Soros Abramorama Reviewed for Shockya.com & BigAppleReviews.net linked from Rotten Tomatoes by: Harvey Karten Director: Jesse Dylan Writer: Jesse Dylan Screened at: Critics’ link, NYC, 11/16/20 Opens: November 20, 2020 “No good deed goes unpunished.” In a more metaphoric vein, “The tallest blades of grass get mowed first.” Ironically enough, the more good you do […]
The post Soros Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Soros Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 3/3/2021
- by Harvey Karten
- ShockYa
Deals close in French-speaking Europe, Canada, UK.
Montreal-based WaZabi Films has announced fresh territory deals on EFM sales title Soros, Jesse Dylan’s documentary about American billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros.
Rights have gone to Mediawan for French-speaking Europe, and Kinosmith for Canada.
Prior to these sales, WaZabi secured previously unannounced deals in UK (Alarm Pictures), Rialto Channel (New Zealand), Brazil (O2), Poland (Against Gravity), and Israel (Dbs).
Abramorama handled the US release on the 2019 Telluride Film festival premiere in which Dylan explores the life and work of the Hungarian-born billionaire who survived the Holocaust, made his fortune on Wall Street,...
Montreal-based WaZabi Films has announced fresh territory deals on EFM sales title Soros, Jesse Dylan’s documentary about American billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros.
Rights have gone to Mediawan for French-speaking Europe, and Kinosmith for Canada.
Prior to these sales, WaZabi secured previously unannounced deals in UK (Alarm Pictures), Rialto Channel (New Zealand), Brazil (O2), Poland (Against Gravity), and Israel (Dbs).
Abramorama handled the US release on the 2019 Telluride Film festival premiere in which Dylan explores the life and work of the Hungarian-born billionaire who survived the Holocaust, made his fortune on Wall Street,...
- 3/1/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The mystery of George Soros, the billionaire philathropist long demonized by the far right, is the subject of Jesse Dylan’s documentary Soros, set for a streaming release by Abramorama on Nov. 20.
The film’s official trailer (see below), which opens with Stephen Bannon, Alex Jones and Ann Coulter blasting his politics, introduces us to Soros’ personal history, vast wealth and public activism. “I chose the west because I sought freedom, and to make money,” says Soros, who was born in a Jewish family in Hungary and survived the Nazi occupation before emigrating first to England and then ...
The film’s official trailer (see below), which opens with Stephen Bannon, Alex Jones and Ann Coulter blasting his politics, introduces us to Soros’ personal history, vast wealth and public activism. “I chose the west because I sought freedom, and to make money,” says Soros, who was born in a Jewish family in Hungary and survived the Nazi occupation before emigrating first to England and then ...
- 11/10/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The mystery of George Soros, the billionaire philathropist long demonized by the far right, is the subject of Jesse Dylan’s documentary Soros, set for a streaming release by Abramorama on Nov. 20.
The film’s official trailer (see below), which opens with Stephen Bannon, Alex Jones and Ann Coulter blasting his politics, introduces us to Soros’ personal history, vast wealth and public activism. “I chose the west because I sought freedom, and to make money,” says Soros, who was born in a Jewish family in Hungary and survived the Nazi occupation before emigrating first to England and then ...
The film’s official trailer (see below), which opens with Stephen Bannon, Alex Jones and Ann Coulter blasting his politics, introduces us to Soros’ personal history, vast wealth and public activism. “I chose the west because I sought freedom, and to make money,” says Soros, who was born in a Jewish family in Hungary and survived the Nazi occupation before emigrating first to England and then ...
- 11/10/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Charles Barkley is out to conquer a new arena. The NBA Hall of Famer is exec producing his first scripted series, “The Line,” based on a bestselling exposé of the gambling scandal that nearly destroyed college basketball.
Rtg Features, the new sister studio to basketball media outfit Slam, is producing the multi-episode one-hour historical drama, partnering with exec producers Barkley and the company he co-founded, Round Mound Media. The show is adapted from Charley Rosen’s 1999 bestseller “Scandals of ’51,” which documents the explosive real-life crime saga that rocked the nation after World War II. Rtg is unveiling the project for buyers at AFM.
“I’m a big fan of Charley Rosen’s books, but ‘Scandals of ’51’ is especially timely to turn into a television series,” Barkley said. “It’s impossible to understand the present without knowing the past, and stories like this one — about cheating, racism and how easily amateur...
Rtg Features, the new sister studio to basketball media outfit Slam, is producing the multi-episode one-hour historical drama, partnering with exec producers Barkley and the company he co-founded, Round Mound Media. The show is adapted from Charley Rosen’s 1999 bestseller “Scandals of ’51,” which documents the explosive real-life crime saga that rocked the nation after World War II. Rtg is unveiling the project for buyers at AFM.
“I’m a big fan of Charley Rosen’s books, but ‘Scandals of ’51’ is especially timely to turn into a television series,” Barkley said. “It’s impossible to understand the present without knowing the past, and stories like this one — about cheating, racism and how easily amateur...
- 11/6/2020
- by Gregg Goldstein
- Variety Film + TV
Abramorama has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Soros, the Jesse Dylan-directed documentary feature about billionaire activist George Soros from Vital Pictures. The film, which had its U.S. premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, will get a live streaming premiere on November 18 on the film’s website followed by a release on Watch Now @ Home starting on November 20th. Famous for betting against the Bank of England in 1992 and making a billion dollars in one day, Soros is maligned by ideologues on both the left and the right for daring to tackle the world’s problems and putting his money behind his fight – from free elections and freedom of the press to civil rights for minorities.
Dylan follows Soros across the globe and pulls back the curtain on his personal history, private wealth, and public activism. Soros reveals a complicated genius whose experience as a Jew during the...
Dylan follows Soros across the globe and pulls back the curtain on his personal history, private wealth, and public activism. Soros reveals a complicated genius whose experience as a Jew during the...
- 10/28/2020
- by Patrick Hipes and Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Jesse Dylan’s doc had unprecedented access to the billionaire philanthropist and activist.
Montreal-based sales outfit WaZabi Films has picked up international rights to Jesse Dylan’s Telluride documentary Soros and is introducing to buyers during TIFF.
The filmmakers got unprecedented access to Holocaust survivor turned billionaire philanthropist and activist George Soros, and explores his personal history as he fights authoritarianism around the world.
Dylan includes frank commentary from ideologues on all sides of the political spectrum. Priscilla Cohen served as producer.
“Working on the film on George Soros, I saw up-close the man who has been decades ahead of...
Montreal-based sales outfit WaZabi Films has picked up international rights to Jesse Dylan’s Telluride documentary Soros and is introducing to buyers during TIFF.
The filmmakers got unprecedented access to Holocaust survivor turned billionaire philanthropist and activist George Soros, and explores his personal history as he fights authoritarianism around the world.
Dylan includes frank commentary from ideologues on all sides of the political spectrum. Priscilla Cohen served as producer.
“Working on the film on George Soros, I saw up-close the man who has been decades ahead of...
- 9/12/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
“The Joker” is destined to be the super-villain movie of the season for most filmgoers, obviously. But there’s a certain breed of conservative that might save that honor for “Soros,” a new documentary about billionaire George Soros, the do-gooder bogeyman the right loves to hate. Dinesh D’Souza hasn’t yet gotten around to making a feature film demonizing the guy, so the task of directing the first doc about the polarizing philanthropist has fallen to an entirely sympathetic filmmaker, Jesse Dylan. Like many progressives, Dylan views Soros as something close to a superhero — a real-life Bruce Wayne who’s using his super-riches for good, not evil, as the biggest benefactor of … can we call it the Social Justice League?
Dylan couldn’t have painted a more flattering picture if he worked for Soros. Actually, he did: In the past, he’s made short films on behalf of the philanthropist’s Open Society Foundation.
Dylan couldn’t have painted a more flattering picture if he worked for Soros. Actually, he did: In the past, he’s made short films on behalf of the philanthropist’s Open Society Foundation.
- 9/25/2019
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
Colorado’s San Juan Mountains will soon be alive with the sights and sounds of movies.
The line-up for the 46th Telluride Film Festival has been announced.
The starry slate includes the world premiere of “Judy,” director Rupert Goold’s biopic about the final months of Judy Garland’s life with Renée Zellweger in the title role. “Maybe because Renée hasn’t done a huge number of things in the past few years, she’s saved up all of her tenderness, all of that vulnerability to bring to this role,” Telluride co-director Julie Huntsinger told Variety.
“Judy” is certainly not the only world premiere during this year’s festivities, which run from Friday, Aug. 30 to Monday, Sept. 2. James Mangold’s real-life car racing drama “Ford v Ferrari” starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale is on the bill. Edward Norton will premiere his directorial debut “Motherless Brooklyn,” with an ensemble including Gugu Mbatha-Raw,...
The line-up for the 46th Telluride Film Festival has been announced.
The starry slate includes the world premiere of “Judy,” director Rupert Goold’s biopic about the final months of Judy Garland’s life with Renée Zellweger in the title role. “Maybe because Renée hasn’t done a huge number of things in the past few years, she’s saved up all of her tenderness, all of that vulnerability to bring to this role,” Telluride co-director Julie Huntsinger told Variety.
“Judy” is certainly not the only world premiere during this year’s festivities, which run from Friday, Aug. 30 to Monday, Sept. 2. James Mangold’s real-life car racing drama “Ford v Ferrari” starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale is on the bill. Edward Norton will premiere his directorial debut “Motherless Brooklyn,” with an ensemble including Gugu Mbatha-Raw,...
- 8/29/2019
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
If there were a Stoner Comedy Hall of Fame, Jesse Dylan's 2001 comedy How High would assuredly be inducted alongside other classics like Friday, Cheech and Chong's Up In Smoke, Half-baked, and Richard Linklater's Dazed And Confused. For those of you who enjoy indulging in a little game of 'Puff-Puff-Pass' around the Method Man and Redman starrer, you'll likely…...
- 3/7/2019
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
How High 2, MTV’s sequel to stoner classic How High, has rounded out its cast. DC Young Fly (Almost Christmas) is set to star opposite previously announced Lil Yachty in the non-theatrical movie followup to the 2001 Universal comedy feature, which starred Method Man and Redman.
Alyssa Goss (The Bobby Brown Story), DeRay Davis (21 Jump Street) and Mary Lynn Rajskub (Night School) are also set to co-star. Additional appearances include NeNe Leakes, Tameka “Tiny” Harris (Meet The Blacks), Cynthia Bailey (The Real Housewives of
Atlanta), Shekinah Jo (T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle) and hip-hop artist Lil Baby.
How High 2 is co-produced by MTV and Universal 1440 Entertainment, the production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Production is currently underway in Atlanta for a spring 2019 premiere on MTV.
Written by Family Guy’s Shawn Ries and Artie Johann, Alex Blagg (Workaholics) & Neel Shah (Powerless), How...
Alyssa Goss (The Bobby Brown Story), DeRay Davis (21 Jump Street) and Mary Lynn Rajskub (Night School) are also set to co-star. Additional appearances include NeNe Leakes, Tameka “Tiny” Harris (Meet The Blacks), Cynthia Bailey (The Real Housewives of
Atlanta), Shekinah Jo (T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle) and hip-hop artist Lil Baby.
How High 2 is co-produced by MTV and Universal 1440 Entertainment, the production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Production is currently underway in Atlanta for a spring 2019 premiere on MTV.
Written by Family Guy’s Shawn Ries and Artie Johann, Alex Blagg (Workaholics) & Neel Shah (Powerless), How...
- 10/5/2018
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Natalie Portman, who was nominated for an Oscar for her insightful portrayal of Jackie Kennedy, stars in a new PETA video spotlighting the legacy of maverick animal advocate Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902–1991), who won the Nobel Prize in Literature 40 years ago this autumn.
Video: Natalie Portman Wants Everyone to Treat Animals With Kindness
“Isaac Singer grew up in the same part of Poland as my family,” says Portman in the video. “And like them, he fled the horrors of the Holocaust. But the cruelties he witnessed made Singer one of the most powerful writers of the 20th century.” The heroes in his bestsellers championed women’s issues and gay rights and especially animal rights. “I did not become a vegetarian for my health,” Singer once declared flatly. “I did it for the health of the chickens.”
In his autobiographical novel Shosha, the Jewish icon famously wrote, “We do to God’s...
Video: Natalie Portman Wants Everyone to Treat Animals With Kindness
“Isaac Singer grew up in the same part of Poland as my family,” says Portman in the video. “And like them, he fled the horrors of the Holocaust. But the cruelties he witnessed made Singer one of the most powerful writers of the 20th century.” The heroes in his bestsellers championed women’s issues and gay rights and especially animal rights. “I did not become a vegetarian for my health,” Singer once declared flatly. “I did it for the health of the chickens.”
In his autobiographical novel Shosha, the Jewish icon famously wrote, “We do to God’s...
- 7/17/2018
- Look to the Stars
Exclusive: The stoner classic How High is getting a sequel. MTV has teamed up with Universal 1440 Entertainment for a non-theatrical movie followup to the 2001 Universal comedy feature, which starred Method Man and Redman.
In the update, written by Artie Johann and Shawn Ries (Family Guy), two young but business-savvy stoners embark on a pot-filled odyssey through Atlanta to find their missing weed, only to uncover a vast government conspiracy.
Universal 1440 Entertainment, the production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, which develops and produces live-action and animated non-theatrical projects directly for distribution in all media, will act as the studio on the film, slated to shoot in Atlanta in late summer.
Shauna Garr, who was a producer on the original movie, is executive producing. Executives in charge of production at MTV are Morgana Rosenberg, Josh Vodnoy and Jason Goldberg.
The 2001 How High movie, written by Dustin Lee Abraham and directed by Jesse Dylan,...
In the update, written by Artie Johann and Shawn Ries (Family Guy), two young but business-savvy stoners embark on a pot-filled odyssey through Atlanta to find their missing weed, only to uncover a vast government conspiracy.
Universal 1440 Entertainment, the production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, which develops and produces live-action and animated non-theatrical projects directly for distribution in all media, will act as the studio on the film, slated to shoot in Atlanta in late summer.
Shauna Garr, who was a producer on the original movie, is executive producing. Executives in charge of production at MTV are Morgana Rosenberg, Josh Vodnoy and Jason Goldberg.
The 2001 How High movie, written by Dustin Lee Abraham and directed by Jesse Dylan,...
- 6/25/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Author Joe Conason, a 20-year student of Bill Clinton, made headlines with his new biography of the former president even before the book hit the shelves. (Remember that leaked dinner-party scene where former Secretary of State Colin Powell allegedly advised then-current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on her ill-fated private email server? It's complicated, right?) Now that Conason's Man of the World: The Further Endeavors of Bill Clinton is in bookstores this week, we see that he tackles in 486 pages the even more complicated matters of Clinton's relationships with the biggest names in political headlines this season. Here's the...
- 9/14/2016
- by Sam Gillette, @sgillette7
- PEOPLE.com
Jesse Dylan, Bob Dylan‘s son is carrying on his father’s mission of representing social issues in the arts by partnering with Univision to give a glimpse at what life is like for undocumented immigrants in the U.S. The interactive video, produced by Dylan’s Wondros production company, can be viewed in either English or Spanish and shows the difference one highly-politicized document can make, and how a single piece of paper can change a family’s life. Viewers can go back and forth between the same story from two different perspectives. One narrative shows a legally-documented immigrant family living in America.
- 8/4/2016
- by Itay Hod
- The Wrap
Jeremy Barrett has joined the La-based strategic consultancy and media production company as executive producer.
Barrett will bring his roster of director clients, including Leila & Damien de Blinkk, Riess | Hill, Emil Kahr, Vern Moen, This is Felo and Webber Represents.
“As Wondros’ business continues to grow outside of traditional storytelling in the commercial format, Jeremy’s vision and creative sensibilities — along with his established roster of directors — are powerful additions to the Wondros culture,” said chief creative officer Anne-Marie Mackay.
“Consolidation in our ever-changing landscape of commercial and branded content production is actually an expansion of creativity,” said Barrett.
“The roster of clients from my former company fits in perfectly with the vision and community Jesse Dylan and Anne-Marie have developed.”
Barrett began his career as a music video and commercial producer and founded Paydirt in 2008. He will be based in Wondros’ La offices.
Barrett will bring his roster of director clients, including Leila & Damien de Blinkk, Riess | Hill, Emil Kahr, Vern Moen, This is Felo and Webber Represents.
“As Wondros’ business continues to grow outside of traditional storytelling in the commercial format, Jeremy’s vision and creative sensibilities — along with his established roster of directors — are powerful additions to the Wondros culture,” said chief creative officer Anne-Marie Mackay.
“Consolidation in our ever-changing landscape of commercial and branded content production is actually an expansion of creativity,” said Barrett.
“The roster of clients from my former company fits in perfectly with the vision and community Jesse Dylan and Anne-Marie have developed.”
Barrett began his career as a music video and commercial producer and founded Paydirt in 2008. He will be based in Wondros’ La offices.
- 10/14/2015
- ScreenDaily
Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready has released a new video urging that people only vote for congressional candidates that support the Affordable Care Act, colloquially known as ObamaCare.
"Life is a pre-existing condition," McCready says at the beginning of the video. The guitarist was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when he was 21 years old, and has long been an advocate for the condition. (As noted by the Seattle Times, "Crohn's disease is characterized by the inflammation of the intestinal wall, while ulcerative colitis causes ulceration and inflammation in the colon and rectum.")
The video -- which was directed by Jesse Dylan, the man behind the 2008 video "Yes We Can" -- stresses the difficulty McCready has had getting health care in his life because of Crohn's disease.
"I was denied twice, even being a member of a famous rock band," McCready said in a statement accompanying the video. "The people who don't have those kind of resources,...
"Life is a pre-existing condition," McCready says at the beginning of the video. The guitarist was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when he was 21 years old, and has long been an advocate for the condition. (As noted by the Seattle Times, "Crohn's disease is characterized by the inflammation of the intestinal wall, while ulcerative colitis causes ulceration and inflammation in the colon and rectum.")
The video -- which was directed by Jesse Dylan, the man behind the 2008 video "Yes We Can" -- stresses the difficulty McCready has had getting health care in his life because of Crohn's disease.
"I was denied twice, even being a member of a famous rock band," McCready said in a statement accompanying the video. "The people who don't have those kind of resources,...
- 10/22/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
After days of teasing fans with a big announcement, the wait is finally over: Tom Waits has released a new video for "Hell Broke Luce," the anti-war and especially growl-y song from his 2011 release, Bad As Me.
The gritty video -- which was directed by Matt Mahurin -- follows the raspy singer as he pulls a small house through a war-torn landscape, ravaged by bombs, gunfire, ominous-looking vultures and shark submarines.
Waits released the following statement about the video premiere: "As most of you guessed, it’s a tour ... a tour de force!" He continued: "Kathleen [Brennan] and I envisioned it as an enlightened drill sergeant yelling the hard truths of war to a brand new batch of recruits. The video grew from the gnawing image of a soldier pulling his home, through a battlefield, at the end of a rope. I think you will agree, it's uplifting and fun."
Unfortunately for fans,...
The gritty video -- which was directed by Matt Mahurin -- follows the raspy singer as he pulls a small house through a war-torn landscape, ravaged by bombs, gunfire, ominous-looking vultures and shark submarines.
Waits released the following statement about the video premiere: "As most of you guessed, it’s a tour ... a tour de force!" He continued: "Kathleen [Brennan] and I envisioned it as an enlightened drill sergeant yelling the hard truths of war to a brand new batch of recruits. The video grew from the gnawing image of a soldier pulling his home, through a battlefield, at the end of a rope. I think you will agree, it's uplifting and fun."
Unfortunately for fans,...
- 8/7/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
$150,000 in Documentary Finishing Funds to be Awarded to Eight International Filmmakers Chosen from a Record Number of Submissions; Spotlighting Women Documentary Award Presented in Partnership with the Ppr Corporate Foundation for Women’s Dignity & Rights
* * *
Marshall Curry, James Franco, Barbara Kopple and Robin Wright among 2012 Jury Members
The Tribeca Film Institute (Tfi) and Gucci announced the 2012 recipients selected for the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund. The Fund, now in its fifth year, provides finishing finances, year-round support and guidance to domestic and international documentary filmmakers with feature-length films highlighting and humanizing issues of social importance from around the world. Eight projects have been selected from a record 697 submissions from 56 countries to receive a total of $150,000, to be administered by the Tribeca Film Institute.
For the second year, the Ppr Corporate Foundation for Women’s Dignity & Rights has joined the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund to present the Spotlighting Women Documentary Award. Three film projects have been chosen that illuminate the courage, compassion, extraordinary strength of character, and contributions of women from around the world, including Iran, Timor-Leste and Nigeria.
2012 projects were selected by a jury consisting of Marshall Curry, Jesse Dylan, James Franco, Barbara Kopple, Andrea Meditch, and Robin Wright. The committee chose the recipients from finalists selected by Tfi. In addition to funding, grantees will each receive year-round support from Tfi, including one-on-one guidance and consultation to help each film to reach completion, enter the marketplace, and find broader audiences for their work.
“Over the past four years, alumni projects of the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund have gone on not only to receive artistic and critical recognition from around the world, but also to inspire and impact change through the social justice issues within the stories they are telling,” said Ryan Harrington, Director of Documentary Programming at the Tribeca Film Institute. “We are proud of their success and look forward to helping this year’s filmmakers finish and bring awareness to their films .”
The projects that will collectively receive $100,000 total in funding for the 2012 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund are:
- E-Team (Directors Katy Chevigny & Ross Kauffman)
- God Loves Uganda (Director Roger Ross Williams)
- First to Fall (Director Rachel Anderson)
- Mercy Mercy (Director Katrine W Kjaer)
- Two Children of the Red Mosque (Director Hemal Trivedi)
The projects that will collectively receive $50,000 total in funding for the 2012 Spotlighting Women Documentary Award are:
- Alias Ruby Blade (Director Alex Meillier)
- Stargazing(working title) (Director Berit Madsen)
- The Supreme Price (Director Joanna Lipper)
“It was difficult to choose from among such a strong group of projects, but those we selected for the 2012 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund and the Spotlighting Women Awards feature strong, engaging characters and an intimate style to tell stories that illuminate the remarkable range of human struggle and triumph around the world,” said Andrea Meditch on behalf of the jury.
Films funded through the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund explore social issues across the globe through compelling and deeply personal stories, including: the intersection of religion and African culture in evangelical communities in Uganda; a fascinating look into the work of three members of the Human Rights Watch’s Emergency Team; the journey of young civilian expatriate rebels to liberate their home country; the complexities of international adoption; and the juxtaposing stories of two children in Pakistan pursuing very different dreams. The grantees projects include:
E-Team
Directed by Katy Chevigny & Ross Kauffman, produced by Chevigny, Kauffman & Marilyn Ness — The E-Team follows the intense and courageous work of three intrepid human rights workers on the frontlines of identifying international human rights abuses. Dramatic and crucial, Human Rights Watch’s Emergency Team work is custom-made for a compelling documentary film with a global perspective.
God Loves Uganda
Directed and produced by Roger Ross Williams, produced by Julie Goldman — God Loves Uganda is a journey into the heart of East Africa, where Ugandan pastors and their American counterparts spread God’s word and evangelical values to millions desperate for a better life. Inspired by his own roots in the African American Baptist church, director Roger Ross Williams seeks to explore a place where religion and African culture intersect.
First to Fall
Directed by Rachel Anderson, produced by Tony Gerber, executive produced by Mike Lerner —First to Fall follows a group of young civilian expatriate ‘rebels’ on their 8-month journey to liberate their home country. They give up comfortable, stable lives in order to take up arms against a corrupt regime and risk their lives in a brutal, chaotic war.
Mercy Mercy
Directed by Katrine W Kjær, produced by Miriam Nørgaard, Sara Stockmann & Vibeke Windeløv —International adoption seems like the perfect solution to a heartbreaking imbalance: Poor countries have babies in need of homes, and rich countries have homes in need of babies. Unfortunately, a lot of the orphans are not orphans at all.
Two Children of the Red Mosque
Directed and produced by Hemal Trivedi, co-directed by Mohammad Naqvi, produced by Whitney Dow and Jonathan Goodman Levitt — After attending Pakistan’s most notorious madrassah, 12-year-olds Zarina and Talha pursue different dreams. Zarina attends school while trying to avoid marriage; Talha remains a madrassah student preparing for Jihad. Their stories personalize Pakistanis’ ideological war.
The Spotlighting Women Documentary Awards highlight the courage and strength of women from around the world including: an Arabian teenage who dreams of a career as an astronaut despite her family’s disapproval; the role of one woman in establishing Timor-Leste as an independent nation; and another woman’s work fighting the corruption in Nigeria’s government. The grantees projects include:
Alias Ruby Blade
Directed by Alexander Meillier, produced by Tanya Ager Meillier — One courageous woman risks everything for the love of the imprisoned leader of a nation struggling for freedom. Together they nurture the tumultuous birth of the world’s newest nation – Timor-Leste.
Stargazing (working title)
Directed by Berit Madsen, produced by Henrik Underbjerg & Stefan Frost— A young Arabian girl wants to become an astronaut. But at her age the nightly stargazing excursions in the desert are a thorn in the side of family and traditions.
The Supreme Price
Directed and produced by Joanna Lipper— The Supreme Price tells the story of Hafsat Abiola. Following the annulment of her father’s victory in Nigeria’s Presidential Election and her mother’s assassination by the military dictatorship, Hafsat faces the challenge of transforming a corrupt culture of governance into a democracy capable of serving Nigeria’s most marginalized population: women.
About the Ppr Foundation:
Since its inception in 2009, the Ppr Corporate Foundation for Women’s Dignity & Rights pursues two objectives: fighting violence against women and promoting women’s empowerment.
Through its partnerships with local and international NGOs, social entrepreneurs or awareness raising programs, the Ppr Foundation encourages staff mobilization to the benefit of women.
The Ppr Foundation is part of Ppr Home.
www.fondationppr.org...
* * *
Marshall Curry, James Franco, Barbara Kopple and Robin Wright among 2012 Jury Members
The Tribeca Film Institute (Tfi) and Gucci announced the 2012 recipients selected for the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund. The Fund, now in its fifth year, provides finishing finances, year-round support and guidance to domestic and international documentary filmmakers with feature-length films highlighting and humanizing issues of social importance from around the world. Eight projects have been selected from a record 697 submissions from 56 countries to receive a total of $150,000, to be administered by the Tribeca Film Institute.
For the second year, the Ppr Corporate Foundation for Women’s Dignity & Rights has joined the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund to present the Spotlighting Women Documentary Award. Three film projects have been chosen that illuminate the courage, compassion, extraordinary strength of character, and contributions of women from around the world, including Iran, Timor-Leste and Nigeria.
2012 projects were selected by a jury consisting of Marshall Curry, Jesse Dylan, James Franco, Barbara Kopple, Andrea Meditch, and Robin Wright. The committee chose the recipients from finalists selected by Tfi. In addition to funding, grantees will each receive year-round support from Tfi, including one-on-one guidance and consultation to help each film to reach completion, enter the marketplace, and find broader audiences for their work.
“Over the past four years, alumni projects of the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund have gone on not only to receive artistic and critical recognition from around the world, but also to inspire and impact change through the social justice issues within the stories they are telling,” said Ryan Harrington, Director of Documentary Programming at the Tribeca Film Institute. “We are proud of their success and look forward to helping this year’s filmmakers finish and bring awareness to their films .”
The projects that will collectively receive $100,000 total in funding for the 2012 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund are:
- E-Team (Directors Katy Chevigny & Ross Kauffman)
- God Loves Uganda (Director Roger Ross Williams)
- First to Fall (Director Rachel Anderson)
- Mercy Mercy (Director Katrine W Kjaer)
- Two Children of the Red Mosque (Director Hemal Trivedi)
The projects that will collectively receive $50,000 total in funding for the 2012 Spotlighting Women Documentary Award are:
- Alias Ruby Blade (Director Alex Meillier)
- Stargazing(working title) (Director Berit Madsen)
- The Supreme Price (Director Joanna Lipper)
“It was difficult to choose from among such a strong group of projects, but those we selected for the 2012 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund and the Spotlighting Women Awards feature strong, engaging characters and an intimate style to tell stories that illuminate the remarkable range of human struggle and triumph around the world,” said Andrea Meditch on behalf of the jury.
Films funded through the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund explore social issues across the globe through compelling and deeply personal stories, including: the intersection of religion and African culture in evangelical communities in Uganda; a fascinating look into the work of three members of the Human Rights Watch’s Emergency Team; the journey of young civilian expatriate rebels to liberate their home country; the complexities of international adoption; and the juxtaposing stories of two children in Pakistan pursuing very different dreams. The grantees projects include:
E-Team
Directed by Katy Chevigny & Ross Kauffman, produced by Chevigny, Kauffman & Marilyn Ness — The E-Team follows the intense and courageous work of three intrepid human rights workers on the frontlines of identifying international human rights abuses. Dramatic and crucial, Human Rights Watch’s Emergency Team work is custom-made for a compelling documentary film with a global perspective.
God Loves Uganda
Directed and produced by Roger Ross Williams, produced by Julie Goldman — God Loves Uganda is a journey into the heart of East Africa, where Ugandan pastors and their American counterparts spread God’s word and evangelical values to millions desperate for a better life. Inspired by his own roots in the African American Baptist church, director Roger Ross Williams seeks to explore a place where religion and African culture intersect.
First to Fall
Directed by Rachel Anderson, produced by Tony Gerber, executive produced by Mike Lerner —First to Fall follows a group of young civilian expatriate ‘rebels’ on their 8-month journey to liberate their home country. They give up comfortable, stable lives in order to take up arms against a corrupt regime and risk their lives in a brutal, chaotic war.
Mercy Mercy
Directed by Katrine W Kjær, produced by Miriam Nørgaard, Sara Stockmann & Vibeke Windeløv —International adoption seems like the perfect solution to a heartbreaking imbalance: Poor countries have babies in need of homes, and rich countries have homes in need of babies. Unfortunately, a lot of the orphans are not orphans at all.
Two Children of the Red Mosque
Directed and produced by Hemal Trivedi, co-directed by Mohammad Naqvi, produced by Whitney Dow and Jonathan Goodman Levitt — After attending Pakistan’s most notorious madrassah, 12-year-olds Zarina and Talha pursue different dreams. Zarina attends school while trying to avoid marriage; Talha remains a madrassah student preparing for Jihad. Their stories personalize Pakistanis’ ideological war.
The Spotlighting Women Documentary Awards highlight the courage and strength of women from around the world including: an Arabian teenage who dreams of a career as an astronaut despite her family’s disapproval; the role of one woman in establishing Timor-Leste as an independent nation; and another woman’s work fighting the corruption in Nigeria’s government. The grantees projects include:
Alias Ruby Blade
Directed by Alexander Meillier, produced by Tanya Ager Meillier — One courageous woman risks everything for the love of the imprisoned leader of a nation struggling for freedom. Together they nurture the tumultuous birth of the world’s newest nation – Timor-Leste.
Stargazing (working title)
Directed by Berit Madsen, produced by Henrik Underbjerg & Stefan Frost— A young Arabian girl wants to become an astronaut. But at her age the nightly stargazing excursions in the desert are a thorn in the side of family and traditions.
The Supreme Price
Directed and produced by Joanna Lipper— The Supreme Price tells the story of Hafsat Abiola. Following the annulment of her father’s victory in Nigeria’s Presidential Election and her mother’s assassination by the military dictatorship, Hafsat faces the challenge of transforming a corrupt culture of governance into a democracy capable of serving Nigeria’s most marginalized population: women.
About the Ppr Foundation:
Since its inception in 2009, the Ppr Corporate Foundation for Women’s Dignity & Rights pursues two objectives: fighting violence against women and promoting women’s empowerment.
Through its partnerships with local and international NGOs, social entrepreneurs or awareness raising programs, the Ppr Foundation encourages staff mobilization to the benefit of women.
The Ppr Foundation is part of Ppr Home.
www.fondationppr.org...
- 6/25/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The Tribeca Film Institute has chosen the eight recipients of the combined $150,000 in grant money awarded by the annual Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund for 2012. The awards are given to feature documentary projects that highlight issues of social importance around the world and include finishing funds and other support. Katy Chevigny & Ross Kauffman “E-Team”; Roger Ross Williams’ “God Loves Uganda”; Rachel Anderson’s “First to Fall”; Katrine W. Kjaer’s “Mercy Mercy”; and Hemal Trivedi’s “Two Children of the Red Mosque” will split $100,000. Alex Meillier’s “Alias Ruby Blade”; Berit Madsen’s “Stargazing”; and Joanna Lipper’s “The Supreme Price” will share $50,000 in funding from the Spotlighting Women Documentary Award presented by the Ppr Corporate Foundation for Women’s Dignity & Rights. Marshall Curry, Jesse Dylan, James...
- 6/11/2012
- by Jay A. Fernandez
- Indiewire
“American Reunion” begins with the franchise’s typical sexual misunderstanding played for casual sitcom laughs. Married couple Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) are preparing for bedtime when she excuses herself to take a late night bath. Without saying a word, Jim watches her leave before visiting bookmarked porn sites on his laptop computer, pleasing himself with a sock filled with what can only be considered an excessive amount of lubrication. Through a few prepackaged pratfalls too implausible to properly explain, Jim and Michelle’s pre-pubescent son learns that Mommy and Daddy had been pleasuring themselves in separate rooms, and lack the self-awareness to properly shield themselves when caught. The camera stays fixed on the silent milieu of an embarrassed Michelle shrinking underneath the bubbles in her bathtub, and Jim clenching the bleeding tip of his crotch, the two of them separated by a shower handle excitedly dancing across the tiles.
- 4/4/2012
- by Gabe Toro
- The Playlist
Exclusive: John Legend is behind a music special, which is in series consideration at Showtime. The nine-time Grammy Award winner hosts and executive produces the project, which had a private taping recently at the historic EastWest Studios in Los Angeles. The untitled show features top artists from different genres who discuss their careers and perform an original musical collaboration before live studio audience. The first taping, directed by Jesse Dylan (Kicking & Screaming), son of music icon Bob Dylan, included a live performance from country star Faith Hill singing her new single “You’re The One Whose Waiting”, which was co-written by Legend, and a solo performance by rapper B.o.B of the single “Ghost in the Machine.” The show wrapped with a live rendition of “Son of a Preacher Man” with Legend on piano, Hill on lead vocals, and an original rap written and performed by B.o.B.
- 2/8/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Tom Waits is sounding especially growly on his latest track off the newly released Bad As Me, his first album of new music in seven years that critics were relieved to find is as good as he ever was. "Satisfied" has Waits broaching the subject of death, and how he envisions his post-death life: "When i'm gone/roll my vertebrae out like dice/let my skull be a home for the mice/let me bleach like the bones on the beach/I'll be hard like a pit from a peach." He insists, through it all, that he will have satisfaction goddammit. In the high contrast black-and-white video for "Satisfied," directed by Jesse Dylan (son of Bob), Waits stumbles around ghoulishly, pointing an imaginary gun and slapping his hands together. Normally we'd call that clapping, but when you're Tom Waits, it's just called slapping your hands together.
Watch:...
Watch:...
- 11/9/2011
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
If Lou Reed is the drunk uncle that ruins your Thanksgiving, then Tom Waits is the uncle to whom you offer another glass -- in the off chance he may pull one of these in your backyard. The songsmith turned to director Jesse Dylan, media exec and son of Bob, to helm this off-the-cuff black-and-white clip. It features a sweating Waits pointing his "gun" and scratching an itchy belly as he stomps around the dirt in front of a tree and a fence. That's it. Really. The song is culled from "Bad As Me," the Anti- artist's latest and first top...
- 11/8/2011
- Hitfix
The Black Keys are no strangers to bizarre music videos, and the latest for single "Lonely Boy" is no exception. This single-shot video features the hot-stepping and lip-sycning of a man who is decidedly not the Black Keys. He, however, exhibits a familiarity of the tune as though he were. Interestingly, the clip was shot by Jesse Dylan, an acclaimed media executive and the director of films like "Kicking & Screaming." He is also is the son of Bob Dylan. I'm not sure why the big guns were brought in for a video that looks like it was shot on your iPhone....
- 10/26/2011
- Hitfix
The music made by Clarence Clemons won tributes across the Twitterverse on Saturday as the news quickly spread that the legendary saxophone player had died of a stroke at 69. The responses came from across the country, and from every walk of society – politics, music, television, movies. Jesse Dylan, son of Bob, weighed in. So did filmmaker Michael Moore. ABC White House correspondent Jake Tapper. American Idol winner David Cook. Conjurer Penn Jillette. Plenty of people said some of the best moments of their lives were scored by Clemons’ stirring saxophone as...
- 6/19/2011
- The Wrap
Dexter star Michael C. Hall has been named the lead Ambassador for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (Lls) 2011 Light The Night Walks to raise funds for high-impact cancer research and crucial patient services.
Hall appears in a new public service announcement campaign titled ‘Walk As if Your Life Depended on It,’ produced and directed by filmmaker, Jesse Dylan. Successfully treated for Hodgkin lymphoma in 2010, Hall shares his personal experience and encourages people to walk in support of this important cancer fundraiser.
Read more...
Hall appears in a new public service announcement campaign titled ‘Walk As if Your Life Depended on It,’ produced and directed by filmmaker, Jesse Dylan. Successfully treated for Hodgkin lymphoma in 2010, Hall shares his personal experience and encourages people to walk in support of this important cancer fundraiser.
Read more...
- 3/16/2011
- Look to the Stars
Siblings Kassidy and Ryan Brown (25 and 30, respectively) wanted to tell the remarkable stories of the members of this generation who are making an impact on our world. So in 2009 they conceived the idea for Journey of Action, a trip across the Americas that would highlight active citizens and their work. After their start in September 2010 in Alaska, they're on the road for six months. They'll end their journey in Argentina, at which point they will have been to 14 countries and traveled over 15,000 miles. Ryan and Kassidy are filming as they travel, posting regular webisodes to share the stories of all the change-makers they meet with the world. Kassidy and Ryan took a moment on the road to tell us why they are so passionate about this change generation, what it was like signing Timberland as a sponsor for the project, and much more.
What's your big idea?
We believe our generation,...
What's your big idea?
We believe our generation,...
- 12/9/2010
- by David D. Burstein
- Fast Company
Since June 11th the entire world has been at a standstill, tuning into their televisions to watch a rare spectacle, The World Cup. After two years of qualifying matches 32 teams are placed against each other in the final tournament where nations face off to find out who really is the best footballing nation.
With the final tomorrow at 2:30 Est all the football junkies will have to find something else to do with their days as all the chat will be over. For you film geeks out there who have been ignoring your movie needs to watch football I wanted to give you my list of the Ten Football Movies To Watch When World Cup 2010 Concludes.
When I started researching films that were actually about football I found out something that I already knew in my heart; there aren’t that many movies about football. Check out the slim pickings...
With the final tomorrow at 2:30 Est all the football junkies will have to find something else to do with their days as all the chat will be over. For you film geeks out there who have been ignoring your movie needs to watch football I wanted to give you my list of the Ten Football Movies To Watch When World Cup 2010 Concludes.
When I started researching films that were actually about football I found out something that I already knew in my heart; there aren’t that many movies about football. Check out the slim pickings...
- 7/10/2010
- by Andrew Robinson
- The Film Stage
"We need more young women starting companies," Soraya Darabi told me last month, and after sharing onstage and offstage conversations with her, Ray Kurzweil, Jesse Dylan, and Scott Belsky at our Most Creative People event, I left convinced that she was on the brink of her next step.
Now Darabi is ready to announce what that is. She’s leaving drop.io and will be coming on as cofounder and head of business development and marketing of a startup called Foodspotting. It's Urbanspoon meets Foursquare meets food blogging. Enjoying your yummy pad thai? Snap a pic with the iPhone and upload it. Looking for a tasty bite in Midtown? Turn on the app and watch other’s pics pop up. Plus, earn points for making good recommendations.
She’ll be presenting at tonight’s New York Tech Meetup if you want to hear more.
I’m not the first to...
Now Darabi is ready to announce what that is. She’s leaving drop.io and will be coming on as cofounder and head of business development and marketing of a startup called Foodspotting. It's Urbanspoon meets Foursquare meets food blogging. Enjoying your yummy pad thai? Snap a pic with the iPhone and upload it. Looking for a tasty bite in Midtown? Turn on the app and watch other’s pics pop up. Plus, earn points for making good recommendations.
She’ll be presenting at tonight’s New York Tech Meetup if you want to hear more.
I’m not the first to...
- 7/6/2010
- by Anya Kamenetz
- Fast Company
Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business represent the best and the brightest in innovation and creation, but the companies they rep aren't all powerhouses--yet. Here are 10 of the most creative small business drawn from our list of the 100.
1. Foursquare
No company is banking on our obsession with geolocation as well as Foursquare. The social networking app rewards users with points and badges for checking in at physical locations. Foursquare secured $1.35 million in funding this fall, and has more than 1 million users. The company has formed partnerships with Conde Nast, Zagat, the New York Times, and HBO to offer rewards to users, and with its fast growing network (10 people check-in every second), we can only expect more to be on the way. [Naveen Selvadurai #30]
2. Behance
Three years ago, Behance was born as a Web-based platform for creatives--a place to show of their work regardless of their resumes, hoping to turn more ideas into reality.
1. Foursquare
No company is banking on our obsession with geolocation as well as Foursquare. The social networking app rewards users with points and badges for checking in at physical locations. Foursquare secured $1.35 million in funding this fall, and has more than 1 million users. The company has formed partnerships with Conde Nast, Zagat, the New York Times, and HBO to offer rewards to users, and with its fast growing network (10 people check-in every second), we can only expect more to be on the way. [Naveen Selvadurai #30]
2. Behance
Three years ago, Behance was born as a Web-based platform for creatives--a place to show of their work regardless of their resumes, hoping to turn more ideas into reality.
- 6/1/2010
- by Stephanie Schomer
- Fast Company
While it's still not a sure thing that The Twilight Saga: New Moon director Chris Weitz is out of the running for the director spot of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, it appears that Chris Weitz is getting even busier as each day passes.
You already know that Weitz is scheduled to direct The Gardener sometime this year.
According to Fused Film,
A few weeks ago we posted that Universal was keen on making an American Pie 4 nd bring back some of the origina ... Weitz did help his brother Paul Weitz with directing American Pie, the first of the three films in the series, his main position served was as a producer or executive producer for the films (note that American Pie 2 was directed by J.B. Rogers and American Wedding was directed by Jesse Dylan ...
You already know that Weitz is scheduled to direct The Gardener sometime this year.
According to Fused Film,
A few weeks ago we posted that Universal was keen on making an American Pie 4 nd bring back some of the origina ... Weitz did help his brother Paul Weitz with directing American Pie, the first of the three films in the series, his main position served was as a producer or executive producer for the films (note that American Pie 2 was directed by J.B. Rogers and American Wedding was directed by Jesse Dylan ...
- 3/4/2010
- by thetwilightexaminer
- Twilight Examiner
Join Alicia Keys, Renee Zellweger, Justin Timberlake, Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas, Jay Z, the cast of the hit series, "Community," and stand up to cancer. No, really stand up!
All these celebrities -- and many more -- have contributed their time and talent to support standup2cancer.org.
Comcast Corporation and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) have joined together to create the first-ever video-on-demand (VOD) initiative Stand Up To Cancer On Demand to broaden awareness and raise critical funds for cancer research.
Here's the website.
Debuting exclusively on Comcast beginning December 15th, Stand Up To Cancer On Demand will feature an extraordinary library of musical entertainment including hundreds of music videos from many of the world's biggest stars and groups.
Did we mention the website?
Available for no additional cost to viewers in more than 18 million Comcast homes through March 14th, Stand Up To Cancer On Demand...
All these celebrities -- and many more -- have contributed their time and talent to support standup2cancer.org.
Comcast Corporation and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) have joined together to create the first-ever video-on-demand (VOD) initiative Stand Up To Cancer On Demand to broaden awareness and raise critical funds for cancer research.
Here's the website.
Debuting exclusively on Comcast beginning December 15th, Stand Up To Cancer On Demand will feature an extraordinary library of musical entertainment including hundreds of music videos from many of the world's biggest stars and groups.
Did we mention the website?
Available for no additional cost to viewers in more than 18 million Comcast homes through March 14th, Stand Up To Cancer On Demand...
- 12/14/2009
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
In commemoration of World AIDS Day 2009 on Tuesday, December 1, "Twilight Saga" actresses Ashley Greene and Nikki Reed show their support for Africa by participating in a new PSA campaign called as "Coming Together as One". The campaign aims to mobilize young people to fight against poverty and preventable disease, such as AIDS, TB, and malaria.
Joining them to take part in the movement are their "The Twilight Saga's New Moon" co-stars, Kellan Lutz and Jackson Rathbone. Other young Hollywood celebs participating in the campaign include "Gossip Girl" stars Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick, Jessica Szohr, "Heroes" beauty Hayden Panettiere, "90210" actor Tristan Wilds, "High School Musical" hunk Corbin Bleu, and "Star Trek" star John Cho.
The PSA was created by director Jesse Dylan, who made President Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" campaign video that featured Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am. Of the "Coming Together as One" campaign, David Lane,...
Joining them to take part in the movement are their "The Twilight Saga's New Moon" co-stars, Kellan Lutz and Jackson Rathbone. Other young Hollywood celebs participating in the campaign include "Gossip Girl" stars Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick, Jessica Szohr, "Heroes" beauty Hayden Panettiere, "90210" actor Tristan Wilds, "High School Musical" hunk Corbin Bleu, and "Star Trek" star John Cho.
The PSA was created by director Jesse Dylan, who made President Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" campaign video that featured Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am. Of the "Coming Together as One" campaign, David Lane,...
- 12/1/2009
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
Artists from a wide range of TV and big screen projects team up to star in a new public service announcement (PSA), which is aimed to mobilize young people in the fight against poverty and preventable disease like AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, particularly in Africa. The campaign is launched in partnership with global advocacy and campaigning organization One, which is co-founded by U2 rocker Bono.
"The Twilight Saga's New Moon" stars Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed and Jackson Rathbone, as well as "Gossip Girl" actors Leighton Meester, Jessica Szohr and Ed Westwick are some of the celebrities featured in the PSA, called "Coming Together as One". In addition to them all, there are also the likes of Hayden Panettiere from "Heroes", Tristan Wilds of "90210", "High School Musical" star Corbin Bleu, and "Star Trek" actor John Cho.
The "Coming Together as One" PSA was created by director Jesse Dylan, who...
"The Twilight Saga's New Moon" stars Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed and Jackson Rathbone, as well as "Gossip Girl" actors Leighton Meester, Jessica Szohr and Ed Westwick are some of the celebrities featured in the PSA, called "Coming Together as One". In addition to them all, there are also the likes of Hayden Panettiere from "Heroes", Tristan Wilds of "90210", "High School Musical" star Corbin Bleu, and "Star Trek" actor John Cho.
The "Coming Together as One" PSA was created by director Jesse Dylan, who...
- 12/1/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
We have a new Ta Follows the Stars for you tonight featuring some of our favorite Cullen siblings in a video done for The One Campaign. Nikki Reed Kellan Lutz Ashley Greene and Jackson Rathbone all joined in to make a video that works to fight poverty. Then we have a couple of tweets from David Slade letting us know a little more about postproduction on Eclipse. Check out more belowMTVs Hollywood Crush had the following from Ashley regarding the videoThe goal of the campaign is to recruit more young people in the battle against poverty. In the last election and over the course of history young people have shown that when we get organized and committed we are powerful. The fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease in poor countries needs our support our energy and our commitment Ashley told One.Directed by Jesse Dylan hes the same guy...
- 11/30/2009
- twilightersanonymous.com
The Los Angeles City Council has decided to make Mallika Sherawat an honorary citizen. This will be the first time the city of Los Angeles will officially confer an honour on any B-Town celebrity.Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other members of the La City Council will do the needful on the eve of India's Independence Day. On the occasion, the city will recognise Ms Sherawat as an honorary citizen and present a resolution for her extraordinary career and charitable efforts.Says a source close to Mallika, "It will be a celebrity -studded event where many special guests are expected to attend. Some of these will include her Hollywood friends like world-famous composer Yanni, film director Jay Chandrashekar, CAA super agent Emanuel Nunez, film director Jesse Dylan (son of musician Bob Dylan), Hisss director Jennifer Lynch and producer Govind Menon among others. Mallika has personally invited all of them to the event.
- 8/9/2009
- Filmicafe
Judd Apatow and Adam Sandler on the set of Funny People
Photo: Universal Pictures With the upcoming release of Judd Apatow's third directorial feature, Funny People, I thought the writer/director/producer was the perfect choice for this week's quiz. Apatow's first two films (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up) both grossed over $100 million domestically and his name has become the number one name in comedy since and now with Funny People there is even talk of potential Best Picture nominations on the horizon so wouldn't it make sense we get to know this guy a littler better? Check out the sample question below or click here to get started: Judd Apatow was a producer on the hit comedy Superbad, who directed it? Jesse Dylan David Gordon Green Adam McKay Greg Mottola Harold Ramis Funny People hits theaters this Friday, July 31, for more information click here.
Photo: Universal Pictures With the upcoming release of Judd Apatow's third directorial feature, Funny People, I thought the writer/director/producer was the perfect choice for this week's quiz. Apatow's first two films (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up) both grossed over $100 million domestically and his name has become the number one name in comedy since and now with Funny People there is even talk of potential Best Picture nominations on the horizon so wouldn't it make sense we get to know this guy a littler better? Check out the sample question below or click here to get started: Judd Apatow was a producer on the hit comedy Superbad, who directed it? Jesse Dylan David Gordon Green Adam McKay Greg Mottola Harold Ramis Funny People hits theaters this Friday, July 31, for more information click here.
- 7/29/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
You've heard the song – now watch the video. People.com has an exclusive first look at Miranda Cosgrove's new video for her tune, "Stay My Baby." This is the first video from the 15-year-old star of Nickelodeon's hit iCarly. The song is off the album iCarly – Music from and Inspired by the Hit TV Show. In the video, Cosgrove – wearing a graphic white tank top, black shorts and black sneakers – is seen playing with her band and hanging out in a recording studio where she catches the eye of a cute sound engineer played by Nolan Funk. What starts...
- 8/1/2008
- by Aaron Parsley
- PEOPLE.com
In the grand scheme of things, Kicking & Screaming never will be remembered for its dazzling originality (Four words: The Bad News Bears) or its sparkling wit. It doesn't even really have any memorable sequences that eventually would find their way onto an Oscar clip reel.
But when it comes to making good on its promise -- namely Will Ferrell as a driven soccer dad in a suitable-for-all-ages comedy -- the picture delivers the entirely pleasant if somewhat recycled goods.
Laughs-wise, it lacks the raucous edge of an Old School or Anchorman or the retro charm of an Elf, but there's still plenty of Will-power to fuel this likable underdog trifle. It certainly is more enjoyable than a lot of what passes for family entertainment these days.
While the Universal release shows a considerable amount of moxie by going up against the Force, parents still won't have to drag their kids kicking and screaming to this no-brainer example of surefire counter-programming.
Ferrell plays Phil Weston, a good-natured vitamin salesman with a supportive wife (Kate Walsh) and a well-behaved 10-year-old son (Dylan McLaughlin).
He also happens to have Buck, a fiercely competitive, highly critical father (a perfectly cast Robert Duvall in full-tilt The Great Santini mode) with a young second wife and a 10-year-old of his own (Josh Hutcherson).
When Buck, who coaches the top-ranked Gladiators little league soccer team, sends Phil's kid down to the bottom-ranked Tigers, Phil steps in to whip the hapless players into championship contenders with a little help from his dad's next-door neighbor, Mike Ditka -- yes, that Mike Ditka -- as well as a couple of young Italian prodigies who have been recruited from their uncle's deli.
In the process of rising to the occasion, Phil turns into a caffeine-injected soccer-dad monster but manages to see the error of his bullying ways before the final goal is scored.
It's the kind of tried-and-true story -- which initially was kicked around by Ferrell and his manager, Jimmy Miller, before being handed off to Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick (the team behind The Santa Clause movies) -- that really depends on its cast and a director with solid comic timing to get the job done.
Having established himself with American Wedding and How High, Jesse Dylan displays the requisite light touch, though in the process of going for that loose, improvisational feel, occasionally the shtick gets stuck in a repetitive rut.
Even though this one's aimed at kids, there's still enough of Ferrell's amiably loopy personality to satisfy his fans. It's great to see Duvall taking on a rare comedy, and he looks like he's having the time of his life, while famed Chicago Bears coach Ditka, in his first major feature outing, proves to be a natural, more than holding his own against Ferrell and Duvall.
Production values (though set in Chicago, the movie is shot extensively in Southern California) are bright and sunny thanks to reliable assists from cinematographer Lloyd Ahern ("Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story") and the versatile Mark Isham, who mixes it up with an appropriately playful score.
Now if only they had managed to accomplish all of the above without seeing the need to include the Black Eyed Peas' ubiquitous Let's Get It Started, they might really have started something.
Kicking & Screaming
Universal
Universal Pictures presents a Mosaic Media Group production
Credits:
Director: Jesse Dylan
Screenwriters: Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick
Producer: Jimmy Miller
Executive producers: Charles Roven, Judd Apatow, Daniel Lupi
Director of photography: Lloyd Ahern
Production designer: Clayton R. Hartley
Editors: Stuart Pappe, Peter Teschner
Costume designer: Pamela Withers Chilton
Music: Mark Isham. Cast: Phil Weston: Will Ferrell
Buck Weston: Robert Duvall
Barbara Weston: Kate Walsh
Himself: Mike Ditka
Sam Weston: Dylan McLaughlin
Bucky Weston: Josh Hutcherson
Janice Weston: Musetta Vander
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 87 minutes...
But when it comes to making good on its promise -- namely Will Ferrell as a driven soccer dad in a suitable-for-all-ages comedy -- the picture delivers the entirely pleasant if somewhat recycled goods.
Laughs-wise, it lacks the raucous edge of an Old School or Anchorman or the retro charm of an Elf, but there's still plenty of Will-power to fuel this likable underdog trifle. It certainly is more enjoyable than a lot of what passes for family entertainment these days.
While the Universal release shows a considerable amount of moxie by going up against the Force, parents still won't have to drag their kids kicking and screaming to this no-brainer example of surefire counter-programming.
Ferrell plays Phil Weston, a good-natured vitamin salesman with a supportive wife (Kate Walsh) and a well-behaved 10-year-old son (Dylan McLaughlin).
He also happens to have Buck, a fiercely competitive, highly critical father (a perfectly cast Robert Duvall in full-tilt The Great Santini mode) with a young second wife and a 10-year-old of his own (Josh Hutcherson).
When Buck, who coaches the top-ranked Gladiators little league soccer team, sends Phil's kid down to the bottom-ranked Tigers, Phil steps in to whip the hapless players into championship contenders with a little help from his dad's next-door neighbor, Mike Ditka -- yes, that Mike Ditka -- as well as a couple of young Italian prodigies who have been recruited from their uncle's deli.
In the process of rising to the occasion, Phil turns into a caffeine-injected soccer-dad monster but manages to see the error of his bullying ways before the final goal is scored.
It's the kind of tried-and-true story -- which initially was kicked around by Ferrell and his manager, Jimmy Miller, before being handed off to Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick (the team behind The Santa Clause movies) -- that really depends on its cast and a director with solid comic timing to get the job done.
Having established himself with American Wedding and How High, Jesse Dylan displays the requisite light touch, though in the process of going for that loose, improvisational feel, occasionally the shtick gets stuck in a repetitive rut.
Even though this one's aimed at kids, there's still enough of Ferrell's amiably loopy personality to satisfy his fans. It's great to see Duvall taking on a rare comedy, and he looks like he's having the time of his life, while famed Chicago Bears coach Ditka, in his first major feature outing, proves to be a natural, more than holding his own against Ferrell and Duvall.
Production values (though set in Chicago, the movie is shot extensively in Southern California) are bright and sunny thanks to reliable assists from cinematographer Lloyd Ahern ("Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story") and the versatile Mark Isham, who mixes it up with an appropriately playful score.
Now if only they had managed to accomplish all of the above without seeing the need to include the Black Eyed Peas' ubiquitous Let's Get It Started, they might really have started something.
Kicking & Screaming
Universal
Universal Pictures presents a Mosaic Media Group production
Credits:
Director: Jesse Dylan
Screenwriters: Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick
Producer: Jimmy Miller
Executive producers: Charles Roven, Judd Apatow, Daniel Lupi
Director of photography: Lloyd Ahern
Production designer: Clayton R. Hartley
Editors: Stuart Pappe, Peter Teschner
Costume designer: Pamela Withers Chilton
Music: Mark Isham. Cast: Phil Weston: Will Ferrell
Buck Weston: Robert Duvall
Barbara Weston: Kate Walsh
Himself: Mike Ditka
Sam Weston: Dylan McLaughlin
Bucky Weston: Josh Hutcherson
Janice Weston: Musetta Vander
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 87 minutes...
Comedies were, by and large, the queen and king at the turnstiles in North America this past weekend, claiming the top two positions. New Line Cinema's Monster-in-Law was wedded to the top spot on its debut at the boxoffice as the Jennifer Lopez-Jane Fonda starrer racked up a solid $23.1 million. The opening for the PG-13-rated romantic comedy, directed by Robert Luketic, proved to be a personal best for Lopez, topping the $18.7 million debut of Sony's Maid in Manhattan. The family-friendly Kicking & Screaming from Universal opened with $20.2 million to place second. Will Ferrell stars in the PG-rated Kicking, about a man who decides to coach his son's soccer team. The comedy, helmed by Jesse Dylan, was Ferrell's third-best opening.
- 5/17/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Peter Pan helmer P.J. Hogan has signed on to direct Let's Make Friends for Paramount Pictures. The project was originally set up at Paramount-based De Line Pictures, with Harold Ramis helming the male-bonding comedy. Jesse Dylan was most recently attached to direct. In addition to getting a new director, Friends is one of several projects from De Line Pictures currently being assigned a new producer in the wake of Donald De Line's appointment as vice chair of the Motion Picture Group and studio president at Paramount. Paramount-based Scott Rudin Prods. will likely replace De Line as the producer on this project.
- 3/26/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Opens
Friday, Aug. 1
Having already twice proved that it's possible to make a top-grossing, gross-out picture that even chicks can dig, most of the original "American Pie" gang has returned for a third helping with the tellingly titled "American Wedding".
But while the threatened final installment, or rather "the thrilling climax," of the "Pie" saga serves up the same mix of shock comedy and lovable characters, the familiar formula feels significantly watered-down the third time around.
Too often, screenwriter Adam Herz's plotting seems to exist solely to set up one of those custom naughty sight gags rather than to advance any semblance of story.
Of course, that probably won't bother audiences, who'll still likely feel like they got what they came for, but even with the word "Wedding" ensuring a substantial female turnout, the total take might not reach the pie-in-the-sky heights of the two predecessors.
It seems like it was just yesterday when Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs) was getting acquainted with hot baked goods, but band camp feels like a distant memory for Jim and his flute-playing fiancee Michelle Flaherty (Alyson Hannigan) as they make plans for their upcoming nuptials.
As if they don't have enough on their plate, despite getting assistance from Jim's unflappable dad (Eugene Levy) and mom (Molly Cheek) and Michelle's folks (Fred Willard and Deborah Rush), the arrival of Michelle's gorgeous sister, Cadence (January Jones) has been duly noticed by Jim's cerebral buddy Finch Eddie Kaye Thomas) and the indefatigable Stifler (Seann William Scott).
Determined to pull out all stops necessary to put the make on the maid of honor, Stifler manages to charm his way into the wedding party, much to the horror of Jim and Michelle, who have a right to be concerned.
While "American Wedding" might once again be focusing on the trials and humiliations of Biggs' nice guy Jim, this is Scott's movie all the way. Whether he's tearing up the dance floor in a gay bar on '80s Night, getting freaky with Jim's grandma or trying to coax a dog to part with an accidentally consumed wedding ring (better not to ask), the gonzo Stifler, with his John Belushi bursts of energy and his trouble-making Jack Nicholson grin, is up to any challenge that comes his way.
But even his contribution, as well as those of Christopher Guest regulars Levy, Willard and Jennifer Coolidge -- who makes a final, all-too-brief appearance as Stifler's mom -- only go so far in adding a little zip to the bland proceedings.
With original directors Paul and Chris Weitz having successfully moved on to more mature fare like "About a Boy", the reins have been passed from "American Pie 2" helmer James B. Rogers to Jesse Dylan, who proved he knew his way around a visual gag with his first feature, "How High".
Dylan can push through an effective gross-out scene with the best of them, but when it comes to pulling off that patented "American Pie" blend of the raucous and the sweetly innocuous, he lacks the Weitz brothers' seamlessly shifting light touch.
As is fitting for the genre, production values are bright and zippy, while executive music producer Kathy Nelson has assembled several albums' worth of ideally attuned tunes ranging from newer stuff by the All-American Rejects ("Swing Swing") and Joseph Arthur (the plaintive "Honey and the Moon") and older stuff, including a cover of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic", performed by Jesse's brother Jakob's band, the Wallflowers.
American Wedding
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures presents
A Zide/Perry-LivePlanet production
Credits:
Director: Jesse Dylan
Screenwriter: Adam Herz
Producers: Warren Zide, Craig Perry, Chris Moore, Adam Herz, Chris Bender
Executive producers: Paul Weitz, Chris Weitz, Louis G. Friedman
Director of photography: Lloyd Ahern
Production designer: Clayton Hartley
Editor: Stuart Pappe
Costume designer: Pamela Withers Chilton
Music: Christophe Beck;
CQ Executive music producer: Kathy Nelson
Casting: Lisa Beach, Sarah Katzman
Cast:
Jim: Jason Biggs
Michelle: Alyson Hannigan
Cadence: January Jones
Kevin: Thomas Ian Nicholas
Steve Stifler: Seann William Scott
Finch: Eddie Kaye Thomas
Harold: Fred Willard
Jim's Dad: Eugene Levy
Jim's Mom
Molly Cheek
Mary: Deborah Rush
Running time -- 95 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Friday, Aug. 1
Having already twice proved that it's possible to make a top-grossing, gross-out picture that even chicks can dig, most of the original "American Pie" gang has returned for a third helping with the tellingly titled "American Wedding".
But while the threatened final installment, or rather "the thrilling climax," of the "Pie" saga serves up the same mix of shock comedy and lovable characters, the familiar formula feels significantly watered-down the third time around.
Too often, screenwriter Adam Herz's plotting seems to exist solely to set up one of those custom naughty sight gags rather than to advance any semblance of story.
Of course, that probably won't bother audiences, who'll still likely feel like they got what they came for, but even with the word "Wedding" ensuring a substantial female turnout, the total take might not reach the pie-in-the-sky heights of the two predecessors.
It seems like it was just yesterday when Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs) was getting acquainted with hot baked goods, but band camp feels like a distant memory for Jim and his flute-playing fiancee Michelle Flaherty (Alyson Hannigan) as they make plans for their upcoming nuptials.
As if they don't have enough on their plate, despite getting assistance from Jim's unflappable dad (Eugene Levy) and mom (Molly Cheek) and Michelle's folks (Fred Willard and Deborah Rush), the arrival of Michelle's gorgeous sister, Cadence (January Jones) has been duly noticed by Jim's cerebral buddy Finch Eddie Kaye Thomas) and the indefatigable Stifler (Seann William Scott).
Determined to pull out all stops necessary to put the make on the maid of honor, Stifler manages to charm his way into the wedding party, much to the horror of Jim and Michelle, who have a right to be concerned.
While "American Wedding" might once again be focusing on the trials and humiliations of Biggs' nice guy Jim, this is Scott's movie all the way. Whether he's tearing up the dance floor in a gay bar on '80s Night, getting freaky with Jim's grandma or trying to coax a dog to part with an accidentally consumed wedding ring (better not to ask), the gonzo Stifler, with his John Belushi bursts of energy and his trouble-making Jack Nicholson grin, is up to any challenge that comes his way.
But even his contribution, as well as those of Christopher Guest regulars Levy, Willard and Jennifer Coolidge -- who makes a final, all-too-brief appearance as Stifler's mom -- only go so far in adding a little zip to the bland proceedings.
With original directors Paul and Chris Weitz having successfully moved on to more mature fare like "About a Boy", the reins have been passed from "American Pie 2" helmer James B. Rogers to Jesse Dylan, who proved he knew his way around a visual gag with his first feature, "How High".
Dylan can push through an effective gross-out scene with the best of them, but when it comes to pulling off that patented "American Pie" blend of the raucous and the sweetly innocuous, he lacks the Weitz brothers' seamlessly shifting light touch.
As is fitting for the genre, production values are bright and zippy, while executive music producer Kathy Nelson has assembled several albums' worth of ideally attuned tunes ranging from newer stuff by the All-American Rejects ("Swing Swing") and Joseph Arthur (the plaintive "Honey and the Moon") and older stuff, including a cover of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic", performed by Jesse's brother Jakob's band, the Wallflowers.
American Wedding
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures presents
A Zide/Perry-LivePlanet production
Credits:
Director: Jesse Dylan
Screenwriter: Adam Herz
Producers: Warren Zide, Craig Perry, Chris Moore, Adam Herz, Chris Bender
Executive producers: Paul Weitz, Chris Weitz, Louis G. Friedman
Director of photography: Lloyd Ahern
Production designer: Clayton Hartley
Editor: Stuart Pappe
Costume designer: Pamela Withers Chilton
Music: Christophe Beck;
CQ Executive music producer: Kathy Nelson
Casting: Lisa Beach, Sarah Katzman
Cast:
Jim: Jason Biggs
Michelle: Alyson Hannigan
Cadence: January Jones
Kevin: Thomas Ian Nicholas
Steve Stifler: Seann William Scott
Finch: Eddie Kaye Thomas
Harold: Fred Willard
Jim's Dad: Eugene Levy
Jim's Mom
Molly Cheek
Mary: Deborah Rush
Running time -- 95 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
As the summer boxoffice season begins to wind down, two films opened in wide release this weekend in North America. With a boxoffice train of $33.4 million in tow, Universal's American Wedding walked down the aisle in the top spot on its debut, while Sony's Gigli suffered from a storm of bad PR and reviews to open in the ninth slot with an unwelcoming $3.8 million. Wedding, a comedy helmed by Jesse Dylan, is the third installment in the American Pie franchise and marked the fourth No. 1 opening for Universal this summer. The opening was more than the original film ($18.1 million) but lower than the second ($45.1 million), which is what was expected heading into the session. Overall, the boxoffice was fairly lukewarm this weekend as the total for the 111 films tracked by The Hollywood Reporter came to $144.3 million, down nearly 8% from the comparable weekend in 2002, when Buena Vista's Signs beamed up a sterling $60.1 million. Besides the opening of Wedding, the saving grace at the boxoffice this weekend was the strength of select holdovers.
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