Anthony Daniels has been stirringly loyal to the "Star Wars" media empire ever since its inception in 1977. Daniels played the prissy, cowardly droid C-3Po, an automaton built to aid in translation and matters of diplomacy. Curiously, he was programmed to flee from danger, and frequently comments on how his carbon-based compatriots are reckless and foolhardy. He may have a point, as C-3Po is dismembered and reassembled several times throughout "Star Wars" history.
Daniels has appeared inside the droid costume, or at least provided the voice for C-3Po in 14 feature films, not all of them "Star Wars" related. He played the part in "The Lego Movie," for instance. He also voice the popular droid in "The Star Wars Holiday Special," appeared on both "The Muppet Show" and "Sesame Street," starred in the animated series "Droids," and acted in over a dozen "Star Wars" and "Lego Star Wars" video games.
Daniels has appeared inside the droid costume, or at least provided the voice for C-3Po in 14 feature films, not all of them "Star Wars" related. He played the part in "The Lego Movie," for instance. He also voice the popular droid in "The Star Wars Holiday Special," appeared on both "The Muppet Show" and "Sesame Street," starred in the animated series "Droids," and acted in over a dozen "Star Wars" and "Lego Star Wars" video games.
- 2/10/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The Academy picked the right year to give an Honorary Oscar to film editor Carol Littleton. They’re saluting a female editor at a time when three of the year’s major awards contenders —“Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Oppenheimer” and “Maestro” — are edited by Thelma Schoonmaker, Jennifer Lame and Michelle Tesoro, respectively, and when other women in the mix include Hilda Rasula for “American Fiction,” Victoria Boydell for “Saltburn,” Sarah Flack for “Priscilla” and co-editors Claire Simpson (with Sam Restivo) for “Napoleon” and Oona Flaherty (with Nick Moore) for “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.”
“The Editors Guild has about 2,900 picture editors, and 764 women,” said Littleton, a one-time president of that guild. “That’s about a fourth. So isn’t it interesting that these three big prestigious films, ‘Oppenheimer,’ and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and ‘Maestro,’ are edited by women?”
If all three are nominated for Oscars...
“The Editors Guild has about 2,900 picture editors, and 764 women,” said Littleton, a one-time president of that guild. “That’s about a fourth. So isn’t it interesting that these three big prestigious films, ‘Oppenheimer,’ and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and ‘Maestro,’ are edited by women?”
If all three are nominated for Oscars...
- 12/29/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Synopsis
After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills (Adam Driver) quickly discovers he’s actually stranded on Earth…65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa (Ariana Greenblatt), must make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures in an epic fight to survive. From the writers of A Quiet Place comes 65, a sci-fi thriller produced by Sam Raimi, Deborah Liebling, Zainab Azizi, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.
Special Features
4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, Digital, And DVD
• Deleted & Extended Scenes
• Creating the world of 65
• Primordial Planet
• Final Showdown: Concepts to screen
• And more!
Cast And Crew
Written and Directed By: Scott Beck & Bryan Woods
Produced By: Sam Raimi, Deborah Liebling, Zainab Azizi, Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Executive Producers: Maryann Brandon, Doug Merrifield, Jason Cloth, Aaron L. Gilbert
Cast: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt
Specs
Run Time: Approx.
After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills (Adam Driver) quickly discovers he’s actually stranded on Earth…65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa (Ariana Greenblatt), must make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures in an epic fight to survive. From the writers of A Quiet Place comes 65, a sci-fi thriller produced by Sam Raimi, Deborah Liebling, Zainab Azizi, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.
Special Features
4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, Digital, And DVD
• Deleted & Extended Scenes
• Creating the world of 65
• Primordial Planet
• Final Showdown: Concepts to screen
• And more!
Cast And Crew
Written and Directed By: Scott Beck & Bryan Woods
Produced By: Sam Raimi, Deborah Liebling, Zainab Azizi, Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Executive Producers: Maryann Brandon, Doug Merrifield, Jason Cloth, Aaron L. Gilbert
Cast: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt
Specs
Run Time: Approx.
- 5/6/2023
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Scott Beck and Bryan Woods made quite the name for themselves when "A Quiet Place" hit theaters in 2018. As the writers of the film, they had a massive hit on their hands, and one that has gone on to spawn an entire franchise. But they've since moved on to directing as well, with their latest movie an equally ambitious sci-fi feature in the form of "65." Starring Adam Driver in the lead role, the duo finally gave modern audiences a big dinosaur movie that was divorced from the "Jurassic Park" franchise (read our review here). And for those who would like to see that action unfold on their TV from the comfort of home, we've got some good news for you.
The film in question is arriving on Digital this month, meaning it will be available in just a few clicks following its theatrical run. Additionally, the movie will be coming to Blu-ray,...
The film in question is arriving on Digital this month, meaning it will be available in just a few clicks following its theatrical run. Additionally, the movie will be coming to Blu-ray,...
- 5/2/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Adam Driver-starring sci-fi adventure film “65” has been approved for theatrical release in mainland China. It will hit cinemas on March 31, some three weeks after the film began to release in other international territories.
The film is branded as a Columbia Pictures title and will be released by the Sony label in most territories. In China, however, all revenue-sharing import titles are officially handled by a state-owned enterprise. The Hollywood studio’s Chinese office theoretically operates in an advisory capacity, though in practice it is likely to be involved in marketing strategy and p&a decisions.
The film has a survival-quest narrative. After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills (Driver) quickly discovers he’s actually stranded on Earth some 65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa (Ariana Greenblatt), must make their way across an unknown terrain...
The film is branded as a Columbia Pictures title and will be released by the Sony label in most territories. In China, however, all revenue-sharing import titles are officially handled by a state-owned enterprise. The Hollywood studio’s Chinese office theoretically operates in an advisory capacity, though in practice it is likely to be involved in marketing strategy and p&a decisions.
The film has a survival-quest narrative. After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills (Driver) quickly discovers he’s actually stranded on Earth some 65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa (Ariana Greenblatt), must make their way across an unknown terrain...
- 3/8/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The latest offering from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Thor: Love and Thunder, also signifies the fourth stand-alone film for the character (the most for any character). While it proves wildly entertaining and engaging for most of its running time, the film finds itself caught a bit too much in the whimsical nature of its subject and ends up a little too light on the story side of the ledger.
In Thor: Love and Thunder, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) embarks on an epic journey for inner peace. However, his retirement is halted when Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) arrives seeking to extinguish all of the gods from the universe. In an effort to defeat this new foe, Thor joins forces with King Valkryie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi), and his former flame Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who now possesses the magical hammer Mjolnir.
Working from a script by himself and...
In Thor: Love and Thunder, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) embarks on an epic journey for inner peace. However, his retirement is halted when Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) arrives seeking to extinguish all of the gods from the universe. In an effort to defeat this new foe, Thor joins forces with King Valkryie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi), and his former flame Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who now possesses the magical hammer Mjolnir.
Working from a script by himself and...
- 7/8/2022
- by Mike Tyrkus
- CinemaNerdz
Pixar’s “Lightyear” (which is now playing exclusively in theaters) serves as the big screen sci-fi adventure that eventually led to the toy that Andy was gifted at the start of the first “Toy Story”. It expands the “Toy Story” universe in surprising and meaningful ways. And introduces us to an all-time Pixar sidekick in the form of his robotic cat pal Sox.
In “Lightyear,” Buzz (now voiced by Chris Evans) is an intrepid Space Ranger who, driven by ego and a truly righteous sense of self, accidentally maroons his fellow space travelers on a harsh world full of treacherous vines and creepy bug creatures. Determined to figure out a way off the planet, he attempts to crack lightspeed travel and finds himself in a strange loop – each time he makes a test flight, he returns to the planet a few minutes later but several years have passed. As a...
In “Lightyear,” Buzz (now voiced by Chris Evans) is an intrepid Space Ranger who, driven by ego and a truly righteous sense of self, accidentally maroons his fellow space travelers on a harsh world full of treacherous vines and creepy bug creatures. Determined to figure out a way off the planet, he attempts to crack lightspeed travel and finds himself in a strange loop – each time he makes a test flight, he returns to the planet a few minutes later but several years have passed. As a...
- 6/22/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Last December’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was the divisive final entry in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, and it also marked the final entry in the 9-film Skywalker Saga that began way back in 1977. Though it may have left many feeling underwhelmed or disappointed by its overall arc, it nevertheless succeeded at closing decades’ worth of story threads while presenting fans with an open-ended reminder that there are still plenty of stories left to be told within the franchise’s massive universe.
More disappointing for some, however, was that the Blu-ray and DVD release of the film lacked commentary from director J.J. Abrams and contained no deleted scenes, something that clearly resulted from copious amounts of script rewrites and reshoots that plagued the production from the very beginning.
But that’s not to say that the film didn’t include plenty of cut content, though, as there...
More disappointing for some, however, was that the Blu-ray and DVD release of the film lacked commentary from director J.J. Abrams and contained no deleted scenes, something that clearly resulted from copious amounts of script rewrites and reshoots that plagued the production from the very beginning.
But that’s not to say that the film didn’t include plenty of cut content, though, as there...
- 5/15/2020
- by Billy Givens
- We Got This Covered
The outrage over Rian Johnson’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” just won’t go away. On a recent episode of the “Light the Fuse” podcast (via CinemaBlend), J.J. Abrams’ longtime editor Mary Jo Markey shared her belief that “The Last Jedi” made conscious storytelling decisions that undid the narrative setups made in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which Abrams directed and Markey co-edited with frequent collaborator Maryann Brandon. Abrams returned to direct last year’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” which Markey defended against claims it retcons Johnson’s “Last Jedi.” Markey did not edit “Rise of Skywalker,” but her career with Abrams also includes “Mission: Impossible III,” “Star Trek,” and “Star Trek Into Darkness.” Markey was Oscar nominated for her work on “The Force Awakens.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Markey said when the conversation turned to Johnson’s “Last Jedi” script “undoing” Abrams’ “Force Awakens” story. “It...
“I couldn’t agree more,” Markey said when the conversation turned to Johnson’s “Last Jedi” script “undoing” Abrams’ “Force Awakens” story. “It...
- 4/9/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
It’s really awe-inspiring to see that even with the world on fire, Star Wars: The Last Jedi continues to be a topic of hot debate among the fandom of the galaxy far, far away.
If The Rise of Skywalker manipulated our feelings through nostalgia and fan-service moments and ultimately turned out to be a mediocre finale to the Skywalker Saga, then The Last Jedi is the evil twin that backtracked from everything J.J. Abrams set up in The Force Awakens and centered the entirety of its plot around subverting expectations. Some would even argue that the producers decided to play it safe with Episode IX merely because Rian took the franchise in such a bold and controversial direction.
But regardless of what you believe or how you feel about these movies, it’s an undeniable fact that Disney’s Sequel Trilogy didn’t exactly turn out as one coherent...
If The Rise of Skywalker manipulated our feelings through nostalgia and fan-service moments and ultimately turned out to be a mediocre finale to the Skywalker Saga, then The Last Jedi is the evil twin that backtracked from everything J.J. Abrams set up in The Force Awakens and centered the entirety of its plot around subverting expectations. Some would even argue that the producers decided to play it safe with Episode IX merely because Rian took the franchise in such a bold and controversial direction.
But regardless of what you believe or how you feel about these movies, it’s an undeniable fact that Disney’s Sequel Trilogy didn’t exactly turn out as one coherent...
- 4/8/2020
- by Jonathan Wright
- We Got This Covered
It’s been almost four months since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was released, closing the book on Disney’s “Sequel Trilogy” that began in 2015, as well as the overarching “Skywalker Saga” that comprises nearly every Star Wars movie since 1977. To say that the results were divisive is an understatement. Despite grossing more than $1 billion, the film was met with a tepid critical reception and continued online fan discord that began with 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
So it shouldn’t be surprising that a new narrative is emerging around the Sequel Trilogy about what went wrong or who is to blame for a general dissatisfaction with the overall effect of the three movies. In this context, film editors Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey were put in the unenviable position of discussing their thoughts of The Last Jedi while appearing on the Mission: Impossible podcast, Light the Fuse.
So it shouldn’t be surprising that a new narrative is emerging around the Sequel Trilogy about what went wrong or who is to blame for a general dissatisfaction with the overall effect of the three movies. In this context, film editors Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey were put in the unenviable position of discussing their thoughts of The Last Jedi while appearing on the Mission: Impossible podcast, Light the Fuse.
- 4/7/2020
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
This Star Wars article contains spoilers.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was polarizing, to say the least, and fans have pored and debated over its plot twists and script for the past few months. Revealing that Rey is a Palpatine in the tradition of Luke Skywalker’s reveal as Darth Vader’s son was just one of the strange and surprising elements. And it left more questions than answers in the end.
The novelization, marketed as an “Expanded Edition” of the movie’s story, elaborates on Emperor Palpatine’s plan and the movie’s central relationship. Carrie Fisher’s role in the movie was limited by her passing, but author Rae Carson had more flexibility than the filmmakers did with the character.
Here some of are the additions, explanations, and interpretations added in the novel that will expand what you already know about the movie:
Palpatine Is a Clone...
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was polarizing, to say the least, and fans have pored and debated over its plot twists and script for the past few months. Revealing that Rey is a Palpatine in the tradition of Luke Skywalker’s reveal as Darth Vader’s son was just one of the strange and surprising elements. And it left more questions than answers in the end.
The novelization, marketed as an “Expanded Edition” of the movie’s story, elaborates on Emperor Palpatine’s plan and the movie’s central relationship. Carrie Fisher’s role in the movie was limited by her passing, but author Rae Carson had more flexibility than the filmmakers did with the character.
Here some of are the additions, explanations, and interpretations added in the novel that will expand what you already know about the movie:
Palpatine Is a Clone...
- 3/18/2020
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
One of the most hotly discussed aspects of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker has to be the controversial kiss between Jedi hero Rey and former leader of the First Order, Ben Solo.
Taking place near the tail-end of the film, the two central protagonists manage to steal a cheeky smooch just seconds before Ben bites the dust in Rey’s loving arms. While it’s a touchingly poignant moment of downtime set against a backdrop of breakneck action spectacle, some fans have dismissed this “Reylo” romance due to the prickly and abusive nature at the heart of their fraught relationship.
Interestingly, during a recent interview with The Huffington Post, the pic’s editor, Maryann Brandon, was asked about the specific thought process behind the divisive kiss and funnily enough, it turns out that it wasn’t actually what the studio had planned from the beginning of development.
I always said,...
Taking place near the tail-end of the film, the two central protagonists manage to steal a cheeky smooch just seconds before Ben bites the dust in Rey’s loving arms. While it’s a touchingly poignant moment of downtime set against a backdrop of breakneck action spectacle, some fans have dismissed this “Reylo” romance due to the prickly and abusive nature at the heart of their fraught relationship.
Interestingly, during a recent interview with The Huffington Post, the pic’s editor, Maryann Brandon, was asked about the specific thought process behind the divisive kiss and funnily enough, it turns out that it wasn’t actually what the studio had planned from the beginning of development.
I always said,...
- 3/7/2020
- by Dylan Chaundy
- We Got This Covered
Just like every major blockbuster before it, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker circled back into production late in the game to film some reshoots and pick-ups.
Of the additional photography, it turns out three pretty significant scenes were added into Episode IX, as the film’s editor Maryann Brandon told Art of the Cut (h/t Collider). Brandon, who edited The Rise of Skywalker alongside Stefan Grube, confirmed that reshoots began in July 2019, where the cast and crew reunited for a couple of weeks.
During that time, Abrams and his team “added some dialogue” and a “couple of very small emotional moments” to help tie everything together. One such scene involved Luke and Rey on Ahch-To, though Brandon is quick to note that “nothing major” was changed, so we imagine this last-minute tinkering brought about some reworked dialogue, rather than a new scene entirely.
The scene on the island with Luke,...
Of the additional photography, it turns out three pretty significant scenes were added into Episode IX, as the film’s editor Maryann Brandon told Art of the Cut (h/t Collider). Brandon, who edited The Rise of Skywalker alongside Stefan Grube, confirmed that reshoots began in July 2019, where the cast and crew reunited for a couple of weeks.
During that time, Abrams and his team “added some dialogue” and a “couple of very small emotional moments” to help tie everything together. One such scene involved Luke and Rey on Ahch-To, though Brandon is quick to note that “nothing major” was changed, so we imagine this last-minute tinkering brought about some reworked dialogue, rather than a new scene entirely.
The scene on the island with Luke,...
- 1/6/2020
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
One of the most surprising moments in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker wasn’t when Kylo Ren redeemed himself and helped Rey defeat Emperor Palpatine – his grandpappy Vader did much the same thing at the end of the Original Trilogy – but rather when the heroine and the former villain locked lips after their victory. The “Reylo” kiss wasn’t always set in stone, however, and was almost left on the cutting room floor.
Editor Maryann Brandon recently spoke to Huffington Post for an in-depth interview on how Episode IX came together. And one thing she touches on was this romantic scene between Rey and Ben Solo, formally Kylo. Brandon explained that the kiss take nearly didn’t make it in but it was ultimately felt that the story needed this moment between the pair.
“I always said, ‘The movie will tell us whether they should kiss or not. We...
Editor Maryann Brandon recently spoke to Huffington Post for an in-depth interview on how Episode IX came together. And one thing she touches on was this romantic scene between Rey and Ben Solo, formally Kylo. Brandon explained that the kiss take nearly didn’t make it in but it was ultimately felt that the story needed this moment between the pair.
“I always said, ‘The movie will tell us whether they should kiss or not. We...
- 1/6/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
After an anonymous Reddit user posted this week alleging that the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” was subjected to significant studio meddling, fans ran with the conspiracy theory and urged Disney to #ReleaseTheJJCut in a bid to bring to light a director’s cut from J.J. Abrams.
Now, “Star Wars” actor Dominic Monaghan has indirectly added fuel to those rumors when he suggested in a recent interview “there was so much stuff” left on the cutting room floor (via The Hollywood Reporter). However, Monaghan, who plays Beaumont Kin, didn’t directly address the conspiracy in the wide-ranging THR interview published Friday.
“Like a lot of ‘Star Wars’ fans, I’m hoping there will be a director’s cut so we’ll get to see more and more of the stuff that was filmed,” he said. “I wasn’t there all the time, but...
Now, “Star Wars” actor Dominic Monaghan has indirectly added fuel to those rumors when he suggested in a recent interview “there was so much stuff” left on the cutting room floor (via The Hollywood Reporter). However, Monaghan, who plays Beaumont Kin, didn’t directly address the conspiracy in the wide-ranging THR interview published Friday.
“Like a lot of ‘Star Wars’ fans, I’m hoping there will be a director’s cut so we’ll get to see more and more of the stuff that was filmed,” he said. “I wasn’t there all the time, but...
- 1/5/2020
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
It may have been released three weeks ago, but in case you hadn’t noticed, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is still generating plenty of discussion, debate and controversy. As would be expected from the ninth and final installment of one of the biggest and most beloved pop culture brands in history, that has a rabid and dedicated fanbase that stretches back over 40 years, not everyone was overly-enthusiastic about how The Rise of Skywalker turned out.
Director J.J. Abrams knew what he was getting himself into when he agreed to replace Colin Trevorrow and return to the Star Wars franchise, especially given the overwhelming backlash to previous chapter The Last Jedi, and even admitted in interviews leading up to the movie’s release that it wouldn’t please everyone.
That turned out to be an understatement, so much so that The Last Jedi is now being reappraised by fans...
Director J.J. Abrams knew what he was getting himself into when he agreed to replace Colin Trevorrow and return to the Star Wars franchise, especially given the overwhelming backlash to previous chapter The Last Jedi, and even admitted in interviews leading up to the movie’s release that it wouldn’t please everyone.
That turned out to be an understatement, so much so that The Last Jedi is now being reappraised by fans...
- 1/4/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
After much speculation about the ins and outs of his return, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker didn’t actually provide many answers on how exactly Emperor Palpatine is alive again come the beginning of Episode IX. Darth Sidious is simply established to have come back somehow in the opening crawl, with the villain’s only tease at the method of his resurrection coming when he quotes himself from Revenge of the Sith.
So, why was Palpatine’s return left so ambiguous? This is what Huffington Post asked the movie’s editor Maryann Brandon and she explained that there was originally much more clarity on the matter before the exposition was continually cut down in order to avoid overloading the audience. In fact, Brandon admitted that Palpatine’s introductory scenes were “tricky” to crack, adding:
“It was kind of a delicate balance and went back and forth a lot about...
So, why was Palpatine’s return left so ambiguous? This is what Huffington Post asked the movie’s editor Maryann Brandon and she explained that there was originally much more clarity on the matter before the exposition was continually cut down in order to avoid overloading the audience. In fact, Brandon admitted that Palpatine’s introductory scenes were “tricky” to crack, adding:
“It was kind of a delicate balance and went back and forth a lot about...
- 1/3/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ended up as a bit of a damp squib. Spooked by the reaction to The Last Jedi, Disney and Lucasfilm made the disastrous decision to walk back the major character and thematic elements of the previous movie. This resulted in a confusing, poorly plotted film that felt like it was going out of its way to pander to what they assumed fans want.
One of the biggest casualties in this was Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico. She was one of the major players in The Last Jedi, with a future romance with Finn heavily telegraphed. However, when our heroes invited her on the adventure, she explained that she had the space fantasy equivalent of homework to do, studying the plans of Star Destroyers. She then proceeded to practically vanish from the movie, only popping up for a couple of shots in the final battle.
One of the biggest casualties in this was Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico. She was one of the major players in The Last Jedi, with a future romance with Finn heavily telegraphed. However, when our heroes invited her on the adventure, she explained that she had the space fantasy equivalent of homework to do, studying the plans of Star Destroyers. She then proceeded to practically vanish from the movie, only popping up for a couple of shots in the final battle.
- 1/3/2020
- by David James
- We Got This Covered
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has been in theaters for nearly three weeks now and with that comes behind the scenes stories from the filmmakers who made it. Some, like screenwriter Chris Terrio, should maybe stop talking, but one person from the production process who isn’t often heard from is the editor.
Possibly the most important job on any film, the editor takes all of the pieces given to them from the director and molds and shapes the movie to the director and studio’s vision. And perhaps no editor was under more pressure to deliver than Maryann Brandon.
Of course, a major aspect to the newest Star Wars trilogy was the friendship between Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Isaac). What seemed like a platonic relationship at first quickly became something else to many fans. But in a recent interview, Brandon admits that she never really saw...
Possibly the most important job on any film, the editor takes all of the pieces given to them from the director and molds and shapes the movie to the director and studio’s vision. And perhaps no editor was under more pressure to deliver than Maryann Brandon.
Of course, a major aspect to the newest Star Wars trilogy was the friendship between Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Isaac). What seemed like a platonic relationship at first quickly became something else to many fans. But in a recent interview, Brandon admits that she never really saw...
- 1/3/2020
- by Ryan Beltram
- We Got This Covered
The return of Emperor Palpatine in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” has been met with a polarized response from fans and film critics. Anyone wondering how the villainous Sith lord stayed alive after being seemingly killed by Darth Vader in 1983’s “Return of the Jedi” does not get any answers in “Rise of Skywalker.” The film begins and it is openly accepted by nearly everyone in the galaxy that Palpatine is back. The opening crawl reads: “The dead speak! The galaxy has heard a mysterious broadcast, a threat of revenge in the sinister voice of the late Emperor Palpatine.” That’s about as much as J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio’s “Rise of Skywalker” script gives fans in terms of explaining the Sith Lord’s return.
In a new interview with HuffPost, “Rise of Skywalker” editor Maryann Brandon confirms that the explanation about how Palpatine survived and/or came...
In a new interview with HuffPost, “Rise of Skywalker” editor Maryann Brandon confirms that the explanation about how Palpatine survived and/or came...
- 1/3/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Today’s challenge, find something new to say about Emperor Palpatine’s return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Tough, very tough. How many angles are left? After all, I’ve already covered the endless tit-for-tat over exactly who decided to bring him back, who didn’t want him back and who wouldn’t have brought him back. Some say it was J.J., some say it was Kathleen, and most say it definitely wasn’t George Lucas. All rather exhaustive.
Let’s leave the why out for a second, though. What was never substantially explained in the movie was how Emperor Palpatine made his surprising and rather arch Star Wars comeback. But Rise of Skywalker editor Maryann Brandon has now elaborated on that point.
In a new interview with The Huffington Post, Brandon explained that the production team had originally intended to flesh out the reasons for Papa...
Let’s leave the why out for a second, though. What was never substantially explained in the movie was how Emperor Palpatine made his surprising and rather arch Star Wars comeback. But Rise of Skywalker editor Maryann Brandon has now elaborated on that point.
In a new interview with The Huffington Post, Brandon explained that the production team had originally intended to flesh out the reasons for Papa...
- 1/3/2020
- by Alex Crisp
- We Got This Covered
Most critics agree that “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is a disappointing finale to the nine-film Skywalker saga, and many have been wondering since the film’s December 20 release whether or not it would have been stronger had the production been given more time to breathe. While appearing on “The Rough Cut” podcast (via The Playlist), “Rise of Skywalker” editor Maryann Brandon admitted the film’s production was rushed, which made for a challenging editing process. Brandon is “Rise of Skywalker” director J.J. Abrams’ longtime editor, having worked with him on TV’s “Alias,” plus “Mission: Impossible III,” “Star Trek,” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” among other projects.
“We were definitely still trying to figure out a lot of stuff,” Brandon said about the sped-up editing process. “It’s a struggle. It affected everything. About a third of the way through, [Lucasfilm president] Kathy [Kennedy] was like, ‘JJ...
“We were definitely still trying to figure out a lot of stuff,” Brandon said about the sped-up editing process. “It’s a struggle. It affected everything. About a third of the way through, [Lucasfilm president] Kathy [Kennedy] was like, ‘JJ...
- 1/2/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has provided a controversial conclusion to the Skywalker saga. Fans have scanned scenes for everything from symbolic showpieces to Easter eggs, and some have even begun to critique the editing of the film itself.
One specific scene involving Rey and Kylo Ren has given rise to inquisitive minds considering that the speed of some shots was reversed. The simple editing technique of reversing footage has been used in the making of previous Star Wars films and was frequently employed in the now-laughable sci-fi flicks of yesteryear like Lost in Space and even Star Trek: Tos. Despite this fan theory though, editor Maryann Brandon told ComicBook.com that the sequence under scrutiny does not use such an editing technique.
If you’ll recall, at one point we find Rey and Kylo Ren clashing with the Sith Lord Palpatine amid the movie’s most intense battle sequence.
One specific scene involving Rey and Kylo Ren has given rise to inquisitive minds considering that the speed of some shots was reversed. The simple editing technique of reversing footage has been used in the making of previous Star Wars films and was frequently employed in the now-laughable sci-fi flicks of yesteryear like Lost in Space and even Star Trek: Tos. Despite this fan theory though, editor Maryann Brandon told ComicBook.com that the sequence under scrutiny does not use such an editing technique.
If you’ll recall, at one point we find Rey and Kylo Ren clashing with the Sith Lord Palpatine amid the movie’s most intense battle sequence.
- 12/31/2019
- by John Tuttle
- We Got This Covered
Director J.J. Abrams has long had a diverse range of credits to his name. Prior to his glitzy blockbuster reboots of Star Trek and Star Wars he was perhaps best known for his work on TV. And one of those small screen projects, the Jennifer Garner-fronted action thriller Alias, has apparently been floated by Abrams for a potential reboot.
At least, that’s according to his collaborator and editor Maryann Brandon. Speaking with Awards Daily, Brandon was effusive about any prospective reboot for the series, confirming that she and Abrams have discussed the possibility:
“We’ve talked about it. I’ve often asked him about it, and he’ll say, ‘Yeah, maybe.’ I have no insight whatsoever other than that. I mean, I love Jennifer Garner. She’s extremely good at what she does and so I would be happy if they did reboot it.”
Hm. Not the cast-iron...
At least, that’s according to his collaborator and editor Maryann Brandon. Speaking with Awards Daily, Brandon was effusive about any prospective reboot for the series, confirming that she and Abrams have discussed the possibility:
“We’ve talked about it. I’ve often asked him about it, and he’ll say, ‘Yeah, maybe.’ I have no insight whatsoever other than that. I mean, I love Jennifer Garner. She’s extremely good at what she does and so I would be happy if they did reboot it.”
Hm. Not the cast-iron...
- 12/17/2019
- by Alex Crisp
- We Got This Covered
The interstellar, multi-generational saga of House Skywalker reaches its concluding and (hopefully) climatic chapter with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the ninth installment in the space opera that has captivated moviegoers since the Carter Administration. The mega-release from Disney’s Lucasfilm and director/producer/co-writer J.J. Abrams premieres tonight and the live-stream will be available above beginning at 5:30 p.m. Pt/ 8:30 p.m. Et.
The PG-13 fantasy film opens in U.S. theaters on Dec. 20. At tonight’s premiere Abrams will join Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Michelle Rejwan, executive producers Callum Greene and Jason McGatlin at the splashy premiere. Also on hand: composer John Williams, co-writer Chris Terrio, director of photography Dan Mindel, production designer Rick Carter, costume designer Michael Kaplan and editors Maryann Brandon and Stefan Grube.
The film’s cast members are expected to be on hand, including Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver,...
The PG-13 fantasy film opens in U.S. theaters on Dec. 20. At tonight’s premiere Abrams will join Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Michelle Rejwan, executive producers Callum Greene and Jason McGatlin at the splashy premiere. Also on hand: composer John Williams, co-writer Chris Terrio, director of photography Dan Mindel, production designer Rick Carter, costume designer Michael Kaplan and editors Maryann Brandon and Stefan Grube.
The film’s cast members are expected to be on hand, including Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver,...
- 12/17/2019
- by Geoff Boucher
- Deadline Film + TV
Few fandoms are as passionate as those who love “Star Wars” — a franchise that spans multiple media, including movies, books and theme parks. Editor Maryann Brandon, an Oscar nominee for her work on “Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens,” returned to the galaxy once more for “Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker.” This time, she worked with co-editor Stefan Grube.
The movie presented a complex task for the team in balancing what audiences already know about the characters with what still needed explained.
“For instance, there’s the idea that [the characters are] always being chased by somebody,” says Brandon. “They know that. We all know that. You don’t have to say, ‘Let’s get out of here. So-and-so is after us.’”
Additionally, there’s also the danger of keeping unnecessary bits since audiences know the characters well. “Sometimes you can kill a scene if you put in too much,...
The movie presented a complex task for the team in balancing what audiences already know about the characters with what still needed explained.
“For instance, there’s the idea that [the characters are] always being chased by somebody,” says Brandon. “They know that. We all know that. You don’t have to say, ‘Let’s get out of here. So-and-so is after us.’”
Additionally, there’s also the danger of keeping unnecessary bits since audiences know the characters well. “Sometimes you can kill a scene if you put in too much,...
- 12/10/2019
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Maryann Brandon is the resident editor on the upcoming Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and after working on 2015’s The Force Awakens, she and J.J. Abrams had a new challenge in this film that caused them to make a bit of an adjustment that ended up being a welcome change for everyone.
In a recent report from the British site Express, Brandon spoke about the process of editing the film on a shorter schedule. It was revealed that they actually edited the film while the film was being shot on the set! Here’s what she had to say:
“I did this thing on cutting Rise of Skywalker - and we have a very short schedule.
“When we did The Force Awakens we started in May and we finished shooting in October, and we were out [the following] Christmas.
“For this film, we didn’t start until August, so we weren...
In a recent report from the British site Express, Brandon spoke about the process of editing the film on a shorter schedule. It was revealed that they actually edited the film while the film was being shot on the set! Here’s what she had to say:
“I did this thing on cutting Rise of Skywalker - and we have a very short schedule.
“When we did The Force Awakens we started in May and we finished shooting in October, and we were out [the following] Christmas.
“For this film, we didn’t start until August, so we weren...
- 6/11/2019
- by Jessica Fisher
- GeekTyrant
The Newport Beach Film Festival, which kicks off April 24 and continues through April 27, will honor five talented artists who will be on hand to accept their awards. The event kicks off opening night with the West Coast premiere of Sundance indie hit “Luce,” a provocative racial drama from director Julius Onah starring Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Tim Roth and rising star Kelvin Harrison Jr. The fest closes with the world premiere of “Part of Water,” a documentary about local lifeguard hero Ben Carlson who lost his life saving a drowning swimmer in 2014.
Between those bookends, Nbff screens the Ted Bundy crime drama “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,” starring Zac Efron as the notorious serial killer; “Official Secrets,” Gavin Hood’s political thriller starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes; and the world premiere of “The Tony Alva Story,” which chronicles the life of the skateboarding legend.
The fest and Vans...
Between those bookends, Nbff screens the Ted Bundy crime drama “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,” starring Zac Efron as the notorious serial killer; “Official Secrets,” Gavin Hood’s political thriller starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes; and the world premiere of “The Tony Alva Story,” which chronicles the life of the skateboarding legend.
The fest and Vans...
- 4/24/2019
- by Iain Blair
- Variety Film + TV
Roster includes feature directorial debut by Star Wars: Episode IX co-editor.
J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, whose World War Two horror Overlord debuted at number three in the North American charts last weekend, has bulked up its production slate with six projects from a crop of up-and-coming filmmakers.
The roster includes The Steps, which is based on an original idea by first-time director Stefan Grube and described as a twist on a possession story. Blair Butler will write the screenplay.
Grube is currently working as an editor alongside Maryann Brandon on Star Wars: Episode IX for Disney, Lucasfilm and Bad Robot,...
J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, whose World War Two horror Overlord debuted at number three in the North American charts last weekend, has bulked up its production slate with six projects from a crop of up-and-coming filmmakers.
The roster includes The Steps, which is based on an original idea by first-time director Stefan Grube and described as a twist on a possession story. Blair Butler will write the screenplay.
Grube is currently working as an editor alongside Maryann Brandon on Star Wars: Episode IX for Disney, Lucasfilm and Bad Robot,...
- 11/14/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
As filming begins in just a few days, Lucasfilm has announced the cast and crew for Star Wars: Episode IX including details on how they'll handle Princess Leia's return. Come inside to learn more!
The final installment in the Skywalker Saga begins filming, with Jj Abrams at the helm, on August 1st. Coming just ahead of production starting, Lfl has released a cast list for the new and returning members who will show up on the big screen next December.
Returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie, Keri Russell, and Richard E. Grant, who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.
Billy Dee Williams is officially back!
The final installment in the Skywalker Saga begins filming, with Jj Abrams at the helm, on August 1st. Coming just ahead of production starting, Lfl has released a cast list for the new and returning members who will show up on the big screen next December.
Returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie, Keri Russell, and Richard E. Grant, who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.
Billy Dee Williams is officially back!
- 7/29/2018
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Jordan Maison)
- Cinelinx
J.J. Abrams and co-writer Chris Terrio currently face two big questions as they approach production on Star Wars: Episode IX.
For starters, how do they go about closing out Lucasfilm’s Skywalker Saga in a way that satisfies as much as it thrills? And perhaps most important of all: what do they do with the character of Luke, who met his end in the climax of The Last Jedi?
It’s no secret that Mark Hamill’s Jedi Master took his last breath soon after his Force projection deceived Kylo Ren on the salt plains of Crait, but the ambiguous nature of his ‘death’ has led many to believe that the galaxy’s most famous farm boy will be making a return come 2019 – Force ghost or not. After all, they can’t really close out the current trilogy without him, right?
Lucasfilm Drops More Than A Dozen Bts Star Wars Pics From The Last Jedi,...
For starters, how do they go about closing out Lucasfilm’s Skywalker Saga in a way that satisfies as much as it thrills? And perhaps most important of all: what do they do with the character of Luke, who met his end in the climax of The Last Jedi?
It’s no secret that Mark Hamill’s Jedi Master took his last breath soon after his Force projection deceived Kylo Ren on the salt plains of Crait, but the ambiguous nature of his ‘death’ has led many to believe that the galaxy’s most famous farm boy will be making a return come 2019 – Force ghost or not. After all, they can’t really close out the current trilogy without him, right?
Lucasfilm Drops More Than A Dozen Bts Star Wars Pics From The Last Jedi,...
- 7/27/2018
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Star Wars: Episode IX will begin filming at London’s Pinewood Studios on August 1, 2018. J.J. Abrams returns to direct the final installment of the Skywalker saga. Abrams co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Terrio.
Returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant, who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.
The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. “We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” says Abrams. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character.
Returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant, who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.
The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. “We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” says Abrams. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character.
- 7/27/2018
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
At this point, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ governors election looks more like a round-up than a race; more than 180 members have declared their interest in filling 17 contested spots on the 54-member Board of Governors.
Voting in the run-off round starts on Monday and ends May 18. That will narrow the present field to a maximum of four nominees per branch in the final round, which follows.
For now, there are on average about 11 candidates in the running for each slot. In the casting directors and costume design branches, only three members have declared for each slot. But not so in the actors branch, where 17 members — including Brie Larson, Jacki Weaver and Meg Ryan — are vying for the spot being vacated by termed-out Tom Hanks; or the producers, executives, and public relations branches, all of which have a bumper crop of candidates. Marvin Levy, currently a governor in the public relations branch,...
Voting in the run-off round starts on Monday and ends May 18. That will narrow the present field to a maximum of four nominees per branch in the final round, which follows.
For now, there are on average about 11 candidates in the running for each slot. In the casting directors and costume design branches, only three members have declared for each slot. But not so in the actors branch, where 17 members — including Brie Larson, Jacki Weaver and Meg Ryan — are vying for the spot being vacated by termed-out Tom Hanks; or the producers, executives, and public relations branches, all of which have a bumper crop of candidates. Marvin Levy, currently a governor in the public relations branch,...
- 5/11/2018
- by Michael Cieply
- Deadline Film + TV
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science’s Science and Technology Council has added seven new members to its roster, including Deadpool make-up artist and designer Bill Corso, Star Wars: The Force Awakens film editor Maryann Brandon, and cinematographer Steve Yedlin. The newcomers bring the Council's 2017–2018 membership roster to 25. The new members are: Nafees Bin Zafar, a technology development supervisor at Digital Domain who has worked in live-action visual…...
- 10/4/2017
- Deadline
An artist equally comfortable in the depths of outer space and in rural, small-town Virginia, in both epic and indie worlds, supervising sound editor Will Files contributed sound designs for two of this year's acclaimed pictures at opposite ends of the spectrum, the tense sci-fi actioner Passengers and Jeff Nichols' interracial marriage drama, Loving. In the former case, working alongside director Morten Tyldum and picture editor Maryann Brandon, Files was committed to…...
- 1/5/2017
- Deadline
Passengers, which is now making its way through the Christmas box office crush, took its first voyage last month at our big annual awards-season event, The Contenders Presented By Deadline, where director Morten Tyldum, writer Jon Spaihts, and film editor Maryann Brandon discussed the challenges of what Tyldum calls “an emotional roller coaster” in making a big-scale studio film. Appearing in front of a packed audience of Oscar and other key guild voters at the DGA…...
- 12/28/2016
- Deadline
While the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been making radical changes of late, inviting a diverse number of new members to join their ranks, when the Board of Governors elected new officers Tuesday night, they stuck with more of the same.
The Governors, in a vote of confidence, re-elected president Cheryl Boone Isaacs for a fourth term. It’s her 24th year as a governor representing the Public Relations Branch. With AMPAS CEO Dawn Hudson, Boone Isaacs has led the push to speed up change in the membership. The first African-American to serve as Academy president, Boone Isaacs served in top marketing and publicity positions at New Line Cinema and Paramount, respectively.
Other familiar faces filled out the roster of officers elected by the Board:
Jeffrey Kurland, First Vice President (chair, Awards and Events Committee)
John Bailey, Vice President (chair, Preservation and History Committee)
Kathleen Kennedy, Vice President (chair,...
The Governors, in a vote of confidence, re-elected president Cheryl Boone Isaacs for a fourth term. It’s her 24th year as a governor representing the Public Relations Branch. With AMPAS CEO Dawn Hudson, Boone Isaacs has led the push to speed up change in the membership. The first African-American to serve as Academy president, Boone Isaacs served in top marketing and publicity positions at New Line Cinema and Paramount, respectively.
Other familiar faces filled out the roster of officers elected by the Board:
Jeffrey Kurland, First Vice President (chair, Awards and Events Committee)
John Bailey, Vice President (chair, Preservation and History Committee)
Kathleen Kennedy, Vice President (chair,...
- 8/3/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
While the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been making radical changes of late, inviting a diverse number of new members to join their ranks, when the Board of Governors elected new officers Tuesday night, they stuck with more of the same.
The Governors, in a vote of confidence, re-elected president Cheryl Boone Isaacs for a fourth term. It’s her 24th year as a governor representing the Public Relations Branch. With AMPAS CEO Dawn Hudson, Boone Isaacs has led the push to speed up change in the membership. The first African-American to serve as Academy president, Boone Isaacs served in top marketing and publicity positions at New Line Cinema and Paramount, respectively.
Other familiar faces filled out the roster of officers elected by the Board:
Jeffrey Kurland, First Vice President (chair, Awards and Events Committee)
John Bailey, Vice President (chair, Preservation and History Committee)
Kathleen Kennedy, Vice President (chair,...
The Governors, in a vote of confidence, re-elected president Cheryl Boone Isaacs for a fourth term. It’s her 24th year as a governor representing the Public Relations Branch. With AMPAS CEO Dawn Hudson, Boone Isaacs has led the push to speed up change in the membership. The first African-American to serve as Academy president, Boone Isaacs served in top marketing and publicity positions at New Line Cinema and Paramount, respectively.
Other familiar faces filled out the roster of officers elected by the Board:
Jeffrey Kurland, First Vice President (chair, Awards and Events Committee)
John Bailey, Vice President (chair, Preservation and History Committee)
Kathleen Kennedy, Vice President (chair,...
- 8/3/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Mark Goldblatt has won the runoff election to represent the Film Editors Branch on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Board of Governors, the Academy announced on Monday. Goldblatt had tied with Maryann Brandon in the original board election, resulting in the third runoff in the history of AMPAS board elections. All three have taken place in the last seven years. Goldblatt formerly served as a governor of the branch and is returning to the board after a one-year hiatus. Also Read: Academy Doesn't Show Much Appetite for Change in Board of Governors Voting His election completes the 54-person membership of.
- 8/1/2016
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Updated, 12:23 Pm: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said today that Mark Goldblatt has won the runoff election for the open Film Editors Branch seat on the 2016-17 Board of Governors. Goldblatt, an Oscar nominee for Terminator 2: Judgment Day, is returning to the Board after a one-year hiatus. He joins incumbents Carol Littleton and Michael Tronick in representing the branch. Goldblatt and Maryann Brandon had tied for the seat in the board election last…...
- 8/1/2016
- Deadline
Thanks to new rules, this year’s Academy Board of Governors race was more intense than usual. The Academy’s 17 branches each has three governors on the board; they can serve three consecutive three-year terms. One seat is up for reelection every year. The Board of Governors actually runs the show at the Academy, determining the strategy and mission, and keeping tabs on its financial health.
(The full list of Governors is here.)
This year, the race was opened up to allow any of the 6200-plus Academy members to run for the board. Before, the membership voted for 50% of a nominating committee that selected candidates to present to the Board. This yielded the same favorites over and over again.
Now, members of each branch can pick their own contenders. Academy CEO Dawn Hudson clearly sees the benefit of a more diverse board of Governors. In an email to members announcing...
(The full list of Governors is here.)
This year, the race was opened up to allow any of the 6200-plus Academy members to run for the board. Before, the membership voted for 50% of a nominating committee that selected candidates to present to the Board. This yielded the same favorites over and over again.
Now, members of each branch can pick their own contenders. Academy CEO Dawn Hudson clearly sees the benefit of a more diverse board of Governors. In an email to members announcing...
- 7/18/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Thanks to new rules, this year’s Academy Board of Governors race was more intense than usual. The Academy’s 17 branches each has three governors on the board; they can serve three consecutive three-year terms. One seat is up for reelection every year. The Board of Governors actually runs the show at the Academy, determining the strategy and mission, and keeping tabs on its financial health.
(The full list of Governors is here.)
This year, the race was opened up to allow any of the 6200-plus Academy members to run for the board. Before, the membership voted for 50% of a nominating committee that selected candidates to present to the Board. This yielded the same favorites over and over again.
Now, members of each branch can pick their own contenders. Academy CEO Dawn Hudson clearly sees the benefit of a more diverse board of Governors. In an email to members announcing...
(The full list of Governors is here.)
This year, the race was opened up to allow any of the 6200-plus Academy members to run for the board. Before, the membership voted for 50% of a nominating committee that selected candidates to present to the Board. This yielded the same favorites over and over again.
Now, members of each branch can pick their own contenders. Academy CEO Dawn Hudson clearly sees the benefit of a more diverse board of Governors. In an email to members announcing...
- 7/18/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Around this time last month, I wrote a piece about superstar editors Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey (the duo have worked together for some time now, their latest project being little movie directed by a guy named J.J. Abrams called 'The Force Awakens') and also Margaret Sixel, the Oscar-winning editor who was responsible for stringing together the chaotic audio-visual symphony of "Mad Max: Fury Road." The piece alluded to a larger point, which is that women have played an integral role as film editors throughout the history of the medium. This goes all the way back to the pictures of Arthur Penn (think “Bonnie and Clyde” and “Night Moves,” cut by the great Dede Allen) and goes well into the later half of the 20th century with giants like Sally Menke, Quentin Tarantino’s go-to editor who worked on every film of his save for “Django Unchained” and “The Hateful Eight...
- 3/17/2016
- by Nicholas Laskin
- The Playlist
Given the nearly $2.1 billion Star Wars: The Force Awakens has grossed worldwide, it's safe to say that the franchise is big part of the current pop culture zeitgeist. Months have passed since the film's release, and while it's still in theaters, we're always looking toward the future, and in this case, the Blu-Ray and DVD release of the film.
When it comes to big blockbuster films, fans always wonder what scenes there were that ended up on the cutting room floor. This is especially true for Star Wars. After all, considering the wide breadth of canon in the franchise, one has to wonder if scenes that end up getting cut should be considered canon. Were they cut out because they slowed down the film, or did they merely conflict with the vision the director has in mind?
Either way, deleted scenes are a great way for fans to connect with...
When it comes to big blockbuster films, fans always wonder what scenes there were that ended up on the cutting room floor. This is especially true for Star Wars. After all, considering the wide breadth of canon in the franchise, one has to wonder if scenes that end up getting cut should be considered canon. Were they cut out because they slowed down the film, or did they merely conflict with the vision the director has in mind?
Either way, deleted scenes are a great way for fans to connect with...
- 2/25/2016
- by Joseph Medina
- LRMonline.com
Since the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, there have been questions. There have been questions about who certain characters really are or which characters may be connected. One of the other questions that fans have had is, how much more is there? As with all movies, there were scenes that were shot that never made it into the final cut of the film. Now we have an exact number of additional scenes that will be included on the Blu-Ray release. The magic number is seven. Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon are nominated for an Academy Award for their editing work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens. As such, they would know exactly how much was removed from the film, as they were the ones that did the cutting. Speaking with the Independent they admitted that there will be exactly seven scenes included on the DVD, though they...
- 2/25/2016
- cinemablend.com
The talk of Hollywood’s diversity problem has rightly dominated much of the cultural conversation as of late, particularly in the latter half of 2015. And yet if there’s one creative field in which women in particular can hope to thrive, it’s editing. From legends of the craft like Thelma Schoonmaker and Sally Menke, who cut their teeth working largely for Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino, respectively, to lesser-known but promising names like Dody Dorn (“Memento,” “Fury”) and Lisa Lassek (the “Avengers” films), editing is a medium in which women have long played an integral role. There are many potential reasons for this, but Maryann Brandon — who, alongside frequent collaborator Mary Jo Markey, edited J.J. Abrams’ megahit “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” — has her own theories. She insists that the reasons are historical. “One advantage that women have had in editing is that women were editors from the beginning of the film business,...
- 2/17/2016
- by Nicholas Laskin
- The Playlist
Star Wars: Episode 8 may be filming, but there’s still plenty of Star Wars: The Force Awakens news floating around. In today’s edition of The Force Awakens Bits: Oscar-nominated editors Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon share some deleted scenes. An actor who played a Stormtrooper and a Resistance soldier shares his stories. The coolest Bb-8 toy […]
The post The Force Awakens Bits: Set Stories From a Stormtroopers, Deleted Scenes, and a Bunch of New Toys appeared first on /Film.
The post The Force Awakens Bits: Set Stories From a Stormtroopers, Deleted Scenes, and a Bunch of New Toys appeared first on /Film.
- 2/16/2016
- by Jacob Hall
- Slash Film
As is the case with most movies, there were things in Star Wars: The Force Awakens that didn.t make the final cut. You can.t keep everything or every movie would four hours long, and in the editing process a number of scenes and moments had to be excised. The Oscar-nominated editors of The Force Awakens, Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon, recently revealed that there was originally more from Captain Phasma and Unkar Plutt. When The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon at the recent Nominees Night, the reporter asked about things that were left out of the final cut of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Markey started it off revealing that there was supposed to be more of Captain Phasma. She said: There was actually a fun thing with Captain Phasma ordering all of the ships into the air, but they didn...
- 2/11/2016
- cinemablend.com
More than 150 Oscar nominees came together at noon on Monday at the Beverly Hilton as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored this year’s Oscar contenders at its annual Nominees Luncheon.
From Left to Right:
Seated: Adam Benzine, Paul Massey, Michael Standish, Chris Jenkins, Randy Thom, Jason Smith, Josh Cooley, Maryann Brandon, Richard Williams, Patrick Vollrath, Ed Lachman, Mary Parent, David Acord, Anders Langland, Henry Hughes, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Tom Yellin
First Row: Rosa Tran, Jacqueline West, Ed Guiney, Evgeny Afineevsky, Matthew Shumway, Amy Hobby, Jonas Rivera, Gregg Rudloff, Signe Byrge Sorensen, Love Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Courtney Marsh, Nomi Talisman, Mark Ruffalo, Diane Warren, Paco Delgado, Bryan Cranston, Jistin Wilkes, Blye Pagon Faust, Roger Guyett, Basil Khalil, Drew Kunin, Sian Grigg, Andrea Berloff,
Second Row:Adam Stockhausen, Tom McArdle, Keith Redmon, Damian Martin, Ale Abreu, Matthew Heineman, Matt Damon, Bernhard Henrich, Cameron Waldbauer, Alan Robert Murray,...
From Left to Right:
Seated: Adam Benzine, Paul Massey, Michael Standish, Chris Jenkins, Randy Thom, Jason Smith, Josh Cooley, Maryann Brandon, Richard Williams, Patrick Vollrath, Ed Lachman, Mary Parent, David Acord, Anders Langland, Henry Hughes, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Tom Yellin
First Row: Rosa Tran, Jacqueline West, Ed Guiney, Evgeny Afineevsky, Matthew Shumway, Amy Hobby, Jonas Rivera, Gregg Rudloff, Signe Byrge Sorensen, Love Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Courtney Marsh, Nomi Talisman, Mark Ruffalo, Diane Warren, Paco Delgado, Bryan Cranston, Jistin Wilkes, Blye Pagon Faust, Roger Guyett, Basil Khalil, Drew Kunin, Sian Grigg, Andrea Berloff,
Second Row:Adam Stockhausen, Tom McArdle, Keith Redmon, Damian Martin, Ale Abreu, Matthew Heineman, Matt Damon, Bernhard Henrich, Cameron Waldbauer, Alan Robert Murray,...
- 2/9/2016
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
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