A judge has ruled that “Top Gun: Maverick” did not infringe on an article about Navy fighter pilots that inspired the original 1986 film.
Paramount bought the rights to the article, “Top Guns,” from author Ehud Yonay in May 1983. But the studio did not re-acquire the rights, which had reverted to Yonay’s widow and son, before releasing the sequel in 2022. “Top Gun: Maverick” grossed $1.5 billion at the box office.
The heirs sued, alleging that the sequel infringed on the copyright in Yonay’s original work. But in a ruling on Friday, Judge Percy Anderson found that any similarities are not protected creative expression under copyright law.
“To the extent Plaintiffs contend that the Works are similar because they depict or describe fighter pilots landing on an aircraft carrier, being shot down while flying, and carousing at a bar, those are unprotected facts, familiar stock scenes, or scènes à faire,” the judge wrote.
Paramount bought the rights to the article, “Top Guns,” from author Ehud Yonay in May 1983. But the studio did not re-acquire the rights, which had reverted to Yonay’s widow and son, before releasing the sequel in 2022. “Top Gun: Maverick” grossed $1.5 billion at the box office.
The heirs sued, alleging that the sequel infringed on the copyright in Yonay’s original work. But in a ruling on Friday, Judge Percy Anderson found that any similarities are not protected creative expression under copyright law.
“To the extent Plaintiffs contend that the Works are similar because they depict or describe fighter pilots landing on an aircraft carrier, being shot down while flying, and carousing at a bar, those are unprotected facts, familiar stock scenes, or scènes à faire,” the judge wrote.
- 4/8/2024
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Top 5 Films Of Ryan Gosling From La La Land To Half Nelson, See Full List Here!(Photo Credit –IMDb)
Ryan Gosling has established himself as one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood who has done notable films across genres. He gained massive popularity with his movie The Notebook and did a fantastic job as Ken in his latest film, Barbie. Ryan received a lot of applause for his role in the Greta Gerwig directorial, and he showed off his vocal skills in the movie, which is just as remarkable as his acting talent.
Gosling started his career as a child actor and appeared on Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Club. He has been nominated for the Oscars two times for his role in La La Land and Half Nelson, but it eluded him both times. Today, we bring you the top five films of the actor to celebrate his work.
Ryan Gosling has established himself as one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood who has done notable films across genres. He gained massive popularity with his movie The Notebook and did a fantastic job as Ken in his latest film, Barbie. Ryan received a lot of applause for his role in the Greta Gerwig directorial, and he showed off his vocal skills in the movie, which is just as remarkable as his acting talent.
Gosling started his career as a child actor and appeared on Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Club. He has been nominated for the Oscars two times for his role in La La Land and Half Nelson, but it eluded him both times. Today, we bring you the top five films of the actor to celebrate his work.
- 12/21/2023
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi
Ryan Gosling is a very serious actor. His breakthrough performance came in Henry Bean's riveting "The Believer," where he played a Jewish-born neo-nazi. Five years later, he earned his Academy Award nomination for Best Actor as a cocaine-addicted middle school teacher in Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden's "Half Nelson." He earned his second Best Actor nod as a wounded romantic of a jazz pianist in Damien Chazelle's bittersweet "La La Land." In between, he became an art-house tough guy in Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive" and "Only God Forgives." But he's not above having fun or looking like a total doofus, as he displayed to endearing effect in Shane Black's "The Nice Guys," but there he's playing hard against the dreamboat type that could've made him one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood.
In other words, given that he's steadfastly refused to give his "The Notebook" fans one more swooning,...
In other words, given that he's steadfastly refused to give his "The Notebook" fans one more swooning,...
- 6/4/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
With Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” and Universal’s giant action tentpole “The Fall Guy” on the way, Ryan Gosling remains one of Hollywood’s most in-demand leading men. But that wasn’t always the case. The Oscar nominee recently told GQ magazine that his rise to leading man got its start because he landed his first few roles on the belief that he wasn’t leading man material to begin with.
Gosling’s acting breakthrough came in 2001 with his leading role in Henry Bean’s “The Believer,” in which he played a Jewish kid from New York who becomes a Neo-Nazi. Gosling is none of these, but he said “the fact that I wasn’t really right for it was exactly why [Henry] thought I was right for it.” The actor got similar feedback when he went to audition for “The Notebook,” Nick Cassavetes’ 2004 Nicholas Sparks adaptation that turned Gosling and...
Gosling’s acting breakthrough came in 2001 with his leading role in Henry Bean’s “The Believer,” in which he played a Jewish kid from New York who becomes a Neo-Nazi. Gosling is none of these, but he said “the fact that I wasn’t really right for it was exactly why [Henry] thought I was right for it.” The actor got similar feedback when he went to audition for “The Notebook,” Nick Cassavetes’ 2004 Nicholas Sparks adaptation that turned Gosling and...
- 6/1/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Writer-director Emma Seligman brings her feature Shiva Baby to theaters and Tvod starting today — and it is quite a comedic ride.
Released by Utopia, Shiva Baby follows a young woman who is trying to keep the different versions of herself in order when she runs into her sugar daddy and her ex-girlfriend at a shiva with her parents.
Let’s elaborate on all of that.
Danielle (Rachel Sennott) is a college student on the verge of graduation. She has a sugar daddy Max (Danny Deferrari) that pays her on a regular basis. One day, after rushing from her sugar daddy to her neurotic parents’ family shiva, she is given the third degree by various estranged relatives about her appearance and lack of post-grad plans. Meanwhile, her ex-girlfriend, Maya (Molly Gordon) is getting all the praise because she got into law school.
Things take even more of a turn when her...
Released by Utopia, Shiva Baby follows a young woman who is trying to keep the different versions of herself in order when she runs into her sugar daddy and her ex-girlfriend at a shiva with her parents.
Let’s elaborate on all of that.
Danielle (Rachel Sennott) is a college student on the verge of graduation. She has a sugar daddy Max (Danny Deferrari) that pays her on a regular basis. One day, after rushing from her sugar daddy to her neurotic parents’ family shiva, she is given the third degree by various estranged relatives about her appearance and lack of post-grad plans. Meanwhile, her ex-girlfriend, Maya (Molly Gordon) is getting all the praise because she got into law school.
Things take even more of a turn when her...
- 4/2/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Laurence Fishburne is an undercover cop and Jeff Goldblum is his unsuspecting partner in this 1992 crime thriller directed by Bill Duke. Set in a paranoid underworld of addicts and drug runners, Michael Tolkin and Henry Bean deliver a densely plotted screenplay with enough twists and turns for three movies (which is the number of Tfh Gurus, Olson, Duke and Tolkin, who conspired to bring you this commentary!)...
- 2/19/2018
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
This podcast focuses on Criterion’s Eclipse Series of DVDs. Hosts David Blakeslee and Trevor Berrett give an overview of each box and offer their perspectives on the unique treasures they find inside. In this episode, David and Trevor are joined by Lady P from the FlixWise podcast to discuss Eclipse Series 19: Chantal Akerman in the Seventies.
About the films:
Over the past four decades, Belgian director Chantal Akerman (Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles) has created one of cinema’s most distinctive bodies of work—formally daring, often autobiographical films about people and places, time and space. In this collection, we present the early films that put her on the map: intensely personal, modernist investigations of cities, history, family, and sexuality, made in the 1970s in the United States and Europe and strongly influenced by the New York experimental film scene. Bold and iconoclastic, these five films pushed...
About the films:
Over the past four decades, Belgian director Chantal Akerman (Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles) has created one of cinema’s most distinctive bodies of work—formally daring, often autobiographical films about people and places, time and space. In this collection, we present the early films that put her on the map: intensely personal, modernist investigations of cities, history, family, and sexuality, made in the 1970s in the United States and Europe and strongly influenced by the New York experimental film scene. Bold and iconoclastic, these five films pushed...
- 4/29/2016
- by David Blakeslee
- CriterionCast
Rushes collects news, articles, images, videos and more for a weekly roundup of essential items from the world of film.Chantal Akerman's Je tu il elle"She was a gay woman – proudly, unabashedly – who refused to be placed in either category, would not show her work in “gay” or “women’s” festivals, (“I won’t be ghettoized like that”) but never refused the ghetto of Judaism, and would always show in Jewish festivals. She was, it sometimes seemed, a Jew before she was anything, even before she was a person, and she was more of a person than anybody I’ve known."...from "Our Lives With (and Without) Chantal Akerman," by Henry Bean.Another Chantal Akerman tribute done proper: Janus Films is making its Akerman films—News from Home, La chambre, Je tu il elle, Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai Du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, Hotel Monterey, and Les rendez-vous d'Anna—available to stream for U.
- 10/14/2015
- by Notebook
- MUBI
For those hoping to break in, the world of screenwriting can seem like a black box. Unless you know industry insiders or have an agent, your first screenplay's journey from Final Draft to production will be an unparalleled challenge. That's why screenwriting organization The Black List teamed up with Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York to answer your burning questions. Read More: 8 Writing Tips From Screenwriting Masters Larry Gross, Naomi Foner, Henry Bean and Andrea Arnold The panelists—Chris Sparling (Cannes 2015 entry "Sea of Trees," directed by Gus Van Sant), Shari Springer Berman ("American Splendor," "The Nanny Diaries," "Ten Thousand Saints"), Michael Zam ("Best Actress") and Lara Shapiro ("The Americans")—joined moderator Franklin Leonard, creator of The Black List, to discuss everything from finding the right agent to when it's time to quit your day job. 1. Do I have to live in L.A. to have a...
- 5/5/2015
- by Emily Buder
- Indiewire
Exclusive: When seasoned agents leave one major percentery for another, the tale is told by how many clients change addresses with them. Back in March, Stuart Manashil made the leap to Wme after spending the past 6 1/2 years at CAA and before that spent six years at UTA. In what marks the third case — Dan Aloni and Warren Zavala were the first two — where agents pried their clients away from CAA, Manashil has strengthened Wme’s writer-director roster quite a bit. Related: Selena Gomez Signs With Wme Here’s who he brought with him: Alex Graves, who helmed the most recent Game Of Thrones episode; Pixar’s Day Of The Dead writer Matt Aldrich; Evil Dead‘s Fede Alvarez & Rodo Sayagues; Carlos helmer Olivier Assayas; Simon Barrett (You’re Next); Henry Bean (Internal Affairs); Simon Brand (Default); Juan Campanella (The Secret In Their Eyes); John Dowdle & Drew Dowdle (Quarantine); Kieran Fitzgerald...
- 4/22/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
He was recently attached to the developing live-action Ghost In The Shell, but director Rupert Sanders (Snow White And The Huntsman) is also juggling sci-fi crime thriller The Juliet. The latter, adapted from Alfred Bester's short story Fondly Fahrenheit, now has a new screenwriter: Paul Haggis has signed up to take a crack at the latest draft.Bester's most famous works are the novels The Stars My Destination and The Demolished Man. Fondly Fahrenheit was written in between those two stonking sci-fi classics in 1954, and involves a rich, psychologically unstable playboy who projects his personality into his murderously malfunctioning pet android. Bester himself adapted it for television in 1959 as Murder And The Android, part of the hour-long NBC Sunday Showcase series. The new version started life at Sony, but is now at Warner Bros. under the aegis of production company Atlas Entertainment. Previous versions of the script have been...
- 3/11/2014
- EmpireOnline
Exclusive: Warner Bros is in, and Sony Pictures and New Regency are out of The Juliet, an adaptation of the Alfred Bester short story that was developed by Charles Roven’s Atlas Entertainment. The film has a script by Henry Bean that is being rewritten by Paul Haggis, and Snow White And The Huntsman helmer Rupert Sanders is attached to direct. At one point it looked like Sony would make it this spring. Atlas’s Roven and Alex Gartner are producing with Frank Beddor of Automatic Pictures. It makes me wonder, what is going on in Hollywood? I have been around long enough that I actually broke the story of when Warner Bros, clashing with John Hughes over $2 million in budget, allowed Fox to grab Home Alone and turn the $18 million film into a $477 million worldwide gross blockbuster. After that, studios used to never let projects go for fear of being embarrassed,...
- 3/10/2014
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
Filmmakers Naomi Foner ("Very Good Girls") and Andrea Arnold ("Fishtank") participated in the Story Creation and the Artistic Process panel as part of the Nyff Live series of filmmaker conversations, making the panel's gender balance 50/50 (the other two panelists were Larry Gross and Henry Bean). When the inevitable audience question about the challenges of being a female filmmaker arose, the two filmmakers responded quite differently. "I never thought I was any different than any blokes growing up, and I still don't," said Arnold, who is the Nyff's inaugural Filmmaker-in-Residence. "I don't feel discriminated against particularly as a women writer." Arnold added that she only chooses to work with men and women who treat her equally. Foner's take on the issue is that society has yet to catch up with laws about discrimination and that the culture still undermines women even when it comes to family dynamics such as child-rearing. "We...
- 10/5/2013
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
Veteran award-winning screenwriters Henry Bean ("The Believer"), Larry Gross ("We Don't Live Here Anymore") and Naomi Foner ("Very Good Girls") talked about their craft and tricks of the trade, along with Filmmaker in Residence Andrea Arnold ("Fishtank") yesterday at the Story Creation and the Artistic Process panel as part of the Nyff Live free-to-the-public series of filmmaker conversations. Arnold is currently in New York as the 2013 "Filmmaker in Residence" for the 51st New York Film Festival. The project she is working on, which she described as a "road movie," is set in the U.S. so she felt the "filmmaker in residence" gig was just what she needed to finish it. "I've already written a draft and I'm really self-critical with my writing and I've been holding it close to me for quite a long time. When this residence thing came up, I thought 'oh my God, that's just what...
- 10/4/2013
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
"Parkland" writer-director Peter Landesman is set to rewrite and direct the espionage revenge thriller "Down By The River" at Bluegrass Films.
The story kicks off when a former undercover agent turned high-level DEA official discovers his younger brother murdered in broad daylight in El Paso.
He learns the hit was ordered by a drug kingpin in Juarez, possibly as retribution for the official's past actions. So, he sets off for revenge against both the kingpin and the DEA for putting him in this situation.
Landesman will rewrite a script by Henry Bean. Scott Stuber is set to produce.
Source: Deadline...
The story kicks off when a former undercover agent turned high-level DEA official discovers his younger brother murdered in broad daylight in El Paso.
He learns the hit was ordered by a drug kingpin in Juarez, possibly as retribution for the official's past actions. So, he sets off for revenge against both the kingpin and the DEA for putting him in this situation.
Landesman will rewrite a script by Henry Bean. Scott Stuber is set to produce.
Source: Deadline...
- 10/4/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Exclusive: Scott Stuber’s Bluegrass Films has set Parkland writer-director Peter Landesman to rewrite and direct Down By The River, an espionage revenge thriller inspired by Charles Bowden’s nonfiction book. Landesman will come on to rewrite a script by Henry Bean. Landesman and Naomi Despres brought the project to Stuber as the same time as Kill the Messenger, the story of how investigative journalist Gary Webb uncovered CIA complicity in bringing crack to U.S. cities and then destroyed the reputation of Webb, who committed suicide in 2004. Michael Cuesta directed the film for Focus Features with Jeremy Renner playing Webb. Stuber produced with Despres and Renner, while Landesman and Pamela Abdy are exec producers. In Down By The River, the younger brother of a high-level DEA official and former undercover agent is murdered in broad daylight in El Paso, Texas. After discovering the hit was ordered by the drug...
- 10/3/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
New York – The Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) announced today the 2013 nominees (order determined by lot) for its Council election. The term is for two years from 2013-2015. There are nine (9) open Council seats (six Freelance seats and three Staff seats) in this election. The twelve (12) candidates for the six (6) open Freelance seats are: Zhubin Parang, Bonnie Datt (i), David Atkins, Henry Bean (i), Bernardo Ruiz (i), Susan Kim (i), Robert Levi, Michael Lannan, Amy Sohn, Courtney Simon (i), Norman Steinberg and George Strayton. The five (5) candidates for the three (3) open Staff seats are: Duane Tollison (i), Jeff Christman, Phil Pilato (i), Matt Nelko and Sue Brown McCann (i). Guild President Michael Winship and Secretary-Treasurer Bob Schneider are running for reelection unopposed. Vice President Jeremy Pikser is running for re-election and faces Jeff Christman. The Wgae annual membership meeting and election is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 2013. Related: Wgaw Unveils...
- 6/24/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
The Film Society of Lincoln Center and Jaeger-LeCoultre has announced the members selected for the Advisory Board for the new Filmmaker in Residence initiative. The new Advisory Board members include: Henry Bean, Brady Corbet, Charles Finch, Naomi Foner, Larry Gross, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Danny Huston, Tamara Jenkins, Ed Lachman, Bennett Miller, Matthew Modine, Ed Pressman, Ira Sachs, Paul Schrader and Marisa Tomei. To make the announcement, Fslc held a celebratory dinner last night to present the chosen advisors. In addition to a few of the honored members, guests at the dinner also included Christopher Abbott, Daniel Battsek, Tory Burch, J.C. Chandor, Jessica Diehl, Griffin Dunne, Ryan Fleck, Scott Frank, Tony Gilroy, Larry Gross, Jack Huston, Rose Kuo, Richard Lagravenese, Barry Levinson, Johnnie Planco, Ed Pressman, Bob Shaye, Todd Solondz, Ann Tenenbaum, James Toback, and Harvey Weinstein. The Filmmaker in Residence program is designed to...
- 6/13/2013
- by Casey Cipriani
- Indiewire
The Drive star returns to the screen in Derek Cianfrance's The Place Beyond the Pines this week. Here's a look back at five of his best moments
Ryan Gosling is currently in the process of adding writer/director to his list of skills after announcing a break from acting to concentrate on his film-making debut, How to Catch a Monster. With that in mind, here's a look back at five of the actor's finest moments. What scenes would you add to the list?
1. The Believer
Gosling plays a young neo-Nazi in Henry Bean's movie, brutally growling out his dialogue with lips permanently curled in a sickening snarl.
Reading on mobile? Watch the clip on YouTube
2. Half Nelson
Here he plays a schoolteacher quietly declining into drug dependency. His numbed lethargy and increasing lack of control offer no romantic notions about addiction.
Reading on mobile? Watch the clip on...
Ryan Gosling is currently in the process of adding writer/director to his list of skills after announcing a break from acting to concentrate on his film-making debut, How to Catch a Monster. With that in mind, here's a look back at five of the actor's finest moments. What scenes would you add to the list?
1. The Believer
Gosling plays a young neo-Nazi in Henry Bean's movie, brutally growling out his dialogue with lips permanently curled in a sickening snarl.
Reading on mobile? Watch the clip on YouTube
2. Half Nelson
Here he plays a schoolteacher quietly declining into drug dependency. His numbed lethargy and increasing lack of control offer no romantic notions about addiction.
Reading on mobile? Watch the clip on...
- 4/12/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
At some point in the last few years, Ryan Gosling became the Internet's best friend. There's the YouTube video of him breaking up a street fight in New York City, and the ridiculously popular "Hey Girl" meme. The man even has dish towels with his face on them being sold on Etsy (a product that was brought to his attention during a recent interview). Nevertheless, the star seems to react to Gosling mania with bemused detachment. (Regarding the "Hey Girl" meme, he told the Hollywood Reporter last week that "I don't think it's really about me.") Besides, he has other things to worry about, like pretending to rob real bank tellers and riding a motorcycle, which he did for his new movie, "The Place Beyond the Pines," which hits theaters this Friday. The film has Gosling re-teaming with "Blue Valentine" director Derek Cianfrance. Here he stars as Luke, a motorcycle...
- 3/25/2013
- by Alex Suskind
- Moviefone
Eight projects for the eighth edition of the Rawi Screenwriters Lab have been chosen by The Royal Film Commission-Jordan and Sundance Institute. The Rawi Screenwriters Lab is an example of Sundance Institute’s longstanding international work to support emerging filmmakers around the world. Former Rawi Fellows include Cherien Dabis (Amreeka), Mohammed Al Daradji (Son Of Babylon) and Sally El Hosaini (My Brother The Devil).
Launched in 2005, the Lab is led by the Royal Film Commission of Jordan (Rfc), under the leadership of Deema Azar, in consultation with Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, under the direction of Michelle Satter. The Lab provides an opportunity for filmmakers from the region to develop their work under the guidance of accomplished Creative Advisors—this year including Athina Rachel Tsangari (Attenberg), Henry Bean (The Believer), So Yong Kim (Treeless Mountain), Bernd Lichtenberg (Goodbye Lenin!) and Katherine Dieckmann (Motherhood)—in an environment that encourages storytelling at the highest level.
George David, General Manager of the Rfc, said, “It makes us very proud to be organizing the eighth round of the Rawi Screenwriters Lab again this year in consultation with Sundance Institute. The Lab is gaining momentum and receiving increased regional and international acclaim, with more and more projects developed through the Lab and being awarded internationally. The caliber of this year’s selected projects will certainly have an impact on the regional filmmaking scene, at a time when cinema in the region is attracting worldwide attention with all the changes that have been taken place recently and are often reflected in cinematic works.”
Paul Federbush, International Director of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, said, “We’ve had the privilege to help give voice to some extraordinary new filmmakers in the region over our eight-year partnership with the Rfc. This year’s Fellows continue in that tradition and bring a diverse range of stories that we believe will resonate with audiences around the world.”
2009 Rawi alumnus Haifaa Al Mansour premiered her debut feature Wadjda—the first feature film shot entirely in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the first-ever by a Saudi female filmmaker—at this year’s Venice International Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival. The film was acquired for U.S. distribution by Sony Pictures Classics.
About her experience at the Lab, Mansour said, "The real momentum for Wadjda began with the Rawi Screenwriters Lab; I am tremendously grateful for the unwavering support of Michelle Satter and her entire team at Sundance Institute who not only helped the script find its true voice, but also in every aspect of getting the film made.”
The participants and projects selected for the 2012 Rawi Screenwriters Lab represent eight different countries. The Lab takes place November 14-18 in Wadi Feynan in Southern Jordan.
Daughters of Abdel Rahman by Zaid Abu Hamdan (Jordan)
Years after running away from their oppressive past, four estranged sisters have to join forces to find their suddenly missing father.
Zaid Abu Hamdan holds an Mfa from the New York Film Academy in Hollywood California, and a BA in Communication Arts from the Lebanese American University in Beirut. In 2009, Zaid established his company Zaha Productions, producing 5 award winning short films in both the Us and the Gulf. His debut film Baram & Hamza won International awards and distribution in the Us and Europe. His other films include Love…Older (of 2 parts) and the 2012 Oscar-qualified film Bahiya & Mahmoud, after winning “Best of Fest” at the Palm Springs Int. Shortfest. Zaid is currently developing his first feature film Daughters of Abdul-Rahman, which has been selected for The Doha Film Institute, the Torino Film Lab, the Royal Film Commission of Jordan and other international film organizations.
Via Dolorosa by Sobhi Al Zubaidi (Palestine)
A Palestinian man is released after 20 years in Israeli prisons and is united with his family, only to face new challenges in life after Oslo in the West Bank.
Sobhi al-Zobaidi is a Palestinian filmmaker (My Very Private Map, Women in the Sun, Light at the End of the Tunnel, Hawal, Crossing Kalandia, About the Sea). His film projects have received awards and recognition from institutions including Hubert Bals Fund, Rotterdam Flm Festival, Locarno Flm Festival, Goteborg Flm Festival and Abu Dhabi Flm Festival. His current project, Via Dolorosa, is a feature film that has received development support from Afac and Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Sanad).
Trees Also Die by Rabih El Amine (Lebanon)
A young mother and her child decide to isolate themselves from the outside world in a delirious attempt to flee the war and to escape their fate.
Born in 1974, Rabih El-Amine is a Lebanese-Canadian photographer, screenwriter and filmmaker based in Montreal. He holds a BA in Communication Arts (Radio/TV/Films). His first documentary Ahmad the Japanese screened at various festivals and won a jury prize in Docudays. Trees Also Die is his first feature film project.
Noor by Mustafa Shakarchi (Iraq)
Inspired by a true story, a 10-year-old Palestinian girl dreams of a normal childhood—to go to school and make friends. But her caretaker Aunt forces her to work in the streets selling novelty items.
Born in Baghdad, Iraq and raised in Southern California, Mustafa is a co-founder of TruArt Pictures, an independent production company. Noor is his first feature film.
Crescent Moon by Naz Sadoughi (Iran)
Ignorance is bliss, but knowledge is freedom, and Ebby is suddenly forced to test the limits of his loyalties – either remain faithful to the regime and his corrupt paymasters, or to his conscience and feelings for the man he’s spying on.
Naz Sadoughi is an Iranian screenwriter. Born in Tehran she moved to the UK with her parents in 1978. Initially trained as an Illustration and animation artist she moved into live action film-making in 1999 and began working as a commercials director in the UK and throughout Europe. In 2004 she set up a production company where she produced and directed short documentaries for the Discovery Channel. In 2011 Naz completed an Ma in screenwriting at The Lcc, University of the Arts London.
I Am Nojood by Khadija Al-Salami (Yemen)
Ignorance and poverty force a ten -year old girl, Nojood, to endure an outrageous experience when she is forced to marry a thirty-year-old man. Unable to accept this fate others have chosen for her, Nojood does the unthinkable: she asks for a divorce.
Khadija Al-Salami gained her independence at an early age when her family forced her into an early marriage at the age of 11. In order to escape family pressure and tradition, she found a job at the local TV station in the afternoons, while pursuing her studies in the mornings. She earned a scholarship at 16 years of age to the United States, where she studied film-making. Her first film, for her thesis, was about women in Yemen. Khadija is Yemen’s first woman film-maker, and has made some over 20 documentaries for various TV stations in France and Yemen and received several awards at various film festivals worldwide. With her husband, she has written a book, The Tears of Sheba, about her experiences growing up in Yemen. She was, until 2011, the Press Counselor and Director of the Communication and Cultural Center at the Embassy of Yemen in Paris.
Two Rooms & a Parlor by Mohamed Salah El Azzab & Sherif Bendari (Egypt)
Khalil has spent his life living the routine of a low profile employee. When he finds himself alone after the death of his wife Ihsan, Khalil decides to discover the world outside of his little house and life beyond its ordinary details.
Born in 1978, Egyptian filmmaker Sherif Elbendary lives and works in Cairo. Elbendary graduated from the Faculty of Applied Arts in 2001, then in 2007 studied film directing at the High Institute of Cinema in Cairo. His first short fiction film Rise & Shine produced by the Egyptian Film Center in 2006 was officially selected in more than 75 film festivals in 33 countries and won 15 awards. Elbendary’s second short film was his graduation project At Day's End produced by the High Institute of Cinema in 2008 which was officially selected in more than 50 film festivals and won 14 awards. Sherif directed the segment “curfew” in the omnibus feature 18 Days which was selected to the Cannes Film Festival in 2011.
Born in Cairo 1981, novelist and journalist and scriptwriter Mohammad El Azzab has four novels which are: A Long Cellar with a Low Ceiling making you Crouch, Repeated Stoppingwas, Tales of Sidi Barrani and The Italian's Bed. Also a collection of short stories, Blue In a Sad Way. El Azab, has won several literary Egyptian and Arabian awards. He wrote the screenplay films: Repeated Stoppingwas and Two-Bedroom Apartment, which was awarded best screenplay in Sawiris awards in Egypt in 2011.
Until the End of Time by Yasmine Chouikh (Algeria)
As they slowly approach the hour of their death, Ali and Joher, both in their seventies, meet and discover love, friendship and the happiness of living the joys of life together.
Born in 1982 in Algiers, Yasmine Chouikh studied human arts and sciences, graduate in psychology and educational sciences. She worked as an actress in La Citadelle (1987) by Mohamed Chouikh, in a television film by Djamel Bendedouch in 1990, then in Hamlet of Women (2004) by Mohamed Chouikh. She wrote in the cultural page of the daily newspaperl'Autentique and works as a journalist as well as presenting a cinematographic television program on the national Algerian television since 2005. She has written some shorts film scripts, and directed two of them, The Door and the djinn. She is the art director of the International Taghit.
The eighth annual Rawi Screenwriters Lab of The Royal Film Commission-Jordan is presented in consultation with Sundance Institute and made possible in part by a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.
Launched in 2005, the Lab is led by the Royal Film Commission of Jordan (Rfc), under the leadership of Deema Azar, in consultation with Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, under the direction of Michelle Satter. The Lab provides an opportunity for filmmakers from the region to develop their work under the guidance of accomplished Creative Advisors—this year including Athina Rachel Tsangari (Attenberg), Henry Bean (The Believer), So Yong Kim (Treeless Mountain), Bernd Lichtenberg (Goodbye Lenin!) and Katherine Dieckmann (Motherhood)—in an environment that encourages storytelling at the highest level.
George David, General Manager of the Rfc, said, “It makes us very proud to be organizing the eighth round of the Rawi Screenwriters Lab again this year in consultation with Sundance Institute. The Lab is gaining momentum and receiving increased regional and international acclaim, with more and more projects developed through the Lab and being awarded internationally. The caliber of this year’s selected projects will certainly have an impact on the regional filmmaking scene, at a time when cinema in the region is attracting worldwide attention with all the changes that have been taken place recently and are often reflected in cinematic works.”
Paul Federbush, International Director of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, said, “We’ve had the privilege to help give voice to some extraordinary new filmmakers in the region over our eight-year partnership with the Rfc. This year’s Fellows continue in that tradition and bring a diverse range of stories that we believe will resonate with audiences around the world.”
2009 Rawi alumnus Haifaa Al Mansour premiered her debut feature Wadjda—the first feature film shot entirely in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the first-ever by a Saudi female filmmaker—at this year’s Venice International Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival. The film was acquired for U.S. distribution by Sony Pictures Classics.
About her experience at the Lab, Mansour said, "The real momentum for Wadjda began with the Rawi Screenwriters Lab; I am tremendously grateful for the unwavering support of Michelle Satter and her entire team at Sundance Institute who not only helped the script find its true voice, but also in every aspect of getting the film made.”
The participants and projects selected for the 2012 Rawi Screenwriters Lab represent eight different countries. The Lab takes place November 14-18 in Wadi Feynan in Southern Jordan.
Daughters of Abdel Rahman by Zaid Abu Hamdan (Jordan)
Years after running away from their oppressive past, four estranged sisters have to join forces to find their suddenly missing father.
Zaid Abu Hamdan holds an Mfa from the New York Film Academy in Hollywood California, and a BA in Communication Arts from the Lebanese American University in Beirut. In 2009, Zaid established his company Zaha Productions, producing 5 award winning short films in both the Us and the Gulf. His debut film Baram & Hamza won International awards and distribution in the Us and Europe. His other films include Love…Older (of 2 parts) and the 2012 Oscar-qualified film Bahiya & Mahmoud, after winning “Best of Fest” at the Palm Springs Int. Shortfest. Zaid is currently developing his first feature film Daughters of Abdul-Rahman, which has been selected for The Doha Film Institute, the Torino Film Lab, the Royal Film Commission of Jordan and other international film organizations.
Via Dolorosa by Sobhi Al Zubaidi (Palestine)
A Palestinian man is released after 20 years in Israeli prisons and is united with his family, only to face new challenges in life after Oslo in the West Bank.
Sobhi al-Zobaidi is a Palestinian filmmaker (My Very Private Map, Women in the Sun, Light at the End of the Tunnel, Hawal, Crossing Kalandia, About the Sea). His film projects have received awards and recognition from institutions including Hubert Bals Fund, Rotterdam Flm Festival, Locarno Flm Festival, Goteborg Flm Festival and Abu Dhabi Flm Festival. His current project, Via Dolorosa, is a feature film that has received development support from Afac and Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Sanad).
Trees Also Die by Rabih El Amine (Lebanon)
A young mother and her child decide to isolate themselves from the outside world in a delirious attempt to flee the war and to escape their fate.
Born in 1974, Rabih El-Amine is a Lebanese-Canadian photographer, screenwriter and filmmaker based in Montreal. He holds a BA in Communication Arts (Radio/TV/Films). His first documentary Ahmad the Japanese screened at various festivals and won a jury prize in Docudays. Trees Also Die is his first feature film project.
Noor by Mustafa Shakarchi (Iraq)
Inspired by a true story, a 10-year-old Palestinian girl dreams of a normal childhood—to go to school and make friends. But her caretaker Aunt forces her to work in the streets selling novelty items.
Born in Baghdad, Iraq and raised in Southern California, Mustafa is a co-founder of TruArt Pictures, an independent production company. Noor is his first feature film.
Crescent Moon by Naz Sadoughi (Iran)
Ignorance is bliss, but knowledge is freedom, and Ebby is suddenly forced to test the limits of his loyalties – either remain faithful to the regime and his corrupt paymasters, or to his conscience and feelings for the man he’s spying on.
Naz Sadoughi is an Iranian screenwriter. Born in Tehran she moved to the UK with her parents in 1978. Initially trained as an Illustration and animation artist she moved into live action film-making in 1999 and began working as a commercials director in the UK and throughout Europe. In 2004 she set up a production company where she produced and directed short documentaries for the Discovery Channel. In 2011 Naz completed an Ma in screenwriting at The Lcc, University of the Arts London.
I Am Nojood by Khadija Al-Salami (Yemen)
Ignorance and poverty force a ten -year old girl, Nojood, to endure an outrageous experience when she is forced to marry a thirty-year-old man. Unable to accept this fate others have chosen for her, Nojood does the unthinkable: she asks for a divorce.
Khadija Al-Salami gained her independence at an early age when her family forced her into an early marriage at the age of 11. In order to escape family pressure and tradition, she found a job at the local TV station in the afternoons, while pursuing her studies in the mornings. She earned a scholarship at 16 years of age to the United States, where she studied film-making. Her first film, for her thesis, was about women in Yemen. Khadija is Yemen’s first woman film-maker, and has made some over 20 documentaries for various TV stations in France and Yemen and received several awards at various film festivals worldwide. With her husband, she has written a book, The Tears of Sheba, about her experiences growing up in Yemen. She was, until 2011, the Press Counselor and Director of the Communication and Cultural Center at the Embassy of Yemen in Paris.
Two Rooms & a Parlor by Mohamed Salah El Azzab & Sherif Bendari (Egypt)
Khalil has spent his life living the routine of a low profile employee. When he finds himself alone after the death of his wife Ihsan, Khalil decides to discover the world outside of his little house and life beyond its ordinary details.
Born in 1978, Egyptian filmmaker Sherif Elbendary lives and works in Cairo. Elbendary graduated from the Faculty of Applied Arts in 2001, then in 2007 studied film directing at the High Institute of Cinema in Cairo. His first short fiction film Rise & Shine produced by the Egyptian Film Center in 2006 was officially selected in more than 75 film festivals in 33 countries and won 15 awards. Elbendary’s second short film was his graduation project At Day's End produced by the High Institute of Cinema in 2008 which was officially selected in more than 50 film festivals and won 14 awards. Sherif directed the segment “curfew” in the omnibus feature 18 Days which was selected to the Cannes Film Festival in 2011.
Born in Cairo 1981, novelist and journalist and scriptwriter Mohammad El Azzab has four novels which are: A Long Cellar with a Low Ceiling making you Crouch, Repeated Stoppingwas, Tales of Sidi Barrani and The Italian's Bed. Also a collection of short stories, Blue In a Sad Way. El Azab, has won several literary Egyptian and Arabian awards. He wrote the screenplay films: Repeated Stoppingwas and Two-Bedroom Apartment, which was awarded best screenplay in Sawiris awards in Egypt in 2011.
Until the End of Time by Yasmine Chouikh (Algeria)
As they slowly approach the hour of their death, Ali and Joher, both in their seventies, meet and discover love, friendship and the happiness of living the joys of life together.
Born in 1982 in Algiers, Yasmine Chouikh studied human arts and sciences, graduate in psychology and educational sciences. She worked as an actress in La Citadelle (1987) by Mohamed Chouikh, in a television film by Djamel Bendedouch in 1990, then in Hamlet of Women (2004) by Mohamed Chouikh. She wrote in the cultural page of the daily newspaperl'Autentique and works as a journalist as well as presenting a cinematographic television program on the national Algerian television since 2005. She has written some shorts film scripts, and directed two of them, The Door and the djinn. She is the art director of the International Taghit.
The eighth annual Rawi Screenwriters Lab of The Royal Film Commission-Jordan is presented in consultation with Sundance Institute and made possible in part by a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.
- 12/1/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Snow White and the Huntsman has been one of the biggest films of the year, and a big success for all involved, not least Universal, with the film taking almost $400m. across the world.
As such, there’s been talk of a sequel ever since its release this summer, but the issue became a little more complicated, following the media’s attention on Kristen Stewart and director Rupert Sanders.
Sanders made a very promising feature directorial debut at the helm of the original, but following the reports over the summer, whether he and/or Stewart would be returning for the sequel was soon called into question, and there was talk of the sequel centring instead on The Huntsman, Chris Hemsworth.
According to an insider speaking to Radar Online, however, it looks like that may no longer be the case, with Stewart reportedly signing on for the sequel, without Sanders returning.
As such, there’s been talk of a sequel ever since its release this summer, but the issue became a little more complicated, following the media’s attention on Kristen Stewart and director Rupert Sanders.
Sanders made a very promising feature directorial debut at the helm of the original, but following the reports over the summer, whether he and/or Stewart would be returning for the sequel was soon called into question, and there was talk of the sequel centring instead on The Huntsman, Chris Hemsworth.
According to an insider speaking to Radar Online, however, it looks like that may no longer be the case, with Stewart reportedly signing on for the sequel, without Sanders returning.
- 11/19/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Snow White and the Hunstman director Rupert Sanders has lined up his next film project called The Juliet, which is set up at Sony Pictures and New Regency. Sanders has a cool visual style, but he's not a very good storyteller.
The movie is based on the classic 1954 short story by Alfred Bester, "Fondly Fahrenheit", which is a sci-fi love story set in a near futuristic landscape. In a previous interview producer Frank Beddor had this to say about the story,
It’s lovers on the run in space, so think Bonnie and Clyde in space, but with a very unique Bonnie who has a secret. The tone of it is close to the Bourne Identity franchise.
This is a solid story that has the potential to be a really good movie! The screenplay was written by Henry Bean and production is scheduled to begin sometime in 2013. Hopefully Sanders does...
The movie is based on the classic 1954 short story by Alfred Bester, "Fondly Fahrenheit", which is a sci-fi love story set in a near futuristic landscape. In a previous interview producer Frank Beddor had this to say about the story,
It’s lovers on the run in space, so think Bonnie and Clyde in space, but with a very unique Bonnie who has a secret. The tone of it is close to the Bourne Identity franchise.
This is a solid story that has the potential to be a really good movie! The screenplay was written by Henry Bean and production is scheduled to begin sometime in 2013. Hopefully Sanders does...
- 10/16/2012
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
"Snow White And The Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders is making a deal to helm "The Juliet" for Sony Pictures and New Regency says Deadline.
An adaptation of Alfred Bester's short story, the tale is described as "Bonnie and Clyde in space", or the even more vague "romance set against the backdrop of a futuristic science fiction landscape".
Henry Bean adapted the script while Chuck Roven, Alex Gartner and Frank Beddor are producing. Shooting aims to begin in the Spring.
Sanders was linked to the "Van Helsing" reboot at Universal the other week, no word as yet as to how this announcement will affect that project.
An adaptation of Alfred Bester's short story, the tale is described as "Bonnie and Clyde in space", or the even more vague "romance set against the backdrop of a futuristic science fiction landscape".
Henry Bean adapted the script while Chuck Roven, Alex Gartner and Frank Beddor are producing. Shooting aims to begin in the Spring.
Sanders was linked to the "Van Helsing" reboot at Universal the other week, no word as yet as to how this announcement will affect that project.
- 10/16/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders has found his next gig.
EW has confirmed that the filmmaker has signed up with Sony Pictures and New Regency to direct The Juliet, an adaptation of a short story by the late science fiction author Alfred Bester. The production is aiming to start up in the spring.
Henry Bean (Noise, The Believer) adapted the story for the screen.
[Deadline]
Follow @adambvary
Read more:
Kristen Stewart shows off her bruises from ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ — Exclusive Video
Kristen Stewart’s apology to Robert Pattinson: An EW-xistential crisis...
EW has confirmed that the filmmaker has signed up with Sony Pictures and New Regency to direct The Juliet, an adaptation of a short story by the late science fiction author Alfred Bester. The production is aiming to start up in the spring.
Henry Bean (Noise, The Believer) adapted the story for the screen.
[Deadline]
Follow @adambvary
Read more:
Kristen Stewart shows off her bruises from ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ — Exclusive Video
Kristen Stewart’s apology to Robert Pattinson: An EW-xistential crisis...
- 10/16/2012
- by Adam B. Vary
- EW - Inside Movies
Updated: ComingSoon has unearthed some more details about the project, check them out Here. Though he could still bring his special brand of shiny, boring, beautiful cinema to the new Van Helsing, director Rupert Sanders is now lining up what should be his actual next project. Deadline Hollywood reports that Sony Pictures and New Regency are currently ironing out a deal with Sanders to helm their The Juliet, a big screen take on Alfred Bester‘s short story that comes with a script from Henry Bean (Internal Affairs, Basic Instinct 2). Very little is known about the project, just that its “story [is] set in a near futuristic science fiction landscape.” And, yup, that’s it. Scant details aside, futuristic sci-fi actually sounds like a fine fit for Sanders and his talents, and perhaps his exploration of a new genre will unleash a passion that was quite obviously missing from his Snow White and the Huntsman.
- 10/16/2012
- by Kate Erbland
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
While Kristen Stewart remains off the radar as the media contemplates her next move, the other man Rupert Sanders continues to rebound. Just last week he was linked as a possible helmer for the Tom Cruise starring "Van Helsing," and now a sci-fi flick is cross his desk. Sanders is attached to helm "The Juliet" which as you might guess, is a romance, but one that is set in the near future. It's best on the short story by cult sci-fi writer Alfred Bester, and while a dig to find out any more story details turned up fruitless, according to Automatic Pictures who seem to be (or were) involved in some capacity, it's “Bonnie and Clyde in space.” Okay then. Henry Bean ("The Believer," "Internal Affairs") wrote the script, and New Regency and Sony execs will high five each other and bring it to the big screen. It's certainly intriguing,...
- 10/15/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Exclusive: Sony Pictures and New Regency are making a deal with Snow White And The Huntsman helmer Rupert Sanders to next direct The Juliet, an adaptation of the Alfred Bester short story that was developed by Charles Roven’s Atlas Entertainment at Sony. Henry Bean wrote the script. Atlas’s Roven and Alex Gartner are producing with Frank Beddor of Automatic Pictures. The intention is to begin production in the spring. The film is story set in a near futuristic science fiction landscape. Sony and New Regency will co-finance and co-distribute, and New Regency will distribute the film through its existing distribution partnership with Fox. Sam Dickerman will shepherd the film on behalf on Spe and Kara Francis Smith for Regency. Sanders made his directorial debut on Snow White And The Huntsman, the Universal film that grossed $400 million worldwide. Sanders is repped by CAA and Independent Talent.
- 10/15/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
I just can’t get past the shock that Tony Scott passed away and won’t be practicing his kinetic style of film making anymore. The people who worked on projects with him and are left to pick up the pieces are certainly more devastated than any fan. One film that was getting close to the starting gate was the Henry Bean-scripted Lucky Strike, an action drama in which a DEA agent teams with a drug runner to take down a drug cartel. The film had an $80 million commitment from Emmett/Furla Films, distribution from Fox and Vince Vaughn in one of the starring roles. While reports had Scott circling several other projects and even doing prep work with Tom Cruise on Top Gun 2, producer Randall Emmett told me he was confident they had a strong shot at going into production next year. That was a dream scenario,...
- 8/21/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Yesterday Ifp’s Script to Screen conference took place at the 92YTribeca in New York City, and I was lucky enough to be there. During the “Writers’ Roundtable” panel, which featured the writer-directors Leslye Headland (Bachelorette), Liza Johnson (Return), Madeleine Olnek (Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same), and Ry Russo Young (You Won’t Miss Me; Nobody Walks), I took copious notes. I was also busily typing away as novelist and Bored to Death creator Jonathan Ames, The Believer‘s writer-director Henry Bean, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon writer Jen Statsky discussed screenwriting after playing the “Exquisite Corpse” writing game. Many sage words of screenwriting advice were shared yesterday, and here are the 10 most essential.
1. Try out different styles. Said Liza Johnson, “Writing is free. Just to keep working and finding out what kind of styles fit for you is very beneficial. Making a feature film is a long project,...
1. Try out different styles. Said Liza Johnson, “Writing is free. Just to keep working and finding out what kind of styles fit for you is very beneficial. Making a feature film is a long project,...
- 3/19/2012
- by Nick Dawson
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Vince Vaughn and director Tony Scott are in talks to join action thriller Lucky Strike. Deadline reports that the duo are close to striking up a deal to board the $$80 million (£50m) project, which is under the jurisdiction of Emmett/Furla Films, Scott Free and 20th Century Fox. Lucky Strike, scripted by Henry Bean, follows a police officer who joins forces with an infamous drug runner to take down a cartel. Production is scheduled to commence in late summer or early autumn. Scott's last directorial outing was Unstoppable, which (more)...
- 2/16/2012
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
There was a time after Swingers when Vince Vaughn tried his hand at a string of dramatic roles in films like Psycho, Return to Paradise, Domestic Disturbance, and The Cell before returning almost exclusively to comedies. Now he may have a chance to stretch his dramatic muscles again, this time for director Tony Scott in the action/thriller Lucky Strike. The film would tell the story of a DEA agent who "teams with a drug runner to take down a drug cartel." There's no word on which part Vaughn would play; only that he would star. Lucky Strike has gained momentum to become Scott's next project, although nothing has been set in stone yet, especially given the director's slew of other potential deals. If the film does become next in line for Scott, a late summer or early fall shoot would be planned. Written by Henry Bean, Lucky Strike has...
- 2/16/2012
- by Aaron
- FilmJunk
Vince Vaughn and filmmaker Tony Scott looking to team for the $80 million action thriller "Lucky Strike" at Emmett/Furla Films, Scott Free and 20th Century Fox says Deadline.
Henry Bean scripted the film which follows a DEA agent who teams with a drug runner to take down a cartel. Production is aiming for a potential late Summer or early Fall start date.
Scott has also been working hard on the Scott Frank-scripted "Hell’s Angels" and the remake of Walter Hill's 1979 classic "The Warriors".
Henry Bean scripted the film which follows a DEA agent who teams with a drug runner to take down a cartel. Production is aiming for a potential late Summer or early Fall start date.
Scott has also been working hard on the Scott Frank-scripted "Hell’s Angels" and the remake of Walter Hill's 1979 classic "The Warriors".
- 2/16/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
If you look at Tony Scott’s IMDb page, the first thing you notice is that he has 31 movies listed as being in development. This is a guy who really likes to talk about what he might be doing next, so whenever his name is involved I generally take the news with a grain of salt. Fact is, Scott hasn’t actually sat down and got to work on directing anything since 2010’s Unstoppable, and any talk about him doing Top Gun 2, a Warriors remake, Hell’s Angels, or what ever else, has so far amounted to just that; talk. With that in mind, Deadline North Shields has their eye on a story that they say seems different from the usual Tony Scott big show and no results. They say that things are heating up around a project called Lucky Strike in a very real way, as Emmett/Furla Films is on board to fund the...
- 2/16/2012
- by Nathan Adams
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Vince Vaughn: action star? If we’re honest, we’d have thought the label would exist more naturally back in the late ‘90s or early 2000s. But if Tony Scott has anything to do with it, Vaughn may well re-establish his action man credentials for Lucky Strike.Deadline reports that Scott is getting closer to directing the thriller, which would see a DEA agent teaming up with a drug runner to take down a drug cartel.While Henry Bean’s script has sat on the long, long list of projects that Scott is interested in for a while now, it appears he’s increasingly thinking of it as his next potential directing gig. Which will disappoint anyone involved with or interested in Hell’s Angels, the Warriors remake, Top Gun 2, Potsdamer Platz, Nemesis and his still-to-be-named Chippendales drama. We’re honestly at the point where we just think...
- 2/15/2012
- EmpireOnline
With dozens of projects in development, Tony Scott‘s next film seems to be changing with every news update. The director hasn’t made a project since 2010′s Unstoppable and his star Denzel Washington recently came back with the unexpected hit Safe House. Now it is his turn and Deadline seems to have acquired some formal news.
They report that things are gearing up for an $80 million drug thriller titled Lucky Strike, with sights set on Tony Scott to helm. What is most interesting is the choice of lead, as they report comedian Vince Vaughn would star in the film “in which a DEA agent teams with a drug runner to take down a drug cartel.” It unfortunately sounds like a variation of every other film Scott has directed, but at his age who can fault the guy for not pulling out any surprises.
Henry Bean, the man behind Ryan Gosling...
They report that things are gearing up for an $80 million drug thriller titled Lucky Strike, with sights set on Tony Scott to helm. What is most interesting is the choice of lead, as they report comedian Vince Vaughn would star in the film “in which a DEA agent teams with a drug runner to take down a drug cartel.” It unfortunately sounds like a variation of every other film Scott has directed, but at his age who can fault the guy for not pulling out any surprises.
Henry Bean, the man behind Ryan Gosling...
- 2/15/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Vince Vaughn, action star? Uh, okay. Granted, he dabbled in the genre ("Mr. And Mrs. Smith" where he was mostly shooting quips and not bullets), and has done non-comedic parts from time to time ("Psycho," "Domestic Disturbance") but as a fully fledged lead in a Tony Scott movie? Well, we'll admit that it's inspired. And hey, if Keira Knightley can lead "Domino" then anything is possible. But if all goes according to plan, Deadline reports that Vaughn will lead "Lucky Strike" which the site says could shape up to be Tony Scott's next film, though we'll only believe it when cameras are rolling and a craft services table has been wheeled out. Penned by Henry Bean ("The Believer," "Internal Affairs") the story centers on a DEA agent who teams with a drug runner to take down a cartel. So thrown in some weird filters, and hyper editing, and you've...
- 2/15/2012
- The Playlist
Exclusive: Might we finally have an answer to the question: what film will Tony Scott next direct? Things are starting to look up for Lucky Strike, a project that is gaining steam. In the configuration I’m hearing about, Vince Vaughn would star, with a potential late summer or early fall start date and Emmett/Furla Films funding the $80 million film and 20th Century Fox distributing. That’s where Scott Free has its deal, and Scott Free will produce with Randall Emmett and George Furla. The latter have been footing the bill for a group of high profile projects, the most recent 2 Guns, the drama that has come together with Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg, with Universal is distributing domestically and Sony World Wide Acquisitions buying most territories around the world. Henry Bean wrote Lucky Strike, an action film in which a DEA agent teams with a drug runner to take down a drug cartel.
- 2/15/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
The Ides of March is truly a Ryan Gosling movie.
George Clooney may star as a Pennsylvania governor running for president during the pivotal Ohio primary, but it is Gosling’s political aide who lies at the heart of what is The Ides of March.
Gosling visited with Movie Fanatic and takes us inside the Clooney set and what it was like working opposite such an astounding cast including Marisa Tomei, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright and Max Minghella.
The actor is having quite a year. He recently starred in Drive - don’t miss our Ryan Gosling Drive interview - and scored a summer box office hit in Crazy, Stupid, Love. But it is his work on The Ides of March that should land him a spot at the Kodak Theatre as an Oscar nominee.
In our Movie Fanatic interview, Gosling talks about Ides,...
George Clooney may star as a Pennsylvania governor running for president during the pivotal Ohio primary, but it is Gosling’s political aide who lies at the heart of what is The Ides of March.
Gosling visited with Movie Fanatic and takes us inside the Clooney set and what it was like working opposite such an astounding cast including Marisa Tomei, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright and Max Minghella.
The actor is having quite a year. He recently starred in Drive - don’t miss our Ryan Gosling Drive interview - and scored a summer box office hit in Crazy, Stupid, Love. But it is his work on The Ides of March that should land him a spot at the Kodak Theatre as an Oscar nominee.
In our Movie Fanatic interview, Gosling talks about Ides,...
- 10/5/2011
- by joel.amos@moviefanatic.com (Joel D Amos)
- Reel Movie News
The Writers Guild of America, East has elected Jeremy Pikser its vice president, the union announced Friday. Members reelected Michael Winship, who was running unopposed for president, and elected Bob Schneider, who was unopposed for secretary treaurer. Schneider had been vice president. This election marked the first time members could vote online. As a result, the Guild says, one in 10 eligible members cast ballots. No ballots were invalidated. Guild members also elected Henry Bean, Bonnie Datt, Elliot Kaplan, Susan Kinn, Bernardo Ruiz and Courtney Simon as freelance members on the Council. Three incumbents, Sue...
- 9/16/2011
- by Joshua L. Weinstein
- The Wrap
The Writers Guild East has announced the results of its 2011 elections, notable not so much for the lack of competition (the main incumbents ran unopposed) but for being the first to institute online voting, which the guild said resulted in higher participation and no invalidated ballots. Wgae president Michael Winship ran unopposed and was re-elected; Jeremy Pikser was elected VP and replaces Bob Schneider, who was elected Secretary Treasurer succeeding Gail Lee. Henry Bean, Bonnie Datt, Elliot Kalan, Susan Kim, Bernardo Ruiz, and Courtney Simon were voted in as freelance members to the Wgae Council, while Sue Brown McCann, Phil Pilato, and Duane Tollison were elected to staff seats. The terms run through September 2013.
- 9/16/2011
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Ryan Gosling has a gentle openness to screen romance that is unusual in an age when so many male actors settle for being macho
He's only 30, but everyone is talking about Ryan Gosling having reached that moment in an acting career where he goes from being an esteemed cult favourite to someone everyone is talking about. Blue Valentine (2010) was the start of the shift, even if Gosling wasn't nominated for an Oscar while his co-star Michelle Williams was. This intense and improvised study of a young marriage falling apart was team acting in the best sense, and its truthfulness may have made the film depressing or uncomfortable for a large audience. But a few people cherished the movie, and it was clearer than ever that Gosling possessed a gentleness and an openness to screen romance that is unusual in an age when so many young actors settle for being macho and good buddies.
He's only 30, but everyone is talking about Ryan Gosling having reached that moment in an acting career where he goes from being an esteemed cult favourite to someone everyone is talking about. Blue Valentine (2010) was the start of the shift, even if Gosling wasn't nominated for an Oscar while his co-star Michelle Williams was. This intense and improvised study of a young marriage falling apart was team acting in the best sense, and its truthfulness may have made the film depressing or uncomfortable for a large audience. But a few people cherished the movie, and it was clearer than ever that Gosling possessed a gentleness and an openness to screen romance that is unusual in an age when so many young actors settle for being macho and good buddies.
- 9/8/2011
- by David Thomson
- The Guardian - Film News
Ryan Gosling grew up in the limelight with Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake. By 18, though, he'd had enough. Now, after a string of slow-burn indie movies, he has found himself in a new wave of smart, low-key leading men and has genuine Oscar hopes. But can you be a Hollywood heartthrob without selling out?
"I'm interested in love and the lack of it," says Ryan Gosling, "and the crazy things we do to get it." This, he thinks, is the central theme that runs through his films. Gosling looks very sad and tired as he talks about love, but that's probably because he's been discussing it all day, sat in a rather cold, dark hotel room. Today has been an interview marathon as he's in London briefly to promote his new film, Blue Valentine. We're sat uncomfortably side by side, staring at an empty sofa and the blank wall behind it.
"I'm interested in love and the lack of it," says Ryan Gosling, "and the crazy things we do to get it." This, he thinks, is the central theme that runs through his films. Gosling looks very sad and tired as he talks about love, but that's probably because he's been discussing it all day, sat in a rather cold, dark hotel room. Today has been an interview marathon as he's in London briefly to promote his new film, Blue Valentine. We're sat uncomfortably side by side, staring at an empty sofa and the blank wall behind it.
- 1/10/2011
- by Alice Fisher
- The Guardian - Film News
The premise for director Kevin Asch's debut Holy Rollers may seem like the basis for a wacky situational comedy--Hasidic Jews become drug smugglers--but in fact, it's a crime drama that probably owes more to early Scorsese than to Gene Wilder's The Frisco Kid . Possibly not since Henry Bean's equally controversial The Believer has a movie delved so fully into the Orthodox Jewish community and belief system in such a unique manner. Jesse Eisenberg plays a young Hasidic man name Sam with spiritual ambitions who gets caught up in the world of drug smuggling through his friend and neighbor Yusef (Justin Bartha) and an Israeli drug dealer named Jackie (Danny Abeckaser, the film's producer who originally came up with the basic concept). Even though he knows it's wrong, the appeal of...
- 5/24/2010
- Comingsoon.net
(Summer Phoenix, left)
(I spoke with Summer Phoenix for Venice Magazine in spring of 2002, during a time when she was getting a real publicity push and lots of work. A press kit that was sent to me in advance had articles from just about every major newspaper and magazine. She was living in London at the time, doing a play with Casey Affleck, who she would marry a few years later. I thought she was quite strong in both The Believer, which would give Ryan Gosling a big push, and a lesser-seen film called Esther Kahn, in which she was the lead. I don't know if she has abandoned acting for the time being, as her IMDb credits seem to stop in 2004. Regardless, I believe she is still a talent and an interesting person from the film world of the decade that was, and so am including our talk in our flashback series.
(I spoke with Summer Phoenix for Venice Magazine in spring of 2002, during a time when she was getting a real publicity push and lots of work. A press kit that was sent to me in advance had articles from just about every major newspaper and magazine. She was living in London at the time, doing a play with Casey Affleck, who she would marry a few years later. I thought she was quite strong in both The Believer, which would give Ryan Gosling a big push, and a lesser-seen film called Esther Kahn, in which she was the lead. I don't know if she has abandoned acting for the time being, as her IMDb credits seem to stop in 2004. Regardless, I believe she is still a talent and an interesting person from the film world of the decade that was, and so am including our talk in our flashback series.
- 1/26/2010
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
The WGA East has announced nominees for 10 open seats on its council, including six freelance seats and four staff seats.
For the freelance seats, the 14 candidates include: Jerry Coopersmith, Madeline Amgott, Mark St. Germain, Julian Sheppard, Jeremy Pikser, Bobby Spillane, David Steven Cohen, Rob Kutner, Kirk Simon, Walter Bernstein, Tom Kelly, John Auerbach, Henry Bean and Gina Gionfriddo.
There are 12 candidates for staff seats, including Leon Colvin, Art Daley, Matt Nelko, Tanya Mills, Cath Twohill, Dave Mock, Andy Meppen, Tom Phillips, Jason Levine, Liz Turrell, Jay Pedinoff and Marianne Pryor.
WGAE members can either vote by mail or in person at the annual membership meeting on Sept. 18.
For the freelance seats, the 14 candidates include: Jerry Coopersmith, Madeline Amgott, Mark St. Germain, Julian Sheppard, Jeremy Pikser, Bobby Spillane, David Steven Cohen, Rob Kutner, Kirk Simon, Walter Bernstein, Tom Kelly, John Auerbach, Henry Bean and Gina Gionfriddo.
There are 12 candidates for staff seats, including Leon Colvin, Art Daley, Matt Nelko, Tanya Mills, Cath Twohill, Dave Mock, Andy Meppen, Tom Phillips, Jason Levine, Liz Turrell, Jay Pedinoff and Marianne Pryor.
WGAE members can either vote by mail or in person at the annual membership meeting on Sept. 18.
- 6/15/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
By Neil Pedley
This week sees the return of the Wachowski brothers, Tarsem Singh ("The Cell") and Henry Bean ("The Believer") to the big screen, not to mention new films from documentarians Nick Broomfield ("Tupac and Biggie") and Doug Pray ("Scratch"). On the other hand, after running around Tribeca, we still need to catch up on last week's releases.
"The Babysitters"
The idea of the spunky teenage boy succumbing to the allure of an experienced older woman is the kind of Hollywood golden goose that launches major careers (think Dustin Hoffman). But when the roles are reversed, the result is the directorial debut of David Ross that sees an entrepreneurial high schooler (Katherine Waterston, daughter of Sam) and her friends turn their babysitting ring into a call girl service, realizing there are alternative ways to pay for college besides waiting tables. It stars when one local dad (John Leguizamo) goes...
This week sees the return of the Wachowski brothers, Tarsem Singh ("The Cell") and Henry Bean ("The Believer") to the big screen, not to mention new films from documentarians Nick Broomfield ("Tupac and Biggie") and Doug Pray ("Scratch"). On the other hand, after running around Tribeca, we still need to catch up on last week's releases.
"The Babysitters"
The idea of the spunky teenage boy succumbing to the allure of an experienced older woman is the kind of Hollywood golden goose that launches major careers (think Dustin Hoffman). But when the roles are reversed, the result is the directorial debut of David Ross that sees an entrepreneurial high schooler (Katherine Waterston, daughter of Sam) and her friends turn their babysitting ring into a call girl service, realizing there are alternative ways to pay for college besides waiting tables. It stars when one local dad (John Leguizamo) goes...
- 5/5/2008
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
- Now in only its 2nd edition, Rome has whipped up quite the festival. A mention-worthy selection of titles, some U.S pics for glam and a jury process that I especially like not 5 or 6 but a group of 50 - this year No Man's Land director Danis Tanovic serves as the jury head for 50 international cinema-goers. Notables are Francis Ford Coppola's Youth Without Youth.Below you'll find the complete stats on the fest that begins in less than 3 weeks from now. When: October 18th to 28th, 2007 Counting Down: updateCountdownClock('October 18, 2007'); Where: Rome, Italy Official Website: www.romacinemafest.orgNot just a great city, but the city of cinema par excellence, will host the Fest which will transform its centre - the Auditorium Parco della Musica - in the Parco del Cinema for nine days. The second edition of Cinema. Festa Internazionale di Roma - RomeFilmFest will be held from
- 9/28/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
- For those who haven’t had the chance to see indie film The Believer (Ryan Gosling’s career-launching stint) back in 01’, there will be plenty of upcoming ops to see writer-director Henry Bean at work. Via Variety comes news that the seasoned writer and now director will tap into his two talents to adapt the big screen the novel of Down by the River for Universal Pictures. Scott Stuber and Mary Parent are producing along with Peter Landesman and Naomi Despres.Sounding like Coen Bros. territory with No Country for Old Men, Charles Bowden's novel revolves around a 1995 murder in El Paso, Texas, that was originally believed to be the result of a botched carjacking but was later tied to the victim's brother's work busting drug runners for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Story eventually implicates the uppermost reaches of the Mexican government. Pegged for some sort of release
- 7/31/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
Nicolas Cage has signed on to star in and produce the upcoming cop thriller Crazy Dog, per Variety. The independent action flick from director Joe Ruben centers on a New York police officer (Cage) who seeks redemption after causing his friend's death. Bob Yari will produce the film written by Henry Bean and Nick Kazan. Cage is currently filming the sci-fi project Next and will next be seen in this summer's World Trade Center.
- 5/12/2006
- IMDbPro News
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