John Brownlow (The Minaturist, Sylvia). Currently in production on its sixth animated feature film, LAIKA secured the rights in an intense bidding war and plans to adapt it as a live action project. The announcement was made today by Travis Knight, President & CEO.

“For the past 15 years, LAIKA has been committed to making movies that matter,” says Knight. “Across mediums and genres, our studio has fused art, craft, and technology in service of bold, distinctive, and enduring stories. With Seventeen, LAIKA is taking that philosophy in an exciting new direction.”

“Seventeen is a stiff cocktail of wicked wit, exhilarating action, and raw emotion,” Knight continues. “John has such a wonderfully unique voice. He’s crafted a brilliant universe with its own powerful identity. Seventeen is a thriller with soul, a sinuous adrenaline-fueled actioner with a sincere heart beating underneath its rippling pectorals.”

Author and screenwriter John Brownlow is well known for his film and television credits. He is the screenwriter of the feature film Sylvia starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig and wrote and executive produced the three-part BBC limited series The Minaturist, which starred Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit). He also wrote the four-episode limited series Fleming, which starred Dominic Cooper as James Bond author Ian Fleming.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be developing Seventeen for the screen with LAIKA,” says Brownlow. “As a long-time fan of LAIKA’s movies for their vision, heart, craft, intelligence and ambition, I couldn’t have hoped for the novel or the universe it inhabits to have found a better or more exciting home. I’m beyond honored to be part of their plans for the future.”

UK publisher Hodder & Stoughton has preemptively acquired worldwide publishing rights to Seventeen. Hanover Square will publish the book in the US in 2022. LAIKA was represented in the deal by CAA. John Brownlow is represented by George Davis at Nelson Davis LLP, Jessica Sykes at Independent Talent Group and CAA.

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Historical Documentary “Last Will & Testament” Released By Strike Back Studios

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Strike Back Studios, a new joint venture between Realization Films, Public House Films, and Hideout Pictures, has release Centropolis Entertainment’s fascinating historical documentary “Last Will & Testament”.

With April being Shakespeare international Month, the film is now available to stream on Amazon Prime, Vudu, Tubi and other streaming platforms along with across TVOD platforms iTunes, Fandango Now, Google Play, YouTube, among others globally to rent or buy.

Twin sisters & filmmakers Laura Wilson & Lisa Wilson’s intricate historical journey charts the fascinating documentary “Last Will & Testament” from executive producer Roland Emmerich (who’s brilliant “Anonymous” also explores Shakespeare’s identity) and featuring stage and screen icons Derek Jacobi (“Gladiator,” “Gosford Park, “Dead Again”), Mark Rylance (“Bridge of Spies,” “The BFG,” “Dunkirk”), and Vanessa Redgrave (“Atonement,” “Howards End,” “Coriolanus”). It’s the greatest literary mystery of all time who actually wrote the works of Shakespeare? Featuring a powerful score by Graeme Revell (“The Saint,” “The Crow,” “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”), the greatest mystery of an identity hidden by time and the constructs of society…The Bard himself.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
It’s the greatest literary mystery of all time; who wrote the works of Shakespeare? Although the official story has held sway for centuries, questions over the authorship of the plays and poems have persisted. Mark Twain, Sigmund Freud, Charlie Chaplin and Orson Welles are among the many famous figures who doubt that a grain-dealer from Stratford-upon-Avon was England’s “Star of Poets.” “Last Will & Testament” will transform the way you look at Shakespeare.

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