Exclusive: Hollywood and London-based below the line agency Wpa is expanding its international and domestic teams with the hires of June Dowad and Daniel Starikov.
Veteran agent Dowad has joined the Wpa UK office as Partner. She joins from Sandra Marsh & Associates in Los Angeles. Starikov, most recently at Anonymous Content, has joined Wpa’s Los Angeles office as a feature agent focusing on the indie space.
Dowad brings with her clients including production designer Barry Robison (One Night In Miami) editor Adam Recht (Downton Abbey: A New Era), production designer/art director Neal Callow (No Time To Die), costume designer Keith Madden (The Forgiven), cinematographer Luka Bazeli (Trim Season), and costume designer Kate Carin (Raised by Wolves).
The industry vet joined Sandra Marsh & Associates in 2011 and in 2015 purchased the agency – along with two partners – and became a co-owner. She started her career as a documentary filmmaker, and has produced films for the BBC,...
Veteran agent Dowad has joined the Wpa UK office as Partner. She joins from Sandra Marsh & Associates in Los Angeles. Starikov, most recently at Anonymous Content, has joined Wpa’s Los Angeles office as a feature agent focusing on the indie space.
Dowad brings with her clients including production designer Barry Robison (One Night In Miami) editor Adam Recht (Downton Abbey: A New Era), production designer/art director Neal Callow (No Time To Die), costume designer Keith Madden (The Forgiven), cinematographer Luka Bazeli (Trim Season), and costume designer Kate Carin (Raised by Wolves).
The industry vet joined Sandra Marsh & Associates in 2011 and in 2015 purchased the agency – along with two partners – and became a co-owner. She started her career as a documentary filmmaker, and has produced films for the BBC,...
- 1/27/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
When editor Tariq Anwar first interviewed with Regina King to discuss “One Night in Miami,” they talked about transitions and music. Transitions were important to the first-time feature director, and temp music was important to the Oscar-nominated editor of “The King’s Speech” and “American Beauty.” It became part of a larger plan to get closer to Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) when they gather together in 1964 to celebrate Clay’s historic boxing defeat of Sonny Liston. But what transpired in Kemp Powers’ incisive adaptation of his acclaimed play was a soul-searching conversation about fame and activism.
“Regina was very focused on the transitions [to visually connect these four friends], and I love to use music when I’m editing because it helps me with the picture cutting,” Anwar said. “She had some reservation at first because music can be overly manipulative,...
“Regina was very focused on the transitions [to visually connect these four friends], and I love to use music when I’m editing because it helps me with the picture cutting,” Anwar said. “She had some reservation at first because music can be overly manipulative,...
- 2/26/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The image of “One Night in Miami’s” Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) huddled together in the Hampton House is an evocative snapshot of Black Power in 1964. The four friends came to celebrate Clay’s historic heavyweight championship defeat of Sonny Liston, but the night evolved into a soul-searching conversation about race, success, and social responsibility. Yet the strongest visual impression that director Regina King wanted to convey was that they looked like friends, which crucially carried over into the costume design of Francine Jamison-Tanchuck (best known for “White Men Can’t Jump” and “Glory”).
“When production designer Barry Robison and cinematographer Tami Reiker and I met with Regina, we discussed the color palette to know that it’s going to work for each character, and certain colors had to be considered because of their complexion,...
“When production designer Barry Robison and cinematographer Tami Reiker and I met with Regina, we discussed the color palette to know that it’s going to work for each character, and certain colors had to be considered because of their complexion,...
- 2/19/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
“One Night in Miami” premiered in theaters on Christmas Day last year and on January 15, 2021 it started streaming on Amazon Prime Video. It is Oscar and four-time Emmy-winning actress Regina King‘s feature directorial debut, adapted by writer Kemp Powers from his 2013 stage play of the same name.
The film imagines what would have happened if boxer Cassius Clay a.k.a. Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), singer Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), civil rights activist Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir) and NFL legend Jim Brown came together in a Miami hotel room after Clay defeated Sonny Liston in February of 1964. What transpires between these iconic men is a lively and timely discussion set against the backdrop of the tumultuous civil rights movement of the 1960s. Scroll down for our exclusive video interviews with top Oscar contenders from the film.
See If Leslie Odom Jr. wins an Oscar for ‘One Night in Miami,...
The film imagines what would have happened if boxer Cassius Clay a.k.a. Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), singer Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), civil rights activist Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir) and NFL legend Jim Brown came together in a Miami hotel room after Clay defeated Sonny Liston in February of 1964. What transpires between these iconic men is a lively and timely discussion set against the backdrop of the tumultuous civil rights movement of the 1960s. Scroll down for our exclusive video interviews with top Oscar contenders from the film.
See If Leslie Odom Jr. wins an Oscar for ‘One Night in Miami,...
- 2/16/2021
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
Production designers Mark Ricker (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”), David Crank (“News of the World”) and Barry Robison (“One Night in Miami”), and set decorator Jan Pascale (“Mank”) worked on very different films, but the pictures have one thing in common: they’re period pieces, covering post-Civil War Texas, 1920s Chicago, 1940s Hollywood and 1964 Miami. And that was all music to their ears. Click on each name above to view each person’s individual interview.
“I love doing period. I love delving deep into whatever period I’m involved in for sure,” Robison shares during Gold Derby’s Meet the Btl Experts: Film Production Design panel (watch above). “I’m a reader and I love history. I just can’t get enough of it. … On ‘One Night in Miami,’ I went to Life magazines. That was super important, getting those Kodachrome and then going back and really delving into that. That was super important.
“I love doing period. I love delving deep into whatever period I’m involved in for sure,” Robison shares during Gold Derby’s Meet the Btl Experts: Film Production Design panel (watch above). “I’m a reader and I love history. I just can’t get enough of it. … On ‘One Night in Miami,’ I went to Life magazines. That was super important, getting those Kodachrome and then going back and really delving into that. That was super important.
- 1/29/2021
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge and Leslie Odom Jr. are the quartet at the center of “One Night in Miami,” but there is a fifth, unspoken star: the motel room. The Amazon film, based on the play of the same name, is a fictionalized account of a meeting between Cassius Clay (Goree), Malcolm X (Ben-Adir), Jim Brown (Hodge) and Sam Cooke (Odom) after the future Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston (Aaron D. Alexander) for the heavyweight title in February 1964. The majority of the movie takes place inside the motel room, which is not exactly ideal from a production design standpoint. “Motel rooms are normally small and uninteresting for the most part. So the challenge was how to not have it be uninteresting,” Barry Robison tells Gold Derby at our Meet the Btl Experts: Film Production Design panel (watch above).
Robison first researched and sent his team to the real Hampton House in Miami,...
Robison first researched and sent his team to the real Hampton House in Miami,...
- 1/29/2021
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
“Snowpiercer” fans are having a great week. With the Season 2 premiere just days away, the sci-fi drama has already been renewed for Season 3, TNT announced on Tuesday. The fact that the first season, which aired May-June of 2020, was cable’s #1 new drama series certainly did hurt. “Snowpiercer” is based on the 2013 Bong Joon Ho film of the same name and the 1982 French graphic novel “Le Transperceneige.” Fans who want to re-watch the first season can stream it right now on HBO Max.
SEEDaveed Diggs could become triple Golden Globe nominee for ‘The Good Lord Bird,’ ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Snowpiercer’
The second season stars Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly (“A Beautiful Mind”) as Melanie Cavill, the cutthroat head of Hospitality, and Grammy and Tony champ Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) as Andre Layton, a former detective who’s now a rebel. Other notable cast members include Sean Bean, Rowan Blanchard, Alison Wright, Mickey Sumner, Iddo Goldberg,...
SEEDaveed Diggs could become triple Golden Globe nominee for ‘The Good Lord Bird,’ ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Snowpiercer’
The second season stars Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly (“A Beautiful Mind”) as Melanie Cavill, the cutthroat head of Hospitality, and Grammy and Tony champ Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) as Andre Layton, a former detective who’s now a rebel. Other notable cast members include Sean Bean, Rowan Blanchard, Alison Wright, Mickey Sumner, Iddo Goldberg,...
- 1/19/2021
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Four acclaimed film production designers will reveal details behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Btl Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Oscar contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to be published on Monday, January 25, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Joyce Eng and a group chat with Joyce and all of them together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Btl Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“Mank” (Netflix): Jan Pascale
Pascale was an Oscar nominee for “Good Night, and Good Luck” and an Emmy winner for “Boston Public.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Btl Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“Mank” (Netflix): Jan Pascale
Pascale was an Oscar nominee for “Good Night, and Good Luck” and an Emmy winner for “Boston Public.
- 1/18/2021
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
After directing multiple TV episodes, Regina King makes her big-screen directing debut with Amazon’s “One Night in Miami.” Kemp Powers adapted his play about a 1963 meeting of Jim Brown, Cassius Clay (before he became Muhammad Ali), Sam Cooke and Malcolm X. King paid tribute to her colleagues behind the camera, saying, “They were my heroes.”
Tami Reiker, cinematographer
“Tami and I connected immediately. Even when I didn’t have a technical word for what I was looking for, she understood. For example, so much takes place in one motel room, and I didn’t want it to feel like a play; I wanted it to feel light and with an energy that matches the performances. And for me, color is a great way to represent Black people. In our sordid past as Americans, we still found a way to laugh and love, and color represents that vivaciousness. But I...
Tami Reiker, cinematographer
“Tami and I connected immediately. Even when I didn’t have a technical word for what I was looking for, she understood. For example, so much takes place in one motel room, and I didn’t want it to feel like a play; I wanted it to feel light and with an energy that matches the performances. And for me, color is a great way to represent Black people. In our sordid past as Americans, we still found a way to laugh and love, and color represents that vivaciousness. But I...
- 1/15/2021
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
A picture is worth a thousand words, and for production designers, a couple of words is worth a thousand visuals. Asked during our Meet the Experts: TV Production Design panel how quickly they envision sets and looks when they start a project, all four — Helen Scott (“Small Axe”), David Bomba (“Ozark”), Howard Cummings (“Lovecraft Country” and “Westworld”) and Barry Robison (“Snowpiercer”) agree it’s pretty immediate. Watch each individual chat with these designers by clicking on each name above.
“Whenever you’re reading a book, you visualize it. it’s the same with a script,” Scott says (watch above). “I suppose the trick is to not try to lock yourself into that immediate response, but actually I find that the immediate response is the one that kind of sticks, and the end result is often close to the first response. So it’s worth listening to.”
Cummings believes it’s...
“Whenever you’re reading a book, you visualize it. it’s the same with a script,” Scott says (watch above). “I suppose the trick is to not try to lock yourself into that immediate response, but actually I find that the immediate response is the one that kind of sticks, and the end result is often close to the first response. So it’s worth listening to.”
Cummings believes it’s...
- 12/14/2020
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
The series adaptation “Snowpiercer” had been a long-gestating project and you could say that Barry Robison helped it get back on track (no pun intended). “I got a call from my agents who said, ‘Listen, there’s this project that just lost their production designer. Would you consider going to Vancouver and taking over the show?’” Robison tells Gold Derby of how he joined the TNT series during our Meet the Experts: TV Production Design panel (watch above).
A fan of the 2013 Bong Joon Ho film, which itself is based on the graphic novel “Le Transperceneige,” Robison met with the producers, who told him they didn’t want it to look like the film at all. “That made me want to do it even more because I could really kind of put my own spin on it,” he says. Set on a train that circles the frozen wasteland that was once Earth,...
A fan of the 2013 Bong Joon Ho film, which itself is based on the graphic novel “Le Transperceneige,” Robison met with the producers, who told him they didn’t want it to look like the film at all. “That made me want to do it even more because I could really kind of put my own spin on it,” he says. Set on a train that circles the frozen wasteland that was once Earth,...
- 12/14/2020
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
Four top TV production designers will reveal the secrets behind their crafts when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Btl Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Emmy contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to be published on Monday, December 7, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Joyce Eng and a group chat with Joyce and all of the designers together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Btl Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Emmy contenders:
“Lovecraft Country” and “Westworld” (HBO): Howard Cummings
Cummings is a two-time Emmy winner for “Behind the Candelabra” and “The Knick.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Btl Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Emmy contenders:
“Lovecraft Country” and “Westworld” (HBO): Howard Cummings
Cummings is a two-time Emmy winner for “Behind the Candelabra” and “The Knick.
- 12/1/2020
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
When director David Dobkin brought the 2005 comedy “Wedding Crashers” to the marketing team at New Line Cinema, he didn’t get the reception he thought he would. Marketing head Russell Schwartz thought that Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson’s characters were too misogynistic, since their main aim seemed to be crashing weddings to look for girls.
Dobkin pushed back. He saw it a different way: The pair loved weddings and were the life of the party. When the film came out on July 15, 2000, “Wedding Crashers” became the first R-rated comedy to break $200 million at the domestic box office.
“Wedding Crashers” follows Jeremy Grey and John Beckwith — played by Vaughn and Wilson, respectively — two divorce attorneys who spend their free time sneaking into weddings in hopes of meeting eligible women. When they see that the Secretary of the Treasury Cleary (Christopher Walken) is celebrating his son’s marriage, the two crash...
Dobkin pushed back. He saw it a different way: The pair loved weddings and were the life of the party. When the film came out on July 15, 2000, “Wedding Crashers” became the first R-rated comedy to break $200 million at the domestic box office.
“Wedding Crashers” follows Jeremy Grey and John Beckwith — played by Vaughn and Wilson, respectively — two divorce attorneys who spend their free time sneaking into weddings in hopes of meeting eligible women. When they see that the Secretary of the Treasury Cleary (Christopher Walken) is celebrating his son’s marriage, the two crash...
- 7/10/2020
- by Mackenzie Nichols
- Variety Film + TV
In the title sequence of the new TNT series “Snowpiercer” there’s a montage of train blueprints. Though the show stars Oscar winner Jennifer Connolly and Tony Award winner Daveed Diggs along with an A-list ensemble cast, it’s clear that the more than 1,000-car locomotive — Snowpiercer itself — is the center of attention.
The series is a spinoff of Bong Joon Ho’s 2013 film of the same name that put the South Korean filmmaker on the map. And though the Oscar-winning “Parasite” director acted as executive producer and occasionally consulted, it was showrunner Graeme Manson (“Orphan Black”) who led the project. The sci-fi drama starts seven years after the world has frozen over; only a few thousand survive, continuously circumnavigating the globe aboard the giant caravan.
“[We needed] to create a realistic train, moving in a realistic world,” says VFX supervisor Geoff Scott, who’d worked on “Orphan Black” with Manson and...
The series is a spinoff of Bong Joon Ho’s 2013 film of the same name that put the South Korean filmmaker on the map. And though the Oscar-winning “Parasite” director acted as executive producer and occasionally consulted, it was showrunner Graeme Manson (“Orphan Black”) who led the project. The sci-fi drama starts seven years after the world has frozen over; only a few thousand survive, continuously circumnavigating the globe aboard the giant caravan.
“[We needed] to create a realistic train, moving in a realistic world,” says VFX supervisor Geoff Scott, who’d worked on “Orphan Black” with Manson and...
- 5/22/2020
- by Valentina I. Valentini
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Regina King has started production in New Orleans on One Night In Miami, with Kingsley Ben-Adir (The Oa) as civil rights activist Malcolm X, Eli Goree (Riverdale) as Cassius Clay right before he became Muhammad Ali, Aldis Hodge (Clemency) as gridiron great Jim Brown, and Grammy and Tony Award winner Leslie Odom, Jr. (Harriet) playing singer Sam Cooke.
The film is an adaptation of the Olivier-nominated stage play by Kemp Powers, who wrote the script. Set on the night of February 25, 1964, the drama follows the brash young Cassius Clay after he shocked the world by knocking out seemingly invincible Sonny Liston to become heavyweight champion. While crowds of people swarm Miami Beach to celebrate the match, Clay – unable to stay on the island because of Jim Crow-era segregation laws – spends the evening at the Hampton House Motel in Miami’s African American Overtown neighborhood celebrating with three of his closest friends: Malcolm X,...
The film is an adaptation of the Olivier-nominated stage play by Kemp Powers, who wrote the script. Set on the night of February 25, 1964, the drama follows the brash young Cassius Clay after he shocked the world by knocking out seemingly invincible Sonny Liston to become heavyweight champion. While crowds of people swarm Miami Beach to celebrate the match, Clay – unable to stay on the island because of Jim Crow-era segregation laws – spends the evening at the Hampton House Motel in Miami’s African American Overtown neighborhood celebrating with three of his closest friends: Malcolm X,...
- 1/7/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
The barracks set at Sydney's Fox Studios. (Photo credit:.Jacinta Leong).
Crewing up in the middle of 2015, director Mel Gibson and producer Bill Mechanic were attracted to production designer Barry Robison's experience down under.
Robison, whose mother was born in Fremantle, first worked in Australia on Jodie Foster.s Nim's Island in 2007.
.It was summer and it was gorgeous and [we were] out in the Whitsundays, so I fell in love with that part of the country very quickly,. he tells If..
.Right on the heels of that I was asked to do Wolverine down in Sydney, and during that I realised I could get my Australian citizenship. I finished that process on Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader...
Robison.s dual citizenship, he admits, .certainly factored in to why I got Hacksaw, because it was a tight budget..
Once he got the gig, Robison had a freewheeling chat with Gibson,...
Crewing up in the middle of 2015, director Mel Gibson and producer Bill Mechanic were attracted to production designer Barry Robison's experience down under.
Robison, whose mother was born in Fremantle, first worked in Australia on Jodie Foster.s Nim's Island in 2007.
.It was summer and it was gorgeous and [we were] out in the Whitsundays, so I fell in love with that part of the country very quickly,. he tells If..
.Right on the heels of that I was asked to do Wolverine down in Sydney, and during that I realised I could get my Australian citizenship. I finished that process on Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader...
Robison.s dual citizenship, he admits, .certainly factored in to why I got Hacksaw, because it was a tight budget..
Once he got the gig, Robison had a freewheeling chat with Gibson,...
- 1/25/2017
- by Harry Windsor
- IF.com.au
Read More: 2017 Oscar Predictions
Degree of difficulty is key in this category. Movies of scale and scope and originality –especially if they are period or fantasy — get the advantage. Which is why the Coen brothers’ ambitious Hollywood comedy “Hail, Caesar!” — from musical numbers to synchronized swimming — is a strong contender.
(Contenders are listed in alphabetical order.)
Frontrunners
John Bush, Charles Wood (“Doctor Strange”)
Stuart Craig, Anna Pinnock (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”)
Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh (“Hail, Caesar!”)
Sandy Reynolds-Wasco, David Wasco (“La La Land”)
Patrice Vermette; Paul Hotte (“Arrival”)
Contenders
Doug Chiang, Neil Lamont (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”)
Guy Hendrix Dyas and Gene Serdena (“Passengers”)
Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo (“Silence”)
Gary Freeman; Raffaella Giovannetti (“Allied”)
Christopher Glass, Amanda Moss Serino (“The Jungle Book”)
Alan MacDonald (“Florence Foster Jenkins”)
Jean Rabasse; Veronique Melery (“Jackie”)
Barry Robison (“Hacksaw Ridge”)
Wynn Thomas (“Hidden Figures”)
Shane Valentino, Meg Everist...
Degree of difficulty is key in this category. Movies of scale and scope and originality –especially if they are period or fantasy — get the advantage. Which is why the Coen brothers’ ambitious Hollywood comedy “Hail, Caesar!” — from musical numbers to synchronized swimming — is a strong contender.
(Contenders are listed in alphabetical order.)
Frontrunners
John Bush, Charles Wood (“Doctor Strange”)
Stuart Craig, Anna Pinnock (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”)
Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh (“Hail, Caesar!”)
Sandy Reynolds-Wasco, David Wasco (“La La Land”)
Patrice Vermette; Paul Hotte (“Arrival”)
Contenders
Doug Chiang, Neil Lamont (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”)
Guy Hendrix Dyas and Gene Serdena (“Passengers”)
Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo (“Silence”)
Gary Freeman; Raffaella Giovannetti (“Allied”)
Christopher Glass, Amanda Moss Serino (“The Jungle Book”)
Alan MacDonald (“Florence Foster Jenkins”)
Jean Rabasse; Veronique Melery (“Jackie”)
Barry Robison (“Hacksaw Ridge”)
Wynn Thomas (“Hidden Figures”)
Shane Valentino, Meg Everist...
- 1/10/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Read More: 2017 Oscar Predictions
Degree of difficulty is key in this category. Movies of scale and scope and originality –especially if they are period or fantasy — get the advantage. Which is why the Coen brothers’ ambitious Hollywood comedy “Hail, Caesar!” — from musical numbers to synchronized swimming — is a strong contender.
(Contenders are listed in alphabetical order.)
Frontrunners
John Bush, Charles Wood (“Doctor Strange”)
Stuart Craig, Anna Pinnock (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”)
Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh (“Hail, Caesar!”)
Sandy Reynolds-Wasco, David Wasco (“La La Land”)
Patrice Vermette; Paul Hotte (“Arrival”)
Contenders
Doug Chiang, Neil Lamont (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”)
Guy Hendrix Dyas and Gene Serdena (“Passengers”)
Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo (“Silence”)
Gary Freeman; Raffaella Giovannetti (“Allied”)
Christopher Glass, Amanda Moss Serino (“The Jungle Book”)
Alan MacDonald (“Florence Foster Jenkins”)
Jean Rabasse; Veronique Melery (“Jackie”)
Barry Robison (“Hacksaw Ridge”)
Wynn Thomas (“Hidden Figures”)
Shane Valentino, Meg Everist...
Degree of difficulty is key in this category. Movies of scale and scope and originality –especially if they are period or fantasy — get the advantage. Which is why the Coen brothers’ ambitious Hollywood comedy “Hail, Caesar!” — from musical numbers to synchronized swimming — is a strong contender.
(Contenders are listed in alphabetical order.)
Frontrunners
John Bush, Charles Wood (“Doctor Strange”)
Stuart Craig, Anna Pinnock (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”)
Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh (“Hail, Caesar!”)
Sandy Reynolds-Wasco, David Wasco (“La La Land”)
Patrice Vermette; Paul Hotte (“Arrival”)
Contenders
Doug Chiang, Neil Lamont (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”)
Guy Hendrix Dyas and Gene Serdena (“Passengers”)
Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo (“Silence”)
Gary Freeman; Raffaella Giovannetti (“Allied”)
Christopher Glass, Amanda Moss Serino (“The Jungle Book”)
Alan MacDonald (“Florence Foster Jenkins”)
Jean Rabasse; Veronique Melery (“Jackie”)
Barry Robison (“Hacksaw Ridge”)
Wynn Thomas (“Hidden Figures”)
Shane Valentino, Meg Everist...
- 1/10/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Desmond Doss was the first conscientious objector who went into battle. Serving during the Battle of Okinawa, he refused to carry a weapon, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his acts of bravery.
- 1/9/2017
- by Jazz Tangcay
- AwardsDaily.com
The Guild announced on Thursday nominations for the 21st Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards across a multitude of categories covering features, TV, commercials and music videos.
Among the film nominees were Café Society, Manchester By The Sea, Hell Or High Water and Arrival.
TV nominees encompass Game Of Thrones, The Night of and Silicon Valley, while Beyonce’s Lemonade visual extravaganza is a heavy-hitter in the music videos section.
The awards show is set for February 11 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland.
Excellence In Production Design For A Feature FilmPERIOD Film
Café Society, Santo Loquasto
Fences, David Gropman
Hacksaw Ridge, Barry Robison
Hail, Caesar!, Jess Gonchor
Hidden Figures, Wynn Thomas
Jackie, Jean Rabasse
Fantasy Film
Arrival, Patrice Vermette
Doctor Strange, Charles Wood
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, Stuart Craig
Passengers, Guy Hendrix Dyas
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Doug Chiang, Neil Lamont
Contemporary Film
Hell Or High Water, Tom Duffield
[link...
Among the film nominees were Café Society, Manchester By The Sea, Hell Or High Water and Arrival.
TV nominees encompass Game Of Thrones, The Night of and Silicon Valley, while Beyonce’s Lemonade visual extravaganza is a heavy-hitter in the music videos section.
The awards show is set for February 11 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland.
Excellence In Production Design For A Feature FilmPERIOD Film
Café Society, Santo Loquasto
Fences, David Gropman
Hacksaw Ridge, Barry Robison
Hail, Caesar!, Jess Gonchor
Hidden Figures, Wynn Thomas
Jackie, Jean Rabasse
Fantasy Film
Arrival, Patrice Vermette
Doctor Strange, Charles Wood
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, Stuart Craig
Passengers, Guy Hendrix Dyas
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Doug Chiang, Neil Lamont
Contemporary Film
Hell Or High Water, Tom Duffield
[link...
- 1/5/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The nominees: The Nominees For Excellence In Production Design For A Feature Film Are: 1. Period Film *tie CAFÉ Society Production Designer: Santo Loquasto Fences Production Designer: David Gropman Hacksaw Ridge Production Designer: Barry Robison Hail,...
- 1/5/2017
- by Sasha Stone
- AwardsDaily.com
Female film-makers donned sausage costumes to protest gender disparity in the Australian industry.Scroll down for full list of winners:
Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge was named best film of the year at the 2016 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) awards, with the wartime drama taking nine of its 13 nominated awards, at an event that was also marked by activism on and off the stage.
Hacksaw Ridge was produced in New South Wales and financed through the Producer Offset and other state and federal government subsidies.
The film’s star Andrew Garfield was named best actor for his portrayal of conscientious objector Desmond Dawes, and Hugo Weaving won best supporting actor (again, after winning in 2015 for The Dressmaker) for his role as Dawes’ battle-scarred father.
Garfield accepted his award via video message from Los Angeles, and expressed “pure joy” at the win. He also singled out “Mel’s brilliant ability to make everyone feel valuable...
Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge was named best film of the year at the 2016 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) awards, with the wartime drama taking nine of its 13 nominated awards, at an event that was also marked by activism on and off the stage.
Hacksaw Ridge was produced in New South Wales and financed through the Producer Offset and other state and federal government subsidies.
The film’s star Andrew Garfield was named best actor for his portrayal of conscientious objector Desmond Dawes, and Hugo Weaving won best supporting actor (again, after winning in 2015 for The Dressmaker) for his role as Dawes’ battle-scarred father.
Garfield accepted his award via video message from Los Angeles, and expressed “pure joy” at the win. He also singled out “Mel’s brilliant ability to make everyone feel valuable...
- 12/7/2016
- ScreenDaily
Hacksaw Ridge has picked up four Aacta Awards so far..
The first winners of this year.s Aacta Awards were unveiled yesterday at the Aacta Industry Luncheon.
Some 33 awards were presented during the event, celebrating screen craft excellence across features, television, shorts, and documentary. The remainder of the awards will be announced at the 6th Aacta Awards Ceremony on Wednesday evening.
Hacksaw Ridge picked up the most gongs: four from a possible six, including Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography and Best Sound. Mel Gibson's film is up for another seven awards, to be presented at Wednesday evening's ceremony..
Composer Antony Partos picked up his sixth AFI/Aacta award for his work on Tanna, while Simon Stone took out Best Adapted Screenplay for his debut feature The Daughter..Girl Asleep's Jonathan Oxlade won Best Costume Design.
The Aacta Award for Best Short Animation was presented to Angie Fielder,...
The first winners of this year.s Aacta Awards were unveiled yesterday at the Aacta Industry Luncheon.
Some 33 awards were presented during the event, celebrating screen craft excellence across features, television, shorts, and documentary. The remainder of the awards will be announced at the 6th Aacta Awards Ceremony on Wednesday evening.
Hacksaw Ridge picked up the most gongs: four from a possible six, including Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography and Best Sound. Mel Gibson's film is up for another seven awards, to be presented at Wednesday evening's ceremony..
Composer Antony Partos picked up his sixth AFI/Aacta award for his work on Tanna, while Simon Stone took out Best Adapted Screenplay for his debut feature The Daughter..Girl Asleep's Jonathan Oxlade won Best Costume Design.
The Aacta Award for Best Short Animation was presented to Angie Fielder,...
- 12/6/2016
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Hugo Weaving has joined the cast of Mel Gibson's star-studded Australian film Hacksaw Ridge.
Weaving will join Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn, Rachel Griffiths and Richard Roxburgh in the film, which is now in production.
Hacksaw Ridge is the true story of conscientious objector, Desmond Doss (Garfield), who, in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, saved 75 men without firing a gun..
Believing that the War was just but killing was nevertheless wrong, he was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon.
Doss single-handedly evacuated the wounded near enemy lines, braved fire while tending to soldiers and was wounded by a grenade and hit by snipers. He is the only conscientious objector to ever win the Us Medal of Honour.
Weaving will play Garfield's son, Tom Doss.
Producers of the film include Bill Mechanic, Bruce Davey, Paul Currie, David Permut and executive Producer,...
Weaving will join Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn, Rachel Griffiths and Richard Roxburgh in the film, which is now in production.
Hacksaw Ridge is the true story of conscientious objector, Desmond Doss (Garfield), who, in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, saved 75 men without firing a gun..
Believing that the War was just but killing was nevertheless wrong, he was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon.
Doss single-handedly evacuated the wounded near enemy lines, braved fire while tending to soldiers and was wounded by a grenade and hit by snipers. He is the only conscientious objector to ever win the Us Medal of Honour.
Weaving will play Garfield's son, Tom Doss.
Producers of the film include Bill Mechanic, Bruce Davey, Paul Currie, David Permut and executive Producer,...
- 10/19/2015
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
.
Rachel Griffiths, Richard Roxburgh, Teresa Palmer and Ben O.Toole are among a large contingent of Aussies who are appearing in Hacksaw Ridge, Mel Gibson.s WW2 drama now shooting in New South Wales.
The screenplay by Andrew Knight, Robert Schenkkan and Randall Wallace chronicles the true story of conscientious objector Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield).
In the battle of Okinawa Doss, an Army medic who believed the war was just but that killing was wrong, saved 75 soldiers without firing a gun.
As previously announced Sam Worthington is playing Captain Glover, who led the 77th Sustainment Brigade, with Vince Vaughn as Sergeant Howell, whose job was to get the new recruits ready for battle. Luke Bracey is Smitty Ryker, the alpha dog of the Doss. platoon.
Palmer plays Doss.s sweetheart Dorothy Shutte and Griffiths is his mother Bertha Doss. Roxburgh is Colonel Stelzer and O.Toole is Corporal Jessop.
The...
Rachel Griffiths, Richard Roxburgh, Teresa Palmer and Ben O.Toole are among a large contingent of Aussies who are appearing in Hacksaw Ridge, Mel Gibson.s WW2 drama now shooting in New South Wales.
The screenplay by Andrew Knight, Robert Schenkkan and Randall Wallace chronicles the true story of conscientious objector Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield).
In the battle of Okinawa Doss, an Army medic who believed the war was just but that killing was wrong, saved 75 soldiers without firing a gun.
As previously announced Sam Worthington is playing Captain Glover, who led the 77th Sustainment Brigade, with Vince Vaughn as Sergeant Howell, whose job was to get the new recruits ready for battle. Luke Bracey is Smitty Ryker, the alpha dog of the Doss. platoon.
Palmer plays Doss.s sweetheart Dorothy Shutte and Griffiths is his mother Bertha Doss. Roxburgh is Colonel Stelzer and O.Toole is Corporal Jessop.
The...
- 9/29/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Holiday Road here we come again.
Vacation stars Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Lesley Mann and Chris Hemsworth are the next generation of Griswolds who set off on a good old family road trip to Walley World in the new red-band trailer.
The next generation of Griswolds is at it again. New Line Cinema’s Vacation starring Ed Helms (“The Hangover” films) and Christina Applegate (the “Anchorman” films), takes the family on the road for another ill-fated adventure. The film marks Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley’s directorial debut.
Following in his father’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.
Rounding out the cast are Leslie Mann (“The Other Woman”) as Rusty’s sister, Audrey; Skyler Gisondo (“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,...
Vacation stars Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Lesley Mann and Chris Hemsworth are the next generation of Griswolds who set off on a good old family road trip to Walley World in the new red-band trailer.
The next generation of Griswolds is at it again. New Line Cinema’s Vacation starring Ed Helms (“The Hangover” films) and Christina Applegate (the “Anchorman” films), takes the family on the road for another ill-fated adventure. The film marks Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley’s directorial debut.
Following in his father’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.
Rounding out the cast are Leslie Mann (“The Other Woman”) as Rusty’s sister, Audrey; Skyler Gisondo (“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,...
- 5/7/2015
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
So, Candyman isn’t on Blu-ray yet, mostly because it’s a Sony title, and Twilight Time have had dibs on it for what seems like 3 years now. That’s not stopping Scream Factory from bringing us the sequel, however. Today they announced the street date, as well as the bonus content that would be included, in their Blu-ray release of Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh, hitting store shelves on January 6th, 2015. Check out the press release below, for all of the disc specifics, and click here to pre-order your copy today.
Scream Factory™ Presents
A Film by Bill Condon and Executive Produced by Clive Barker
Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh
Starring Tony Todd, Kelly Rowan
Highly Anticipated Blu-ray™ Edition With New Extras
Arrives On Home Entertainment Shelves Everywhere January 6, 2015
Pre-Order This Definitive Edition Today!
His myth has endured for generations. His legacy is eternal rage. And now he’s back…...
Scream Factory™ Presents
A Film by Bill Condon and Executive Produced by Clive Barker
Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh
Starring Tony Todd, Kelly Rowan
Highly Anticipated Blu-ray™ Edition With New Extras
Arrives On Home Entertainment Shelves Everywhere January 6, 2015
Pre-Order This Definitive Edition Today!
His myth has endured for generations. His legacy is eternal rage. And now he’s back…...
- 11/7/2014
- by Shawn Savage
- The Liberal Dead
Principal Photography Begins On New Line Cinema’s Vacation Starring Ed Helms and Christina Applegate
“It’s a Long Way Down The Holiday Road!”
The next generation of Griswolds is at it again. Shooting has begun in Georgia on New Line Cinema’s Vacation, starring Ed Helms (“The Hangover” films) and Christina Applegate (the “Anchorman” films) on the road for another ill-fated adventure.
The film marks Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley’s directorial debut.
Following in his father’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.
Rounding out the cast are Chris Hemsworth (the “Thor” films) in the role of Stone Crandall, Rusty’s irritatingly successful brother-in-law; Charlie Day (the “Horrible Bosses” films), who plays a river rafting guide; and Skyler Gisondo (“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” “Hard Sell”) and Steele Stebbins...
The next generation of Griswolds is at it again. Shooting has begun in Georgia on New Line Cinema’s Vacation, starring Ed Helms (“The Hangover” films) and Christina Applegate (the “Anchorman” films) on the road for another ill-fated adventure.
The film marks Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley’s directorial debut.
Following in his father’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.
Rounding out the cast are Chris Hemsworth (the “Thor” films) in the role of Stone Crandall, Rusty’s irritatingly successful brother-in-law; Charlie Day (the “Horrible Bosses” films), who plays a river rafting guide; and Skyler Gisondo (“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” “Hard Sell”) and Steele Stebbins...
- 9/16/2014
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The next generation of Griswolds is at it again. Shooting has begun in Georgia on New Line Cinema’s “Vacation,” starring Ed Helms (“The Hangover” films) and Christina Applegate (the “Anchorman” films) on the road for another ill-fated adventure. The film marks Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley’s directorial debut.
Following in his father’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.
Rounding out the cast are Chris Hemsworth (the “Thor” films) in the role of Stone Crandall, Rusty’s irritatingly successful brother-in-law; Charlie Day (the “Horrible Bosses” films), who plays a river rafting guide; and Skyler Gisondo (“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” “Hard Sell”) and Steele Stebbins (“A Haunted House 2”), who play Rusty’s sons,...
Following in his father’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.
Rounding out the cast are Chris Hemsworth (the “Thor” films) in the role of Stone Crandall, Rusty’s irritatingly successful brother-in-law; Charlie Day (the “Horrible Bosses” films), who plays a river rafting guide; and Skyler Gisondo (“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” “Hard Sell”) and Steele Stebbins (“A Haunted House 2”), who play Rusty’s sons,...
- 9/16/2014
- by Kellvin Chavez
- LRMonline.com
Genre: Reality | Sci-Fi | Competition
Air Date/Time: Tuesdays at 10/9c
Network: Syfy
Synopsis:
From the producers of Syfy’s top-rated Face Off comes a visually stunning new competition series Hot Set. Each week, two Hollywood production designers and their teams will compete in an extreme design challenge to create original movie sets inspired by the science fiction, fantasy and horror genres. Each episode is one complete competition, with new production designers introduced each week. The episode’s winning designer will be the one who creates the ultimate movie set that is able to transport the viewer into an immersive world based on creativity, technique and overall presentation.
A member of an American movie family dynasty, radio and television personality Ben Mankiewicz hosts the series. Ben’s grandfather, Herman Mankiewicz, is an Oscar-winning screenwriter for Citizen Kane and his great uncle, Joseph Mankiewicz, is an Oscar-Winning writer and director for All About Eve...
Air Date/Time: Tuesdays at 10/9c
Network: Syfy
Synopsis:
From the producers of Syfy’s top-rated Face Off comes a visually stunning new competition series Hot Set. Each week, two Hollywood production designers and their teams will compete in an extreme design challenge to create original movie sets inspired by the science fiction, fantasy and horror genres. Each episode is one complete competition, with new production designers introduced each week. The episode’s winning designer will be the one who creates the ultimate movie set that is able to transport the viewer into an immersive world based on creativity, technique and overall presentation.
A member of an American movie family dynasty, radio and television personality Ben Mankiewicz hosts the series. Ben’s grandfather, Herman Mankiewicz, is an Oscar-winning screenwriter for Citizen Kane and his great uncle, Joseph Mankiewicz, is an Oscar-Winning writer and director for All About Eve...
- 9/18/2012
- by Erin Willard
- ScifiMafia
Tom Hooper's "The King's Speech," Christopher Nolan's "Inception," and Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan" were the big winners of the Art Directors Guild's 15th annual Excellent in Production Design Awards.
"The King's Speech" took home the Period Film prize, "Inception" received the Fantasy Film trophy, and "Black Swan" danced to the top of Contemporary Film category.
Here's the complete list of winners (bolded) and nominees of the Art Directors Guild's 15th annual Excellence in Production Design Awards (Check out my Awards Avenue for your complete pre-Oscar preparations)
Period Film
True Grit -- Jess Gonchor
The King's Speech -- Eve Stewart
Shutter Island -- Dante Ferretti
Robin Hood -- Arthur Max
Get Low -- Geoffrey Kirkland
Fantasy Film
Alice In Wonderland -- Robert Stromberg
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 -- Stuart Craig
Inception -- Guy Hendrix Dyas
Tron: Legacy -- Darren Gilford
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader...
"The King's Speech" took home the Period Film prize, "Inception" received the Fantasy Film trophy, and "Black Swan" danced to the top of Contemporary Film category.
Here's the complete list of winners (bolded) and nominees of the Art Directors Guild's 15th annual Excellence in Production Design Awards (Check out my Awards Avenue for your complete pre-Oscar preparations)
Period Film
True Grit -- Jess Gonchor
The King's Speech -- Eve Stewart
Shutter Island -- Dante Ferretti
Robin Hood -- Arthur Max
Get Low -- Geoffrey Kirkland
Fantasy Film
Alice In Wonderland -- Robert Stromberg
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 -- Stuart Craig
Inception -- Guy Hendrix Dyas
Tron: Legacy -- Darren Gilford
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader...
- 2/7/2011
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The Art Directors Guild has announced nominees for its 15th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards! Winners will be revealed on Feb. 5.
Here's the complete list of nominees (Check our Awards Avenue for complete winners/nominees for all award-giving bodies):
Nominees For Excellence In Production Design For A Feature Film In 2010
Period Film
True Grit -- Jess Gonchor
The King's Speech -- Eve Stewart
Shutter Island -- Dante Ferretti
Robin Hood -- Arthur Max
Get Low -- Geoffrey Kirkland
Fantasy Film
Alice In Wonderland -- Robert Stromberg
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 -- Stuart Craig
Inception -- Guy Hendrix Dyas
Tron: Legacy -- Darren Gilford
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader -- Barry Robison
Contemporary Film
Black Swan -- Therese DePrez
The Social Network -- Donald Graham Burt
The Fighter -- Judy Becker
The Town -- Sharon Seymour
127 Hours -- Suttirat Larlarb
Nominees...
Here's the complete list of nominees (Check our Awards Avenue for complete winners/nominees for all award-giving bodies):
Nominees For Excellence In Production Design For A Feature Film In 2010
Period Film
True Grit -- Jess Gonchor
The King's Speech -- Eve Stewart
Shutter Island -- Dante Ferretti
Robin Hood -- Arthur Max
Get Low -- Geoffrey Kirkland
Fantasy Film
Alice In Wonderland -- Robert Stromberg
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 -- Stuart Craig
Inception -- Guy Hendrix Dyas
Tron: Legacy -- Darren Gilford
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader -- Barry Robison
Contemporary Film
Black Swan -- Therese DePrez
The Social Network -- Donald Graham Burt
The Fighter -- Judy Becker
The Town -- Sharon Seymour
127 Hours -- Suttirat Larlarb
Nominees...
- 1/6/2011
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The Art Directors Guild has announced the nominees for its 15th annual awards fest on Feb. 5 which will be hosted by Paula Poundstone at the Beverly Hilton. Over the first 14 years of these kudos, the eventual Oscar champ could be found among the nominees in the various categories of the Adg. The period pictures in contention are: "Get Low" (Geoffrey Kirkland), "The King's Speech" (Eve Stewart), "Robin Hood" (Arthur Max), "True Grit" (Jess Gonchor) and "Shutter Island" (Dante Ferretti). Fantasy film nominees are: "Alice in Wonderland" (Robert Stromberg), "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" (Barry Robison), "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I" (Stuart Craig), "Inception" (Guy Hendrix Dyas) and "Tron: Legacy" (Darren Gilford). And the contemporary film contenders are: "127 Hours" (Suttirat Larlab), "Black ...
- 1/5/2011
- Gold Derby
hollywoodnews.com: The Art Directors Guild (Adg) today announced nominations in nine categories of Production Design for theatrical motion pictures, television, commercials and music videos competing in the Adg’s 15th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards for 2010. The nominations were announced by Adg Council President Tom Walsh and Awards co-producers Dawn Snyder and Tom Wilkins. Deadline for final voting, which is done online, is February 3. The black-tie ceremony announcing winners will take place Saturday, February 5, 2010 from the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills with Paula Poundstone serving as host for the second consecutive year.
Theme of this year’s awards ceremony is “Designs on Film” as a tribute to Cathy Whitlock’s new HarperCollins book that traces 100 years of Hollywood Art Direction. Walsh will introduce the event,
A Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Academy Award® winning Production Designer Patricia Norris with director David Lynch set to present to her.
Theme of this year’s awards ceremony is “Designs on Film” as a tribute to Cathy Whitlock’s new HarperCollins book that traces 100 years of Hollywood Art Direction. Walsh will introduce the event,
A Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Academy Award® winning Production Designer Patricia Norris with director David Lynch set to present to her.
- 1/5/2011
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
Mia Wasikowska in Alice in Wonderland; Production Designer: Robert Stromberg
Photo: Walt Disney Pictures Now we start getting into a few of the more interesting guild nominations rather than those where we pretty much know exactly what films will be nominated. This morning the Art Directors Guild (Adg) announced nominations for the Adg'?s 15th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards for 2010.
The guild breaks out their noms distinguishing films as Period, Fantasy or Contemporary.
Of the nominees all five of my current Oscar predictions for the Art Direction category found their way into the mix, which includes the work done on Alice in Wonderland, Inception, True Grit, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and The King's Speech. However, a couple of my bubble predictions didn't make the Adg's cut, including The Wolfman and Secretariat, but then again, only five films can be nominated in the period category...
Photo: Walt Disney Pictures Now we start getting into a few of the more interesting guild nominations rather than those where we pretty much know exactly what films will be nominated. This morning the Art Directors Guild (Adg) announced nominations for the Adg'?s 15th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards for 2010.
The guild breaks out their noms distinguishing films as Period, Fantasy or Contemporary.
Of the nominees all five of my current Oscar predictions for the Art Direction category found their way into the mix, which includes the work done on Alice in Wonderland, Inception, True Grit, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and The King's Speech. However, a couple of my bubble predictions didn't make the Adg's cut, including The Wolfman and Secretariat, but then again, only five films can be nominated in the period category...
- 1/5/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Mark Ruffalo, Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island Nominees For Excellence In Production Design For A Feature Film In 2010: Period Film True Grit Production Designer: Jess Gonchor The King's Speech Production Designer: Eve Stewart Shutter Island Production Designer: Dante Ferretti Robin Hood Production Designer: Arthur Max Get Low Production Designer: Geoffrey Kirkland Fantasy Film Alice In Wonderland Production Designer: Robert Stromberg Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 Production Designer: Stuart Craig Inception Production Designer: Guy Hendrix Dyas Tron: Legacy Production Designer: Darren Gilford The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader Production Designer: Barry Robison Contemporary Film Black Swan Production Designer: Therese DePrez The Social Network Production Designer: Donald Graham Burt The Fighter Production Designer: Judy Becker The Town Production Desinger: Sharon Seymour 127 Hours Production Designer: Suttirat Larlarb Nominees For Excellence In Production Design In Television For 2010: Single Camera Television Series [...]...
- 1/5/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Thursday:
10:00-11:00 – DreamWorks Animation: Megamind — DreamWorks Animation makes its Comic-Con debut with Megamind. The characters Megamind and Metro Man are jettisoned to Earth as babies when their home planets are destroyed. Megamind crash-lands inside a maximum-security prison, where he evolves into the wicked and diabolical genius he is today, while the dashingly handsome superhero Metro Man grows into the universally adored savior of Metro City, beloved by every man, woman and child — and especially the city’s ace reporter Roxanne Ritchi. These life-long archenemies will rewrite superhero movie lore when they challenge each other to the ultimate showdown of Good vs. Evil! Megamind stars Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Jonah Hill and director Tom McGrath join forces to unveil footage from DreamWorks Animation’s November 5 release. Hall H
10:30-11:30 – Danny Elfman — From Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure to Alice in Wonderland, composer Danny Elfman discusses his 25-year collaboration with director Tim Burton.
10:00-11:00 – DreamWorks Animation: Megamind — DreamWorks Animation makes its Comic-Con debut with Megamind. The characters Megamind and Metro Man are jettisoned to Earth as babies when their home planets are destroyed. Megamind crash-lands inside a maximum-security prison, where he evolves into the wicked and diabolical genius he is today, while the dashingly handsome superhero Metro Man grows into the universally adored savior of Metro City, beloved by every man, woman and child — and especially the city’s ace reporter Roxanne Ritchi. These life-long archenemies will rewrite superhero movie lore when they challenge each other to the ultimate showdown of Good vs. Evil! Megamind stars Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Jonah Hill and director Tom McGrath join forces to unveil footage from DreamWorks Animation’s November 5 release. Hall H
10:30-11:30 – Danny Elfman — From Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure to Alice in Wonderland, composer Danny Elfman discusses his 25-year collaboration with director Tim Burton.
- 7/14/2010
- by Jason Moore
- ScifiMafia
Friday's schedule has just gone up for the 2010 Comic-Con at San Diego. As was the case with yesterday's breakdown, I'm focusing on film/TV/DVD related events, screenings and panels.
Read about Thursday's line-up of events.
10:00-11:00 Comedy Central: Ugly Americans— David M. Stern (showrunner and executive producer), Dan Powell (executive producer), Jeff Poliquin (supervising producer), Devin Clark (producer and series creator), Aaron Augenblick (director of animation), Matt Oberg (voice of Mark Lilly), Kurt Metzger (voice of Randall Skeffington), and Randy Pearlstein (voice of Leonard) take you behind the scenes at this animated series sensation. Featuring a sneak peek of the new season, Q&A, and more. One audience member selected will be drawn into an upcoming episode! Room 25Abc
10:15-11:15 Aloha, Earth!— Lost castaway found! Battlestar Cylon becomes human! Star Trek writers return from space! A supernatural force has drawn some of sci-fi's giants...
Read about Thursday's line-up of events.
10:00-11:00 Comedy Central: Ugly Americans— David M. Stern (showrunner and executive producer), Dan Powell (executive producer), Jeff Poliquin (supervising producer), Devin Clark (producer and series creator), Aaron Augenblick (director of animation), Matt Oberg (voice of Mark Lilly), Kurt Metzger (voice of Randall Skeffington), and Randy Pearlstein (voice of Leonard) take you behind the scenes at this animated series sensation. Featuring a sneak peek of the new season, Q&A, and more. One audience member selected will be drawn into an upcoming episode! Room 25Abc
10:15-11:15 Aloha, Earth!— Lost castaway found! Battlestar Cylon becomes human! Star Trek writers return from space! A supernatural force has drawn some of sci-fi's giants...
- 7/9/2010
- by Patrick Sauriol
- Corona's Coming Attractions
Hey Gang! Comic-Con International has released the full schedule for Friday July 23rd and its another full day crazy awesomeness!
Friday is traditionally known as Star Wars day at the convention. This year feature 6 Special Programs featuring official news, announcements and more from the Star Wars universe. There is also the classic march of the Stormtroopers which is always cool.
I honestly don't know how were going to cover everything we want to, but we will find away! We did it last year! I've hilighted all of the events and panels that we are looking forward to seeing. So check out the full schedule below and start planning out your epic Friday at Comic-Con!
Friday, July 23
Last changed: Fri, Jul 9, 11:26am
10:00-11:00 DC Talent Search 2— DC's editorial art director Mark Chiarello presents an informative orientation session that will explain how DC's Talent Search works and discuss the different needs of DC Universe,...
Friday is traditionally known as Star Wars day at the convention. This year feature 6 Special Programs featuring official news, announcements and more from the Star Wars universe. There is also the classic march of the Stormtroopers which is always cool.
I honestly don't know how were going to cover everything we want to, but we will find away! We did it last year! I've hilighted all of the events and panels that we are looking forward to seeing. So check out the full schedule below and start planning out your epic Friday at Comic-Con!
Friday, July 23
Last changed: Fri, Jul 9, 11:26am
10:00-11:00 DC Talent Search 2— DC's editorial art director Mark Chiarello presents an informative orientation session that will explain how DC's Talent Search works and discuss the different needs of DC Universe,...
- 7/9/2010
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Here are the movie and TV highlights
The San Diego Comic-Con has posted the schedule for Friday, July 23. You can view the full schedule here, but below are the movie and TV events that ComingSoon.net/SuperHeroHype/ShockTillYouDrop.com will be concentrating on.
Friday, July 23
10:00-11:00 Comedy Central: Ugly Americans— David M. Stern (showrunner and executive producer), Dan Powell (executive producer), Jeff Poliquin (supervising producer), Devin Clark (producer and series creator), Aaron Augenblick (director of animation), Matt Oberg (voice of Mark Lilly), Kurt Metzger (voice of Randall Skeffington), and Randy Pearlstein (voice of Leonard) take you behind the scenes at this animated series sensation. Featuring a sneak peek of the new season, Q&A, and more. One audience member selected will be drawn into an upcoming episode! Room 25Abc
10:15-11:15 Aloha, Earth!— Lost castaway found! Battlestar Cylon becomes human! Star Trek writers return from space!
The San Diego Comic-Con has posted the schedule for Friday, July 23. You can view the full schedule here, but below are the movie and TV events that ComingSoon.net/SuperHeroHype/ShockTillYouDrop.com will be concentrating on.
Friday, July 23
10:00-11:00 Comedy Central: Ugly Americans— David M. Stern (showrunner and executive producer), Dan Powell (executive producer), Jeff Poliquin (supervising producer), Devin Clark (producer and series creator), Aaron Augenblick (director of animation), Matt Oberg (voice of Mark Lilly), Kurt Metzger (voice of Randall Skeffington), and Randy Pearlstein (voice of Leonard) take you behind the scenes at this animated series sensation. Featuring a sneak peek of the new season, Q&A, and more. One audience member selected will be drawn into an upcoming episode! Room 25Abc
10:15-11:15 Aloha, Earth!— Lost castaway found! Battlestar Cylon becomes human! Star Trek writers return from space!
- 7/9/2010
- by editor@comingsoon.net (SuperHeroHype)
- Superherohype
The the first production blog for "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is now online via the official Facebook page.
Here is an excerpt from the entry:
The third book in C.S. Lewis’ series begins when the two youngest Pevensies, along with their irritating cousin Eustace, are swallowed into a bedroom wall painting, which depicts a ship sailing on the high seas.
To create the effect of the bedroom flooding with water, the production’s mechanical SFX crew, under the direction of veteran movie magician Brian Cox, and working with Barry Robison’s and Ian Gracie’s crack art department and construction crew, duplicated the sound stage bedroom set on an elevated platform which was then dunked into the smaller of Warner Roadshow’s two exterior studio water tanks. The three actors were then instructed to swim out of the bedroom door and windows to the surface.
Here is an excerpt from the entry:
The third book in C.S. Lewis’ series begins when the two youngest Pevensies, along with their irritating cousin Eustace, are swallowed into a bedroom wall painting, which depicts a ship sailing on the high seas.
To create the effect of the bedroom flooding with water, the production’s mechanical SFX crew, under the direction of veteran movie magician Brian Cox, and working with Barry Robison’s and Ian Gracie’s crack art department and construction crew, duplicated the sound stage bedroom set on an elevated platform which was then dunked into the smaller of Warner Roadshow’s two exterior studio water tanks. The three actors were then instructed to swim out of the bedroom door and windows to the surface.
- 1/31/2010
- by Kellvin Chavez
- AMC - Script to Screen
With principal filming on the third Narnia pic wrapping up in Australia today, it’s time for the post-production bells and whistles on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader to get started. Narnia fans get a shiny new production blog to follow, which promises to unleash surprises over the year until release next December, the first lot of which is three new pictures of one of the film’s main whistles, the Dawn Treader herself.A world away from the BBC version’s low-key ship, this Dawn Treader is certainly brandishing its Disney-ness. The pic with Georgie Henley’s Lucy shows a ship that appears to have started life in Enchanted, and Ben Barnes’s (now King) Caspian has puffier sleeves than Cinderella, but the detail on that helm is breathtaking. Production designer Barry Robison reckons around 200 people worked on building the Dawn Treader, all of whom are listed in...
- 11/27/2009
- EmpireOnline
The premise is a winner, the two key roles are wonderfully cast with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn and the gross-but-not-too-gross humor will score with young moviegoers -- at least those able to get into an R-rated comedy. But Wedding Crashers is still a letdown. The film never quite lives up to the promise of its premise. The film starts out quirky, but settles for the routine. And characters, instead of deepening, flatten out.
Nevertheless, pairing Wilson and Vaughn strengthens the weaker moments and makes the better ones explode with comic energy. Wedding Crashers is enough of a laugh-getter that New Line can anticipate a boxoffice hit.
Wilson and Vaughn play John and Jeremy, a couple of guys making a living in Washington, D.C., as divorce mediators -- this gets established in a funny opening scene -- but that's not their real claim to fame. No, what makes them very special guys is this great girl-catching gimmick they have developed: They crash weddings. Weddings, you see, bring out a lot of hot women, the ceremonies get them all romantic and the parties lessen their inhibitions. As long as the two have a well-rehearsed explanation as to who they are and how they are related to the bride or groom, the game is almost too easy.
Then the inevitable -- read predictable -- happens: One of the guys breaks the rules of the game by falling in love. This happens when they crash the wedding of the daughter of Treasury Secretary William Cleary (Christopher Walken) and hit on bridesmaids Claire (Rachel McAdams) and Gloria (Isla Fisher) Cleary. Each spells trouble.
For John, Claire presents a double challenge. He not only falls for her but also is blocked by an obstacle in the form of her highly competitive boyfriend, Sack (Bradley Cooper), scion of another East Coast political clan. For Jeremy, Gloria turns out to be a "clinger." After a satisfying tryst on the beach, Gloria refuses to leave her new love's side. She even gets her father to invite the boys back to the family compound for an exclusive post-wedding party.
Jeremy wants to flee fast, but John clearly needs more time with Claire to win her over -- a whole lot more time. So John insists that Jeremy must tarry and back him up. Soon their cover stories are looking shaky.
The central feature of the midsection of the movie are the eccentricities of the Cleary clan, who are Kennedy-esque only much naughtier. The secretary is a self-centered philanderer; his wife, Kathleen (Jane Seymour), a lush on the make for younger men like John; Gloria, a virtual nymphomaniac; and brother Todd (Keir O'Donnell), a bad artist and, as Grandma Cleary so inelegantly puts it, "a homo."
Then a funny thing happens to this comedy with an edge of political satire: It takes a detour into SitcomLand. Characters turn into caricatures, and soon the family is more crackpot than eccentric. None is capable of getting appointed rat catcher much less Secretary of the Treasury.
It's a loss but a minor one as the film still has merry fun with Wilson and Vaughn cutting loose in this loony household. And McAdams and Fisher are more than just good-looking actresses; each has a solid knack for comedy. Walken always makes more of such roles than is really there, but much more should have been done with Seymour's character.
Director David Dobkin (Shanghai Knights) moves the two-hour comedy quickly enough so few viewers will dwell on plot holes or character deficiencies. The technical side is bright, especially a montage by editor Mark Livolsi of the boys working their amorous magic at a series of Jewish, Irish and Italian weddings. Julio Macat's cinematography is sharp, and Barry Robison's sets and Denise Wingate's costumes portray a class of people exceedingly comfortable with their undeserved riches.
THE WEDDING CRASHERS
New Line Cinema
A Tapestry Films production
Credits:
Director: David Dobkin
Screenwriters: Steve Faber & Bob Fisher
Producers: Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy, Andrew Panay
Executive producers: Guy Riedel
Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener, Cale Boyter
Director of photography: Julio Macat
Production designer: Barry Robison
Music: Rolfe Kent
Costumes: Denise Wingate
Editor: Mark Livolsi
Cast:
John Beckwith: Owen Wilson
Jeremy Klein: Vince Vaughn
Secretary Cleary: Christopher Walken
Claire Cleary: Rachel McAdams
Gloria Cleary: Isla Fisher
Kathleen Cleary: Jane Seymour
Grandma Cleary: Ellen Albertini Dow
Todd Cleary: Keir O'Donnell
Sack Lodge: Bradley Cooper
MPAA rating: R
Running time -- 119 minutes...
Nevertheless, pairing Wilson and Vaughn strengthens the weaker moments and makes the better ones explode with comic energy. Wedding Crashers is enough of a laugh-getter that New Line can anticipate a boxoffice hit.
Wilson and Vaughn play John and Jeremy, a couple of guys making a living in Washington, D.C., as divorce mediators -- this gets established in a funny opening scene -- but that's not their real claim to fame. No, what makes them very special guys is this great girl-catching gimmick they have developed: They crash weddings. Weddings, you see, bring out a lot of hot women, the ceremonies get them all romantic and the parties lessen their inhibitions. As long as the two have a well-rehearsed explanation as to who they are and how they are related to the bride or groom, the game is almost too easy.
Then the inevitable -- read predictable -- happens: One of the guys breaks the rules of the game by falling in love. This happens when they crash the wedding of the daughter of Treasury Secretary William Cleary (Christopher Walken) and hit on bridesmaids Claire (Rachel McAdams) and Gloria (Isla Fisher) Cleary. Each spells trouble.
For John, Claire presents a double challenge. He not only falls for her but also is blocked by an obstacle in the form of her highly competitive boyfriend, Sack (Bradley Cooper), scion of another East Coast political clan. For Jeremy, Gloria turns out to be a "clinger." After a satisfying tryst on the beach, Gloria refuses to leave her new love's side. She even gets her father to invite the boys back to the family compound for an exclusive post-wedding party.
Jeremy wants to flee fast, but John clearly needs more time with Claire to win her over -- a whole lot more time. So John insists that Jeremy must tarry and back him up. Soon their cover stories are looking shaky.
The central feature of the midsection of the movie are the eccentricities of the Cleary clan, who are Kennedy-esque only much naughtier. The secretary is a self-centered philanderer; his wife, Kathleen (Jane Seymour), a lush on the make for younger men like John; Gloria, a virtual nymphomaniac; and brother Todd (Keir O'Donnell), a bad artist and, as Grandma Cleary so inelegantly puts it, "a homo."
Then a funny thing happens to this comedy with an edge of political satire: It takes a detour into SitcomLand. Characters turn into caricatures, and soon the family is more crackpot than eccentric. None is capable of getting appointed rat catcher much less Secretary of the Treasury.
It's a loss but a minor one as the film still has merry fun with Wilson and Vaughn cutting loose in this loony household. And McAdams and Fisher are more than just good-looking actresses; each has a solid knack for comedy. Walken always makes more of such roles than is really there, but much more should have been done with Seymour's character.
Director David Dobkin (Shanghai Knights) moves the two-hour comedy quickly enough so few viewers will dwell on plot holes or character deficiencies. The technical side is bright, especially a montage by editor Mark Livolsi of the boys working their amorous magic at a series of Jewish, Irish and Italian weddings. Julio Macat's cinematography is sharp, and Barry Robison's sets and Denise Wingate's costumes portray a class of people exceedingly comfortable with their undeserved riches.
THE WEDDING CRASHERS
New Line Cinema
A Tapestry Films production
Credits:
Director: David Dobkin
Screenwriters: Steve Faber & Bob Fisher
Producers: Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy, Andrew Panay
Executive producers: Guy Riedel
Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener, Cale Boyter
Director of photography: Julio Macat
Production designer: Barry Robison
Music: Rolfe Kent
Costumes: Denise Wingate
Editor: Mark Livolsi
Cast:
John Beckwith: Owen Wilson
Jeremy Klein: Vince Vaughn
Secretary Cleary: Christopher Walken
Claire Cleary: Rachel McAdams
Gloria Cleary: Isla Fisher
Kathleen Cleary: Jane Seymour
Grandma Cleary: Ellen Albertini Dow
Todd Cleary: Keir O'Donnell
Sack Lodge: Bradley Cooper
MPAA rating: R
Running time -- 119 minutes...
- 7/29/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Despite the nondescript title, Universal has a potential sleeper hit in "October Sky", an unapologetically formulaic but rousing period piece based on the childhood memoir, "Rocket Boys", by NASA science engineer Homer H. Hickam Jr.
Boasting a terrific cast, the Eisenhower-era, space-race story about a coal miner's son whose head is truly in the clouds taps into some universal truths about family dynamics that remain stubbornly unaffected by time and place.
While it would have taken no less than the presence of Robin Williams with a pocket protector and brandishing a slide ruler to guarantee the studio another "Patch Adams"-sized success, favorable reviews and strong word-of-mouth should propel "October Sky" to respectable heights.
Young Jake Gyllenhaal puts in a winning performance as Homer Hickam, a rural West Virginia high school student circa 1957 who lives in the shadow of his football-playing brother and under the tough but well-meaning hand of his miner superintendent father (Chris Cooper).
Although it's all but a given that the young men of Coalwood will become miners with the exception of those few -- like his brother -- who earn football scholarships, Homer discovers his destiny one October night when he sees the Soviet satellite Sputnik twinkling across the sky.
The next morning he proudly announces at breakfast that he's going to build rockets for a living. Undaunted by his family's unenthusiastic response -- his mom (Natalie Canerday) offers a that's-nice-dear smile accompanied by the motherly advice, "Don't blow yourself up!" -- Homer perseveres with the help of his friends, Roy Lee William Lee Scott), O'Dell (Chad Lindberg) and Quentin (Chris Owen), the high school nerd who's more than happy to offer him a primer in rocket science.
Their first batch of prototypes go south, but after constant refinement, the rocket boys, boosted by their inspiring teacher, Miss Riley (Laura Dern) are ready to enter a national science fair. But fate would appear to conspire against them. The authorities effectively shut down their launch site when one of their unaccounted-for, wayward rockets is alleged to have sparked a forest fire.
Worse, Homer has to put his dreams on hold and starts shoveling coal to help make ends meet after his father is seriously injured in a mining accident.
Of course, everything will turn out just fine in the end, and while the route getting there is filled with some very familiar obstacles, it's still a very satisfying trip.
Much of the credit goes to the exceptional cast, headed by Gyllenhaal, whose sweet, sensitive but stubbornly determined portrayal of a young man intent on making his own destiny fuels much of the picture's crowd-pleasing power.
Cooper, meanwhile, is excellent as his hardened, uncomprehending but ultimately caring father. It's a complex, thoughtfully layered performance.
Good, too, is Canerday as Homer's no-nonsense mom who's willing to play the part of the supportive '50s housewife only up to a point, and Dern, who always ignites every screen she appears on, this time as Homer's encouraging teacher.
Director Joe Johnston ("Jumanji") did another jet-propelled period piece called "The Rocketeer", but this one really flies, dispensing of the array of big-budget special effects in favor of effective, good old-fashioned storytelling and sturdy characterizations.
While Lewis Colick's script doesn't try to break any ground in its safe approach to the material, it manages to get the job done in a tidy and affecting manner.
It's all framed by Fred Murphy's warm-toned camera work and Barry Robison's period-appropriate but respectfully unkitschy production design.
Meanwhile, Mark Isham's inventive score goes for something beyond the usual string-heavy arrangements, blending in nicely with the rock 'n' roll samplings of Elvis, Buddy Holly and Fats Domino, which, like the emerging space program, signaled a society on the cusp of unprecedented change.
OCTOBER SKY
Universal Pictures
A Charles Gordon production
A Joe Johnston film
Director: Joe Johnston
Screenwriter: Lewis Colick
Based on the book "Rocket Boys"by: Homer H. Hickam Jr.
Producers: Charles Gordon, Larry Franco
Executive producers: Marc Sternberg, Peter Cramer
Director of photography: Fred Murphy
Production designer: Barry Robison
Editor: Robert Dalva
Costume designer: Betsy Cox
Music: Mark Isham
Casting: Nancy Foy
Color/stereo
Cast:
Homer: Jake Gyllenhaal
John Hickam: Chris Cooper
Roy Lee: William Lee Scott
Quentin: Chris Owen
O'Dell: Chad Lindberg
Elsie Hickam: Natalie Canerday
Miss Riley: Laura Dern
Running time -- 108 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Boasting a terrific cast, the Eisenhower-era, space-race story about a coal miner's son whose head is truly in the clouds taps into some universal truths about family dynamics that remain stubbornly unaffected by time and place.
While it would have taken no less than the presence of Robin Williams with a pocket protector and brandishing a slide ruler to guarantee the studio another "Patch Adams"-sized success, favorable reviews and strong word-of-mouth should propel "October Sky" to respectable heights.
Young Jake Gyllenhaal puts in a winning performance as Homer Hickam, a rural West Virginia high school student circa 1957 who lives in the shadow of his football-playing brother and under the tough but well-meaning hand of his miner superintendent father (Chris Cooper).
Although it's all but a given that the young men of Coalwood will become miners with the exception of those few -- like his brother -- who earn football scholarships, Homer discovers his destiny one October night when he sees the Soviet satellite Sputnik twinkling across the sky.
The next morning he proudly announces at breakfast that he's going to build rockets for a living. Undaunted by his family's unenthusiastic response -- his mom (Natalie Canerday) offers a that's-nice-dear smile accompanied by the motherly advice, "Don't blow yourself up!" -- Homer perseveres with the help of his friends, Roy Lee William Lee Scott), O'Dell (Chad Lindberg) and Quentin (Chris Owen), the high school nerd who's more than happy to offer him a primer in rocket science.
Their first batch of prototypes go south, but after constant refinement, the rocket boys, boosted by their inspiring teacher, Miss Riley (Laura Dern) are ready to enter a national science fair. But fate would appear to conspire against them. The authorities effectively shut down their launch site when one of their unaccounted-for, wayward rockets is alleged to have sparked a forest fire.
Worse, Homer has to put his dreams on hold and starts shoveling coal to help make ends meet after his father is seriously injured in a mining accident.
Of course, everything will turn out just fine in the end, and while the route getting there is filled with some very familiar obstacles, it's still a very satisfying trip.
Much of the credit goes to the exceptional cast, headed by Gyllenhaal, whose sweet, sensitive but stubbornly determined portrayal of a young man intent on making his own destiny fuels much of the picture's crowd-pleasing power.
Cooper, meanwhile, is excellent as his hardened, uncomprehending but ultimately caring father. It's a complex, thoughtfully layered performance.
Good, too, is Canerday as Homer's no-nonsense mom who's willing to play the part of the supportive '50s housewife only up to a point, and Dern, who always ignites every screen she appears on, this time as Homer's encouraging teacher.
Director Joe Johnston ("Jumanji") did another jet-propelled period piece called "The Rocketeer", but this one really flies, dispensing of the array of big-budget special effects in favor of effective, good old-fashioned storytelling and sturdy characterizations.
While Lewis Colick's script doesn't try to break any ground in its safe approach to the material, it manages to get the job done in a tidy and affecting manner.
It's all framed by Fred Murphy's warm-toned camera work and Barry Robison's period-appropriate but respectfully unkitschy production design.
Meanwhile, Mark Isham's inventive score goes for something beyond the usual string-heavy arrangements, blending in nicely with the rock 'n' roll samplings of Elvis, Buddy Holly and Fats Domino, which, like the emerging space program, signaled a society on the cusp of unprecedented change.
OCTOBER SKY
Universal Pictures
A Charles Gordon production
A Joe Johnston film
Director: Joe Johnston
Screenwriter: Lewis Colick
Based on the book "Rocket Boys"by: Homer H. Hickam Jr.
Producers: Charles Gordon, Larry Franco
Executive producers: Marc Sternberg, Peter Cramer
Director of photography: Fred Murphy
Production designer: Barry Robison
Editor: Robert Dalva
Costume designer: Betsy Cox
Music: Mark Isham
Casting: Nancy Foy
Color/stereo
Cast:
Homer: Jake Gyllenhaal
John Hickam: Chris Cooper
Roy Lee: William Lee Scott
Quentin: Chris Owen
O'Dell: Chad Lindberg
Elsie Hickam: Natalie Canerday
Miss Riley: Laura Dern
Running time -- 108 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Heaped with off-center humor and griddled with offbeat romance, "Home Fries" is a plateful of fun. Starring Drew Barrymore as a pregnant fast-food worker, the Warner Bros. goody should garner big tips from audiences. In "There's Something About Mary"-style dicey comedy, it struts out modestly but demonstrates sturdy legs. This reviewer's favorite film of the year, it should, accordingly, clean up with the screw-loose demographic.
Things have gotten a little gamy at the Burger-Matic down near the silo and tracks. Sally's (Barrymore) gotten pregnant by Henry, an old fart who left her holding the kid. Henry's not a good guy and, behold, a black helicopter stalks him on his way home one night, causing the old bird to suffer a terminal coronary. It wasn't the workings of the Lord -- though the sleepy Virginia locale might indicate such -- but rather the wrath of Henry's wronged wife (Catherine O'Hara), who has inveigled her twentysomething sons Dorian (Luke Wilson) and Angus (Jake Busey) to commit the deed.
Just one small flaw in the plan: The copter's radio transmissions were picked up by the Burger-Matic, and the boys want to make sure no one has an inkling.
That's where things get really nuts and thus complicated as ultraparanoid Angus bullies more level-headed Dorian into getting a job at the Burger-Matic to see if anyone suspects. Here, at the intersection of fast food and tobacco roads, writer Vince Gilligan turns up the satire and goofy mayhem; his script percolates with quirky flourishes and oddball inventiveness. Best, it's all based on logical human behavior, character-motivated rather than plot-contrived. Gilligan milks and stirs the chinks and quirks in each character's personality for most combustible effect. The result is full-scale craziness, which is always goofier when spawned by "normal" people than out-and-out wackos.
While narratively smart, "Home Fries" is visually exceptional. Director Dean Parisot's eye for oddity is droll and deadly. His straight-on take is hilarious: Never resorting to showy, expressionistic flourishes or other cinematic contrivances, Parisot skewers a "normal" site (it could be anywhere in backwater United States) and shows its zaniness.
Although lethally satiric, it's also affectionate -- a welcome relief from the snide, condescending depictions many filmmakers resort to when taking potshots at the burgs. A large pat of the excellence owes to cinematographer Jerzy Zielinski's off-kilter compositions and production designer Barry Robison's dead-on creations. Rachel Portman's musical score, while never ostentatious, is full-blown delirious and amplified by subtle slabs of a wide array of Americana tunery, from Dean Martin to scratchy Delta bursts.
Through subtlety, the talented cast members convey the outrageous. As curly-haired, big-tummied Sally, Barrymore glows with girlish goodness. From her pregnant waddle to her burgeoning smile, she's a gal who warms your heart. As the borderline paranoid Angus, Busey's performance covers all ranges -- from simmer to boil to heat-over. Yet, he's warmed him with likability that is brilliant in its true ringing. Dorian, whose kindly nature inspires much of the screwiness, is played nicely by Wilson. He's the straight man, and by playing it down the middle, he reaches some touching, crazy perimeters. As the Machiavellian mom, O'Hara's performance is similarly steeped in real-life dimension; she is far more threatening than if played in the standard, evil-witch way.
Shelley Duvall and Lanny Flaherty show the range of hues among white-trash folk in their deft portrayals of Sally's hardscrabble parents. There's also a sorry hound dog (uncredited) whose back-of-truck lurchings and drooly burstings bring out the true flavor of a superb batch of "Home Fries".
HOME FRIES
Warner Bros.
A Mark Johnson/Baltimore Pictures/
Kasdan Pictures production
Producers: Mark Johnson, Barry Levinson, Lawrence Kasdan, Charles Newirth
Director: Dean Parisot
Screenwriter: Vince Gilligan
Executive producer: Romi Lassally
Director of photography: Jerzy Zielinski
Production designer: Barry Robison
Editor: Nicholas C. Smith
Music: Rachel Portman
Costume designer: Jill Ohanneson
Casting: Jill Greenberg Sands, Debra Zane
Color/stereo
Cast:
Sally: Drew Barrymore
Mrs. Lever: Catherine O'Hara
Dorian: Luke Wilson
Angus: Jake Busey
Mrs. Jackson: Shelley Duvall
Billy: Kim Robillard
Roy: Daryl Mitchell
Red: Lanny Flaherty
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Things have gotten a little gamy at the Burger-Matic down near the silo and tracks. Sally's (Barrymore) gotten pregnant by Henry, an old fart who left her holding the kid. Henry's not a good guy and, behold, a black helicopter stalks him on his way home one night, causing the old bird to suffer a terminal coronary. It wasn't the workings of the Lord -- though the sleepy Virginia locale might indicate such -- but rather the wrath of Henry's wronged wife (Catherine O'Hara), who has inveigled her twentysomething sons Dorian (Luke Wilson) and Angus (Jake Busey) to commit the deed.
Just one small flaw in the plan: The copter's radio transmissions were picked up by the Burger-Matic, and the boys want to make sure no one has an inkling.
That's where things get really nuts and thus complicated as ultraparanoid Angus bullies more level-headed Dorian into getting a job at the Burger-Matic to see if anyone suspects. Here, at the intersection of fast food and tobacco roads, writer Vince Gilligan turns up the satire and goofy mayhem; his script percolates with quirky flourishes and oddball inventiveness. Best, it's all based on logical human behavior, character-motivated rather than plot-contrived. Gilligan milks and stirs the chinks and quirks in each character's personality for most combustible effect. The result is full-scale craziness, which is always goofier when spawned by "normal" people than out-and-out wackos.
While narratively smart, "Home Fries" is visually exceptional. Director Dean Parisot's eye for oddity is droll and deadly. His straight-on take is hilarious: Never resorting to showy, expressionistic flourishes or other cinematic contrivances, Parisot skewers a "normal" site (it could be anywhere in backwater United States) and shows its zaniness.
Although lethally satiric, it's also affectionate -- a welcome relief from the snide, condescending depictions many filmmakers resort to when taking potshots at the burgs. A large pat of the excellence owes to cinematographer Jerzy Zielinski's off-kilter compositions and production designer Barry Robison's dead-on creations. Rachel Portman's musical score, while never ostentatious, is full-blown delirious and amplified by subtle slabs of a wide array of Americana tunery, from Dean Martin to scratchy Delta bursts.
Through subtlety, the talented cast members convey the outrageous. As curly-haired, big-tummied Sally, Barrymore glows with girlish goodness. From her pregnant waddle to her burgeoning smile, she's a gal who warms your heart. As the borderline paranoid Angus, Busey's performance covers all ranges -- from simmer to boil to heat-over. Yet, he's warmed him with likability that is brilliant in its true ringing. Dorian, whose kindly nature inspires much of the screwiness, is played nicely by Wilson. He's the straight man, and by playing it down the middle, he reaches some touching, crazy perimeters. As the Machiavellian mom, O'Hara's performance is similarly steeped in real-life dimension; she is far more threatening than if played in the standard, evil-witch way.
Shelley Duvall and Lanny Flaherty show the range of hues among white-trash folk in their deft portrayals of Sally's hardscrabble parents. There's also a sorry hound dog (uncredited) whose back-of-truck lurchings and drooly burstings bring out the true flavor of a superb batch of "Home Fries".
HOME FRIES
Warner Bros.
A Mark Johnson/Baltimore Pictures/
Kasdan Pictures production
Producers: Mark Johnson, Barry Levinson, Lawrence Kasdan, Charles Newirth
Director: Dean Parisot
Screenwriter: Vince Gilligan
Executive producer: Romi Lassally
Director of photography: Jerzy Zielinski
Production designer: Barry Robison
Editor: Nicholas C. Smith
Music: Rachel Portman
Costume designer: Jill Ohanneson
Casting: Jill Greenberg Sands, Debra Zane
Color/stereo
Cast:
Sally: Drew Barrymore
Mrs. Lever: Catherine O'Hara
Dorian: Luke Wilson
Angus: Jake Busey
Mrs. Jackson: Shelley Duvall
Billy: Kim Robillard
Roy: Daryl Mitchell
Red: Lanny Flaherty
Running time -- 93 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
- 9/17/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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