“Coda,” “Encanto” and “West Side Story” were received top honors at the 37th annual Artios Awards.
The Casting Society honors excellence in casting across feature films, television and theater. The organization held a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, also celebrating its 40th anniversary.
To kick off the virtual ceremony, a montage commemorating the anniversary as shown, demonstrating the significance of the Casting Society to casting directors and associates, past and present.
“We are so excited to honor these immensely talented, creative and hard-working casting directors tonight,” said Casting Society president Kim Williams. “What a wonderful way to begin Casting Society’s 40th year by celebrating these extraordinary casting directors’ invaluable contributions to the entertainment world.”
Host Danielle Pinnock said in a statement: “It was a tremendous honor to be asked to host this year’s Artios Awards. I’m still pinching myself! To be able to celebrate these industry titans is...
The Casting Society honors excellence in casting across feature films, television and theater. The organization held a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, also celebrating its 40th anniversary.
To kick off the virtual ceremony, a montage commemorating the anniversary as shown, demonstrating the significance of the Casting Society to casting directors and associates, past and present.
“We are so excited to honor these immensely talented, creative and hard-working casting directors tonight,” said Casting Society president Kim Williams. “What a wonderful way to begin Casting Society’s 40th year by celebrating these extraordinary casting directors’ invaluable contributions to the entertainment world.”
Host Danielle Pinnock said in a statement: “It was a tremendous honor to be asked to host this year’s Artios Awards. I’m still pinching myself! To be able to celebrate these industry titans is...
- 3/24/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
The Casting Society announced its winners in film, television, and theater on Wednesday night, honoring Best Picture front-runner “Coda,” as well as fellow Oscar nominees “West Side Story,” “Don’t Look Up,” and “Encanto” as part of the 37th annual Artios Awards. The virtual ceremony included numerous bold-face names as presenters – including Steven Spielberg, Best Supporting Actress front-runner Ariana DeBose, Best Supporting Actor leader Troy Kotsur, and Brian Cox – as well as a special honor, the Zeitgeist Award, for “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”
“Ghosts” actress Danielle Pinnock served as the emcee. “It was a tremendous honor to be asked to host this year’s Artios Awards. I’m still pinching myself! To be able to celebrate these industry titans is a gift I won’t soon forget. I have always been so inspired by the endless creativity and passion that casting directors exhibit: in giving actors a platform to share their...
“Ghosts” actress Danielle Pinnock served as the emcee. “It was a tremendous honor to be asked to host this year’s Artios Awards. I’m still pinching myself! To be able to celebrate these industry titans is a gift I won’t soon forget. I have always been so inspired by the endless creativity and passion that casting directors exhibit: in giving actors a platform to share their...
- 3/24/2022
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Best Picture Oscar nominees Coda, West Side Story and Don’t Look Up were among the winners at the Casting Society’s 37th annual Artios Awards, which were handed out today during a virtual ceremony that streamed live on YouTube. Check out the full list below.
Other films scoring the trophies that honor casting directors include Encanto, The Tender Bar and Spider-Man: No Way Home, which snared the Zeitgeist Award that is presented to a popular film.
On the TV front, winners included the casting crews behind Ted Lasso, The Queen’s Gambit, Pose, Lovecraft Country, Big Mouth and Queer Eye, among others.
“We are so excited to honor these immensely talented, creative and hard working casting directors tonight,” said Casting Society President Kim Williams. “What a wonderful way to begin Casting Society’s 40th year by celebrating these extraordinary casting directors’ invaluable contributions to the entertainment world.”
Ghosts co-star Danielle Pinnock hosted the ceremony,...
Other films scoring the trophies that honor casting directors include Encanto, The Tender Bar and Spider-Man: No Way Home, which snared the Zeitgeist Award that is presented to a popular film.
On the TV front, winners included the casting crews behind Ted Lasso, The Queen’s Gambit, Pose, Lovecraft Country, Big Mouth and Queer Eye, among others.
“We are so excited to honor these immensely talented, creative and hard working casting directors tonight,” said Casting Society President Kim Williams. “What a wonderful way to begin Casting Society’s 40th year by celebrating these extraordinary casting directors’ invaluable contributions to the entertainment world.”
Ghosts co-star Danielle Pinnock hosted the ceremony,...
- 3/24/2022
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The Casting Society of America has made the first callbacks for the 37th annual Artios Awards. The group today revealed its nominees for television, theater, short films and shortform series.
Netflix leads with 11 noms, nearly double the haul for runners-up HBO and Hulu, which grabbed six apiece. Disney+ is next with four, followed Amazon Prime Video and Nickelodeon, which scooped three apiece. The winners will be feted during the CSA’s in-person trophy show on March 17 at the Beverly Hilton.
Vying in the Television Series – Drama category are The Boys, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mandalorian, Pose and This Is Us. Up for the Comedy Series prize are A Black Lady Sketch Show, Call My Agent, Pen15 and three series that wrapped their runs this year: The Kominsky Method, Shrill and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.
The nominees for Television Pilot or First Season – Drama are Bridgerton, Ginny & Georgia, Lovecraft Country, Perry Mason,...
Netflix leads with 11 noms, nearly double the haul for runners-up HBO and Hulu, which grabbed six apiece. Disney+ is next with four, followed Amazon Prime Video and Nickelodeon, which scooped three apiece. The winners will be feted during the CSA’s in-person trophy show on March 17 at the Beverly Hilton.
Vying in the Television Series – Drama category are The Boys, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mandalorian, Pose and This Is Us. Up for the Comedy Series prize are A Black Lady Sketch Show, Call My Agent, Pen15 and three series that wrapped their runs this year: The Kominsky Method, Shrill and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.
The nominees for Television Pilot or First Season – Drama are Bridgerton, Ginny & Georgia, Lovecraft Country, Perry Mason,...
- 11/22/2021
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
After zooming to the top of the pandemic-era box office in the global hit “F9,” actor Tyrese Gibson has booked his next gig alongside Ray Liotta and Scott Eastwood.
The trio will lead the Los Angeles riots thriller “April 29, 1992,” the forthcoming feature from the breakout director of “The Iceman,” Ariel Vromen. Pre-production from a script by Sascha Penn is underway, aiming for an August start. Producers hope to have the film ready for release in observation of next year’s 30th anniversary of the riots, sparked by police brutality against Rodney King.
Gibson, a South Central L.A. native, will play opposite on-screen father and son Liotta and Eastwood. The film takes place on the first night of the riots, centering on a custodian who brings his son to work. The two quickly find themselves in the middle of a heist gone wrong.
Maurice Fadida of Kodiak Pictures is producing alongside Vromen.
The trio will lead the Los Angeles riots thriller “April 29, 1992,” the forthcoming feature from the breakout director of “The Iceman,” Ariel Vromen. Pre-production from a script by Sascha Penn is underway, aiming for an August start. Producers hope to have the film ready for release in observation of next year’s 30th anniversary of the riots, sparked by police brutality against Rodney King.
Gibson, a South Central L.A. native, will play opposite on-screen father and son Liotta and Eastwood. The film takes place on the first night of the riots, centering on a custodian who brings his son to work. The two quickly find themselves in the middle of a heist gone wrong.
Maurice Fadida of Kodiak Pictures is producing alongside Vromen.
- 7/6/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Hollywood is full of filmmaking collectives — camps of creative people who met at the bottom and carry each other, hopefully, to great heights.
Particularly sacred (and occasionally fraught) is the relationship between producer and director, a delicate balance of trust and honesty. Approaching nearly 20 years in that dynamic are Oscar nominee Lee Daniels and producer Tucker Tooley.
Having met in the early aughts, the pair just released the Golden Globe-winning “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” at Hulu, and is prepping for the April 2 release of the TIFF player “Concrete Cowboy” with Idris Elba at Netflix.
While studio jobs and streaming riches have come to them more recently, they met as fringe players trying to make a film about the life of actor Montgomery Clift, which never materialized. That led to Daniels’ 2005 directorial debut “Shadowboxer,” starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Helen Mirren.
During a recent sit-down with Variety, Daniels and...
Particularly sacred (and occasionally fraught) is the relationship between producer and director, a delicate balance of trust and honesty. Approaching nearly 20 years in that dynamic are Oscar nominee Lee Daniels and producer Tucker Tooley.
Having met in the early aughts, the pair just released the Golden Globe-winning “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” at Hulu, and is prepping for the April 2 release of the TIFF player “Concrete Cowboy” with Idris Elba at Netflix.
While studio jobs and streaming riches have come to them more recently, they met as fringe players trying to make a film about the life of actor Montgomery Clift, which never materialized. That led to Daniels’ 2005 directorial debut “Shadowboxer,” starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Helen Mirren.
During a recent sit-down with Variety, Daniels and...
- 3/30/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
After spending decades proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was far more than just James Bond, seven-time 007 Sean Connery decided it was safe to dust off the persona for The Rock (1996), playing former Special Air Service spy John Mason. This brilliantly batshit Michael Bay action adventure extravaganza, which has aged like a fine Coppola wine, also made a Hollywood superstar out of Nicolas Cage, then a recent Oscar darling known more for offbeat character work than beating up baddies.
In the grand 1990s tradition, this riveting testosterone fest basically boils down to “Die Hard on Alcatraz.” And there’s nothing wrong with that. Deranged three-time Purple Heart winning Brigadier General Frank Hummel (Ed Harris) leads a cadre of his fellow special ops marines-turned-terrorists in stealing an arsenal of 50 Vx poison gas rocket warheads and, from a perch at de-commissioned military prison Alcatraz, threatening the city of San...
In the grand 1990s tradition, this riveting testosterone fest basically boils down to “Die Hard on Alcatraz.” And there’s nothing wrong with that. Deranged three-time Purple Heart winning Brigadier General Frank Hummel (Ed Harris) leads a cadre of his fellow special ops marines-turned-terrorists in stealing an arsenal of 50 Vx poison gas rocket warheads and, from a perch at de-commissioned military prison Alcatraz, threatening the city of San...
- 11/9/2020
- by Alex Kirschenbaum
- Trailers from Hell
The casting directors of “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood,” “Knives Out,” “Jojo Rabbit” and “Marriage Story” were among the winners at the 35th annual Artios Awards, held Thursday at ceremonies in Los Angeles, New York and London.
Other winners in the eight feature-film categories were the casting directors on “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” “Skin in the Game,” “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” “The Lion King” and “Toy Story 4,” the last two of which tied in the animation category.
Television winners included the casting directors for the first seasons of “Russian Doll” and “Pose,” as well as those on the miniseries “When They See Us,” the reality program “Queer Eye” and the continuing series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Game of Thrones.”
Also Read: SAG Awards Crown 'Parasite,' Give the Oscar Race a Shot of Uncertainty
Awards were also given out in short film and theater categories.
Other winners in the eight feature-film categories were the casting directors on “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” “Skin in the Game,” “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” “The Lion King” and “Toy Story 4,” the last two of which tied in the animation category.
Television winners included the casting directors for the first seasons of “Russian Doll” and “Pose,” as well as those on the miniseries “When They See Us,” the reality program “Queer Eye” and the continuing series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Game of Thrones.”
Also Read: SAG Awards Crown 'Parasite,' Give the Oscar Race a Shot of Uncertainty
Awards were also given out in short film and theater categories.
- 1/31/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “Game of Thrones” have taken home two of the major Artios Awards from the Casting Society of America.
The trophies, which honor excellence in casting, were unveiled at the 35th Annual Artios Awards held on Thursday in ceremonies in New York, Los Angeles and London. The New York ceremony was hosted by Michelle Buteau at Stage 48; Ron Funches emceed in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton, and Jason Isaacs hosted in London at the Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” won the big-budget feature drama award while “Knives Out” took the big-budget feature comedy trophy. “Marriage Story” received the studio or independent drama prize and “Jojo Rabbit” nabbed the comedy counterpart. “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” won the low-budget award.
“Toy Story 4” and “The Lion King” tied in animation. “Skin in the Game...
The trophies, which honor excellence in casting, were unveiled at the 35th Annual Artios Awards held on Thursday in ceremonies in New York, Los Angeles and London. The New York ceremony was hosted by Michelle Buteau at Stage 48; Ron Funches emceed in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton, and Jason Isaacs hosted in London at the Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” won the big-budget feature drama award while “Knives Out” took the big-budget feature comedy trophy. “Marriage Story” received the studio or independent drama prize and “Jojo Rabbit” nabbed the comedy counterpart. “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” won the low-budget award.
“Toy Story 4” and “The Lion King” tied in animation. “Skin in the Game...
- 1/31/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Sony’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Netflix’s Marriage Story, Searchlight’s Jojo Rabbit and Lionsgate’s Knives Out were among the film winners as the Casting Society of America handed out its 35th annual Artios Awards for film, TV and at separate ceremonies across two continents.
Check out the full list of winners below.
The Artios Awards splits most of its film categories by budget. The casting team behind Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood took the Artios trophy for Big Budget Drama, while the casting crew for Rian Johnson’s Knives Out won for Big Budget Comedy.
Other winners on the film side included awards-season regulars Jojo Rabbit (Studio or Independent Comedy) and Marriage Story (Studio or Independent Drama). There was a tie in the Animation category, with Disney’s The Lion King and Toy Story 4 sharing the prize.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker...
Check out the full list of winners below.
The Artios Awards splits most of its film categories by budget. The casting team behind Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood took the Artios trophy for Big Budget Drama, while the casting crew for Rian Johnson’s Knives Out won for Big Budget Comedy.
Other winners on the film side included awards-season regulars Jojo Rabbit (Studio or Independent Comedy) and Marriage Story (Studio or Independent Drama). There was a tie in the Animation category, with Disney’s The Lion King and Toy Story 4 sharing the prize.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker...
- 1/31/2020
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
“When They See Us,” Ava DuVernay’s Netflix limited series, received no acknowledgment Monday when the nominees for the 2020 Golden Globe Awards were announced. This was despite the fact that the project, which tells the story of five young African-American men wrongly convicted of the assault of a jogger in Central Park in 1989, was a big player this year at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Heading into September’s Emmys, “When They See Us” received 16 nominations — the most for any Netflix show and seventh most overall behind “Game of Thrones,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Chernobyl,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Barry,” and “Fosse/Verdon.” Come Emmy night, the miniseries walked away with two awards — one for casting directors Aisha Coley, Billy Hopkins, and Ashley Ingram; and another for lead actor Jharrel Jerome, who played one of the wrongly accused men.
Instead, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assocation nominations in the best television miniseries or...
Heading into September’s Emmys, “When They See Us” received 16 nominations — the most for any Netflix show and seventh most overall behind “Game of Thrones,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Chernobyl,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Barry,” and “Fosse/Verdon.” Come Emmy night, the miniseries walked away with two awards — one for casting directors Aisha Coley, Billy Hopkins, and Ashley Ingram; and another for lead actor Jharrel Jerome, who played one of the wrongly accused men.
Instead, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assocation nominations in the best television miniseries or...
- 12/9/2019
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
Hot on the heels of a shocking Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, the Casting Society of America announced the television and theatre nominations for the 35th Artios Awards, honoring the contributions of casting directors to the arts.
While Netflix’s “When They See Us,” which won casting for a limited series, and HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” which won casting for a drama series at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards earlier this month, have the potential to repeat their accomplishments thanks to the newly announced nominations. The competition for comedy series casting is wide open, with Emmy-winning “Fleabag” not nominated by Csa.
As for networks, Netflix far and away outstripped its competitors, scoring an impressive 19 television Artios Award nominations, compared to just eight for HBO, four for Hulu, three for FX, and two for Amazon Prime Video.
“It has been an exceptional year for the art of casting and this slate...
While Netflix’s “When They See Us,” which won casting for a limited series, and HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” which won casting for a drama series at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards earlier this month, have the potential to repeat their accomplishments thanks to the newly announced nominations. The competition for comedy series casting is wide open, with Emmy-winning “Fleabag” not nominated by Csa.
As for networks, Netflix far and away outstripped its competitors, scoring an impressive 19 television Artios Award nominations, compared to just eight for HBO, four for Hulu, three for FX, and two for Amazon Prime Video.
“It has been an exceptional year for the art of casting and this slate...
- 9/24/2019
- by Libby Hill
- Indiewire
The Casting Society of America (Csa) has announced the nominations for the 35th Artios Awards for television and theater.
“It has been an exceptional year for the art of casting and this slate of incredible nominees is a testament to how the quality of our work is positively reflected in this most impressive list of projects,” said Russell Boast, President, Csa. “As we approach our 35th Artios Awards we celebrate the great achievements our members have made, past and present, and look towards making even more of an impact throughout our industry.”
The awards — which honor the contributions of casting directors in television, theatre, and film — will be handed out on January 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, New York City and London. Comedian, actor and writer Ron Funches is set to host the awards in L.A.
Below is the full list of nominations.
Television Pilot And First Season – Comedy
Dead To Me – Sherry Thomas,...
“It has been an exceptional year for the art of casting and this slate of incredible nominees is a testament to how the quality of our work is positively reflected in this most impressive list of projects,” said Russell Boast, President, Csa. “As we approach our 35th Artios Awards we celebrate the great achievements our members have made, past and present, and look towards making even more of an impact throughout our industry.”
The awards — which honor the contributions of casting directors in television, theatre, and film — will be handed out on January 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, New York City and London. Comedian, actor and writer Ron Funches is set to host the awards in L.A.
Below is the full list of nominations.
Television Pilot And First Season – Comedy
Dead To Me – Sherry Thomas,...
- 9/24/2019
- by Anita Bennett
- Deadline Film + TV
New series including “When They See Us,” “Succession” and “Pen15” are among the 35th Artios Award nominees, the Casting Society of America (Csa) announced Tuesday.
“It has been an exceptional year for the art of casting and this slate of incredible nominees is a testament to how the quality of our work is positively reflected in this most impressive list of projects,” said Russell Boast, president, Csa. “As we approach our 35th Artios Awards we celebrate the great achievements our members have made, past and present, and look towards making even more of an impact throughout our industry.”
The Artios Awards celebrate the contribution of casting directors in film, television and theater. The milestone 35th ceremony will take place Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020 in three cities: Los Angeles, New York and London. Comedian, actor and writer Ron Funches will host the Los Angeles event.
“When They See Us” helped Netflix earn the...
“It has been an exceptional year for the art of casting and this slate of incredible nominees is a testament to how the quality of our work is positively reflected in this most impressive list of projects,” said Russell Boast, president, Csa. “As we approach our 35th Artios Awards we celebrate the great achievements our members have made, past and present, and look towards making even more of an impact throughout our industry.”
The Artios Awards celebrate the contribution of casting directors in film, television and theater. The milestone 35th ceremony will take place Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020 in three cities: Los Angeles, New York and London. Comedian, actor and writer Ron Funches will host the Los Angeles event.
“When They See Us” helped Netflix earn the...
- 9/24/2019
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
One after the other, HBO’s incendiary new series “Euphoria” unveils acting discoveries. Exciting ones. Plus-size model and Instagram phenomenon Barbie Ferreira sizzles as zaftig Kat, who prefers controlling her virtual online sex partners to the vulnerability of building an intimate rapport with a real boy (Austin Abrams). “I don’t do virgins,” she tells him, not long after painfully losing her own maidenhead at a blowout party.
She is among several breakouts in this series created by showrunner Sam Levinson (the ex-addict scion of Hollywood royalty Barry), who wowed Sundance 2018 with hacking thriller “Assassination Nation,” which Neon picked up for $10 million (it grossed $2.5 million domestic). For “Euphoria,” Levinson hired again his “Assassination Nation” casting team of veteran Mary Vernieu and Jessica Kelly (Chrystie Street Casting).
Of course, their job is to give the showrunner options to choose from before HBO finally approves. But it’s unusual for casting directors...
She is among several breakouts in this series created by showrunner Sam Levinson (the ex-addict scion of Hollywood royalty Barry), who wowed Sundance 2018 with hacking thriller “Assassination Nation,” which Neon picked up for $10 million (it grossed $2.5 million domestic). For “Euphoria,” Levinson hired again his “Assassination Nation” casting team of veteran Mary Vernieu and Jessica Kelly (Chrystie Street Casting).
Of course, their job is to give the showrunner options to choose from before HBO finally approves. But it’s unusual for casting directors...
- 7/30/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
One after the other, HBO’s incendiary new series “Euphoria” unveils acting discoveries. Exciting ones. Plus-size model and Instagram phenomenon Barbie Ferreira sizzles as zaftig Kat, who prefers controlling her virtual online sex partners to the vulnerability of building an intimate rapport with a real boy (Austin Abrams). “I don’t do virgins,” she tells him, not long after painfully losing her own maidenhead at a blowout party.
She is among several breakouts in this series created by showrunner Sam Levinson (the ex-addict scion of Hollywood royalty Barry), who wowed Sundance 2018 with hacking thriller “Assassination Nation,” which Neon picked up for $10 million (it grossed $2.5 million domestic). For “Euphoria,” Levinson hired again his “Assassination Nation” casting team of veteran Mary Vernieu and Jessica Kelly (Chrystie Street Casting).
Of course, their job is to give the showrunner options to choose from before HBO finally approves. But it’s unusual for casting directors...
She is among several breakouts in this series created by showrunner Sam Levinson (the ex-addict scion of Hollywood royalty Barry), who wowed Sundance 2018 with hacking thriller “Assassination Nation,” which Neon picked up for $10 million (it grossed $2.5 million domestic). For “Euphoria,” Levinson hired again his “Assassination Nation” casting team of veteran Mary Vernieu and Jessica Kelly (Chrystie Street Casting).
Of course, their job is to give the showrunner options to choose from before HBO finally approves. But it’s unusual for casting directors...
- 7/30/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
‘The Aspern Papers’, ‘Rockaway’, ‘Jobe’z World’ Seek Weekend Traction – Specialty Box Office Preview
A few Specialty distributors are taking advantage of the young year’s dearth of new titles to roll out smaller features they hope will grab attention away from established awards contenders. Cohen Media Group is opening The Aspern Papers today starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson in a drama set in Venice. The company’s Charles Cohen came on board as a producer early in the process. Paladin is handling theatrical for John J. Budion’s coming of age drama Rockaway starring Keidrich Sellati, opening in New York. Also opening is comedic noir Jobe’z World, which shot mostly guerrilla-style over a week in Manhattan.
The Aspern Papers
Director-writer: Julien Landais
Writers: Jean Pavans, Hannah Bhuiya, Henry James (novel)
Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, Jon Kortajarena, Poppy Delevingne, Morgane Polanski, Alice Aufray, Barbara Meier, Lois Robbins
Distributor: Cohen Media Group
Drama The Aspern Papers,...
The Aspern Papers
Director-writer: Julien Landais
Writers: Jean Pavans, Hannah Bhuiya, Henry James (novel)
Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, Jon Kortajarena, Poppy Delevingne, Morgane Polanski, Alice Aufray, Barbara Meier, Lois Robbins
Distributor: Cohen Media Group
Drama The Aspern Papers,...
- 1/11/2019
- by Brian Brooks
- Deadline Film + TV
On the day before the Oscars, the Film Indepdnent Spirit Awards were handed out. In what may be a warm up for the Academy Awards, Get Out took Best Film, marking an excellent night overall for the movie. Impending Oscar winners Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell both won as well for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, while the rest of the winners you can see below… Here are all of the Spirit Award winners: Best Feature “Call Me by Your Name” “The Florida Project” “Get Out” (Winner) “Lady Bird” “The Rider” Best First Feature (Award given to the director and producer) “Columbus” “Ingrid Goes West” (Winner) “Menashe” “Oh Lucy!” “Patti Cake$” John Cassavetes Award – Given to the best feature made for under $500,000. (Award given to the writer, director and producer. Executive Producers are not awarded.) “Dayveon” “A Ghost Story” “Life and Nothing More” (Winner) “Most Beautiful Island” “The Transfiguration” Best Director Sean Baker,...
- 3/4/2018
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
The 33rd Independent Spirit Awards took place on Saturday, March 3 in Los Angeles. The full winners list is below.
Best Feature
“Get Out”
Producers: Jason Blum, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Sean McKittrick, Jordan Peele
“Call Me by Your Name”
Producers: Peter Spears, Luca Guadagnino, Emilie Georges, Rodrigo Teixeira, Marco Morabito, James Ivory, Howard Rosenman
“The Florida Project”
Producers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch, Kevin Chinoy, Andrew Duncan, Alex Saks, Francesca Silvestri, Shih-Ching Tsou
“Lady Bird”
Producers: Eli Bush, Evelyn O’Neill, Scott Rudin
“The Rider”
Producers: Mollye Asher, Bert Hamelinck, Sacha Ben Harroche, Chloé Zhao
Best Female Lead
Frances McDormand
“Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Salma Hayek
“Beatriz at Dinner”
Margot Robbie
“I, Tonya”
Saoirse Ronan
“Lady Bird”
Shinobu Terajima
“Oh Lucy!”
Regina Williams
“Life and Nothing More”
Best Male Lead
Timothée Chalamet
“Call Me by Your Name”
Harris Dickinson
“Beach Rats”
James Franco
“The Disaster Artist”
Daniel Kaluuya
“Get Out...
Best Feature
“Get Out”
Producers: Jason Blum, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Sean McKittrick, Jordan Peele
“Call Me by Your Name”
Producers: Peter Spears, Luca Guadagnino, Emilie Georges, Rodrigo Teixeira, Marco Morabito, James Ivory, Howard Rosenman
“The Florida Project”
Producers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch, Kevin Chinoy, Andrew Duncan, Alex Saks, Francesca Silvestri, Shih-Ching Tsou
“Lady Bird”
Producers: Eli Bush, Evelyn O’Neill, Scott Rudin
“The Rider”
Producers: Mollye Asher, Bert Hamelinck, Sacha Ben Harroche, Chloé Zhao
Best Female Lead
Frances McDormand
“Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Salma Hayek
“Beatriz at Dinner”
Margot Robbie
“I, Tonya”
Saoirse Ronan
“Lady Bird”
Shinobu Terajima
“Oh Lucy!”
Regina Williams
“Life and Nothing More”
Best Male Lead
Timothée Chalamet
“Call Me by Your Name”
Harris Dickinson
“Beach Rats”
James Franco
“The Disaster Artist”
Daniel Kaluuya
“Get Out...
- 3/4/2018
- by William Earl
- Indiewire
A Fantastic Woman wins best international honour.
Jordan Peele was named best director and Get Out claimed the best feature award at Film Independent’s 2018 Spirit Awards on Saturday (March 3).
The penultimate awards show before Sunday’s 90th annual Academy Awards also honoured Sebastian Lelio’s Chilean drama A Fantastic Woman for best international film, Greta Gerwig for best screenplay (Lady Bird), and Timothée Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name) and Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) in the lead acting stakes.
Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) and Allison Janney (I, Tonya) prevailed in the supporting acting contests,...
Jordan Peele was named best director and Get Out claimed the best feature award at Film Independent’s 2018 Spirit Awards on Saturday (March 3).
The penultimate awards show before Sunday’s 90th annual Academy Awards also honoured Sebastian Lelio’s Chilean drama A Fantastic Woman for best international film, Greta Gerwig for best screenplay (Lady Bird), and Timothée Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name) and Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) in the lead acting stakes.
Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) and Allison Janney (I, Tonya) prevailed in the supporting acting contests,...
- 3/3/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
A Fantastic Woman wins best international honour.
Jordan Peele was named best director and Get Out claimed the best feature award at Film Independent’s Indie Spirits on Saturday (March 3).
The penultimate awards show before Sunday’s 90th annual Academy Awards also honoured Sebastian Lelio’s Chilean drama A Fantastic Woman for best international film, Greta Gerwig for best screenplay (Lady Bird), and Timothée Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name) and Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) in the lead acting stakes.
Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) and Allison Janney (I, Tonya) prevailed in the supporting acting contests,...
Jordan Peele was named best director and Get Out claimed the best feature award at Film Independent’s Indie Spirits on Saturday (March 3).
The penultimate awards show before Sunday’s 90th annual Academy Awards also honoured Sebastian Lelio’s Chilean drama A Fantastic Woman for best international film, Greta Gerwig for best screenplay (Lady Bird), and Timothée Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name) and Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) in the lead acting stakes.
Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) and Allison Janney (I, Tonya) prevailed in the supporting acting contests,...
- 3/3/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
On the award's 10th anniversary, the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards gave the Robert Altman Award to Mudbound.
Filmmaker Robert Altman began the tradition in 2008 to recognize films with outstanding ensemble casts. The cast, directors and casting directors share the title.
Mary J. Blige, Jonathan Banks, Jason Clarke, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, Rob Morgan and Carey Mulligan will take home the prize as an ensemble cast. Director Dee Rees, who also co-wrote the screenplay, and casting directors Billy Hopkins and Ashley Ingram are also part of the honor.
"I know that as independent filmmakers, as the so-called rebels, as the...
Filmmaker Robert Altman began the tradition in 2008 to recognize films with outstanding ensemble casts. The cast, directors and casting directors share the title.
Mary J. Blige, Jonathan Banks, Jason Clarke, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, Rob Morgan and Carey Mulligan will take home the prize as an ensemble cast. Director Dee Rees, who also co-wrote the screenplay, and casting directors Billy Hopkins and Ashley Ingram are also part of the honor.
"I know that as independent filmmakers, as the so-called rebels, as the...
- 3/2/2018
- by Zoe Haylock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Awfj Eda Awards. This year, Awfj presents Eda Awards in 25 categories, divided into three sections: the standard ‘Best Of’ section, the Female Focus awards and the irreverent Eda Special Mention awards—including Actress Most in Need of a New Agent and the Awfj Hall of Shame Award.
In the ‘Best Of’ section, this year’s big winner is “The Shape Of Water”, garnering Eda Awards in two categories including Best Film, Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. The film’s lead actress, Sally Hawkins, was awarded an Eda Bravest Performance Award to make the film’s cume of three awards.
Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” was also honored with three awards that included Best Supporting Actress for Laurie Metcalf and two awards...
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Awfj Eda Awards. This year, Awfj presents Eda Awards in 25 categories, divided into three sections: the standard ‘Best Of’ section, the Female Focus awards and the irreverent Eda Special Mention awards—including Actress Most in Need of a New Agent and the Awfj Hall of Shame Award.
In the ‘Best Of’ section, this year’s big winner is “The Shape Of Water”, garnering Eda Awards in two categories including Best Film, Best Director for Guillermo del Toro. The film’s lead actress, Sally Hawkins, was awarded an Eda Bravest Performance Award to make the film’s cume of three awards.
Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” was also honored with three awards that included Best Supporting Actress for Laurie Metcalf and two awards...
- 1/10/2018
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Lady Bird, The Florida Project and Faces, Places also win in multiple categories.
Source: Fox Searchlight
‘The Shape Of Water’
The Shape of Water leads the winners from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists (Awfj), a international group of female critics and writers.
It won best film and best director for Guillermo del Toro, as well as “bravest performance” for Sally Hawkins.
Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird also won three awards: best supporting actress for Laurie Metcalf and two awards for Gerwig for best woman director and best woman screenwriter.
The Florida Project won two prizes, best supporting actor for Willem Dafoe and best breakthrough performance for Brooklynn Prince.
Agnes Varda won the actress defying age and ageism award as well as best documentary for Faces, Places.
The group’s outstanding achievement award went to “Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd and all women who spoke out against sexual harassment.”
The Hall of Shame award went to “Sexual...
Source: Fox Searchlight
‘The Shape Of Water’
The Shape of Water leads the winners from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists (Awfj), a international group of female critics and writers.
It won best film and best director for Guillermo del Toro, as well as “bravest performance” for Sally Hawkins.
Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird also won three awards: best supporting actress for Laurie Metcalf and two awards for Gerwig for best woman director and best woman screenwriter.
The Florida Project won two prizes, best supporting actor for Willem Dafoe and best breakthrough performance for Brooklynn Prince.
Agnes Varda won the actress defying age and ageism award as well as best documentary for Faces, Places.
The group’s outstanding achievement award went to “Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd and all women who spoke out against sexual harassment.”
The Hall of Shame award went to “Sexual...
- 1/10/2018
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
And the winners are…
Awfj Best Of Awards
These awards are presented to women and/or men without gender consideration.
Best Film: The Shape of Water
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro – The Shape of Water
Best Screenplay, Original: Jordan Peele – Get Out
Best Screenplay, Adapted: James Ivory – Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: Faces Places (Visages, Villages)
Best Animated Film: Coco And Loving Vincent (tie)
Best Actress: Frances McDormand – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Laurie Metcalf – Lady Bird
Best Actor: Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Willem Dafoe – The Florida Project
Best Ensemble Cast – Casting Director: Billy Hopkins, Ashley Ingram – Mudbound
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins – Blade Runner 2049
Best Editing: Lee Smith – Dunkirk
Best Non-English-Language Film: The Square
Eda Female Focus Awards
These awards honor women only.
Best Woman Director: Greta Gerwig – Lady Bird
Best Woman Screenwriter: Greta Gerwig – Lady...
Awfj Best Of Awards
These awards are presented to women and/or men without gender consideration.
Best Film: The Shape of Water
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro – The Shape of Water
Best Screenplay, Original: Jordan Peele – Get Out
Best Screenplay, Adapted: James Ivory – Call Me by Your Name
Best Documentary: Faces Places (Visages, Villages)
Best Animated Film: Coco And Loving Vincent (tie)
Best Actress: Frances McDormand – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Laurie Metcalf – Lady Bird
Best Actor: Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Willem Dafoe – The Florida Project
Best Ensemble Cast – Casting Director: Billy Hopkins, Ashley Ingram – Mudbound
Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins – Blade Runner 2049
Best Editing: Lee Smith – Dunkirk
Best Non-English-Language Film: The Square
Eda Female Focus Awards
These awards honor women only.
Best Woman Director: Greta Gerwig – Lady Bird
Best Woman Screenwriter: Greta Gerwig – Lady...
- 1/9/2018
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists has announced the nominees for their eleventh annual Awfj Eda Awards. This year, Awfj presents Eda Awards in 25 categories, divided into three sections: the standard “Best Of” section, the Female Focus awards, and the irreverent Eda Special Mention awards — including Actress Most in Need of a New Agent and the Awfj Hall of Shame Award. Standout nominees this year include “Lady Bird,” “I, Tonya,” “Get Out,” “Girls Trip,” “Mudbound,” and “Call Me by Your Name.”
This year’s nomination is a vibrant mix of lauded films and performances, and some of the Awfj’s more off-beat notations, like that Hall of Shame Award (this year, bestowed on “Darren Aronofsky and all associated with ‘mother!,'” “Louis Ck and all associated with ‘I Love You, Daddy,'” and “Showbiz Sexual Tormentors: Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Brett Ratner, et al.” Other signature Eda Awards include Most...
This year’s nomination is a vibrant mix of lauded films and performances, and some of the Awfj’s more off-beat notations, like that Hall of Shame Award (this year, bestowed on “Darren Aronofsky and all associated with ‘mother!,'” “Louis Ck and all associated with ‘I Love You, Daddy,'” and “Showbiz Sexual Tormentors: Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Brett Ratner, et al.” Other signature Eda Awards include Most...
- 1/3/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Casting directors remain the only job in the opening titles that doesn’t have its own Oscar category, but there’s reason to believe that will change. Already recognized by the Emmys, casting directors have made tremendous strides since they unionized in 2005 and negotiated their first contract with studios. In 2013, the guild earned its own Academy branch and received three seats at the Academy’s Board of Governors’ table. Last year, Lynn Stalmaster (“The Graduate,” “West Side Story”) received an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards, becoming the first-ever casting director to receive an Academy Award.
So: Let’s imagine for a moment casting directors had their own Oscar category in 2017: What are the best-cast films of the year?
IndieWire asked 15 of the top casting directors to nominate films worthy of casting recognition this year. We often think of the best films in terms of their expressive cinematography, enveloping production design,...
So: Let’s imagine for a moment casting directors had their own Oscar category in 2017: What are the best-cast films of the year?
IndieWire asked 15 of the top casting directors to nominate films worthy of casting recognition this year. We often think of the best films in terms of their expressive cinematography, enveloping production design,...
- 12/4/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Greenlit means a project is officially a go, so all you have to do is follow these leads to stay up to date. You never know where you’ll find an opportunity to land an audition! “This is Jane”Laura Kaplan’s nonfiction book, “The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service,” is getting a timely screen treatment from Amazon, and Kimberly Peirce will direct it. The story follows the Chicago woman who founded a safe abortion service before Roe v. Wade was passed in 1973. No talent is attached, but that seems to be the next step now that a director, writer, and producer are all on board. No casting director has been announced either, but Peirce has worked with Avy Kaufman in the past. “Bad Boys II” SpinoffThe “Bad Boys II” spinoff TV series starring Gabrielle Union was trying to find a home in October, and NBC has claimed it.
- 11/6/2017
- backstage.com
Cradle Of Champions screens Sunday, November 5th at 4:00pm at The .Zack (3224 Locust St.) as part of this year’s St. Louis International Film Festival. Producer Donald Rosenfeld will be in attendance. Ticket information can be found Here
Made with a dream team of documentary talent — the crew’s past films include “Citizenfour,” “Cameraperson,” “Queen of Versailles,” “Racing Dreams,” and “Cartel Land” — “Cradle of Champions” captures the epic story of three young people fighting for their lives in the oldest, biggest, and most important amateur boxing tournament in the world: the New York’s Daily News Golden Gloves. “Cradle of Champions” follows three inspiring individuals on an urban odyssey through the 10-week Golden Gloves. Though boxing has come under increasing criticism in the past few decades, the tournament — which has produced more professional world champions than the Olympic Games — has taken legions of at-risk kids off the streets and given them discipline,...
Made with a dream team of documentary talent — the crew’s past films include “Citizenfour,” “Cameraperson,” “Queen of Versailles,” “Racing Dreams,” and “Cartel Land” — “Cradle of Champions” captures the epic story of three young people fighting for their lives in the oldest, biggest, and most important amateur boxing tournament in the world: the New York’s Daily News Golden Gloves. “Cradle of Champions” follows three inspiring individuals on an urban odyssey through the 10-week Golden Gloves. Though boxing has come under increasing criticism in the past few decades, the tournament — which has produced more professional world champions than the Olympic Games — has taken legions of at-risk kids off the streets and given them discipline,...
- 11/2/2017
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Atlanta actors, listen up! Stay in the loop about what’s currently filming in your fair city (and projects that may just need an extra or two) with our weekly roundup. Looks like Lorne Michaels, creator “Saturday Night Live,” is coming to the Peach State to executive produce a Broadway video for Comedy Central. “The Other Two,” (formerly known as “Chaselyfe”), is being cast by NY-based Estrin/Bergstein Casting and is seeking kids who can sing pop. Smash sci-fi hit "Stranger Things" wrapped in June for an October release on Netflix but plenty of projects are still shooting. Lee Daniels is shooting season 2 of “Star,” and it appears Billy Hopkins and George Pierre will be casting leads while Central Casting will provide extras. Vera Farmiga is spending time in the Atlanta area shooting the Warner Bros. feature “Godzilla: King of the Monsters.” Sarah Finn, who previously cast the Atlanta-filmed...
- 7/19/2017
- backstage.com
This week at Backstage University, network with your fellow actors, learn how to market yourself and get your foot in the door with two agents and a casting director! This Tuesday, Jan. 20, offers three opportunities for learning. First, actors can meet and perform for legit agent Nicole Wichinsky of powerhouse agency Dgrw. Dgrw is a top boutique agency, with many clients on Broadway and television, and in film. After a brief Q&A, Wichinsky will be seeing contemporary monologues and offering private feedback. Also on Tuesday, work on-camera with Ashley Ingram of Billy Hopkins Casting. Ingram works on a wide variety of film, commercial, and theater projects, and will be working with students on scenes that she will assign in advance. Don’t miss this opportunity to hone your on-camera skills! Ever wonder what producers are looking for from new talent? Broadway producer Ken Davenport will be leading a tele-seminar...
- 1/19/2015
- backstage.com
Lady Filmmakers Festival honoree Risa Bramon Garcia is a leader and a living example of excellence for women in the world of film. Her experience and wisdom comes from 35 years as a director, producer, casting director, writer and teacher. Her open mind, hard work and versatility has resulted in an amazing career in film, television, theatre, and explorations in new media.
Her seemingly endless list of accomplishments span from directing dozens of plays in New York and Los Angeles, “200 Cigarettes” and “The Con Artist”, to casting for more than 65 films including “Desperately Seeking Susan”, “Fatal Attraction”, “The Doors”, “Benny and June”, and shows including “CSI: NY” and the new Showtime series “Masters of Sex.”
Risa’s newest and exciting endeavor is The Bgb Studio - in partnership with Steve Braun – a home where actors train, workout and evolves their careers in transformative ways.
Risa shares her journey and perspective on how to approach mentorship as a filmmaker.
How did you begin your film career?
I came to film later than most filmmakers do, because I came via my theater life. I always dreamed and imagined that my life as a director would be in the theater. What was interesting is that I started casting in film while I was directing theater – casting was my waitressing job and frankly, it still is. It’s something I’m good at, and it helps me to make money. It allows me to stay a part of the business, so I can support myself and do the things that I love - which is really directing and running my studio. The studio makes me much happier than I ever imagined would be possible. I always thought that if you teach, you’re at the end of your career and it has failed. That’s what I always believed it, but it’s not at all true.
Regarding film, I studied theater in college, dipping my toe in film, but devoted myself to the theater. I ran to New York for the theater. In my early New York days I realized that a number of people I worked with were casting movies, and that seemed like a good way to make money. And I wouldn’t have to tough it out all night at a rock and roll club called The Bottom Line in the village anymore. I could actually support myself in the business. Things started working with “Desperately Seeking Susan”, the first film that Billy Hopkins and I cast. It didn’t fall in our laps, but it was one of those “put it out to the universe and the universe answers” kinds of things.
We knew some people who were big casting directors in NY who relied on us for fresh ideas. They recommended us for “Susan” when they couldn’t do the film. That was a real break and my entrance into the film business.
In the beginning of my casting work I was lucky enough to be mentored by some big filmmakers who allowed me to be on set and to be in process with them in a way that most casting people aren’t allowed. I didn’t know anything different. I didn’t know that you weren’t supposed to go to the set everyday. I didn’t know that you weren’t supposed to be in rehearsal and work with actors on the script, but that’s what I did because that’s what I did in the theater as a director and producer.
I was lucky in that they allowed me to do that, and it taught me everything about movies.
The thing that I didn't develop as quickly was visual storytelling. I'm incredibly intrigued by it, but because I worked with actors and new scripts in the theater, those areas were my first strengths. I learned to tell stories through people and words.
How did you find your mentors?
I always found mentors because I went to the work first. For me, if you’re the last one standing and working incredibly hard, if you are willing to put in 150% and do what no body else will do, and be smart about it, mentors will find you. Because you’re the one doing the work, and often strong work.
That’s what happened to me. I just showed up, worked hard, and was always the last person to leave. The mentors found me. I never really thought, “Oh, you’ll be my mentor.” That’s what happened at the Ensemble Studio Theater, which was the theater at which I came up in New York. The artistic director there saw something in me and decided to mentor me. I didn’t know he was mentoring me - I just knew that he believed in me, schooled me, challenged me to do my best work.
My mentors were mostly strong-minded, somewhat misogynistic men, but I just felt like they were giving me an opportunity. They were taking me seriously. They were willing to teach me, and they all gave me the same message – don’t wait for someone to hire you. Go out and make your own work. That’s how I’ve done it, and that’s what I’m doing now. It was always the way that I found success. I created it.
When I was casting, directors like Oliver Stone and Adrian Lyne were really generous. They allowed me to be on set and learn from them. They took me seriously and asked for my input. I was able to watch and learn from amazing cinematographers at work like Bob Richardson. Funny enough, when I did Desperately Seeking Susan, it was Ed Lachman, the cinematographer, who I watched and learned from. I so crave that mentorship still.
I don’t know what that means when people come to me and ask me if I’ll be a mentor. Show up and work hard. Show yourself and rise up to it, and when we’re in a working relationship, then I can mentor you. I don’t know what it means otherwise. I think young people make the mistake of thinking they’re going to go out and find a mentor. Do the work, and a mentor will find you.
Is there any other advice you have for new filmmakers?
Just keep making your own stuff, but also make things that are also going to be commercial. I don’t mean commercial in a slick way. Tell a story that you think the world wants to see. Be provocative; be commercial in that you’re trying to reach an audience - even if it’s a specific audience – work that’s going to be both provocative and entertaining. Entertaining doesn’t have to be ‘fun’. It can be something that’s emotionally challenging, but get in there and don’t be afraid to do something really thought-provoking. Many people either play it safe, or do something that nobody is interested in. Just keep making stuff, over and over… because every good filmmaker made a lot of crap before they got here.
What are you working on now?
I’ve been casting, which has been great. I have a few films that I’m developing as a director, but the thing that I’m most interested in is the work I’m doing with my partner, Steve Braun, in the studio that we have – The Bgb Studio (see website here). It started off with just a few acting classes, but now we’re doing a lot more. We’re creating an artistic home, a safe haven for actors in Los Angeles, where they can come and explore their artistry in a number of ways. A lot of our actors are taking our writing classes. We’re doing everything from yoga, writing classes, intensive Meisner workouts, to high-end rehearsal and audition classes. Steve and I are writing a book and have launched an online training business. It’s exciting and very rewarding. Really, for the first time in my career, I’m my own boss. Writing is really interesting to me now, and that’s where my heart is. And being able to be in the work with fellow artists every day.
Her seemingly endless list of accomplishments span from directing dozens of plays in New York and Los Angeles, “200 Cigarettes” and “The Con Artist”, to casting for more than 65 films including “Desperately Seeking Susan”, “Fatal Attraction”, “The Doors”, “Benny and June”, and shows including “CSI: NY” and the new Showtime series “Masters of Sex.”
Risa’s newest and exciting endeavor is The Bgb Studio - in partnership with Steve Braun – a home where actors train, workout and evolves their careers in transformative ways.
Risa shares her journey and perspective on how to approach mentorship as a filmmaker.
How did you begin your film career?
I came to film later than most filmmakers do, because I came via my theater life. I always dreamed and imagined that my life as a director would be in the theater. What was interesting is that I started casting in film while I was directing theater – casting was my waitressing job and frankly, it still is. It’s something I’m good at, and it helps me to make money. It allows me to stay a part of the business, so I can support myself and do the things that I love - which is really directing and running my studio. The studio makes me much happier than I ever imagined would be possible. I always thought that if you teach, you’re at the end of your career and it has failed. That’s what I always believed it, but it’s not at all true.
Regarding film, I studied theater in college, dipping my toe in film, but devoted myself to the theater. I ran to New York for the theater. In my early New York days I realized that a number of people I worked with were casting movies, and that seemed like a good way to make money. And I wouldn’t have to tough it out all night at a rock and roll club called The Bottom Line in the village anymore. I could actually support myself in the business. Things started working with “Desperately Seeking Susan”, the first film that Billy Hopkins and I cast. It didn’t fall in our laps, but it was one of those “put it out to the universe and the universe answers” kinds of things.
We knew some people who were big casting directors in NY who relied on us for fresh ideas. They recommended us for “Susan” when they couldn’t do the film. That was a real break and my entrance into the film business.
In the beginning of my casting work I was lucky enough to be mentored by some big filmmakers who allowed me to be on set and to be in process with them in a way that most casting people aren’t allowed. I didn’t know anything different. I didn’t know that you weren’t supposed to go to the set everyday. I didn’t know that you weren’t supposed to be in rehearsal and work with actors on the script, but that’s what I did because that’s what I did in the theater as a director and producer.
I was lucky in that they allowed me to do that, and it taught me everything about movies.
The thing that I didn't develop as quickly was visual storytelling. I'm incredibly intrigued by it, but because I worked with actors and new scripts in the theater, those areas were my first strengths. I learned to tell stories through people and words.
How did you find your mentors?
I always found mentors because I went to the work first. For me, if you’re the last one standing and working incredibly hard, if you are willing to put in 150% and do what no body else will do, and be smart about it, mentors will find you. Because you’re the one doing the work, and often strong work.
That’s what happened to me. I just showed up, worked hard, and was always the last person to leave. The mentors found me. I never really thought, “Oh, you’ll be my mentor.” That’s what happened at the Ensemble Studio Theater, which was the theater at which I came up in New York. The artistic director there saw something in me and decided to mentor me. I didn’t know he was mentoring me - I just knew that he believed in me, schooled me, challenged me to do my best work.
My mentors were mostly strong-minded, somewhat misogynistic men, but I just felt like they were giving me an opportunity. They were taking me seriously. They were willing to teach me, and they all gave me the same message – don’t wait for someone to hire you. Go out and make your own work. That’s how I’ve done it, and that’s what I’m doing now. It was always the way that I found success. I created it.
When I was casting, directors like Oliver Stone and Adrian Lyne were really generous. They allowed me to be on set and learn from them. They took me seriously and asked for my input. I was able to watch and learn from amazing cinematographers at work like Bob Richardson. Funny enough, when I did Desperately Seeking Susan, it was Ed Lachman, the cinematographer, who I watched and learned from. I so crave that mentorship still.
I don’t know what that means when people come to me and ask me if I’ll be a mentor. Show up and work hard. Show yourself and rise up to it, and when we’re in a working relationship, then I can mentor you. I don’t know what it means otherwise. I think young people make the mistake of thinking they’re going to go out and find a mentor. Do the work, and a mentor will find you.
Is there any other advice you have for new filmmakers?
Just keep making your own stuff, but also make things that are also going to be commercial. I don’t mean commercial in a slick way. Tell a story that you think the world wants to see. Be provocative; be commercial in that you’re trying to reach an audience - even if it’s a specific audience – work that’s going to be both provocative and entertaining. Entertaining doesn’t have to be ‘fun’. It can be something that’s emotionally challenging, but get in there and don’t be afraid to do something really thought-provoking. Many people either play it safe, or do something that nobody is interested in. Just keep making stuff, over and over… because every good filmmaker made a lot of crap before they got here.
What are you working on now?
I’ve been casting, which has been great. I have a few films that I’m developing as a director, but the thing that I’m most interested in is the work I’m doing with my partner, Steve Braun, in the studio that we have – The Bgb Studio (see website here). It started off with just a few acting classes, but now we’re doing a lot more. We’re creating an artistic home, a safe haven for actors in Los Angeles, where they can come and explore their artistry in a number of ways. A lot of our actors are taking our writing classes. We’re doing everything from yoga, writing classes, intensive Meisner workouts, to high-end rehearsal and audition classes. Steve and I are writing a book and have launched an online training business. It’s exciting and very rewarding. Really, for the first time in my career, I’m my own boss. Writing is really interesting to me now, and that’s where my heart is. And being able to be in the work with fellow artists every day.
- 11/3/2014
- by Erin Grover
- Sydney's Buzz
The Academy has announced the new class of invited members for 2014 and, as is typical, many of which are among last year's nominees, which includes Barkhad Abdi, Michael Fassbender, Sally Hawkins, Mads Mikkelsen, Lupita Nyong'o and June Squibb in the Actors branch not to mention curious additions such as Josh Hutcherson, Rob Riggle and Jason Statham, but, okay. The Directors branch adds Jay and Mark Duplass along with Jean-Marc Vallee, Denis Villeneuve and Thomas Vinterberg. I didn't do an immediate tally of male to female additions or other demographics, but at first glance it seems to be a wide spread batch of new additions on all fronts. The Academy is also clearly attempting to aggressively bump up the demographics as this is the second year in a row where they have added a large number of new members, well over the average of 133 new members from 2004 to 2012. As far as...
- 6/26/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 271 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures.
Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2014.
“This year’s class of invitees represents some of the most talented, creative and passionate filmmakers working in our industry today,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “Their contributions to film have entertained audiences around the world, and we are proud to welcome them to the Academy.”
The 2014 invitees are:
Actors
Barkhad Abdi – “Captain Phillips”
Clancy Brown – “The Hurricane,” “The Shawshank Redeption”
Paul Dano – “12 Years a Slave,” “Prisoners”
Michael Fassbender – “12 Years a Slave,” “Shame”
Ben Foster – “Lone Survivor,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”
Beth Grant – “The Artist,” “No Country for Old Men”
Clark Gregg – “Much Ado about Nothing,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”
Sally Hawkins – “Blue Jasmine,...
Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2014.
“This year’s class of invitees represents some of the most talented, creative and passionate filmmakers working in our industry today,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “Their contributions to film have entertained audiences around the world, and we are proud to welcome them to the Academy.”
The 2014 invitees are:
Actors
Barkhad Abdi – “Captain Phillips”
Clancy Brown – “The Hurricane,” “The Shawshank Redeption”
Paul Dano – “12 Years a Slave,” “Prisoners”
Michael Fassbender – “12 Years a Slave,” “Shame”
Ben Foster – “Lone Survivor,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”
Beth Grant – “The Artist,” “No Country for Old Men”
Clark Gregg – “Much Ado about Nothing,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”
Sally Hawkins – “Blue Jasmine,...
- 6/26/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong’o of 12 Years a Slave were two of the 271 artists and industry leaders invited to become members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which determines nominations and winners at the annual Oscars. The entire list of Academy membership—which numbers about 6,000—isn’t public information so the annual invitation list is often the best indication of the artists involved in the prestigious awards process. It’s worth noting that invitations need to be accepted in order for artists to become members; some artists, like two-time Best Actor winner Sean Penn, have declined membership over the years.
- 6/26/2014
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
Pop quiz: What do Chris Rock, Claire Denis, Eddie Vedder and Josh Hutcherson all have in common? Answer: They could all be Oscar voters very soon. The annual Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences invitation list always makes for interesting reading, shedding light on just how large and far-reaching the group's membership is -- or could be, depending on who accepts their invitations. This year, 271 individuals have been asked to join AMPAS, meaning every one of them could contribute to next year's Academy Awards balloting -- and it's as diverse a list as they've ever assembled. Think the Academy consists entirely of fusty retired white dudes? Not if recent Best Original Song nominee Pharrell Williams takes them up on their offer. Think it's all just a Hollywood insiders' game? Not if French arthouse titans Chantal Akerman and Olivier Assayas join the party. It's a list that subverts expectation at every turn.
- 6/26/2014
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
It has been officially announced that Samantha Morton and Michael Shannon will star in The Harvest, the latest project to be directed by Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer‘s John McNaughton:
New York, NY – December 12, 2012 — Elephant Eye Films announced today that Academy Award Nominees Samantha Morton and Michael Shannon will star in “The Harvest,” a psychological thriller that questions the lengths parents will go to, to save their only child. Charlie Tahan (“Charlie St. Cloud”), Natasha Calis (“The Possession”), Leslie Lyles (“We Need to Talk About Kevin”) and Meadow Williams (“Sebastian”) will co-star. Written by Stephen Lancellotti, the film marks a return to the big screen for John McNaughton (“Wild Things,” “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.”), and will be produced by Kim Jose, David Robinson, Steven A. Jones, and Meadow Williams. Living Out Loud Productions will finance the film. Elephant Eye Films will handle international sales. Billy Hopkins...
New York, NY – December 12, 2012 — Elephant Eye Films announced today that Academy Award Nominees Samantha Morton and Michael Shannon will star in “The Harvest,” a psychological thriller that questions the lengths parents will go to, to save their only child. Charlie Tahan (“Charlie St. Cloud”), Natasha Calis (“The Possession”), Leslie Lyles (“We Need to Talk About Kevin”) and Meadow Williams (“Sebastian”) will co-star. Written by Stephen Lancellotti, the film marks a return to the big screen for John McNaughton (“Wild Things,” “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.”), and will be produced by Kim Jose, David Robinson, Steven A. Jones, and Meadow Williams. Living Out Loud Productions will finance the film. Elephant Eye Films will handle international sales. Billy Hopkins...
- 12/12/2012
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Diversity is an emotion-packed word more nuanced than one article or one year. But it should always be an ongoing topic of conversation in Hollywood until it stops being an issue, which it hasn’t.
EW recently talked to a range of insiders — from Beasts of the Southern Wild producer Michael Gottwald and Oscar winner Mo’Nique, who won the best supporting actress trophy in 2010 for urban drama Precious, to Precious casting director Billy Hopkins, and casting director Avy Kaufman, who headed casting for Ang Lee’s Life of Pi and Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln – about Oscars, diversity, and casting in Tinseltown.
EW recently talked to a range of insiders — from Beasts of the Southern Wild producer Michael Gottwald and Oscar winner Mo’Nique, who won the best supporting actress trophy in 2010 for urban drama Precious, to Precious casting director Billy Hopkins, and casting director Avy Kaufman, who headed casting for Ang Lee’s Life of Pi and Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln – about Oscars, diversity, and casting in Tinseltown.
- 12/7/2012
- by Solvej Schou
- EW - Inside Movies
Hunting Season is Logo's provocative new web series
AfterElton: We’re talking with Jon Marcus, the man behind Hunting Season, the new web series airing on Logo and it’s based upon one of my favorite blogs from the early 2000’s, The Great C*ck Hunt. Jon, how did we get a 2003 era blog into a web series in 2012?
Jon Marcus: I’m so glad that you were a fan of the original blog, that makes me really happy to hear. I too was a fan of the blog. It started in ’06 and then continued through, I believe, ’08, and in the middle of that period, somewhere around 2007-2008, there were three gay television networks that all started out. Logo was one of them, obviously, and one called Here! and one called Q. Seeing as how I was working in television at the time I decided that one of these...
AfterElton: We’re talking with Jon Marcus, the man behind Hunting Season, the new web series airing on Logo and it’s based upon one of my favorite blogs from the early 2000’s, The Great C*ck Hunt. Jon, how did we get a 2003 era blog into a web series in 2012?
Jon Marcus: I’m so glad that you were a fan of the original blog, that makes me really happy to hear. I too was a fan of the blog. It started in ’06 and then continued through, I believe, ’08, and in the middle of that period, somewhere around 2007-2008, there were three gay television networks that all started out. Logo was one of them, obviously, and one called Here! and one called Q. Seeing as how I was working in television at the time I decided that one of these...
- 10/11/2012
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Danielle Eskinazi, who was born in Egypt and lived in Paris and New York before her family settled in Los Angeles, knew she wanted to work in the entertainment industry but wasn't sure in what capacity. In the 1980s, an agent acquaintance asked if she had ever thought about casting. The agent introduced Eskinazi to her CD friends Risa Bramon and Billy Hopkins, who were looking for a West Coast assistant on their film "At Close Range," starring Christopher Walken, Sean Penn, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Kiefer Sutherland. "I went every day and had no idea what I was doing, but they would give me instructions every morning," Eskinazi says. "We would have these amazing actors come in, and I would read with them, which I loved. I loved the joy of calling up an agent and telling them an actor got the job. I loved watching actors take a.
- 3/2/2012
- by help@backstage.com (Jessica Gardner)
- backstage.com
Lisa Soltau was living in Seattle when her friend Bonnie Gillespie sent her a book she had written called "Casting Qs," a compilation of interviews with casting directors. "I read it and I absolutely loved all the aspects of the job," says Soltau. "I loved the entertainment industry and movies and television. The process of casting sounded wonderful."She called one of the two casting offices in Seattle and ended up working as an intern there for about six months. But the CD told her she should move to New York or Los Angeles if she really wanted to pursue a career in casting. "I picked L.A. because I had lived there once for about three years and I thought it would be easier to acclimate there," Soltau says. "Plus I wanted to work on 'Six Feet Under,' which was airing at the time.
- 10/20/2010
- backstage.com
Fern Champion on Cameron DiazWe were working at New Line, casting 1994's "The Mask." The story that everybody knows now is that Anna Nicole Smith was the first choice because the men at New Line thought she was stunning. Didn't say she could walk and talk, but she was stunning. We needed someone to talk. The good news is Anna Nicole opted to do "Naked Gun 33 1/3." Oh, too bad. So Fern's back to the drawing board. I'm at my wit's end, because we had gone through all the top models and all the top actors, and nobody was pleasing New Line co-ceo Bob Shaye, executive producer Mike De Luca, and director and executive producer Chuck Russell.I called my girlfriend at the talent agency upstairs at the New Line building, and I said, "Is there anybody we haven't seen?" She said, "I have to tell you something: There's one gal; she hasn't done any acting.
- 7/7/2010
- backstage.com
Production begins this week in Connecticut on the psychological thriller We Need To Talk About Kevin, which is being directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lynne Ramsay (Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar) and produced by Jennifer Fox (Michael Clayton, The Informant!), Luc Roeg (Mr. Nice) and Robert Salerno (21 Grams). We Need To Talk About Kevin was written by Ramsay and Rory Kinnear based on the novel by Lionel Shriver. The film stars Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly and Ezra Miller. Presented by BBC Films and the UK Film Council in association with Footprint Investments Llp, Caemhan Partnership Llp and Lipsync Productions, the film is an Independent / Jennifer Fox production in association with Artina Films and Forward Films. The announcement was made today by Independent, who also holds the international rights to the film.
The film was developed by BBC Films¹ Creative Director Christine Langan (The Damned United, Bright Star) with Paula Jalfon (In The Loop,...
The film was developed by BBC Films¹ Creative Director Christine Langan (The Damned United, Bright Star) with Paula Jalfon (In The Loop,...
- 4/23/2010
- by Staff
- Hollywoodnews.com
Forget celebrity bad boys like Eliot Spitzer, Tiki Barber, Jesse James and Tiger Woods. Fidelity in everyday relationships seems to be a hot topic in films these days, from Date Night to micro-indies like Breaking Upwards and The Freebie. Add Dana Adam Shapiro's feature directing debut Monogamy to the list. The low-budget indie-financed film debuts April 24 at the Tribeca Film Festival (Submarine is selling). Check the exclusive clip below. The feature debut of journalist/novelist/documentarian Dana Adam Shapiro (Murderball), Monogamy was co-written by Shapiro and Evan M. Wiener and filmed on the Red camera in 22 days around Brooklyn and Manhattan. Thanks to producer Tom Heller (Precious) and casting director Billy Hopkins, Shapiro was able to land Chris Messina (Julie & Julia) and Rashida Jones (I ...
- 4/13/2010
- Thompson on Hollywood
10:52 The unwieldy title is accurate because my mood is inscrutable at the moment. Even to myself. What's yours like?
11:01 Eddie Izzard is so great. Smart choice of host. Have you ever seen his concerts? Brilliance. Eddie talks so fast and in so many circles (His show Circle you must rent) that I can't even comment on this opening monologue but he's the best. "We're going to have shame and fear tonight... " haha. He's now telling the winners that they haven't really won if they win. The other nominees can still win instead if they kill the winner. Hee. Is this what Adam Shankman actually wanted when he started talking about the Oscars as reality tv, a sudden death round?
11:09 Best Supporting Actor winner Woody Harrelson (The Messenger) to his fellow nominees "I think you're all better." Is that so they won't try to take him out?
11:...
11:01 Eddie Izzard is so great. Smart choice of host. Have you ever seen his concerts? Brilliance. Eddie talks so fast and in so many circles (His show Circle you must rent) that I can't even comment on this opening monologue but he's the best. "We're going to have shame and fear tonight... " haha. He's now telling the winners that they haven't really won if they win. The other nominees can still win instead if they kill the winner. Hee. Is this what Adam Shankman actually wanted when he started talking about the Oscars as reality tv, a sudden death round?
11:09 Best Supporting Actor winner Woody Harrelson (The Messenger) to his fellow nominees "I think you're all better." Is that so they won't try to take him out?
11:...
- 3/6/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Many tell me that they thought Push, Sapphire's novel upon which the film Precious is based couldn't possibly be adapted for the screen in any accessible way and certainly not by a man. The main character's semi-literate voice and many unflinching elements of the book were regarded as everything from cinematically unintelligible to commercially bleak. None of that ever really dawned on me, however, as I began the project. I was just taken by the idea of spending time with a character we may pass in the street everyday and never see. I also thought that finding a girl like Precious up on the screen at the multiplex for the better part of two hours might be a statement in itself. Thinking back upon the remarkable actors that Lee Daniels and casting director Billy Hopkins assembled, I realize that this...
- 2/26/2010
- by Geoffrey Fletcher
- Huffington Post
Her performance in the acclaimed film has made her an unlikely star. But is she anything like her screen persona?
Just for the record, Gabby Sidibe is not a functionally illiterate high-school girl. Nor has she been repeatedly raped by her father. She doesn't have two children as a result of her father's abuse, one of them a baby with Down's syndrome who has been taken into care. She doesn't live in a disgusting apartment dodging frying pans hurled by an abusive mother. Nor, incidentally, does her mother hate Sidibe because she "seduced" her father. None of this is Gabby Sidibe's life story at all.
Instead, it is the story of a girl called Precious whom Sidibe, in an astonishing debut, plays in a film of the same name. Just one problem. Sidibe keeps getting mistaken for the girl she plays. "I've seriously got people saying to me: 'Are your children Ok now?...
Just for the record, Gabby Sidibe is not a functionally illiterate high-school girl. Nor has she been repeatedly raped by her father. She doesn't have two children as a result of her father's abuse, one of them a baby with Down's syndrome who has been taken into care. She doesn't live in a disgusting apartment dodging frying pans hurled by an abusive mother. Nor, incidentally, does her mother hate Sidibe because she "seduced" her father. None of this is Gabby Sidibe's life story at all.
Instead, it is the story of a girl called Precious whom Sidibe, in an astonishing debut, plays in a film of the same name. Just one problem. Sidibe keeps getting mistaken for the girl she plays. "I've seriously got people saying to me: 'Are your children Ok now?...
- 1/20/2010
- by Stuart Jeffries
- The Guardian - Film News
Sandra Bullock, 'The Blind Side'For years, Sandra Bullock has charmed audiences with endearing turns in films like "While You Were Sleeping," "Miss Congeniality," and "Two Weeks Notice." While most people associate her with romantic comedies, Bullock has also turned in terrific dramatic performances in films like "Crash" and the underrated "Infamous." She probably didn't have awards aspirations when she signed on to play Leigh Anne Tuohy, the wealthy Memphis matriarch who takes in an African-American teenager named Michael Oher and helps him launch a football career, in "The Blind Side."On the page, the role could smack of condescending schmaltz, with lines like "You threaten my son, you threaten me." Yet when asserted by Bullock, with a perfect Tennessee twang, they work. And she gets off some great ones, such as when she warns one person, "If you so much as set foot downtown, you will be sorry.
- 1/7/2010
- backstage.com
For casting director Billy Hopkins, the central challenge of director Lee Daniels' "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" was obvious and immediate. The main character, Claireece "Precious" Jones, is a 300-pound African-American teenager—not exactly a common Hollywood type. "My associate Jessica Kelly, she and I said, 'Okay, we're probably going to have to find a real person,' " he recalls. This person also needed to be able to withstand an emotionally grueling shoot: After being impregnated by her absentee father, the character is subjected to endless abuse from her toxic mother (Mo'Nique) and mercilessly teased by cruel classmates. Hopkins and Kelly did a massive search, setting up open calls in New York and Los Angeles. They viewed countless tapes from all over the country. They even put together a summer "boot camp" of 10 promising contenders, none of whom ultimately satisfied the casting needs. "It was almost Labor Day,...
- 12/9/2009
- backstage.com
Precious, the story of an obese and abused black teenager, is the year's most reviled as well as praised film in America. But director Lee Daniels is used to trouble, he tells Gaby Wood. He grew up gay on the streets of Philadelphia, after all, and is drawn to the most disturbing truths. That'll be why he's heading to America's Deep South for his next film…
For the past month, one particular actress has filled American movie screens and visited American minds. She is obese and very dark-skinned, and the character she plays – a 16-year-old illiterate girl from Harlem who is abused by her mother and pregnant by her father for the second time – has been dealt one of the worst hands society has to offer. Yet what's most often said about Gabourey Sidibe – in this Aniston-adoring, holiday-spirited culture – is none of those things. It's that she is completely wonderful,...
For the past month, one particular actress has filled American movie screens and visited American minds. She is obese and very dark-skinned, and the character she plays – a 16-year-old illiterate girl from Harlem who is abused by her mother and pregnant by her father for the second time – has been dealt one of the worst hands society has to offer. Yet what's most often said about Gabourey Sidibe – in this Aniston-adoring, holiday-spirited culture – is none of those things. It's that she is completely wonderful,...
- 12/7/2009
- by Gaby Wood
- The Guardian - Film News
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