Mister Rogers’ Documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” From Academy Award Winner Morgan Neville Acquired By Focus Features

Focus Features has acquired the worldwide rights to Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, the new documentary about the life and work of Mister Fred Rogers. From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom), the documentary is a Focus Features presentation of a Tremolo Production, in association with Impact Partners and Independent Lens/PBS. It is set to be released on June 8, 2018. Focus chairman Peter Kujawski made the announcement today.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? takes an intimate look at America’s favorite neighbor: Mister Fred Rogers. A portrait of a man whom we all think we know, this documentary is an emotional and moving film that takes you beyond zip-up cardigans and the land of make-believe, and into the heart of a creative genius, who inspired generations of children with compassion and limitless imagination.

“Morgan once again avoids making a traditional biodoc and instead takes us behind the curtain to see how Fred Rogers navigated the cultural and social issues of the second half of the twentieth century with his own brand of forward-thinking, compassionate wisdom far beyond his time,” commented Focus chairman Peter Kujawski. “Mister Rogers makes us all want to be better people, and we couldn’t be more proud to be a part of telling his story today.”

“The Fred Rogers I discovered making this film is at once comfortably familiar and completely surprising. I believe Mister Rogers is the kind of voice we need to hear right now,” said director Morgan Neville. “I am thrilled to work with Focus Features on taking this film out into the world, along with my collaborators at Impact Partners and Independent Lens.”

“This is Morgan’s fourth film with Independent Lens, following our Emmy Award-winning collaboration on Best of Enemies,” said Lois Vossen, Independent Lens Executive Producer. “His beautiful new film shows us just how cool Mister Rogers was and how relevant and vital his voice is right now.”

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is produced by Morgan Neville, Caryn Capotosto and Nicholas Ma and is a production of Tremolo Productions in association with Impact Partners and Independent Lens / PBS. The deal was negotiated by Endeavor Content and Judith Karfiol on behalf of the filmmakers.

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Deathstroke Introduced: Joe Manganiello Shares His Charater Pic

By Creative Media Times

Justice League’s second post-credit scene teased ruthless assassin and supervillain Deathstroke, In case you missed it, actor Joe Manganiello (True Blood) shared the first official photo of his character on instagram.

Manganiello’s Slade Wilson aka Deathstoke character was first seen when Ben Affleck posted a grainy test footage to Instagram last year, presumably for his standalone Batman film.

In the D.C. Comics, “Deathstroke the Terminator” is a highly trained master fighter with enhanced strength, speed and durability granted by an experimental serum and has a healing factor that enables him to recover from physical injury faster than a normal humans. He became an assassin highly skilled in various weapons such as swords and firearms and at one point single-handedly took on the entire Justice League.

Spoiler warning. In the intriguing end credits of Justice League, we see the return of Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg), apparently having escaped prison following the events of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and relaxing in a luxurious yacht.

A boat later pulls up and reveals Deathstroke. “Shouldn’t we have a league of our own?” says Lex which seem to reference the formation of fictional supervillain team Injustice League.

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DC’s “Nightwing” Film Holding Open Cast Call For Lead

By Creative Media Times

art by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado


Do you have what it takes to be Nightwing? Well here’s your chance. Director Chris McKay has announced on twitter that there will be an open casting call for the coveted role of Dick Grayson aka Nightwing.

There will be an open casting call but that is like Vegas odds for sure. Don’t leave your career up to chance. Believe in yourself. Bet on yourself. Get an agent or a manager,” posted McKay. “Have an agent or manager submit your work. To the studio. An agent or manager protects you and also is an endorsement of your character. It means you take yourself and your career seriously… and so does someone else.

Earlier this month, McKay hinted that he’s prepping a “crazy good” script that could get pre-production to start next year. He also stated his intention to search “far and wide” in finding his Nightwing, so the director seem to be keeping that intention.

A few fan favorites have been suggested but the director apparently have not committed to anyone. Some of these well known names include Drake Bell, Zac Efron, Dave Franco, Jared Padalecki and Steven R. McQueen among others.

McKay recently directed The LEGO Batman Movie. The release of Nightwing has not yet been dated. It is possible that WB was waiting for how Justice League will perform, but now that the jury is out on the team-up film, its also possible that Nightwing will be its own stand-alone film. We’ll keep an eye on this.

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2018 PGA Best Documentary Feature Nominees Announced

By Creative Media Times

producersguild.org

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced the Documentary Feature nominees and it came with a few surprises.

The list of films (below) advances in the final voting for the 29th Annual Producers Guild Awards presented by Cadillac. The winner will be announced during the Producers Guild Awards ceremony on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.

Visibly missing in the list is “Faces Places,” the acclaimed French documentary which won the L’Œil d’or award (best documentary) at 2017 Cannes Film Festival.

PGA started handing out best documentary feature since 2007. Since then, five documentary films that were honored went on to win the Academy Award Best Documentary Feature including Man on Wire, The Cove, Searching for Sugar Man, Amy and O.J.: Made in America.

Here is the list of films nominated for Outstanding Documentary Motion Picture in alphabetical order:

  • Chasing Coral
  • City of Ghosts
  • Cries from Syria
  • Earth: One Amazing Day
  • Jane
  • Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower
  • The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee

ABOUT THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA (PGA)

The Producers Guild of America is the non-profit trade group that represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and new media. The Producers Guild has more than 8,100 members who work together to protect and improve their careers, the industry and community by providing members with employment opportunities, seeking to expand health benefits, promoting fair and impartial standards for the awarding of producing credits, as well as other education and advocacy efforts such as encouraging sustainable production practices.
http://www.producersguild.org

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Jude Law Joins Captain Marvel

By Armando

photo by Frederic Auerbach


It looks like Captain Marvel has found it’s male lead as Jude Law joins the cast of the film opposite Brie Larson’s title character, Variety reports Wednesday. According the article, Law will be playing Mar-Vell.

In the comics, the character is the original Captain Marvel from an alien race of Kree who later adopted the identity of the recently deceased human scientist Walter Lawson.

While posing as Lawson, he meets and become a mentor to Larson’s U.S. Air Force character Carol Danvers. Her DNA is melded with that of an alien after an explosion of a Kree device. It remains to be seen how much of the character origins from comics will carry over into the film.

Jude Law is currently riding high after being cast as a young Albus Dumbledore earlier this year for the upcoming sequel of another major studio franchise Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He recently appeared this year in Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Its interesting to note that Law previously played a “Captain” character in a comic-book inspired film before as Sky Captain in the 2004 sci-fi action adventure Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

Captain Marvel will be directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson) from a recent script by Geneva Robertson-Dworet. Previous scripts for the film were written by Meg LeFauve and Nicole Perlman.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who is producing the film, announced this summer at SDCC that Captain Marvel will take place in the 90s before the Avengers were established.

Nick Fury, as played by Samuel L. Jackson, is also expected to appear in the film, while Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) will play the villain role.

Captain Marvel is currently slated for a March 8, 2019 release.

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Marvel Announces New WEAPON H Series

Coming this March from Greg Park and Cory Smith

The Weapon X program has done it, at the cost of their own destruction: they’ve completed their biggest and most dangerous experiment yet, a hybrid of Hulk and Wolverine DNA known as WEAPON H. Now, he’s ready to take on the world – and he means business.

Following his debut in TOTALLY AWESOME HULK and WEAPON X’S “Weapon of Mutant Destruction” summer crossover, Marvel is excited to announce that the character will star in a new ongoing series coming in March from Totally Awesome Hulk/Weapon X writer Greg Pak and X-Men: Blue artist Cory Smith.

“Greg Pak wrote one of the biggest and most action packed Hulk stories ever in Planet Hulk…so it only made sense that he brought those same sensibilities to Weapon H,” said series editor Darren Shan. “We’re going to pit him against the biggest threats of the Marvel Universe that you can imagine, starting with a new kind of Wendigo! And then Cory Smith is going to multiply that times ten and smash the hell out of it with his incredible art! Whether you read his first appearance in Weapon X: The Hunt for Weapon H or not, you’re going to find that we only scratched the surface of this bombastic new character.”

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“Call Me By Your Name,” “Get Out,” “Lady Bird” Lead Spirit Awards Noms

By Creative Media Times

Awards season race is upon us and a few leading films are starting to emerge. On Tuesday, nominees for the 33rd annual Independent Spirit Awards were announced and a few familiar films came up on top.

“Call Me By Your Name,” “Get Out,” and “Lady Bird” are a few that will be competing for the top honors of best feature, alongside Sean Baker’s The Florida Project and Chloé Zhao’s The Rider.

Overall, Call Me By Your Name led the pack with six nominations. The coming-of-age romantic drama film from director Luca Guadagnino and written by James Ivory has been receiving plenty of acclaim the past few months particularly for star Timothée Chalamet which is also up for best male lead.

Get Out also solidified it’s status as a serious awards contenter. The horror film from Jordan Peele in his directorial debut received five nominations including one each for Peele’s direction and screenplay. Get Out was a surprise box-office hit earlier this year.

A24’s crime drama Good Time is a major surprise. Starring a reinvented Robert Pattinson, the film received 5 nominations including one for the Twilight actor; though the film itself missed best feature nom.

Dedicated to independent filmmakers, the Spirit Awards require films to be produced in the United States for less than $20 million to qualify.

In the last three years, Spirit Award winners successfully aligned with the eventual Oscar best picture including “Moonlight,” “Spotlight,” and “Birdman.”

“This year’s nominations reflect the range and vitality of artist-driven, independent film. Diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision are the hallmarks of the Film Independent Spirit Awards, and the films this year powerfully embody all those qualities,” Film Independent President Josh Welsh said.

The 2018 Independent Spirit Awards will air live Sunday, March 3, 2018 on IFC and will be hosted by John Mulaney and Nick Kroll. Head over to filmindependent.org to see the full list of nominees, or click here.

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Where Is Wolverine? And What Is His Startling Secret?

The mystery deepens this January

His return to the Marvel Universe was just the beginning, and the Infinity Stone he holds could change everything. Now, the questions begin: Why was he searching for the Infinity Stone? How did he escape his adamantium prison? Where is Wolverine, and what is he hiding?

The answers will begin to unravel in 2018, but fans will catch glimpses of their favorite mutant in special after-credit scenes at the end of key Marvel titles. Appearing in select issues starting in January, some of Marvel’s most acclaimed artists will tease the whereabouts of the adamantium-clawed mutant with tantalizing teaser panels – and it’s all connected.

“Fans have been speculating about Wolverine’s whereabouts since he first reappeared in MARVEL LEGACY #1—and the Marvel Universe is left just as unaware!” teased SVP and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort. “So keep your eyes peeled as Canada’s favorite citizen makes his presence felt in titles all across the Marvel line! It’s all leading to something—but what?”

“Mystery has always been part of Wolverine’s DNA,” added senior editor Mark Paniccia. “He’s one of Marvel’s most interesting and popular characters. Fans are going to have a helluva ride finding out where he’s been and how he came back.”

Continue reading

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2017 American Music Awards Highlights And Winners

By Armando

dick clark productions


It was a night full of great music and stars on Sunday at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles for the 45th annual American Music Awards.

Jamie Fox and his daughter Corinne Foxx opened the show with a powerful tribute to tragedy victims and first responders. “This year, more than perhaps any other in recent history, we needed the power of music to help us escape the news of the day,” said Foxx. “We needed the power of music to help us heal. 2017 was a year that tested our faith. In these moments of crisis, heroes emerged.” Foxx and his daughter were joined by a group of first responders the tragedies that occurred throughout the year.

He then closed with a hopeful message. “For even as we mourn those who are lost, we know this, together our strength will pull us through, together we shall overcome the pain, together we can unite as a people and a nation.”

Pink and Kelly Clarkson took the state in their first ever performance together with an emotional rendition of “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M. During one of the night’s highlights, Pink performed her latest ‘Beautiful Trauma’ while hanging from the side of the high-rise JW Marriott Hotel alongside acrobatic dancers. Prior to the performance, Pink stated on her Instagram during rehearsals that the gravity-defying performance is making her nervous. “This is by far the craziest, most insane thing I’ve ever attempted to do,” Pink said. “This is the first time that I’ve ever panicked.”

Legendary singer Diana Ross made a rare appearance to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award. Barack and Michelle Obama and Taylor Swift delivered their message via videos. “You have paved the way for everyone who does what we do now, including me, so thank you,” says Swift.

The iconic former lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes performed some of her hits “I’m Coming Out” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” among others. “This is all about love. This says it all. This is my family. And I’m sending love out there to all of you, each and every one of you, of our global family. I feel so humbled by this,” says Ross while accepting the award.

The night also saw performances from Selena Gomez with Marshmello on drums, Lady Gaga performing from her show in Washington, D.C., Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, Christina Aguilera, Niall Horan, Macklemore and Skylar Grey, Alessia Cara with Zedd on the piano, K-pop boy band BTS, Shawn Mendes, and Portugal. The Man, as well as collaborations from Imagine Dragons and Khalid, Hailee Steinfeld with Alesso, Andrew Watt and Florida Georgia Line, and Bebe Rexha with Florida Georgia Line.

Here’s the list of the night’s big winners:

Artist of the year:
Bruno Mars

New artist of the year presented by T-mobile:
Niall Horan

Collaboration of the year presented by Xfinity:
“Despacito” Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber

Tour of the year:
Coldplay

Favorite female artist — pop rock:
Lady Gaga

Favorite duo or group — pop/rock:
Imagine Dragons

For a full list of winners, head over to: theamas.com

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Dwayne Johnson Back In Action In New ‘Rampage’ Trailer

By Creative Media Times

Warner Bros. Pictures


Giant monster animals are on the loose wrecking havoc and its up to Dawyne Johnson to save the world in the first official trailer for Warner Bros/New Line’s action adventure “Rampage.”

The film is directed by Brad Peyton who was responsible for Johnson’s another massive blockbuster San Andreas, which raked in $473 million worldwide.

Set to “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” by the Smashing Pumpkins, the trailer features a gorilla named George who starts growing into a monster size after a scientific experiment gone wrong. Soon after a giant wolf and a giant lizard shows up and all three stomped all over Chicago and starts destroying cities. The mutated giant animals duke it out as David (Johnson) attempt to deliver antidote.

Based on the epic visuals on display in the trailer, there’s good reason to believe this will be another monster hit for the team after the trailer was trending at number one in youtube after it release.

From the story by Ryan Engle, who wrote the screenplay with Carlton Cuse, Ryan J. Condal and Adam Sztykiel, the film also stars Naomie Harris, Malin Åkerman, Joe Manganiello, Jake Lacy, Marley Shelton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. The film is based on a classic 1980s arcade video game of the same title.

Rampage is slated for release on April 20, 2018.

Here is the film’s synopsis courtesy of Warner Bros:

Primatologist Davis Okoye (Johnson), a man who keeps people at a distance, shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla who has been in his care since birth. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size. To make matters worse, it’s soon discovered there are other similarly altered animals. As these newly created alpha predators tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend.

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