Mitsuhiro Mihara’s Takano Tofu won two awards including the top Golden Mulberry prize at the closing of Far East Film Festival (Feff) in Udine, Italy, where the honours were dominated by titles from Japan and South Korea.
The family drama centres on a father and daughter who run a tofu store, and stars Tatsuya Fuji and Kumiko Aso. It received its European premiere at Feff, where director Mihara accepted the award, decided by audience votes, on Thursday (May 2).
The film also won the Purple Mulberry Award, selected users of Italian film fan platform MYmovies. The online component of Feff,...
The family drama centres on a father and daughter who run a tofu store, and stars Tatsuya Fuji and Kumiko Aso. It received its European premiere at Feff, where director Mihara accepted the award, decided by audience votes, on Thursday (May 2).
The film also won the Purple Mulberry Award, selected users of Italian film fan platform MYmovies. The online component of Feff,...
- 5/3/2024
- ScreenDaily
“Takano Tofu” claimed double honors on the closing night of the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy. It won the Golden Mulberry audience award and the MyMovies Purple Mulberry award.
Directed by Mihara Mitsuhiro, “Takano Tofu” is a melodrama about an elderly tofu-making craftsman, who is stuck in his ways but is also experimental and who is kindly, but whose stubbornness brings suffering on those around him. Udine’s Japan selector, Mark Schilling compared the work to that of master director Ozu Yasujiro.
The prizes were handed out in the early hours of Friday after a marathon day of celebratory activity that started with Chinese director Zhang Yimou on hand for a screening of his “Raise the Red Lantern,” continued with a generous-spirited masterclass and in the evening continued with the handover of Zhang’s lifetime achievement award. Two more films – Zhang’s “To Live” and the premiere of...
Directed by Mihara Mitsuhiro, “Takano Tofu” is a melodrama about an elderly tofu-making craftsman, who is stuck in his ways but is also experimental and who is kindly, but whose stubbornness brings suffering on those around him. Udine’s Japan selector, Mark Schilling compared the work to that of master director Ozu Yasujiro.
The prizes were handed out in the early hours of Friday after a marathon day of celebratory activity that started with Chinese director Zhang Yimou on hand for a screening of his “Raise the Red Lantern,” continued with a generous-spirited masterclass and in the evening continued with the handover of Zhang’s lifetime achievement award. Two more films – Zhang’s “To Live” and the premiere of...
- 5/3/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
On a big night for Japan, Mitsuhiro Mihara’s Takano Tofu took home the top prize at the 26th Far East Film Festival (Feff), which concluded on Thursday night in the northern Italian city of Udine. The family drama, which stars Tatsuya Fuji and Kumiko Aso as a father and daughter who run a tofu store in a small town, won Feff’s coveted Golden Mulberry Audience Award. Takano Tofu also won the Purple Mulberry Award, which is selected by users of MYmovies, Italy’s leading film fan platform.
It was a one-two for Japan in the main audience awards, as Naoya Fujita’s youthful drama Confetti came second place. In third was the Hong Kong film Time Still Turns the Pages, a devastating drama from Nick Cheuk who scored best director wins at the Asian Film Awards and Hong Kong Film Awards for the same film.
Feff’s Black Dragon...
It was a one-two for Japan in the main audience awards, as Naoya Fujita’s youthful drama Confetti came second place. In third was the Hong Kong film Time Still Turns the Pages, a devastating drama from Nick Cheuk who scored best director wins at the Asian Film Awards and Hong Kong Film Awards for the same film.
Feff’s Black Dragon...
- 5/3/2024
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In 2020, Naoya Fujita won the Japanese Short Film Competition of Skip City International D-Cinema with “Stay” (2019). Following up in 2022, he directed “Long-Term Coffee Break” (2022) for the New Directions in Japanese Cinema Project. “Confetti” is his first feature film and was produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Skip City International D-Cinema Festival and the 90th anniversary of Kawaguchi City. Enough reasons to take a closer look at this exciting new director.
Confetti is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival 2024
Yuki is a high school student living on the road with his father, who is the leader of the Yuhiza Theatre Group. Due to touring, Yuki has to change school almost every month and his life is in constant change marked by various encounters and partings. Coming to town, he is determined to focus on his biggest wish, to become an actor. He is not interested in finding new friends...
Confetti is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival 2024
Yuki is a high school student living on the road with his father, who is the leader of the Yuhiza Theatre Group. Due to touring, Yuki has to change school almost every month and his life is in constant change marked by various encounters and partings. Coming to town, he is determined to focus on his biggest wish, to become an actor. He is not interested in finding new friends...
- 4/29/2024
- by Alexander Knoth
- AsianMoviePulse
The Far East Film Festival (Feff) in Italy’s Udine has unveiled the full line-up for its 26th edition, which will honour Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou with an honorary award and world premiere restored versions of his Raise The Red Lantern and To Live.
Running April 24 to May 2, the festival will open with a double bill: Chinese box office hit Yolo and South Korean action-comedy Citizen Of A Kind.
Yolo dominated this year’s Lunar New Year releases, grossing $484m in China, and is directed by Jia Ling, who stars as an unemployed woman in her 30s whose life is...
Running April 24 to May 2, the festival will open with a double bill: Chinese box office hit Yolo and South Korean action-comedy Citizen Of A Kind.
Yolo dominated this year’s Lunar New Year releases, grossing $484m in China, and is directed by Jia Ling, who stars as an unemployed woman in her 30s whose life is...
- 3/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Japanese selection of Skip City International D-Cinema 2023, despite the fact that the diversity in terms of selection was significant, proved, essentially, the obvious. When Japanese filmmakers try to follow the recipes of the festival-favorite local directors the result is films that are either repetitive, or dull, or both, and most of the times much worse than the works of the aforementioned, with the lack of tension in particular bordering on the rather annoying. However, when they let their imagination free, both in terms of context and cinematic techniques, the result is surprisingly good, definitely in terms of the former, but frequently also of the latter. In that fashion, and considering the fact that I did not manage to watch every film, the ones that stood out where “My Mother's Eyes”, “Alien's Daydream”, and “Don't Go”
Click on the titles for the full articles
1. Film Review: My Mother's Eyes (2023) by...
Click on the titles for the full articles
1. Film Review: My Mother's Eyes (2023) by...
- 8/1/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
In 2020, Naoya Fujita won the Japanese Short Film Competition of Skip City International D-Cinema with “Stay” (2019). Following up in 2022, he directed “Long-Term Coffee Break” (2022) for the New Directions in Japanese Cinema Project. “Confetti” is his first feature film and was produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Skip City International D-Cinema Festival and the 90th anniversary of Kawaguchi City. Enough reasons to take a closer look at this exciting new director.
Confetti is screening at Skip City International D-Cinema Festival
Yuki is a high school student living on the road with his father, who is the leader of the Yuhiza Theatre Group. Due to touring, Yuki has to change school almost every month and his life is in constant change marked by various encounters and partings. Coming to town, he is determined to focus on his biggest wish, to become an actor. He is not interested in finding new friends...
Confetti is screening at Skip City International D-Cinema Festival
Yuki is a high school student living on the road with his father, who is the leader of the Yuhiza Theatre Group. Due to touring, Yuki has to change school almost every month and his life is in constant change marked by various encounters and partings. Coming to town, he is determined to focus on his biggest wish, to become an actor. He is not interested in finding new friends...
- 7/21/2023
- by Alexander Knoth
- AsianMoviePulse
The festival will open with ‘Confetti’, produced to commemorate two key anniversaries.
Japan’s Skip City International D-Cinema Festival has revealed a raft of world premieres for its 20th edition, including opening film Confetti and a live-action adaptation of manga A Tail’s Tail.
The festival will open on July 15 with the world premiere of Confetti, which was produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Skip City as well as the 90th anniversary of Kawaguchi City, where the event is held. The coming-of-age drama marks the feature debut of director Naoya Fujita, whose film Stay won best Japanese short at...
Japan’s Skip City International D-Cinema Festival has revealed a raft of world premieres for its 20th edition, including opening film Confetti and a live-action adaptation of manga A Tail’s Tail.
The festival will open on July 15 with the world premiere of Confetti, which was produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Skip City as well as the 90th anniversary of Kawaguchi City, where the event is held. The coming-of-age drama marks the feature debut of director Naoya Fujita, whose film Stay won best Japanese short at...
- 6/14/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The Skip City International D-Cinema Festival, in Saitama, on the outskirts of Tokyo, will hold its 2023 edition with both in-person and online components, long after Covid, which necessitated such hybrid formats, has retreated.
The festival, which sees itself as a gateway for emerging talent, and has operated since 2004, will hold its physical edition July 15-23 and its online from July 22- 26, organizers said on Wednesday.
This year, the festival will begin with the world premiere of “Confetti,” which was produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the festival as well as the 90th anniversary of its Kawaguchi City base.
The ten-title international competition includes: “Banu,” an Azerbaijani film depicting a woman fighting her socially powerful husband over custody of her son; “Eflatun,” a romantic story from Turkey involving a blind woman and a man whose hobby is photography; “ I Woke Up with a Dream,” the latest work from director Pablo Solarz; “Into the Ice,...
The festival, which sees itself as a gateway for emerging talent, and has operated since 2004, will hold its physical edition July 15-23 and its online from July 22- 26, organizers said on Wednesday.
This year, the festival will begin with the world premiere of “Confetti,” which was produced to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the festival as well as the 90th anniversary of its Kawaguchi City base.
The ten-title international competition includes: “Banu,” an Azerbaijani film depicting a woman fighting her socially powerful husband over custody of her son; “Eflatun,” a romantic story from Turkey involving a blind woman and a man whose hobby is photography; “ I Woke Up with a Dream,” the latest work from director Pablo Solarz; “Into the Ice,...
- 6/14/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
(June 9, 2023) – Acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Charlotte Cardin has announced her sophomore album 99 Nights, set for release August 25 via Cult Nation. The album is the follow up to her lauded, multi-juno winning debut, Phoenix. Coinciding with the news, Charlotte has released the title track “99 Nights,” today, an infectious earworm about longing that puts Cardin’s captivating vocals on full display.
“99 Nights” follows Cardin’s most recent releases, “Confetti” and “Looping,” both of which garnered widespread excitement and praise from the likes of Billboard, V Magazine, Uproxx and more. She will be taking the album on the road for an international headline tour kicking off August 30 with stops in New York City at Irving Plaza, Los Angeles at the El Rey Theatre and Paris at L’Olympia. Tickets are available to purchase now – find Here.
Cardin released her debut full-length album Phoenix in 2021 to widespread acclaim (and platinum certification in Canada) including a...
“99 Nights” follows Cardin’s most recent releases, “Confetti” and “Looping,” both of which garnered widespread excitement and praise from the likes of Billboard, V Magazine, Uproxx and more. She will be taking the album on the road for an international headline tour kicking off August 30 with stops in New York City at Irving Plaza, Los Angeles at the El Rey Theatre and Paris at L’Olympia. Tickets are available to purchase now – find Here.
Cardin released her debut full-length album Phoenix in 2021 to widespread acclaim (and platinum certification in Canada) including a...
- 6/10/2023
- by Music Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Music
Chinese star Zhu Zhu (‘Cloud Atlas’) leads bilingual drama.
US-based finance, production and sales company Est Studios has added Ann Hu’s bilingual drama Confetti to its inaugural Cannes sales and has kicked off talks with international buyers this week.
The film is about about a determined mother who moves from rural China to New York in the hope of finding a special education programme for her dyslexic daughter.
Chinese star Zhu Zhu, best known for Cloud Atlas and Marco Polo, stars with Amy Irving, Helen Slater and Harmonie He. The producers are Zhuo Shunguo and Josh Green.
Est Studios...
US-based finance, production and sales company Est Studios has added Ann Hu’s bilingual drama Confetti to its inaugural Cannes sales and has kicked off talks with international buyers this week.
The film is about about a determined mother who moves from rural China to New York in the hope of finding a special education programme for her dyslexic daughter.
Chinese star Zhu Zhu, best known for Cloud Atlas and Marco Polo, stars with Amy Irving, Helen Slater and Harmonie He. The producers are Zhuo Shunguo and Josh Green.
Est Studios...
- 5/20/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
There will be no more sad songs from Little Mix—for now. On Thursday, Dec. 2, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Perrie Edwards announced that they will be "taking a break from Little Mix" following the beloved band's upcoming tour to support their sixth studio album, Confetti. In a statement shared to the British pop group's social media accounts, the trio said, "We wanted to let you all know that after the Confetti tour in April/May next year we are going to be taking a break from Little Mix." "It's been 10 amazing years, a wonderful non-stop adventure, and we feel the time is right to take a break so we can recharge and work on some other projects,"...
- 12/2/2021
- E! Online
"Who wants to be normal?!" Dada Films has released a new official US trailer for a Chinese-American film titled Confetti, written and directed by filmmaker Anne Hu (of Shadow Magic), telling her own story of moving to America when she was young. The film is a hopeful drama about overcoming personal challenges and focuses on a mother struggling with illiteracy and her daughter recently diagnosed with dyslexia after they move to New York City. It stars up-and-coming actress Zhu Zhu, along with Amy Irving, Helen Slater, and Harmonie He. Confetti "looks at the often-silent struggles faced by so many immigrant families. Featuring an affecting performance by Zhu Zhu, a steely and strong-willed turn by Amy Irving, and a delightful debut from young Harmonie He, Confetti shows that amongst a deluge of challenges, a sprinkling of hope, heart, and determination can help make sense of a confusing world and our place in it.
- 6/25/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Sarah Mary Chadwick knows she’s broken. She gracefully contorts the ache in her voice into bizarre postures throughout her latest album, Me and Ennui Are Friends, Baby, as she parses grief, breakups, and general feeling of worthlessness. But she never allows herself to break down completely. Instead, she props herself on her piano and divines the right chords to treat each of her wounded words like a salve as she makes sense of her middle-age wreckage. “Maybe I should chill out on blaming my parents,” she posits over sparse chords on the title song,...
- 2/5/2021
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Little Mix had a big (and busy!) night at the 2020 MTV Europe Music Awards on Sunday. In addition to hosting the event and being nominated for four awards, they also had the chance perform "Sweet Melody," the new single off of the group's most recent studio album, Confetti.
"What an honor! To present the MTV Ema's is a dream, it's such a special event," the group said in a statement to MTV in anticipation of the event. "We've always loved watching the spectacular performances and seeing who everyone has voted to win. This year we'll also be performing our new single 'Sweet Melody,' our second Ema performance. The show will go on and we can't wait!"
It's safe to say their much-anticipated performance delivered. The choreography, vocals, outfits, and video-game-like set gave it the incredible virtual-reality-meets-actual-reality vibes.
Unfortunately, the group were a woman down for the live event, as...
"What an honor! To present the MTV Ema's is a dream, it's such a special event," the group said in a statement to MTV in anticipation of the event. "We've always loved watching the spectacular performances and seeing who everyone has voted to win. This year we'll also be performing our new single 'Sweet Melody,' our second Ema performance. The show will go on and we can't wait!"
It's safe to say their much-anticipated performance delivered. The choreography, vocals, outfits, and video-game-like set gave it the incredible virtual-reality-meets-actual-reality vibes.
Unfortunately, the group were a woman down for the live event, as...
- 11/9/2020
- by Sophia Panych
- Popsugar.com
Little Mix have released new track “Not a Pop Song.” The single will appear on their sixth studio album, Confetti, which arrives on November 6th.
On the guitar-led track, the UK group — Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall — address battling “unrealistic expectations” and superficial standards in the pop world that they liken to being a “puppet on a string.” It appears to take a swipe at Simon Cowell and his Syco Music label, which they left in 2018 (“I don’t do what Simon says” is one of...
On the guitar-led track, the UK group — Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall — address battling “unrealistic expectations” and superficial standards in the pop world that they liken to being a “puppet on a string.” It appears to take a swipe at Simon Cowell and his Syco Music label, which they left in 2018 (“I don’t do what Simon says” is one of...
- 10/9/2020
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
Sarah Mary Chadwick’s voice has always sounded devastating — her sparse “Confetti” was one of the most moving songs of the year — and that voice sounds like it’s on the verge of breaking apart throughout “Please Daddy,” an elegy for her late father. The New Zealand–born, Melbourne-based artist can barely form the word “please” toward the end of the song, as she tries to make sense of death.
Although she built the tune from a slow-rolling piano line, gentle trumpet and flute lines, and a vocal line that...
Although she built the tune from a slow-rolling piano line, gentle trumpet and flute lines, and a vocal line that...
- 11/18/2019
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: In this era of social media and stress, Quibi is looking to become a destination of relief with The Daily Chill, a premium meditative experience as part of their Daily Essentials for those looking for an on-the-go escape from the anxiety that lingers in the air every day.
Perfect for the short-form content platform, The Daily Chill will combine cinematic visuals with relaxing Asmr audio as well as oddly satisfying videos. Utilizing these meditative elements, each day will take you on an entirely new immersive audio-visual travel experience, from a scenic deserted beach to a lush faraway forest. The Daily Chill is exactly what the title suggests — it is designed to reset your day in six minutes or less.
The new experience seems like it’s for all audiences, but it’s very much catered to working millennials, who are experiencing twice the amount of anxiety of other generations.
Perfect for the short-form content platform, The Daily Chill will combine cinematic visuals with relaxing Asmr audio as well as oddly satisfying videos. Utilizing these meditative elements, each day will take you on an entirely new immersive audio-visual travel experience, from a scenic deserted beach to a lush faraway forest. The Daily Chill is exactly what the title suggests — it is designed to reset your day in six minutes or less.
The new experience seems like it’s for all audiences, but it’s very much catered to working millennials, who are experiencing twice the amount of anxiety of other generations.
- 10/15/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s hard to get a bead on exactly what Minneapolis-based Jeremy Nutzman is up to with Neon Brown, his second LP as Velvet Negroni, which is part of why it’s good. You could almost call its dreamy trap-soul “new age” if that didn’t suggest a yin-yoga chill at odds with couplets like “Don’t fight your boy on the payphone/la la, I burst to flames like it’s Waco” and “Ultra fusion handsome dish/Feed them LSD like I’m Charlie Manson, bitch.” But Nutzman’s...
- 8/30/2019
- by Will Hermes
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Facebook European content chief Patrick Walker is leaving the social media platform, Deadline understands.
Walker, who is director of media partnerships, Emea, at Facebook is understood to be exiting the company after three years in the role. He leaves at the end of July and is set to co-found a business that deals with education and technology.
Facebook is currently in the process of hiring Walker’s replacement.
He has been in charge of rolling out the company’s media and content strategy in Europe, Middle East and Africa and was heavily involved with rolling out the Facebook Watch platform internationally.
Joining in June 2016, Walker, was responsible for content partnerships with media companies across news, sports and entertainment was focused on helping them develop publishing and audience strategies across its platform. Last year, Facebook rolled out its Watch platform internationally with shows such as Fremantle-produced trivia gameshow Confetti, which...
Walker, who is director of media partnerships, Emea, at Facebook is understood to be exiting the company after three years in the role. He leaves at the end of July and is set to co-found a business that deals with education and technology.
Facebook is currently in the process of hiring Walker’s replacement.
He has been in charge of rolling out the company’s media and content strategy in Europe, Middle East and Africa and was heavily involved with rolling out the Facebook Watch platform internationally.
Joining in June 2016, Walker, was responsible for content partnerships with media companies across news, sports and entertainment was focused on helping them develop publishing and audience strategies across its platform. Last year, Facebook rolled out its Watch platform internationally with shows such as Fremantle-produced trivia gameshow Confetti, which...
- 7/9/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
When Sarah Mary Chadwick sings, her voice sounds brittle, as though it’s crumbling as it leaves her throat. The only thing that props her up on “Confetti,” a new song from her upcoming LP The Queen Who Stole the Sky, is the rounded, warm, comforting tones of the ancient grand organ she’s playing, a relic located in Melbourne Town Hall. That combo — Chadwick’s breakdown coupled with an instrument of hope —makes you want to keep listening to hear if it all falls apart or if she’ll...
- 4/16/2019
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Cannes — Everybody may still be waiting for the Next Big Thing. That doesn’t mean, however, that unscripted is currently dead in the waters.
Entertainment currently accounts for 35% of primetime schedules, in 11 key territories surveyed by Mediametrie’s Entertainment Report for 2018, Avril Blondelot, Eurodata TV head of content insight, said Sunday at a presentation, Future of Viewing Trends.
2,795 entertainment programs launched in 48 territories worldwide last year, according to a New on the Air (NoTa) study.
In the 11 countries analyzed by the Entertainment Report – Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, U.K., U.S. – for three out of four channels, entertainment improved their main channel market share, Blondelot added.
Reality competitions – think Fremantle’s “Got Talent,” BBC Studios’ “Strictly Come Dancing,” Talpa Global’s “Voice” — remain the most watched entertainment genre in primetime, with many formats over a decade old. But the winds of change are being, if not exactly sweeping,...
Entertainment currently accounts for 35% of primetime schedules, in 11 key territories surveyed by Mediametrie’s Entertainment Report for 2018, Avril Blondelot, Eurodata TV head of content insight, said Sunday at a presentation, Future of Viewing Trends.
2,795 entertainment programs launched in 48 territories worldwide last year, according to a New on the Air (NoTa) study.
In the 11 countries analyzed by the Entertainment Report – Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, U.K., U.S. – for three out of four channels, entertainment improved their main channel market share, Blondelot added.
Reality competitions – think Fremantle’s “Got Talent,” BBC Studios’ “Strictly Come Dancing,” Talpa Global’s “Voice” — remain the most watched entertainment genre in primetime, with many formats over a decade old. But the winds of change are being, if not exactly sweeping,...
- 4/9/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
USA Network has rounded out the cast for its straight-to series drama Treadstone, an offshoot from Universal’s Bourne franchise. The Affair star Omar Metwally, Tracy Ifeachor (Quantico), Hyo Joo Han (W: Two Worlds), Gabrielle Scharnitzky (The Game) and Emilia Schüle (Berlin Station) join previously announced Jeremy Irvine and Brian J. Smith as series regulars in the drama from Heroes creator Tim Kring and Universal Cable Productions.
Written by Kring, Treadstone explores the origin story and present-day actions of a CIA black ops program known as Operation Treadstone — a covert program that uses behavior-modification protocol to turn recruits into nearly superhuman assassins. The first season follows sleeper agents across the globe as they’re mysteriously “awakened” to resume their deadly missions.
Metwally will play Mr. Edwards, a CIA agent who was ostracized by his colleagues after making a decision that left a fellow operative dead. His willingness to make the...
Written by Kring, Treadstone explores the origin story and present-day actions of a CIA black ops program known as Operation Treadstone — a covert program that uses behavior-modification protocol to turn recruits into nearly superhuman assassins. The first season follows sleeper agents across the globe as they’re mysteriously “awakened” to resume their deadly missions.
Metwally will play Mr. Edwards, a CIA agent who was ostracized by his colleagues after making a decision that left a fellow operative dead. His willingness to make the...
- 1/14/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Facebook Watch announced Thursday that it will be renewing two of its original series, “Sacred Lies” and “Sorry For Your Loss,” for a second season. The two shows, which launched in September and October respectively, have found early success on the platform.
“Sacred Lies,” a series based on the Grimm Brothers tale “The Handless Maiden” and Stephanie Oakes’ novel “The Sacred Lies of Minnow Blyl,” is produced by Blumhouse TV. The first season, which spans 10 30-minute episodes, follows the journey of a handless teen who escapes from a cult and finds herself in juvenile detention, suspected of knowing who killed her cult leader.
The show page has accumulated 300K+ followers with each episode averaging more than 1.7 million views (a view on Facebook is defined as watching a piece of content for at least three seconds).
Also Read: Facebook Watch Has a Big Consumer Awareness Problem
“Sorry For Your Loss” is...
“Sacred Lies,” a series based on the Grimm Brothers tale “The Handless Maiden” and Stephanie Oakes’ novel “The Sacred Lies of Minnow Blyl,” is produced by Blumhouse TV. The first season, which spans 10 30-minute episodes, follows the journey of a handless teen who escapes from a cult and finds herself in juvenile detention, suspected of knowing who killed her cult leader.
The show page has accumulated 300K+ followers with each episode averaging more than 1.7 million views (a view on Facebook is defined as watching a piece of content for at least three seconds).
Also Read: Facebook Watch Has a Big Consumer Awareness Problem
“Sorry For Your Loss” is...
- 12/13/2018
- by Matt Lopez
- The Wrap
Facebook has renewed four original series for second seasons, financing shows that build community and spark conversation on the Watch platform — features that the social network sees as differentiating its video service from rivals.
Five Points, Huda Boss, Sacred Lies and Sorry for Your Loss will return to Facebook Watch. These shows, which collectively drew nearly 1.3 million followers, join an increasingly diverse slate of programming that includes Jada Pinkett Smith’s breakout talk show Red Table Talk, the interactive game show Confetti and the planned return of MTV’s The Real World.
Watch appears to be gathering momentum, attracting more than 400 million monthly users who spend at least a minute checking out videos.
“With our originals, our aim is to give people programing that not only serves to entertain, but to also bring them closer together,” said Ricky Van Veen, Facebook’s head of global creative strategy. “We’ve intentionally...
Five Points, Huda Boss, Sacred Lies and Sorry for Your Loss will return to Facebook Watch. These shows, which collectively drew nearly 1.3 million followers, join an increasingly diverse slate of programming that includes Jada Pinkett Smith’s breakout talk show Red Table Talk, the interactive game show Confetti and the planned return of MTV’s The Real World.
Watch appears to be gathering momentum, attracting more than 400 million monthly users who spend at least a minute checking out videos.
“With our originals, our aim is to give people programing that not only serves to entertain, but to also bring them closer together,” said Ricky Van Veen, Facebook’s head of global creative strategy. “We’ve intentionally...
- 12/13/2018
- by Dawn C. Chmielewski
- Deadline Film + TV
Love Island star Samira Mighty is to host the British remake of Facebook Watch’s interactive game-show Confetti.
As Deadline revealed earlier this month The X Factor and Got Talent producer Thames is set to remake Facebook Watch’s interactive game-show Confetti in the UK as the social media platform adapts the show in five markets around the world.
Mighty, who appeared on the most recent season of the breakout ITV2 reality series, will host the show, which is launching in the UK on Monday November 19. It will air weekdays at 1:30pm.
Confetti is a HQ Trivia-style live interactive format that sees viewers compete in a traditional daily trivia quiz show with cash prizes. It streams live on weekdays. Confetti launched in July 2018 in the U.S. and recently expanded into Canada and Mexico.
Mighty said, “I’m so excited to be presenting this fun new show. It’s...
As Deadline revealed earlier this month The X Factor and Got Talent producer Thames is set to remake Facebook Watch’s interactive game-show Confetti in the UK as the social media platform adapts the show in five markets around the world.
Mighty, who appeared on the most recent season of the breakout ITV2 reality series, will host the show, which is launching in the UK on Monday November 19. It will air weekdays at 1:30pm.
Confetti is a HQ Trivia-style live interactive format that sees viewers compete in a traditional daily trivia quiz show with cash prizes. It streams live on weekdays. Confetti launched in July 2018 in the U.S. and recently expanded into Canada and Mexico.
Mighty said, “I’m so excited to be presenting this fun new show. It’s...
- 11/16/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Krystina Edwards Nagle lost her husband in September from complications during surgery, when he was only 48. She can’t exactly describe how it felt to go through his books, his clothes, his prized watch collection.
But in Facebook Watch’s “Sorry for Your Loss,” she has found a show that comes close to capturing how she feels. “Sorry for Your Loss” stars Elizabeth Olsen as Leigh Shaw, a young widow coping with the recent death of her husband, Matt. In one scene, she goes through his clothes, just like Edwards Nagle had to do.
“When people think about losing a spouse and being a widow, it’s when you’re older. That was kind of the first thing that hit me,” Edwards Nagle said. “And [Leigh] lost her husband so unexpectedly. It was quick, it was sudden, and it was a surprise. So that hit me as well, because that was...
But in Facebook Watch’s “Sorry for Your Loss,” she has found a show that comes close to capturing how she feels. “Sorry for Your Loss” stars Elizabeth Olsen as Leigh Shaw, a young widow coping with the recent death of her husband, Matt. In one scene, she goes through his clothes, just like Edwards Nagle had to do.
“When people think about losing a spouse and being a widow, it’s when you’re older. That was kind of the first thing that hit me,” Edwards Nagle said. “And [Leigh] lost her husband so unexpectedly. It was quick, it was sudden, and it was a surprise. So that hit me as well, because that was...
- 11/10/2018
- by Sean Burch
- The Wrap
Facebook Watch’s interactive game show “Confetti” is getting an international makeover. The series, which was originally created by Insider through a partnership with ThumbCandy, a division of B-17 Entertainment, is making five new local versions of its shows for India, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam.
The rollout of these new markets will begin in the U.K. and be produced by Fremantle’s Thames — producer of “The X Factor” and “Got Talent.” Additional markets will follow, all premiering before the end of the year.
Launched in June, “Confetti” is a live interactive game show that offers players cash prizes. Since its launch in the U.S., the series’ show page has garnered a following of 200,000, with each episode attracting 90-200,000 contestants. The introduction of the game show was part of a push by Facebook to give its publishers more tools to interact with their audiences, whether through polling, quiz questions or other challenges.
The rollout of these new markets will begin in the U.K. and be produced by Fremantle’s Thames — producer of “The X Factor” and “Got Talent.” Additional markets will follow, all premiering before the end of the year.
Launched in June, “Confetti” is a live interactive game show that offers players cash prizes. Since its launch in the U.S., the series’ show page has garnered a following of 200,000, with each episode attracting 90-200,000 contestants. The introduction of the game show was part of a push by Facebook to give its publishers more tools to interact with their audiences, whether through polling, quiz questions or other challenges.
- 11/7/2018
- by Matt Lopez
- The Wrap
Exclusive: The X Factor and Got Talent producer Thames is set to remake Facebook Watch’s interactive game-show Confetti in the UK as the social media platform adapts the show in five markets around the world.
Fremantle has struck a deal with Facebook for a UK adaptation and local versions produced in India, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
It is the first Facebook Watch origination to be remade outside of the U.S. I gather that the UK version will launch later this month, while the other four versions are all set to go live by the end of the year.
Confetti, which is regularly hosted by YouTube personality J.D. Witherspoon, is a HQ Trivia-style live interactive format that sees viewers compete in a traditional daily trivia quiz show with cash prizes. It streams live on weekdays. Confetti launched in July 2018 in the U.S. and recently expanded into Canada and Mexico.
Fremantle has struck a deal with Facebook for a UK adaptation and local versions produced in India, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
It is the first Facebook Watch origination to be remade outside of the U.S. I gather that the UK version will launch later this month, while the other four versions are all set to go live by the end of the year.
Confetti, which is regularly hosted by YouTube personality J.D. Witherspoon, is a HQ Trivia-style live interactive format that sees viewers compete in a traditional daily trivia quiz show with cash prizes. It streams live on weekdays. Confetti launched in July 2018 in the U.S. and recently expanded into Canada and Mexico.
- 11/7/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Facebook Watch has ordered a property series from British production company Barcroft Media. The digital platform is to launch five-part series Most Incredible Homes in a deal that is thought to be the first original commission for a UK indie.
Most Incredible Homes, which consists of 12-minute episodes, will launch on the service on November 3 with episodes dropping weekly. The show reveals astonishing dream homes from around the world. Each episode visits three incredible real-life homes to meet their owners.
From the luxury jungle tree house in tropical Costa Rica to the car-shaped home created by a petrol-head in Austria, the series travels the globe to experience the world’s most unique and extraordinary properties. Additionally, each week, the Most Incredible Homes community on Facebook Watch will get the chance to vote for their favourite property at the end of the show with viewers ultimately deciding which is their...
Most Incredible Homes, which consists of 12-minute episodes, will launch on the service on November 3 with episodes dropping weekly. The show reveals astonishing dream homes from around the world. Each episode visits three incredible real-life homes to meet their owners.
From the luxury jungle tree house in tropical Costa Rica to the car-shaped home created by a petrol-head in Austria, the series travels the globe to experience the world’s most unique and extraordinary properties. Additionally, each week, the Most Incredible Homes community on Facebook Watch will get the chance to vote for their favourite property at the end of the show with viewers ultimately deciding which is their...
- 10/22/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s TV News Roundup, Fox drops a clip from the first episode “The Simpsons” season 30 featuring Gal Gadot and Emily Deschanel.
First Looks
Bart takes a dare and ends up in the hospital in the 30th season premiere episode of “The Simpsons,” airing Sunday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. Et/Pt on Fox. Celebrities making guest-voice appearances include Gal Gadot, Emily Deschanel, Jonathan Groff, Dave Attell and Pete Holmes.
The first trailer for “Star Trek: Short Treks ‘Runaway'” dropped Thursday. Rolling out in four stand-alone 10-15 minute shorts, the stories will dive deeper into the characters from “Star Trek: Discovery,” in anticipation of its return in 2019. “Runaway” will focus on Ensign Tilly (Mary Wiseman) as she encounters an unexpected visitor.
Dates
Bravo Media’s four-part docu-series “Welcome to Waverly” will premiere a new episode every night at 10 p.m. Et/Pt from Monday, Oct. 22 to Thursday, Oct. 25. Set in Waverly,...
First Looks
Bart takes a dare and ends up in the hospital in the 30th season premiere episode of “The Simpsons,” airing Sunday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. Et/Pt on Fox. Celebrities making guest-voice appearances include Gal Gadot, Emily Deschanel, Jonathan Groff, Dave Attell and Pete Holmes.
The first trailer for “Star Trek: Short Treks ‘Runaway'” dropped Thursday. Rolling out in four stand-alone 10-15 minute shorts, the stories will dive deeper into the characters from “Star Trek: Discovery,” in anticipation of its return in 2019. “Runaway” will focus on Ensign Tilly (Mary Wiseman) as she encounters an unexpected visitor.
Dates
Bravo Media’s four-part docu-series “Welcome to Waverly” will premiere a new episode every night at 10 p.m. Et/Pt from Monday, Oct. 22 to Thursday, Oct. 25. Set in Waverly,...
- 9/27/2018
- by Margeaux Sippell
- Variety Film + TV
“American Idol” producers Core Media Group has acquired Eli Holzman’s Intellectual Property Corporation, the home of numerous series including A&E’s “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.”
Following the acquisition, Core Media will rebrand as Industrial Media. Holzman, who will continue as CEO of Ipc, will also serve as CEO of the newly-named “super indie production group.” Ipc’s president and co-founder, Aaron Saidman, will join Holzman at Industrial Media as its president, while also remaining in his current capacity as president of Ipc.
The combined company puts more than 40 shows on over 20 networks including “So You Think You Can Dance,” “The Wall,” “90 Day Fiancé,” and Facebook Watch’s daily trivia competition “Confetti,” under one roof.
Also Read: Mariah Carey on Her 'American Idol' Tenure: 'It Was a Bleak Experience' (Video)
“Our partners at Crestview, Tennenbaum and UTA, and the Core management team, especially Dennis Miller and CFO Scott Frosch,...
Following the acquisition, Core Media will rebrand as Industrial Media. Holzman, who will continue as CEO of Ipc, will also serve as CEO of the newly-named “super indie production group.” Ipc’s president and co-founder, Aaron Saidman, will join Holzman at Industrial Media as its president, while also remaining in his current capacity as president of Ipc.
The combined company puts more than 40 shows on over 20 networks including “So You Think You Can Dance,” “The Wall,” “90 Day Fiancé,” and Facebook Watch’s daily trivia competition “Confetti,” under one roof.
Also Read: Mariah Carey on Her 'American Idol' Tenure: 'It Was a Bleak Experience' (Video)
“Our partners at Crestview, Tennenbaum and UTA, and the Core management team, especially Dennis Miller and CFO Scott Frosch,...
- 8/6/2018
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
What's the best way to shake off a wholesome image? Take your clothes off – as Daniel Radcliffe well knows. So why is the one-time boy wizard now saying no to nudity?
As London Fashion Week draws to a close, it seems a good time to ask what some of the finest actors are wearing this season. And the answer appears to be: nothing. From Scarlett Johansson's copious under-the-clothes scenes in Under the Skin to Jack O'Connell tackling the tackle-out, full-frontal shot with abandon in the prison drama Starred Up, the emphasis is firmly on what not to wear. One of the common factors in many acclaimed new films is a willingness to confront nakedness without the usual strategically placed prop to spare an actor's blushes. Blue Is the Warmest Colour grabbed headlines not only for scooping the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year, but for the explicit sex scenes between its stars,...
As London Fashion Week draws to a close, it seems a good time to ask what some of the finest actors are wearing this season. And the answer appears to be: nothing. From Scarlett Johansson's copious under-the-clothes scenes in Under the Skin to Jack O'Connell tackling the tackle-out, full-frontal shot with abandon in the prison drama Starred Up, the emphasis is firmly on what not to wear. One of the common factors in many acclaimed new films is a willingness to confront nakedness without the usual strategically placed prop to spare an actor's blushes. Blue Is the Warmest Colour grabbed headlines not only for scooping the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year, but for the explicit sex scenes between its stars,...
- 9/18/2013
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
With Run, a bleak new TV series, about to start, the actor talks about playing downtrodden women, messing up on stage and being called 'divinely gifted' by Meryl Streep
Olivia Colman is insufferable. We've been sitting for an hour on the balcony of the Ritzy cinema in south London and she's given me nothing but unremitting cheeriness. Doesn't she realise I need dirt, self-disgust and something really vile about working with Rose Byrne on I Give it a Year and/or Bill Murray on Hyde Park on the Hudson? She's even managed to be positive about the view. "Look at those gorgeous trees," she says of the espalliered Parisian-style Brixton avenue below. "How do they make those trees square?" Vigorous and regular pruning, no doubt, I reply glumly. "Lovely aren't they, though," she says, with that sunny smile that bewitched viewers when she won two Baftas in May.
She's been...
Olivia Colman is insufferable. We've been sitting for an hour on the balcony of the Ritzy cinema in south London and she's given me nothing but unremitting cheeriness. Doesn't she realise I need dirt, self-disgust and something really vile about working with Rose Byrne on I Give it a Year and/or Bill Murray on Hyde Park on the Hudson? She's even managed to be positive about the view. "Look at those gorgeous trees," she says of the espalliered Parisian-style Brixton avenue below. "How do they make those trees square?" Vigorous and regular pruning, no doubt, I reply glumly. "Lovely aren't they, though," she says, with that sunny smile that bewitched viewers when she won two Baftas in May.
She's been...
- 7/7/2013
- by Stuart Jeffries
- The Guardian - Film News
The first thing I should point out, is that movies are almost Never shot in chronological order, or in other words, in sequence of the events as they would unfold or "script order." This is pretty common knowledge, but don't beat yourself up if you didn't know already. For Dolly Parton's first motion picture (Nine to Five), she memorized the entire script, including the other characters' lines. Apparently, after letting on that she thought movies were filmed in chronological order, co-star Lily Tomlin burst out laughing.
Movies are shot out of sequence for a number of reasons. Among these reasons are; renting out locations or studio space, lighting, weather conditions, and most importantly, the availability of an actor. All of these basically boil down to time and money.
So with budget and time constraints almost always working against shooting a film in chronological order, what would drive a filmmaker to pursue such a course?...
- 9/19/2012
- by Eli Reyes
- GeekTyrant
From Peep Show to Rev, Olivia Colman usually brings out the comedy in her hapless onscreen husbands. But this time her role as an abused wife in Paddy Considine's Tyrannosaur is deadly serious
Olivia Colman says that the first time they met, she opened the door to Paddy Considine, grinned and that was that. He knew he wanted her. Love at first sight.
But it's not quite as dreamy as it sounds. Hannah, the female lead in Considine's first feature, Tyrannosaur, is possibly the most humiliated woman in the history of cinema. A good Samaritan who runs a local charity shop, she is verbally eviscerated by the raging stranger who bullies his way into her life. He berates her goody-goody Christianity and cosy values, while the reality is that at home her husband horrendously abuses her. Astonishingly, Colman manages to bring a sense of hope, transcendence even, to this unremittingly bleak world.
Olivia Colman says that the first time they met, she opened the door to Paddy Considine, grinned and that was that. He knew he wanted her. Love at first sight.
But it's not quite as dreamy as it sounds. Hannah, the female lead in Considine's first feature, Tyrannosaur, is possibly the most humiliated woman in the history of cinema. A good Samaritan who runs a local charity shop, she is verbally eviscerated by the raging stranger who bullies his way into her life. He berates her goody-goody Christianity and cosy values, while the reality is that at home her husband horrendously abuses her. Astonishingly, Colman manages to bring a sense of hope, transcendence even, to this unremittingly bleak world.
- 9/10/2011
- by Simon Hattenstone
- The Guardian - Film News
Weddings have often been a fertile ground for cinematic comedies, particularly over here (Four Weddings, Confetti etc.) and now Calendar Girls duo Nigel Cole and Tim Firth are looking to reap the laughter harvest once more with their new film The Wedding Video. They’ve just recruited Lucy Punch, Robert Webb and Rufus Hound to star.According to The Hollywood Reporter, Video will take on English society weddings in a mockumentary style similar to Spinal Tap, with a hapless best man coming up with the best gift he can think of for his pal and the bride: a filmed diary of their nuptials. Naturally, it all goes a bit wrong.Punch, of course, was last seen walking away with Bad Teacher and has been making a name for herself across the Pond. Webb has experience with wedding mishaps having appeared in Confetti, but was most recently on screen in Magicians.
- 8/25/2011
- EmpireOnline
An Aardman Production For Sony Pictures Animation Martin Freeman, David Tennant, Imelda Staunton, Jeremy Piven, Salma Hayek, Brian Blessed, Brendan Gleeson, Russell Tovey, and Ashley Jensen Also On Board
Culver City, Calif. – Hugh Grant will voice the lead role alongside an all-star cast in The Pirates! Band Of Misfits, the new stop-motion, 3D, animated film produced by Aardman Animations for Sony Pictures Animation. The film, which will be distributed by Columbia Pictures, will be released March 30, 2012 in North America.
Hugh Grant, starring in his first animated role, is the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain – a boundlessly enthusiastic, if somewhat less-than-successful, terror of the High Seas. With a rag-tag crew at his side (Martin Freeman, Brendan Gleeson, Russell Tovey, and Ashley Jensen), and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream: to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) to...
Culver City, Calif. – Hugh Grant will voice the lead role alongside an all-star cast in The Pirates! Band Of Misfits, the new stop-motion, 3D, animated film produced by Aardman Animations for Sony Pictures Animation. The film, which will be distributed by Columbia Pictures, will be released March 30, 2012 in North America.
Hugh Grant, starring in his first animated role, is the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain – a boundlessly enthusiastic, if somewhat less-than-successful, terror of the High Seas. With a rag-tag crew at his side (Martin Freeman, Brendan Gleeson, Russell Tovey, and Ashley Jensen), and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream: to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) to...
- 5/17/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The cast of "Glee" is paying tribute to one of the biggest cult films of all time -- "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
On Tuesday's Halloween themed episode, Rachel, Finn, and all the gleeks are doing "The Time Warp."
Check out photos from the anticipated episode, dammit, Janet!
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" lives! Check out "Extra's" 10 reasons why you should see it again!
10 Reasons to See 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' AgainEveryone's...
On Tuesday's Halloween themed episode, Rachel, Finn, and all the gleeks are doing "The Time Warp."
Check out photos from the anticipated episode, dammit, Janet!
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" lives! Check out "Extra's" 10 reasons why you should see it again!
10 Reasons to See 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' AgainEveryone's...
- 10/26/2010
- Extra
Released on DVD by Kaleidoscope on Monday, August 23, is The 7th Dimension, billed as a British supernatural techno-thriller from the production team of Harry Potter, Die Another Day and Torchwood.
Written and directed by Brad Watson, it centres on the uncovering of Vatican secrets, much like in the Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, and stars Kelly Adams (Bronson, Holby City, Hustle), Jonathan Rhodes (Dead Eyes, Confetti), Lucy Evans (Coronation Street, ITV's The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders) and Calita Rainford (Iron Cross, Auf Wiedersehen Pet).
Here's the official description...
Crack their code ... control the future.
Ever wanted to predict the future? Ever believed in a conspiracy? The members of Beacon 77, a dedicated group of computer hackers, do and now they have hacked in they cannot get back out ...
Taking on the Vatican's secrets with their computers, these hackers are now faced with the puzzles of the Bible Code,...
Written and directed by Brad Watson, it centres on the uncovering of Vatican secrets, much like in the Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, and stars Kelly Adams (Bronson, Holby City, Hustle), Jonathan Rhodes (Dead Eyes, Confetti), Lucy Evans (Coronation Street, ITV's The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders) and Calita Rainford (Iron Cross, Auf Wiedersehen Pet).
Here's the official description...
Crack their code ... control the future.
Ever wanted to predict the future? Ever believed in a conspiracy? The members of Beacon 77, a dedicated group of computer hackers, do and now they have hacked in they cannot get back out ...
Taking on the Vatican's secrets with their computers, these hackers are now faced with the puzzles of the Bible Code,...
- 8/19/2010
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Beyond the Pole, the comedy feature film from Actress/Producer Helen Baxendale (Friends, Cold Feet), yesterday picked up Best Comedy at the London Independent Film Festival. Directed and produced by Helen’s partner, David L Williams, and currently in UK cinemas, Beyond the Pole has now won 8 awards in European and American Festivals, at least one in every competitive festival entered.
“It’s so rare for British comedies to win over fans and critics but Beyond the Pole seems to be doing just that. Critics have compared it to a cross between The Office and Touching the Void, which is very flattering, but in all honesty I don’t think there’s been a film like it. It’s funny, moving, very dark in places and the performances from the actors are career bests. I think the industry is gradually waking up to the fact that they’ve got a...
“It’s so rare for British comedies to win over fans and critics but Beyond the Pole seems to be doing just that. Critics have compared it to a cross between The Office and Touching the Void, which is very flattering, but in all honesty I don’t think there’s been a film like it. It’s funny, moving, very dark in places and the performances from the actors are career bests. I think the industry is gradually waking up to the fact that they’ve got a...
- 4/26/2010
- by Allan Ford
- Filmofilia
With new entries becalmed in the chart before Avatar is unleashed, Robert Zemeckis's animated spectacle surges back to the top in its sixth week of release to become the gift that keeps on giving to Disney
The marathon runner
For the past four weeks, the top spot has been occupied by 2012, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Paranormal Activity. But now, five weeks after it first entered the chart at No 1, Disney's A Christmas Carol returns to the summit. It's rare for a film in its sixth week of release to be finding much favour with audiences; to dominate the market at this point is an exceptional result. Box-office takings for Robert Zemeckis's animated Dickens adaptation went up on its second weekend by 31%, and has subsequently enjoyed small week-to-week declines of 11%, 13%, 14% and 7%. The film has now grossed over £16m, compared with £12m for Zemeckis's Polar Express (a figure...
The marathon runner
For the past four weeks, the top spot has been occupied by 2012, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Paranormal Activity. But now, five weeks after it first entered the chart at No 1, Disney's A Christmas Carol returns to the summit. It's rare for a film in its sixth week of release to be finding much favour with audiences; to dominate the market at this point is an exceptional result. Box-office takings for Robert Zemeckis's animated Dickens adaptation went up on its second weekend by 31%, and has subsequently enjoyed small week-to-week declines of 11%, 13%, 14% and 7%. The film has now grossed over £16m, compared with £12m for Zemeckis's Polar Express (a figure...
- 12/15/2009
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
The Twilight franchise may still be packing them in, but Oren Peli's low-budget shocker shows that big (and scary) things come in small packages, too
The winner #1
It's rare for a film to drop 63% from the previous weekend and it still be considered a good result. But you can certainly make that case with The Twilight Saga: New Moon. In other words, forget about the percentages, just focus on the cascade of cash. By any yardstick, more than £20m in 10 days is a big number. After just two weekends on release, New Moon is already the ninth-biggest hit of 2009, and will very soon overtake the likes of Monsters vs Aliens, Star Trek and The Hangover to land sixth place for the year. The original Twilight movie took less than £5m in its first 10 days, so the sequel is so far running at quadruple the pace of its predecessor. The...
The winner #1
It's rare for a film to drop 63% from the previous weekend and it still be considered a good result. But you can certainly make that case with The Twilight Saga: New Moon. In other words, forget about the percentages, just focus on the cascade of cash. By any yardstick, more than £20m in 10 days is a big number. After just two weekends on release, New Moon is already the ninth-biggest hit of 2009, and will very soon overtake the likes of Monsters vs Aliens, Star Trek and The Hangover to land sixth place for the year. The original Twilight movie took less than £5m in its first 10 days, so the sequel is so far running at quadruple the pace of its predecessor. The...
- 12/1/2009
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
If the poo and wee bit of the Christmas Brit-flick’s trailer made you feel like gagging, this excerpt with Martin Freeman should go some way to making you feel less sick, being as it is a) cute and b) featuring less of Marc Wootton’s insanely annoying classroom assistant, Mr Poppy.Reuniting Freeman with his Confetti director Debbie Isitt for more improvised comedy, Nativity! follows two rival primary school teachers’ attempts to put on a show-stopping Nativity play and get a five-star review from the local critic, played by love-him-or-throw-him-from-nearest-cliff comedian Alan Carr. Fed up with always coming second in the reviews, Freeman’s teacher tells a giant fib that his Hollywood producer ex-girlfriend (played by Extra’s Ashley Jensen) is coming to film his show, leading to a frantic amount of showing-off, backstabbing and all the other things associated with Christmas. In this scene, little pupil Bobby and...
- 11/25/2009
- EmpireOnline
Martin Freeman made his name in the The Office as the lovely Tim. Now he's playing another nice bloke in Nativity! So why is he so defensive about being typecast?
Martin Freeman is sitting opposite me in a London hotel, and he's being charming. He's already offered to fetch me some refreshments ("Well, if you were in my kitchen I'd get you a drink") and is responding to my questions with vigour, practically bouncing out of his chair as he talks.
We meet during his promotional tour for the film Nativity! It's billed as a "heartwarming and hilarious tale of the true meaning of Christmas" but don't worry – it's better than it sounds. Freeman plays Mr Maddens, a frustrated and frayed teacher at a bog-standard primary school who finds love, joy and personal redemption through directing the school nativity play. As you may expect, there are sing-along songs and cute...
Martin Freeman is sitting opposite me in a London hotel, and he's being charming. He's already offered to fetch me some refreshments ("Well, if you were in my kitchen I'd get you a drink") and is responding to my questions with vigour, practically bouncing out of his chair as he talks.
We meet during his promotional tour for the film Nativity! It's billed as a "heartwarming and hilarious tale of the true meaning of Christmas" but don't worry – it's better than it sounds. Freeman plays Mr Maddens, a frustrated and frayed teacher at a bog-standard primary school who finds love, joy and personal redemption through directing the school nativity play. As you may expect, there are sing-along songs and cute...
- 11/25/2009
- by Alice Wignall
- The Guardian - Film News
British comic Jimmy Carr has vowed to perform a charity gig to raise money for British troops to make amends for a joke about wounded soldiers.
The Confetti actor came under fire after mocking battlefield vets with amputated limbs during a stand-up comedy gig in Manchester, England on Friday.
He remarked, "Say what you like about those servicemen amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan, but we're going to have a f***ing good Paralympics team in 2012."
Carr has since apologised for the quip, and has even volunteered to participate in a fundraiser to back the Help for Heroes foundation, which provides assistance to soldiers.
He says, "I'm sorry if anyone was offended but that's the kind of comedy I do. If a silly joke draws attention to the plight of these servicemen then so much the better but that was not my attention.
"My intention was only to make people laugh. I've got nothing but admiration for the inspirational athletes who take part in the Paralympics. I've told this joke around the country to all types of people including ex-servicemen who all laugh."...
The Confetti actor came under fire after mocking battlefield vets with amputated limbs during a stand-up comedy gig in Manchester, England on Friday.
He remarked, "Say what you like about those servicemen amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan, but we're going to have a f***ing good Paralympics team in 2012."
Carr has since apologised for the quip, and has even volunteered to participate in a fundraiser to back the Help for Heroes foundation, which provides assistance to soldiers.
He says, "I'm sorry if anyone was offended but that's the kind of comedy I do. If a silly joke draws attention to the plight of these servicemen then so much the better but that was not my attention.
"My intention was only to make people laugh. I've got nothing but admiration for the inspirational athletes who take part in the Paralympics. I've told this joke around the country to all types of people including ex-servicemen who all laugh."...
- 10/26/2009
- WENN
Fox Searchlight Pictures did not leave Cannes empty-handed: The distributor has acquired worldwide rights to the unfinished BBC Films/Wasted Talent production Confetti after screening 20 minutes of footage at the Cannes market, which concluded last week. Fox Searchlight president Peter Rice said the footage "was funny and bright and accessible, with a great comedy cast." Confetti is a mockumentary from writer-director Debbie Isitt. It features an ensemble of British comedy stars, including Martin Freeman (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), Jessica Stevenson (Shaun of the Dead), Stephen Mangan (Green Wing), Felicity Montagu (I'm Alan Partridge), Mike Leigh veteran Alison Steadman (Topsy-Turvy) and film rookie Jimmy Carr.
- 5/25/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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