Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor and one of Hollywood’s most outspoken voices in the fight against antisemitism, will be honored at the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s National Tribute Gala.
At the annual fundraiser for Swc, which has taken place since 1977 and brings together many of the most powerful and influential people in the business, Jews and non-Jews alike, Emanuel will receive the organization’s highest honor, the Humanitarian Award, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Emanuel, 63, will be feted by colleagues — and give an acceptance speech — at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on May 22. Members of the public can purchase tickets to attend, starting at $1500 a plate, but, in a first, the event will be closed to the press.
Emanuel famously does not mince his words, especially on matters related to antisemitism and Israel. Among other things, he led the industry’s boycott of Kanye West after the rapper went...
At the annual fundraiser for Swc, which has taken place since 1977 and brings together many of the most powerful and influential people in the business, Jews and non-Jews alike, Emanuel will receive the organization’s highest honor, the Humanitarian Award, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Emanuel, 63, will be feted by colleagues — and give an acceptance speech — at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on May 22. Members of the public can purchase tickets to attend, starting at $1500 a plate, but, in a first, the event will be closed to the press.
Emanuel famously does not mince his words, especially on matters related to antisemitism and Israel. Among other things, he led the industry’s boycott of Kanye West after the rapper went...
- 5/10/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There’s a new, scary reality sinking in for both Paramount shareholders and its board of directors: What if nobody buys Paramount?
Not much more than a week ago it felt like a foregone conclusion that David Ellison would buy out Shari Redstone’s controlling stake in Paramount Global for a few billion bucks, and force Paramount to buy his Skydance for a few billion more bucks than that. That’s what Redstone wanted to happen at least, and what Redstone wants she’s pretty well set up to get. She has the shares to force whatever outcome she wants and stop whatever one she doesn’t.
But there was another suitor who could no longer be ignored.
Apollo Global Management, a private-equity fund, has been knocking on Redstone’s door for months. It’s pounding now. At first, Apollo offered $11 billion to buy out Paramount’s studio. No way,...
Not much more than a week ago it felt like a foregone conclusion that David Ellison would buy out Shari Redstone’s controlling stake in Paramount Global for a few billion bucks, and force Paramount to buy his Skydance for a few billion more bucks than that. That’s what Redstone wanted to happen at least, and what Redstone wants she’s pretty well set up to get. She has the shares to force whatever outcome she wants and stop whatever one she doesn’t.
But there was another suitor who could no longer be ignored.
Apollo Global Management, a private-equity fund, has been knocking on Redstone’s door for months. It’s pounding now. At first, Apollo offered $11 billion to buy out Paramount’s studio. No way,...
- 5/7/2024
- by Tony Maglio and Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Whatever fate befalls Paramount Global after the smoke clears, one of the Hollywood Trivial Pursuit questions someday will be which heavy hitters have issued statements of support for Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Paramount’s holding company, National Amusements Inc. — and which didn’t.
Even as the Paramount special committee passed on the offer from David Ellison’s company May 4, sources say the Skydance-RedBird alliance has not given up. The premise, a source with knowledge of the situation tells The Hollywood Reporter, is that the rival Apollo/Sony Pictures offer now up for Paramount’s consideration will fail for multiple reasons, with Skydance still waiting in the wings.
So despite much Wall Street skepticism over a proposed deal that favors controlling shareholder Shari Redstone over other investors, “Skydance has been on an extremely aggressive PR campaign in the last month to convince everyone how legitimate they are,” says a prominent media mogul.
Even as the Paramount special committee passed on the offer from David Ellison’s company May 4, sources say the Skydance-RedBird alliance has not given up. The premise, a source with knowledge of the situation tells The Hollywood Reporter, is that the rival Apollo/Sony Pictures offer now up for Paramount’s consideration will fail for multiple reasons, with Skydance still waiting in the wings.
So despite much Wall Street skepticism over a proposed deal that favors controlling shareholder Shari Redstone over other investors, “Skydance has been on an extremely aggressive PR campaign in the last month to convince everyone how legitimate they are,” says a prominent media mogul.
- 5/6/2024
- by Kim Masters
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jeffrey Katzenberg is a man known for choosing his words very carefully most of the time, and tonight the WndrCo boss was pretty candid when it came to Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
“I’ve known Donald Trump for 50 years,” Katzenberg told a well-heeled West Hollywood crowd on Sunday of first meeting the former president and 2024 GOP de facto nominee via his father back in the 1970s. “The only thing I can say is he was a colossal asshole then and nothing has really changed.”
“I’ve known Joe Biden for 40 years, maybe 45 years,” the Biden/Harris campaign co-chair added in contrast. “He is actually one of the most decent human beings I know.”
Calling the ex-Celebrity Apprentice host a “catastrophe on a level that I don’t think people have fully paid attention to,” Katzenberg went on to give Trump the severe backhanded compliment of almost always openly...
“I’ve known Donald Trump for 50 years,” Katzenberg told a well-heeled West Hollywood crowd on Sunday of first meeting the former president and 2024 GOP de facto nominee via his father back in the 1970s. “The only thing I can say is he was a colossal asshole then and nothing has really changed.”
“I’ve known Joe Biden for 40 years, maybe 45 years,” the Biden/Harris campaign co-chair added in contrast. “He is actually one of the most decent human beings I know.”
Calling the ex-Celebrity Apprentice host a “catastrophe on a level that I don’t think people have fully paid attention to,” Katzenberg went on to give Trump the severe backhanded compliment of almost always openly...
- 5/6/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Another big Hollywood name rooting for a Paramount-Skydance deal is Jeffrey Katzenberg, who says that outcome would be “a great win for Paramount and for people in the industry.”
Speaking a the Axios Bfd Talks: LA this evening, the DreamWorks co-founder and former Walt Disney Studios head acknowledged that the situation is complicated. “There’s a reason why the David Ellison deal did not fly, which I think is unfortunate. Because I think David is a phenomenal entrepreneur, and he is super ambitious, and loves the movie business, the studio business. I think that would have been a great win for Paramount and for people in the industry.”
“The economic complexity of how this has sort of played out, over decades, by the way, makes it really hard to get to a successful outcome. But not impossible. And I would say don’t count Ellison out,” said Katzenberg whose...
Speaking a the Axios Bfd Talks: LA this evening, the DreamWorks co-founder and former Walt Disney Studios head acknowledged that the situation is complicated. “There’s a reason why the David Ellison deal did not fly, which I think is unfortunate. Because I think David is a phenomenal entrepreneur, and he is super ambitious, and loves the movie business, the studio business. I think that would have been a great win for Paramount and for people in the industry.”
“The economic complexity of how this has sort of played out, over decades, by the way, makes it really hard to get to a successful outcome. But not impossible. And I would say don’t count Ellison out,” said Katzenberg whose...
- 5/6/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith and Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
The chants and shouts of pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted the entry to the Washington Hilton for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, but once inside, attendees were greeted with what has become the usual scene: Celebrities on the red carpet, a crush for the security line and glitterati packed into a cavernous ballroom.
“I want to thank my wife for enduring lots of jokes and for agreeing to individually meet everyone in this room right after the ceremony,” the evening’s featured entertainer, Colin Jost, quipped about Scarlett Johansson, who posed for photos with a non-stop stream of attendees. She continued to do so later in the evening, at the Comcast-nbcu after party at the French ambassador’s residence.
Joe Biden laughs at Colin Jost as he entertains at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
The protests outside — now ubiquitous at any public event, much less one that mixes politics,...
“I want to thank my wife for enduring lots of jokes and for agreeing to individually meet everyone in this room right after the ceremony,” the evening’s featured entertainer, Colin Jost, quipped about Scarlett Johansson, who posed for photos with a non-stop stream of attendees. She continued to do so later in the evening, at the Comcast-nbcu after party at the French ambassador’s residence.
Joe Biden laughs at Colin Jost as he entertains at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
The protests outside — now ubiquitous at any public event, much less one that mixes politics,...
- 4/28/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated with more details: There’s no Saturday Night Live tonight, but President Joe Biden is just hours away from stepping up as comedian-in-chief at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Along with SNL‘s Colin Jost, Biden will be the headliner Saturday at the annual gathering of politicians, the journalists who cover them, titans of industry, and celebrities. The climax of a weekend of activities and parties from CNN, CAA, WME, UTA, Comcast/NBCUniversal News Group, ABC News, CBS, Politico and Deadline itself, the shindig in the Washington Hilton’s massive ballroom commonly has more power players and famous faces than any international summit or awards show.
Livestream coverage begins at 5 p.m. Pt/8 p.m. Et via C-span. Watch it live on Deadline here.
Related: White House Correspondents’ Dinner 2024 Photos: Best Of The Red Carpet
Already soirees all over Washington have seen Jost, spouse Scarlett Johansson, Rosario Dawson, Chris Pine,...
Along with SNL‘s Colin Jost, Biden will be the headliner Saturday at the annual gathering of politicians, the journalists who cover them, titans of industry, and celebrities. The climax of a weekend of activities and parties from CNN, CAA, WME, UTA, Comcast/NBCUniversal News Group, ABC News, CBS, Politico and Deadline itself, the shindig in the Washington Hilton’s massive ballroom commonly has more power players and famous faces than any international summit or awards show.
Livestream coverage begins at 5 p.m. Pt/8 p.m. Et via C-span. Watch it live on Deadline here.
Related: White House Correspondents’ Dinner 2024 Photos: Best Of The Red Carpet
Already soirees all over Washington have seen Jost, spouse Scarlett Johansson, Rosario Dawson, Chris Pine,...
- 4/27/2024
- by Dominic Patten and Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Steven Spielberg has made no secret of his support for Joe Biden’s reelection, and now the Oscar winner is rolling up his sleeves for the team.
Spielberg is involved strategically in the incumbent’s campaign and even the specifics of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August, Deadline has confirmed.
“Steven wants to be as helpful as possible to the president,” a well-placed source says. “He believes this is one of the most important elections in the nation’s history.”
The filmmaker is unlikely to helm a short movie at the DNC about Biden this year the way he helped do for John Kerry in 2004, and again at the 2008 convention when Barack Obama was nominated. However, Spielberg has been working with key advisors on how to “convey the president’s successes and his vision for the country” to viewers and delegates, I’m told.
Representatives for Spielberg had...
Spielberg is involved strategically in the incumbent’s campaign and even the specifics of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August, Deadline has confirmed.
“Steven wants to be as helpful as possible to the president,” a well-placed source says. “He believes this is one of the most important elections in the nation’s history.”
The filmmaker is unlikely to helm a short movie at the DNC about Biden this year the way he helped do for John Kerry in 2004, and again at the 2008 convention when Barack Obama was nominated. However, Spielberg has been working with key advisors on how to “convey the president’s successes and his vision for the country” to viewers and delegates, I’m told.
Representatives for Spielberg had...
- 4/26/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Steven Spielberg’s next project will not be a movie, with the Oscar-winning director joining the Biden campaign to provide strategy for August’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
Reps for Spielberg had no comment on the news, first reported by Puck.
The filmmaker has long supported President Biden, and Spielberg’s friend and former DreamWorks business partner Jeffrey Katzenberg is now a chair of the Biden campaign. In the past several months, Spielberg has attended multiple strategy sessions, offering his insights on how best to tell the president’s story and highlight Biden’s second-term vision at this summer’s convention as he gears up for a November rematch with former President Donald Trump.
Puck also reported that Spielberg helped with the 2020 convention, held virtually at the height of Covid-19. The director does not currently have plans to create a film portion for this summer’s events,...
Reps for Spielberg had no comment on the news, first reported by Puck.
The filmmaker has long supported President Biden, and Spielberg’s friend and former DreamWorks business partner Jeffrey Katzenberg is now a chair of the Biden campaign. In the past several months, Spielberg has attended multiple strategy sessions, offering his insights on how best to tell the president’s story and highlight Biden’s second-term vision at this summer’s convention as he gears up for a November rematch with former President Donald Trump.
Puck also reported that Spielberg helped with the 2020 convention, held virtually at the height of Covid-19. The director does not currently have plans to create a film portion for this summer’s events,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Los Angeles’ iconic seaside diner Patrick’s Roadhouse at the edge of Pacific Palisades may have slung its last hash brown.
Amid a long-term lease negotiation, and after the financial battering of the pandemic, the half-century-old restaurant just off Pacific Coast Highway, known for its bright green exterior and kitsch décor, is attempting to raise $250,000 for back rent and building improvements as it holds discussions with potential new business partners about the possibility of a return.
While off the radar of industry cognoscenti in recent years, it had long been an unpretentious lure for A-listers like Johnny Carson, Sean Penn and Lucille Ball as well as execs including Jeffrey Katzenberg and onetime Paramount Pictures president Ned Tanen. Its most important Hollywood connection, though, may be its namesake: the seasoned character actor Patrick Fischler, son of the original owner Bill Fischler, who has since died.
Patrick Fischler
Fischler, best known for portraying...
Amid a long-term lease negotiation, and after the financial battering of the pandemic, the half-century-old restaurant just off Pacific Coast Highway, known for its bright green exterior and kitsch décor, is attempting to raise $250,000 for back rent and building improvements as it holds discussions with potential new business partners about the possibility of a return.
While off the radar of industry cognoscenti in recent years, it had long been an unpretentious lure for A-listers like Johnny Carson, Sean Penn and Lucille Ball as well as execs including Jeffrey Katzenberg and onetime Paramount Pictures president Ned Tanen. Its most important Hollywood connection, though, may be its namesake: the seasoned character actor Patrick Fischler, son of the original owner Bill Fischler, who has since died.
Patrick Fischler
Fischler, best known for portraying...
- 4/25/2024
- by Gary Baum
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Vashon Film Institute has set the date for the third annual Vashon Island Film Festival, which is slated to take place Aug. 8-11. The announcement comes with the launch of two new divisions of the Vashon Film Institute and a new donation arm, which accepts restricted funds to be used solely to fund improvements at the Vashon Theatre.
Vfi’s new divisions are the Quartermaster Lab, a collective of filmmaking programs, and VFIpresents, its sales, distribution and release division, which will also focus on organizing community events outside Viff.
“The quintessential goal in founding Vfi was to support independent filmmaking in the Pacific Northwest,” said Mark Mathias Sayre, founder of Vashon Film Institute. “To that end, Viff has already brought compelling indie features and documentaries to local audiences and will continue to do so. But that’s only part of the game plan: We’re equally committed to engendering the...
Vfi’s new divisions are the Quartermaster Lab, a collective of filmmaking programs, and VFIpresents, its sales, distribution and release division, which will also focus on organizing community events outside Viff.
“The quintessential goal in founding Vfi was to support independent filmmaking in the Pacific Northwest,” said Mark Mathias Sayre, founder of Vashon Film Institute. “To that end, Viff has already brought compelling indie features and documentaries to local audiences and will continue to do so. But that’s only part of the game plan: We’re equally committed to engendering the...
- 4/19/2024
- by Selena Kuznikov and Jack Dunn
- Variety Film + TV
The USC School of Cinematic Arts has announced that Miky Lee will deliver the 20024 Commencement address.
James Gray, director, writer, and Sca alumnus, will receive the Mary Pickford Alumni Award at the graduation ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium on Friday, May 10, 2024.
“Miky Lee is a true pioneer and ambassador of collaborative global filmmaking, and we are so happy to have her share her insight and expertise with our graduating students,” Elizabeth M. Daley, Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, said in a statement. “Miky works across borders, cultures, and genres, and champions the kinds of projects our students aspire to creating. We are so pleased she agreed to be this year’s graduation speaker.”
Sca alumnus Jon M. Chu, who graduated in 2003 with a Bfa in film & television production, will speak at this year’s main, university-wide commencement ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Alumni Park.
As Commencement Speaker,...
James Gray, director, writer, and Sca alumnus, will receive the Mary Pickford Alumni Award at the graduation ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium on Friday, May 10, 2024.
“Miky Lee is a true pioneer and ambassador of collaborative global filmmaking, and we are so happy to have her share her insight and expertise with our graduating students,” Elizabeth M. Daley, Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, said in a statement. “Miky works across borders, cultures, and genres, and champions the kinds of projects our students aspire to creating. We are so pleased she agreed to be this year’s graduation speaker.”
Sca alumnus Jon M. Chu, who graduated in 2003 with a Bfa in film & television production, will speak at this year’s main, university-wide commencement ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Alumni Park.
As Commencement Speaker,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Miky Lee, vice chair of Korean media giant Cj, is set to give the USC School of Cinematic Arts 2024 commencement address, organizers said Tuesday.
As a pioneer of the Korean movie wave, Lee has championed Korean directors like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon Ho, and has executive producer credits that include Lady Vengeance, The Host, Snowpiercer, The Handmaiden and Parasite, the latter of which was the first non-English-language film to win the Oscar for best picture.
She will give the commencement address at the graduation ceremony set for May 10 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
“Miky Lee is a true pioneer and ambassador of collaborative global filmmaking, and we are so happy to have her share her insight and expertise with our graduating students,” Elizabeth M. Daley, dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, said in a statement.
Organizers also announced that the veteran Hollywood director, writer and...
As a pioneer of the Korean movie wave, Lee has championed Korean directors like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon Ho, and has executive producer credits that include Lady Vengeance, The Host, Snowpiercer, The Handmaiden and Parasite, the latter of which was the first non-English-language film to win the Oscar for best picture.
She will give the commencement address at the graduation ceremony set for May 10 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
“Miky Lee is a true pioneer and ambassador of collaborative global filmmaking, and we are so happy to have her share her insight and expertise with our graduating students,” Elizabeth M. Daley, dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, said in a statement.
Organizers also announced that the veteran Hollywood director, writer and...
- 4/16/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Breakthrough Prize Ceremony, also known as “the Oscars of Science,” is an awards show unlike any other.
Founded and funded by Silicon Valley titan Yuri Milner and his artist wife Julia Milner, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, 23andMe co-founder Anne Wojcicki, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative co-founder Priscilla Chan, the Breakthrough Prize recognizes “scientists changing the world” with award statuettes and sizable cash prizes. And on Saturday night, at the ceremony’s 10th edition — the second in a row held on the roof of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, with the Hollywood Hills glistening in the background — presenters, performers and audience members included a collection of A-listers that could give the Oscars a run for their money.
One could turn left and spot Bill Gates and Robert Downey Jr. sitting at the same table, or right and find tablemates Bradley Cooper and Rupert Murdoch schmoozing.
Founded and funded by Silicon Valley titan Yuri Milner and his artist wife Julia Milner, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, 23andMe co-founder Anne Wojcicki, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative co-founder Priscilla Chan, the Breakthrough Prize recognizes “scientists changing the world” with award statuettes and sizable cash prizes. And on Saturday night, at the ceremony’s 10th edition — the second in a row held on the roof of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, with the Hollywood Hills glistening in the background — presenters, performers and audience members included a collection of A-listers that could give the Oscars a run for their money.
One could turn left and spot Bill Gates and Robert Downey Jr. sitting at the same table, or right and find tablemates Bradley Cooper and Rupert Murdoch schmoozing.
- 4/14/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
"Shrek" was a very important movie in animation history. It provided DreamWorks with its first true breakthrough hit, taking in $492 million in 2001. It ensured that Disney would have meaningful competition in the animation space for years to come, which has only been furthered in recent years with the dominance of Illumination in the marketplace. For DreamWorks though, it birthed what would become the studio's flagship franchise, one that has generated more than $3 billion since its inception. That franchise's biggest moment came in 2004 when "Shrek 2" hit theaters.
The animation house founded by former Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg hit a home run by pairing Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy as Shrek and Donkey in the first film, in no small part thanks to the stellar supporting cast.
"Shrek" was a very important movie in animation history. It provided DreamWorks with its first true breakthrough hit, taking in $492 million in 2001. It ensured that Disney would have meaningful competition in the animation space for years to come, which has only been furthered in recent years with the dominance of Illumination in the marketplace. For DreamWorks though, it birthed what would become the studio's flagship franchise, one that has generated more than $3 billion since its inception. That franchise's biggest moment came in 2004 when "Shrek 2" hit theaters.
The animation house founded by former Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg hit a home run by pairing Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy as Shrek and Donkey in the first film, in no small part thanks to the stellar supporting cast.
- 4/13/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Veena Sud is no stranger to the tangled streaming rights game when it comes to distribution.
After her Quibi series folded, the filmmaker is now bringing her breakout horror hit “The Stranger” to Hulu with a new director’s cut. “Longlegs” actress and horror staple Maika Monroe plays a rideshare driver who goes through a twelve-hour fight for survival when she picks up Carl (Dane DeHaan), a passenger who becomes her worst nightmare. Avan Jogia co-stars in the former series which is now a feature film.
“The Stranger” began as a Quibi series, which meant that Sud co-owned the copyright to the work, as part of the Quibi business model. Sud is now able to “self-distribute” the footage, recut as a feature.
“For artists and creatives in the industry, the right to own one’s work has been a decades-long
struggle. From the creation of United Artists in 1919, to Paul Newman,...
After her Quibi series folded, the filmmaker is now bringing her breakout horror hit “The Stranger” to Hulu with a new director’s cut. “Longlegs” actress and horror staple Maika Monroe plays a rideshare driver who goes through a twelve-hour fight for survival when she picks up Carl (Dane DeHaan), a passenger who becomes her worst nightmare. Avan Jogia co-stars in the former series which is now a feature film.
“The Stranger” began as a Quibi series, which meant that Sud co-owned the copyright to the work, as part of the Quibi business model. Sud is now able to “self-distribute” the footage, recut as a feature.
“For artists and creatives in the industry, the right to own one’s work has been a decades-long
struggle. From the creation of United Artists in 1919, to Paul Newman,...
- 4/11/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
A few months ago, I was scrolling through TikTok when I saw a video of Shrek on a giant screen at a rave, happily gamboling through his swamp to a remixed version of “Boom Boom Boom Boom.” Then the beat drops, and he starts stomping and projectile vomiting all over the audience, lasers shooting out of his eyes. It’s truly a terrifying sight, particularly if you’re on molly, as many of the attendees likely are. But judging by their reaction in the video, they can’t get enough of it.
- 4/10/2024
- by Ej Dickson
- Rollingstone.com
It had all the elements of a good action movie – jeopardy, revenge, a mega budget – with even some casualties thrown in (albeit corporate).
The Bob Iger vs Nelson Peltz (who?) war is over now and Iger has won. But some filmmakers and ticket buyers might wonder: Did any of it matter? Would a modest change on the Disney board of directors have had any impact on the future of entertainment? (Peltz himself runs a hedge fund called Trian Partners and has no background in entertainment.)
To be sure, it’s been a good show, albeit a throwback to an era when Hollywood was run by Big Personalities, not monoliths like Amazon or Apple. The battles of that era were ego wars, not proxy wars — Redstone vs Diller or Murdoch vs Ted Turner, with bewildered stars and their reps huddled in the middle.
But now Iger has won – again. The onetime...
The Bob Iger vs Nelson Peltz (who?) war is over now and Iger has won. But some filmmakers and ticket buyers might wonder: Did any of it matter? Would a modest change on the Disney board of directors have had any impact on the future of entertainment? (Peltz himself runs a hedge fund called Trian Partners and has no background in entertainment.)
To be sure, it’s been a good show, albeit a throwback to an era when Hollywood was run by Big Personalities, not monoliths like Amazon or Apple. The battles of that era were ego wars, not proxy wars — Redstone vs Diller or Murdoch vs Ted Turner, with bewildered stars and their reps huddled in the middle.
But now Iger has won – again. The onetime...
- 4/4/2024
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros. Television Group chairman/CEO Channing Dungey is returning to the Banff World Media Festival this June to serve as one of its keynote speakers, the event announced on Wednesday. Dungey joins a lineup that also includes Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade as a summit series keynote.
“We’re delighted to welcome back Channing Dungey as a keynote speaker,” said Banff executive director Jenn Kuzmyk in a statement. “Channing’s unparalleled expertise and insights are a key driver in shaping the future of the entertainment industry. She is a visionary whose impact transcends screens.”
Dungey’s domain includes the Warner Bros. TV Group’s scripted, unscripted, and animated series for streaming platforms, cable, and the broadcast networks. Her previous credits include serving as vice president of original series at Netflix and as ABC Entertainment president.
The Banff World Media Festival returns for its 45th edition from June 9 to June...
“We’re delighted to welcome back Channing Dungey as a keynote speaker,” said Banff executive director Jenn Kuzmyk in a statement. “Channing’s unparalleled expertise and insights are a key driver in shaping the future of the entertainment industry. She is a visionary whose impact transcends screens.”
Dungey’s domain includes the Warner Bros. TV Group’s scripted, unscripted, and animated series for streaming platforms, cable, and the broadcast networks. Her previous credits include serving as vice president of original series at Netflix and as ABC Entertainment president.
The Banff World Media Festival returns for its 45th edition from June 9 to June...
- 4/3/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
In April 2020, “The Stranger,” the story of a driver who picks up the rideshare passenger from hell, debuted on Quibi with the world in lockdown. Like most of the bite-sized pieces of entertainment that premiered on the service it came and went without much fanfare, a fate that ultimately was shared by Quibi itself. Launched by Jeffrey Katzenberg with the idea of making short pieces of content that could be consumed on smartphones by people in transit, Quibi had the misfortune of launching as Covid-19 was leading the world into an extended period of couch potato-dom.
“Obviously, the timing was unfortunate,” says Veena Sud, the writer, director and show-runner of “The Stranger.” “But Jeffrey was very generous in supporting all of us filmmakers over the course of making our shows. It just didn’t succeed.”
But “The Stranger” has a fresh chance to connect with audiences who may have missed it the first time around.
“Obviously, the timing was unfortunate,” says Veena Sud, the writer, director and show-runner of “The Stranger.” “But Jeffrey was very generous in supporting all of us filmmakers over the course of making our shows. It just didn’t succeed.”
But “The Stranger” has a fresh chance to connect with audiences who may have missed it the first time around.
- 4/1/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Joe Biden’s New York fundraiser this evening with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton is expected to raise more than $25 million, an enormous haul for a one-evening event.
Biden’s reelection campaign has heavily promoted the Radio City Music Hall gathering, which will include musical performances by Queen Latifah, Ben Platt, Lizzo, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele, among others.
Around 5,000 are expected to attend the event, while the campaign also has been raising smaller-dollar contributions via an online contest in which participants could win a trip to New York and a photo with the three presidents. Proceeds go to the Biden Victory Fund, a joint committee of the Biden Campaign, the Democratic National Committee and state parties. The fund accepts individual donations up to $929,600.
The Biden campaign said that the event was “the most successful political fundraiser in history.” In a statement, Jeffrey Katzenberg, the co-chair of the campaign, called...
Biden’s reelection campaign has heavily promoted the Radio City Music Hall gathering, which will include musical performances by Queen Latifah, Ben Platt, Lizzo, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele, among others.
Around 5,000 are expected to attend the event, while the campaign also has been raising smaller-dollar contributions via an online contest in which participants could win a trip to New York and a photo with the three presidents. Proceeds go to the Biden Victory Fund, a joint committee of the Biden Campaign, the Democratic National Committee and state parties. The fund accepts individual donations up to $929,600.
The Biden campaign said that the event was “the most successful political fundraiser in history.” In a statement, Jeffrey Katzenberg, the co-chair of the campaign, called...
- 3/28/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele will perform at Joe Biden’s Thursday night fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall.
Biden will be joined by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton for the event, with Stephen Colbert moderating a discussion between the three presidents.
Mindy Kaling will host the event, which has been heavily promoted by the Biden campaign as a key end-of-quarter fundraiser. First Lady Jill Biden also will speak.
The producers of the event are Jordan Roth and Alex Timbers. Jeffrey Katzenberg, Biden campaign co-chair; Rufus Gifford, campaign finance chair; Chris Korge, Biden Victory Fund finance chair; and Anna Wintour spearheaded the event. Another highlight will be a chance for certain attendees to get their photo taken with the three presidents by Annie Leibovitz. NBC News first reported on some of the details of the event.
Biden will be joined by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton for the event, with Stephen Colbert moderating a discussion between the three presidents.
Mindy Kaling will host the event, which has been heavily promoted by the Biden campaign as a key end-of-quarter fundraiser. First Lady Jill Biden also will speak.
The producers of the event are Jordan Roth and Alex Timbers. Jeffrey Katzenberg, Biden campaign co-chair; Rufus Gifford, campaign finance chair; Chris Korge, Biden Victory Fund finance chair; and Anna Wintour spearheaded the event. Another highlight will be a chance for certain attendees to get their photo taken with the three presidents by Annie Leibovitz. NBC News first reported on some of the details of the event.
- 3/26/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Veena Sud's 2010s TV series The Killing (based on Forbrydelsen by Søren Sveistrup) is still one of the most enthralling viewing experiences I've ever had, so I'm especially thrilled that Veena's 2020 Quibi series The Stranger (starring Maika Monroe as a rideshare driver who encounters a killer client plalyed by Dane DeHaan) has been re-cut as a feature film that will arrive on Hulu on April 15th:
Press Release: - TV creator and filmmaker Veena Sud and Hulu announced today that they are teaming on the release of Sud’s latest project, The Stranger. The horror film, which stars Maika Monroe (star of It Follows and Neon’s upcoming Longlegs), Dane DeHaan (recently seen in Oppenheimer and star of HBO’s The Staircase) and Avan Jogia, was written and directed by Sud, whose previous work includes the Emmy-nominated AMC/Netflix mystery series The Killing and police violence drama Seven Seconds,...
Press Release: - TV creator and filmmaker Veena Sud and Hulu announced today that they are teaming on the release of Sud’s latest project, The Stranger. The horror film, which stars Maika Monroe (star of It Follows and Neon’s upcoming Longlegs), Dane DeHaan (recently seen in Oppenheimer and star of HBO’s The Staircase) and Avan Jogia, was written and directed by Sud, whose previous work includes the Emmy-nominated AMC/Netflix mystery series The Killing and police violence drama Seven Seconds,...
- 3/21/2024
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Remember Quibi? The short-lived, bite-sized entertainment experiment gave us some horror gems including a brand new horror anthology series from Sam Raimi, most of which is currently unavailable to watch anywhere. But there’s good news for one of Quibi’s projects this week, as Veena Sud’s series “The Stranger” has found new life as a Hulu feature film.
Written and directed by Veena Sud (The Lie, Seven Seconds, The Killing), Quibi’s “The Stranger” has been recut into a feature film, and it’s coming to Hulu on April 15, 2024.
In The Stranger, “New to Los Angeles, rideshare driver Clare picks up Carl from a home deep in the Hollywood Hills. What begins as a routine ride turns into Clare’s worst nightmare: a twelve-hour fight for survival through the city’s seedy underbelly. Carl is not the passenger Clare thought he was, and Clare is not easy prey.
Written and directed by Veena Sud (The Lie, Seven Seconds, The Killing), Quibi’s “The Stranger” has been recut into a feature film, and it’s coming to Hulu on April 15, 2024.
In The Stranger, “New to Los Angeles, rideshare driver Clare picks up Carl from a home deep in the Hollywood Hills. What begins as a routine ride turns into Clare’s worst nightmare: a twelve-hour fight for survival through the city’s seedy underbelly. Carl is not the passenger Clare thought he was, and Clare is not easy prey.
- 3/13/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Monday Am: Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that’s the secret or not-so-secret to success for DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4, which arrived in theaters eight years after its third chapter.
Similar to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish ($481.7M WW in 2022), the new administration of the animated studio continues to prove they can build out Jeffrey Katzenberg-born franchises without the feature toon architect around. Kung Fu Panda 4, released by Dwa owner Universal, notched a $58M 3-day opening, $8M more than the $50M that tracking was seeing. Since Uni took over Dwa again in recent years, this is the biggest opening for the reteamed partnership post-Fox and post-Paramount, ahead of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World ($55M in 2019).
Together with the second weekend of Dune: Part Two, the entire marketplace at $138.1M saw its first up weekend for 2024 from 2023 at +15%. Will the trend continue? While it appears there’s some momentum at the spring box office with Gil Kenan’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire around the corner, by the time we get to the beginning of April, it will be pretty hard to comp to last year’s Super Mario Bros Movie first weekend, which saw $204.7M for all films.
When the original Kung Fu Panda opened to $60.2M in 2008, the 3D of it all was being pushed. The Jack Black-voiced franchise also brought out a big 18-34 quotient and, despite the fourthquel being years later, that fanboy segment, older and younger, continued to be vibrant for the IP with ages 18-34 accounting for 48% of the audience and 18-24 at 27%.
Uni was in it to win it with this property, and it was a no-brainer for them to take through its NBCUni Symphony program, which markets the movie throughout all verticals of the conglom from Xfinity cable boxes to theme parks. It all started on NBC’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, with a Po balloon flying through the streets of NYC, followed by Black inviting Viola Davis and Awkwafina to the franchise on TikTok in mid-December. The first Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer dropped on December 13, followed by a custom trailer of Po in a desert landscape for Dune: Part Two, all building to 400M views for the fourthquel’s trailers.
Other Symphony stuff included Po dominating on streaming service Peacock with a 20-minute Keep Calm & Po guided-meditation piece, a Po-curated rail and a co-promo with The Traitors — Peacock’s highest-performing unscripted series. Xfinity 10G also had Kung Fu Panda 4 in a custom co-promo for the service.
Spots aired during all five Christmas Day NBA games and both AFC and NFC NFL Championship games in January. Kung Fu Panda 4 dominated the Lunar New Year season with a social blitz, YouTube food influencer collaborations and Awkwafina being grand marshal of San Francisco’s Lunar New Year Parade. There also were three spots that aired on Super Bowl Sunday, during pre-game, post-game and the surprise second overtime in Super Bowl history.
Following the Super Bowl, the campaign leaned further into sports with ads across ESPN, NBC Sports, Fire TV and TikTok, as well as a custom vignette with Black, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves that ran on ESPN socials and during three linear NBA games along with custom soccer ads for the Liga Mx and Premier League. On digital, the film had a custom sponsorship for Bad Bunny’s Most Wanted Tour launch and also sponsored Quinta Brunson’s Hot Ones episode. “Keep Calm & Po” pause ads launched across Max, Peacock, DirecTV, Kargo and Paramount+ in February. There also were custom vignettes for the pic that aired during The Daily Show, Chopped, Premio Lo Nuestro and Top Chef, and placements on Abbott Elementary, America’s Got Talent, People’s Choice Awards Pre-Show and the premieres for American Idol and The Masked Singer.
There was a Roblox plug with Po interacting with players in a custom game, which became the No. 1 branded experience on the platform and, for the first time in Roblox history, provided 1M free film-themed “emotes.” On TikTok, there was the first-ever branded mission with the duet feature, which received hundreds of submissions from fans showing off their “Skadoosh” moves; influencers Rayna Vallandingham and The Coleman Family participated. Also more than 600K fans on YouTube and social platforms joined Po in a four-hour video of guided meditations and breathing exercises.
Promo partners counted chili oil brand Fly by Jing and Asian-owned beauty brand Tower 28. Po helped commuters find their path through a custom voice collaboration with Waze, and fans were invited to follow Po’s spiritual journey through a feng shui tree collaboration with Karma and Luck. There also was World Wildlife Fund collaboration encouraging families and students to protect pandas through a PSA, in-classroom materials and an in-classroom Zoom with director Mike Mitchell. There was also a big multi-media campaign with Burger King which included kid’s meals.
While not glamourous openings, more product provides extra bucks to exhibition: Blumhouse/Lionsgate’s Imaginary is coming in at $9.9M in third after a $10M-$14M industry projection (pic was cheap at $10M) and Angel Studios’ Cabrini didn’t perform big miracles with $7.1M in fourth.
Saturday Am: Quick update here. Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 is coming in higher with a $19.4M Friday (including previews) and $55M, which is the same amount that How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World opened to back in 2019. Brand animation always opens big. That’s still the second best stateside start for the Kung Fu Panda franchise. CinemaScore is A-, the same grade as the first movie, but a notch down from the As earned on two and three.
PostTrak audiences gave the fourthquel an 80% positive and 59% definite recommend whilte kids under 12 were 90% positive and a 70% must see. Male skewing at 58% with 67% of the audience between 13-24. 18-24 year olds showed up at a massive 48%. Diversity demos are 44% Latino and Hispanic, 22% Caucasian, 11% Black and 18% Asian. PLFs are accounting for 6% of tickets sales while 3D is driving 17%. West and South are the most vibrant with the highest grossing cinema in the nation for the pic being The Cinemark Tinseltown El Paso TX with a near $40K so far.
Legendary/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two earned around $12.3M yesterday for what’s shaping up to be a $44M second weekend, -47%, for a running total of $154.7M. With those two movies leading the pack, it’s shaping up to be a $133.3M weekend, +13% over the same frame a year ago when Scream VI bowed. Wow. It’s been a while since we’ve seen an up weekend.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s Imaginary is third with $3.6M yesterday (including previews) at 3,118 theaters for what’s shaping up to be a $9.3M opening. Not shocking to see this movie below its $10M-$14M projection, nor saddled with a C+ CinemaScore and 57% on PostTrak. It is rather slow for a PG-13 horror film and there’s nothing really hip to hook the girls ala M3GAN. But it was cheap to make at $10M. Still more product means depth at the box office.
Demos are 53% women, 62% between 18-34, and 18-24 the biggest quad at 32% and another 20% from 13-17 year olds. Diversity demos are 38% Latino and Hispanic, 35% Caucasian, 17% Black, 6% Asian. The Teddy Bear is stuffed best in East, South and South Central with The Cnmk Tinseltown El Paso the biggest grossing venue with $8K. .
Angel Studio’s Cabrini at 2,840 theaters is also coming in under expectations which isn’t a shock with $3M yesterday and around $8M for the weekend. Though made by the same director of Sound of Freedom, Alejandro Monteverde, there’s nothing in saintly nuns for QAnon and the far right to get excited about. Thank God. Those faith-based who showed up gave the movie an A CinemaScore and 94% PostTrak. Sixty nine percent of the audience are women with the largest demo being 55+ at 49%. Diversity demos are 65% Caucasian, 21% Latino and Hispanic, 4% Black, 6% Asian & 5% NatAm/Other. West is the softest region for Cabrini though the rest of the country is fairly even. The Regal UA King of Prussia in Philly market is the pic’s top grossing theater so far with a near $29K.
Friday Afternoon: As expected, Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 is headed to the second-biggest opening for the franchise with $52M after an $18.4M Friday (including previews) at 4.035 theaters. The original Kung Fu Panda opened to $60.2M in 2008, that Dwa title distributed by Paramount at the time.
Legendary/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two has the strength of an Arakis sandworm, holding in at $41M or -50%. It may even be better. That amount gets the Denis Villeneuve feature take of the Frank Herbert novel to $152M by Eod Sunday at 4,074 theaters. Last year thanks to Scream VI, all films made $118M. We might see that same amount for the marketplace again.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s $10M production of teddy bear horror film Imaginary is eyeing exactly that in its 3-day, which is fine at 3,118 theaters. Today is $3.2M-$3.8M.
In fourth is Angel Studios’ Cabrini, which I’m told by the distribs’ reps “is not a Catholic-skewing movie.” Go figure, but my mom would be the first one in line. Booked at 2,840 theaters, it’s looking at an estimated $3.6M today and $9M-$9.4M for the weekend.
Fifth goes to Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love at 2,764 theaters with $1.1M today and a fourth weekend of $4.45M, -40%, for a running total of $89.7M. The movie hits digital on March 19.
Friday Am: Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 grossed $3.8M in Thursday night previews that began at 2 p.m. Thursday, a figure that KOs the preview number of 2019’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World ($3M), which stands as the best opening for a Dwa title since Universal acquired the studio. The third pic in the Kung Fu Panda franchise opened to $55M in 2016 after a $17.3M Friday. The outlook for the fourthquel this weekend is north of $50M for the No. 1 spot. Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score of 82% is ahead of the movie’s critical score of 72% fresh.
Other family previews that Kung Fu Panda 4 stepped on were Disney/Pixar’s Elemental and Wonka.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s PG-13 horror thriller Imaginary drew $725K from shows that began at 6Pm. That’s a figure in line with Imaginary filmmaker Jeff Wadlow’s 2018 title, Truth or Dare, which posted $750K and went on to $18M, and it’s under 20th Century Studios’ Boogeyman which posted $1.1M and posted a 3-day of $12.3M. Imaginary is expected to open to between $10M-$14M. At 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear critics don’t like Teddy Bears.
We’re waiting on the official preview figure for Angel Studios’ Cabrini but we’re hearing it’s around $500K. The pic is expected to do between $5M-$10M.
Meanwhile, Legendary/Warner Bros.’ Dune: Part Two posted $6.4M on Thursday night, -4% from Wednesday, for a week’s take of $111M. In one week, the theatrical release of Dune: Part Two beat the entire domestic run of its 2021 predecessor, Dune, which did $108.8M; that movie’s fortune siphoned by a day-and-date release on HBO Max and theaters, as well as Covid.
Similar to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish ($481.7M WW in 2022), the new administration of the animated studio continues to prove they can build out Jeffrey Katzenberg-born franchises without the feature toon architect around. Kung Fu Panda 4, released by Dwa owner Universal, notched a $58M 3-day opening, $8M more than the $50M that tracking was seeing. Since Uni took over Dwa again in recent years, this is the biggest opening for the reteamed partnership post-Fox and post-Paramount, ahead of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World ($55M in 2019).
Together with the second weekend of Dune: Part Two, the entire marketplace at $138.1M saw its first up weekend for 2024 from 2023 at +15%. Will the trend continue? While it appears there’s some momentum at the spring box office with Gil Kenan’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire around the corner, by the time we get to the beginning of April, it will be pretty hard to comp to last year’s Super Mario Bros Movie first weekend, which saw $204.7M for all films.
When the original Kung Fu Panda opened to $60.2M in 2008, the 3D of it all was being pushed. The Jack Black-voiced franchise also brought out a big 18-34 quotient and, despite the fourthquel being years later, that fanboy segment, older and younger, continued to be vibrant for the IP with ages 18-34 accounting for 48% of the audience and 18-24 at 27%.
Uni was in it to win it with this property, and it was a no-brainer for them to take through its NBCUni Symphony program, which markets the movie throughout all verticals of the conglom from Xfinity cable boxes to theme parks. It all started on NBC’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, with a Po balloon flying through the streets of NYC, followed by Black inviting Viola Davis and Awkwafina to the franchise on TikTok in mid-December. The first Kung Fu Panda 4 trailer dropped on December 13, followed by a custom trailer of Po in a desert landscape for Dune: Part Two, all building to 400M views for the fourthquel’s trailers.
Other Symphony stuff included Po dominating on streaming service Peacock with a 20-minute Keep Calm & Po guided-meditation piece, a Po-curated rail and a co-promo with The Traitors — Peacock’s highest-performing unscripted series. Xfinity 10G also had Kung Fu Panda 4 in a custom co-promo for the service.
Spots aired during all five Christmas Day NBA games and both AFC and NFC NFL Championship games in January. Kung Fu Panda 4 dominated the Lunar New Year season with a social blitz, YouTube food influencer collaborations and Awkwafina being grand marshal of San Francisco’s Lunar New Year Parade. There also were three spots that aired on Super Bowl Sunday, during pre-game, post-game and the surprise second overtime in Super Bowl history.
Following the Super Bowl, the campaign leaned further into sports with ads across ESPN, NBC Sports, Fire TV and TikTok, as well as a custom vignette with Black, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves that ran on ESPN socials and during three linear NBA games along with custom soccer ads for the Liga Mx and Premier League. On digital, the film had a custom sponsorship for Bad Bunny’s Most Wanted Tour launch and also sponsored Quinta Brunson’s Hot Ones episode. “Keep Calm & Po” pause ads launched across Max, Peacock, DirecTV, Kargo and Paramount+ in February. There also were custom vignettes for the pic that aired during The Daily Show, Chopped, Premio Lo Nuestro and Top Chef, and placements on Abbott Elementary, America’s Got Talent, People’s Choice Awards Pre-Show and the premieres for American Idol and The Masked Singer.
There was a Roblox plug with Po interacting with players in a custom game, which became the No. 1 branded experience on the platform and, for the first time in Roblox history, provided 1M free film-themed “emotes.” On TikTok, there was the first-ever branded mission with the duet feature, which received hundreds of submissions from fans showing off their “Skadoosh” moves; influencers Rayna Vallandingham and The Coleman Family participated. Also more than 600K fans on YouTube and social platforms joined Po in a four-hour video of guided meditations and breathing exercises.
Promo partners counted chili oil brand Fly by Jing and Asian-owned beauty brand Tower 28. Po helped commuters find their path through a custom voice collaboration with Waze, and fans were invited to follow Po’s spiritual journey through a feng shui tree collaboration with Karma and Luck. There also was World Wildlife Fund collaboration encouraging families and students to protect pandas through a PSA, in-classroom materials and an in-classroom Zoom with director Mike Mitchell. There was also a big multi-media campaign with Burger King which included kid’s meals.
While not glamourous openings, more product provides extra bucks to exhibition: Blumhouse/Lionsgate’s Imaginary is coming in at $9.9M in third after a $10M-$14M industry projection (pic was cheap at $10M) and Angel Studios’ Cabrini didn’t perform big miracles with $7.1M in fourth.
Saturday Am: Quick update here. Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 is coming in higher with a $19.4M Friday (including previews) and $55M, which is the same amount that How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World opened to back in 2019. Brand animation always opens big. That’s still the second best stateside start for the Kung Fu Panda franchise. CinemaScore is A-, the same grade as the first movie, but a notch down from the As earned on two and three.
PostTrak audiences gave the fourthquel an 80% positive and 59% definite recommend whilte kids under 12 were 90% positive and a 70% must see. Male skewing at 58% with 67% of the audience between 13-24. 18-24 year olds showed up at a massive 48%. Diversity demos are 44% Latino and Hispanic, 22% Caucasian, 11% Black and 18% Asian. PLFs are accounting for 6% of tickets sales while 3D is driving 17%. West and South are the most vibrant with the highest grossing cinema in the nation for the pic being The Cinemark Tinseltown El Paso TX with a near $40K so far.
Legendary/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two earned around $12.3M yesterday for what’s shaping up to be a $44M second weekend, -47%, for a running total of $154.7M. With those two movies leading the pack, it’s shaping up to be a $133.3M weekend, +13% over the same frame a year ago when Scream VI bowed. Wow. It’s been a while since we’ve seen an up weekend.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s Imaginary is third with $3.6M yesterday (including previews) at 3,118 theaters for what’s shaping up to be a $9.3M opening. Not shocking to see this movie below its $10M-$14M projection, nor saddled with a C+ CinemaScore and 57% on PostTrak. It is rather slow for a PG-13 horror film and there’s nothing really hip to hook the girls ala M3GAN. But it was cheap to make at $10M. Still more product means depth at the box office.
Demos are 53% women, 62% between 18-34, and 18-24 the biggest quad at 32% and another 20% from 13-17 year olds. Diversity demos are 38% Latino and Hispanic, 35% Caucasian, 17% Black, 6% Asian. The Teddy Bear is stuffed best in East, South and South Central with The Cnmk Tinseltown El Paso the biggest grossing venue with $8K. .
Angel Studio’s Cabrini at 2,840 theaters is also coming in under expectations which isn’t a shock with $3M yesterday and around $8M for the weekend. Though made by the same director of Sound of Freedom, Alejandro Monteverde, there’s nothing in saintly nuns for QAnon and the far right to get excited about. Thank God. Those faith-based who showed up gave the movie an A CinemaScore and 94% PostTrak. Sixty nine percent of the audience are women with the largest demo being 55+ at 49%. Diversity demos are 65% Caucasian, 21% Latino and Hispanic, 4% Black, 6% Asian & 5% NatAm/Other. West is the softest region for Cabrini though the rest of the country is fairly even. The Regal UA King of Prussia in Philly market is the pic’s top grossing theater so far with a near $29K.
Friday Afternoon: As expected, Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 is headed to the second-biggest opening for the franchise with $52M after an $18.4M Friday (including previews) at 4.035 theaters. The original Kung Fu Panda opened to $60.2M in 2008, that Dwa title distributed by Paramount at the time.
Legendary/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two has the strength of an Arakis sandworm, holding in at $41M or -50%. It may even be better. That amount gets the Denis Villeneuve feature take of the Frank Herbert novel to $152M by Eod Sunday at 4,074 theaters. Last year thanks to Scream VI, all films made $118M. We might see that same amount for the marketplace again.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s $10M production of teddy bear horror film Imaginary is eyeing exactly that in its 3-day, which is fine at 3,118 theaters. Today is $3.2M-$3.8M.
In fourth is Angel Studios’ Cabrini, which I’m told by the distribs’ reps “is not a Catholic-skewing movie.” Go figure, but my mom would be the first one in line. Booked at 2,840 theaters, it’s looking at an estimated $3.6M today and $9M-$9.4M for the weekend.
Fifth goes to Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love at 2,764 theaters with $1.1M today and a fourth weekend of $4.45M, -40%, for a running total of $89.7M. The movie hits digital on March 19.
Friday Am: Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 grossed $3.8M in Thursday night previews that began at 2 p.m. Thursday, a figure that KOs the preview number of 2019’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World ($3M), which stands as the best opening for a Dwa title since Universal acquired the studio. The third pic in the Kung Fu Panda franchise opened to $55M in 2016 after a $17.3M Friday. The outlook for the fourthquel this weekend is north of $50M for the No. 1 spot. Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score of 82% is ahead of the movie’s critical score of 72% fresh.
Other family previews that Kung Fu Panda 4 stepped on were Disney/Pixar’s Elemental and Wonka.
Lionsgate/Blumhouse’s PG-13 horror thriller Imaginary drew $725K from shows that began at 6Pm. That’s a figure in line with Imaginary filmmaker Jeff Wadlow’s 2018 title, Truth or Dare, which posted $750K and went on to $18M, and it’s under 20th Century Studios’ Boogeyman which posted $1.1M and posted a 3-day of $12.3M. Imaginary is expected to open to between $10M-$14M. At 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear critics don’t like Teddy Bears.
We’re waiting on the official preview figure for Angel Studios’ Cabrini but we’re hearing it’s around $500K. The pic is expected to do between $5M-$10M.
Meanwhile, Legendary/Warner Bros.’ Dune: Part Two posted $6.4M on Thursday night, -4% from Wednesday, for a week’s take of $111M. In one week, the theatrical release of Dune: Part Two beat the entire domestic run of its 2021 predecessor, Dune, which did $108.8M; that movie’s fortune siphoned by a day-and-date release on HBO Max and theaters, as well as Covid.
- 3/11/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
After one of the biggest opening weekends of 2024 (by far), things normally might settle down, but DreamWorks Animation is releasing one of the first family animated movies since December, and it’s one that can help the box office recover. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.
Offering “Dune: Part Two” some hearty competition and counter-programming this weekend is the first family animated feature in months, as DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” arrives in over 3,900 theaters nationwide. Once again starring Jack Black as Po, the martial arts savvy panda bear, he’s joined in this one by the ubiquitous Awkwafina – when was the last time there was an animated movie in which she didn’t provide a voice? –as a thieving fox. Viola Davis voices the primary villain, the evil sorceress chameleon, plus there are new characters voiced by Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once...
Offering “Dune: Part Two” some hearty competition and counter-programming this weekend is the first family animated feature in months, as DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” arrives in over 3,900 theaters nationwide. Once again starring Jack Black as Po, the martial arts savvy panda bear, he’s joined in this one by the ubiquitous Awkwafina – when was the last time there was an animated movie in which she didn’t provide a voice? –as a thieving fox. Viola Davis voices the primary villain, the evil sorceress chameleon, plus there are new characters voiced by Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once...
- 3/6/2024
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
The Kung Fu Panda universe has earned an unparalleled level of respect and commendation from fans ever since it was first launched on the big screens in 2008. And inevitably enough, a major credit for this skyrocketed fame goes to none other than Po’s voice actor, Jack Black. Thanks to his immaculate animated voice-acting skills, viewers got roped into the saga like wildfires in Savanna.
Kung Fu Panda
That being said, when Jack Black was initially offered this fan-favorite role, he wasn’t all too sure about taking it on. After all, jumping from the live-action genre to the animated one isn’t the easiest, especially when it is the lead character that you have to voice. But amazingly, DreamWorks actually used one of Black’s own masterpieces to convince him to voice the beloved Dragon Warrior!
SUGGESTEDThe $104M Chinese Action-Comedy DreamWorks Doesn’t Want You to Know Reportedly Inspired...
Kung Fu Panda
That being said, when Jack Black was initially offered this fan-favorite role, he wasn’t all too sure about taking it on. After all, jumping from the live-action genre to the animated one isn’t the easiest, especially when it is the lead character that you have to voice. But amazingly, DreamWorks actually used one of Black’s own masterpieces to convince him to voice the beloved Dragon Warrior!
SUGGESTEDThe $104M Chinese Action-Comedy DreamWorks Doesn’t Want You to Know Reportedly Inspired...
- 3/6/2024
- by Mahin Sultan
- FandomWire
Jack Black’s Po will take on his most formidable villain yet, Viola Davis’ Chameleon, in Kung Fu Panda 4. The film will hit theaters in a few days but the critical reviews of the film are out after its premiere at the AMC 14 Theater at The Grove in L.A. The largely positive reviews prove that Po & team have managed to impress the viewers a fourth time. However, we believe that Jack Black may not return for the future Kung Fu Panda sequels.
Jack Black’s Po and Awkwafina’s Zhen in Kung Fu Panda 4
As believed earlier, the Furious Five have a limited role in the film. It might be the last time fans get to hear the voices of the likes of Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan. The future sequels are likely to be voiced by a new young cast.
Kungu Fu Panda Sequels May Not...
Jack Black’s Po and Awkwafina’s Zhen in Kung Fu Panda 4
As believed earlier, the Furious Five have a limited role in the film. It might be the last time fans get to hear the voices of the likes of Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan. The future sequels are likely to be voiced by a new young cast.
Kungu Fu Panda Sequels May Not...
- 3/4/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade is to keynote at this year’s Banff World Media Festival.
The U.S.-based British exec will take the helm of the 45th edition of the popular fest, which is held in the mountain ranges of Canada. Past summit series have had speakers including Jeffrey Katzenberg, Paula Kerger, Pearlena Igbokwe, Bela Bajaria, Ted Sarandos and Maverick Carter.
Wade became CEO of Fox in 2022 upon Charlie Collier’s departure. He oversees the network, scripted and unscripted studios, international sales house, and partnerships with the likes of Studio Ramsay. He joined Fox seven years ago. Before that, he was showrunner on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and Head of Entertainment Development at BBC Worldwide.
“Being part of Banff’s 45th milestone year is quite an honor,” said Wade.
“This annual must-attend festival is like no other, uniting our industry in celebration of creativity and forward-thinking innovation.
The U.S.-based British exec will take the helm of the 45th edition of the popular fest, which is held in the mountain ranges of Canada. Past summit series have had speakers including Jeffrey Katzenberg, Paula Kerger, Pearlena Igbokwe, Bela Bajaria, Ted Sarandos and Maverick Carter.
Wade became CEO of Fox in 2022 upon Charlie Collier’s departure. He oversees the network, scripted and unscripted studios, international sales house, and partnerships with the likes of Studio Ramsay. He joined Fox seven years ago. Before that, he was showrunner on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and Head of Entertainment Development at BBC Worldwide.
“Being part of Banff’s 45th milestone year is quite an honor,” said Wade.
“This annual must-attend festival is like no other, uniting our industry in celebration of creativity and forward-thinking innovation.
- 2/27/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Update: President Joe Biden, speaking to attendees at tonight’s Los Angeles fundraiser, said that Donald Trump “is dragging us back to the past and not leading us to the future.”
“We stand with the truth and we are going to defeat him and his lies,” Biden said at the event, according to a pool report. The event was at the home of Haim Saban, but he was not there after testing positive for Covid, nor was the other main co-host, Casey Wasserman, who also tested positive.
In his remarks, which lasted about 15 minutes, Biden presented a contrast between himself and Trump, as donors have been calling for the campaign to sharpen its attacks on the president’s likely rival.
Biden also talked of the death of Alexei Navalny, blaming it on Vladimir Putin. He called it “outrageous” that Trump has not condemned the Russian leader.
“Time and again Republicans...
“We stand with the truth and we are going to defeat him and his lies,” Biden said at the event, according to a pool report. The event was at the home of Haim Saban, but he was not there after testing positive for Covid, nor was the other main co-host, Casey Wasserman, who also tested positive.
In his remarks, which lasted about 15 minutes, Biden presented a contrast between himself and Trump, as donors have been calling for the campaign to sharpen its attacks on the president’s likely rival.
Biden also talked of the death of Alexei Navalny, blaming it on Vladimir Putin. He called it “outrageous” that Trump has not condemned the Russian leader.
“Time and again Republicans...
- 2/21/2024
- by Ted Johnson and Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Surely the making of one of the funniest movies ever made can’t be that serious…and it really isn’t! Ok, 1980’s Airplane! was a tough sell and there were minor clashes between the directors and Paramount and lawsuits from a rival studio threatened the casting of numerous stars. But there was also perfect against-type casting, clever workarounds to silly DGA regulations and a complete reinvention of the spoof movie, all of which made Airplane! one of the greatest comedies ever.. Oh, and there were fart machines, too!
And so let’s park the taxi, avoid the fish and check in on our drinking problem as we find out: Wtf Happened to this movie?!
Airplane! has its origins in the Kentucky Fried Theater, which the trio of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker (collectively known as Zaz) founded in 1971. One act the fellas grew fond of was dubbing...
And so let’s park the taxi, avoid the fish and check in on our drinking problem as we find out: Wtf Happened to this movie?!
Airplane! has its origins in the Kentucky Fried Theater, which the trio of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker (collectively known as Zaz) founded in 1971. One act the fellas grew fond of was dubbing...
- 2/14/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
How does one repay a team of producers for launching its highest grossing film of all time? Give them the key to the studio — literally.
On Monday, “Barbie” producers, LuckyChap’s Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara inked a first-look deal at Warner Bros., which distributed the $1.4 billion-grossing movie. So, to celebrate, Warner Bros. Pictures Group Co-Chairs and CEO Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca decided to resurrect an old tradition, started by WB co-founder Jack Warner.
“Every once in a while, when a significant piece of talent signed a deal with the studio, he presented that company, that talent, with a key to the studio,” De Luca said as he and Abdy raised a toast to the trio. “We are so delighted to have our first key to our studio be given to LuckyChap.”
This historical artifact, De Luca noted, was particularly special, as the LuckyChap team received...
On Monday, “Barbie” producers, LuckyChap’s Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara inked a first-look deal at Warner Bros., which distributed the $1.4 billion-grossing movie. So, to celebrate, Warner Bros. Pictures Group Co-Chairs and CEO Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca decided to resurrect an old tradition, started by WB co-founder Jack Warner.
“Every once in a while, when a significant piece of talent signed a deal with the studio, he presented that company, that talent, with a key to the studio,” De Luca said as he and Abdy raised a toast to the trio. “We are so delighted to have our first key to our studio be given to LuckyChap.”
This historical artifact, De Luca noted, was particularly special, as the LuckyChap team received...
- 2/13/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Today is the latest deadline for campaigns and committees to disclose donors, offering a glimpse at who is putting up huge sums in the 2024 elections, which may end up being the most expensive ever.
According to the latest filings with the Federal Election Commission, Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is campaign co-chair of Joe Biden’s campaign, contributed $1 million to the Ff Pac, which is short for Future Forward, the main independent entity backing the president’s re-election bid. Future Forward made news this week when it announced plans to spend $250 million in an advertising blitz in battleground states. Money is being raised via the SuperPAC and a non profit, meaning some donors have to be disclosed and others do not.
Also contributing to Ff Pac was Sheryl Sandberg, the former Meta exective who recently announced that she was leaving the tech giant’s board. According to Fec records, she contributed $500,059 in...
According to the latest filings with the Federal Election Commission, Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is campaign co-chair of Joe Biden’s campaign, contributed $1 million to the Ff Pac, which is short for Future Forward, the main independent entity backing the president’s re-election bid. Future Forward made news this week when it announced plans to spend $250 million in an advertising blitz in battleground states. Money is being raised via the SuperPAC and a non profit, meaning some donors have to be disclosed and others do not.
Also contributing to Ff Pac was Sheryl Sandberg, the former Meta exective who recently announced that she was leaving the tech giant’s board. According to Fec records, she contributed $500,059 in...
- 2/1/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
The hot new trend in entertainment is trashy, (very) short-form soap operas on TikTok. It’s a weird business that has proven lucrative for the Chinese-owned ReelShort.
The app specializes in junky romance, revenge, and werewolf stories targeting young women — and their smartphones. It’s working: ReelShort in November actually surpassed TikTok on the Apple Store’s download charts, and its creator says the app is already profitable. The copycats are coming.
ReelShort was developed by the Crazy Maple Studio, which is Beijing-backed and California-based. And its reel momentum has resulted in some very reel profiles in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. You can’t get very far into any article on ReelShort without a mention of the word “Quibi,” the short-lived, short-form app from DreamWorks founder Jeffrey Katzenberg that launched — and died — in 2020. Katzenberg blamed Covid for its swift demise.
The cautionary tale is now history,...
The app specializes in junky romance, revenge, and werewolf stories targeting young women — and their smartphones. It’s working: ReelShort in November actually surpassed TikTok on the Apple Store’s download charts, and its creator says the app is already profitable. The copycats are coming.
ReelShort was developed by the Crazy Maple Studio, which is Beijing-backed and California-based. And its reel momentum has resulted in some very reel profiles in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. You can’t get very far into any article on ReelShort without a mention of the word “Quibi,” the short-lived, short-form app from DreamWorks founder Jeffrey Katzenberg that launched — and died — in 2020. Katzenberg blamed Covid for its swift demise.
The cautionary tale is now history,...
- 1/31/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Generative artificial intelligence is killing jobs in Hollywood, with little relief on the horizon.
A study surveying 300 leaders across the entertainment industry reports that three-fourths of respondents indicated that AI tools supported the elimination, reduction or consolidation of jobs at their companies. Over the next three years, it estimates that nearly 204,000 positions will be adversely affected.
At the forefront of the displacement: sound engineers, voice actors, concept artists and employees in entry-level positions, according to the study. Visual effects and other postproduction work stands particularly vulnerable.
The Concept Art Assn. and the Animation Guild commissioned the report, which was conducted from Nov. 17 to Dec. 22 by consulting firm Cvl Economics, amid concerns from members over the impact of AI on their work. Among the issues is that concept artists are increasingly being asked to “clean up” AI-generated works by studios, lowering their billed hours and the pool of available jobs, says Nicole Hendrix,...
A study surveying 300 leaders across the entertainment industry reports that three-fourths of respondents indicated that AI tools supported the elimination, reduction or consolidation of jobs at their companies. Over the next three years, it estimates that nearly 204,000 positions will be adversely affected.
At the forefront of the displacement: sound engineers, voice actors, concept artists and employees in entry-level positions, according to the study. Visual effects and other postproduction work stands particularly vulnerable.
The Concept Art Assn. and the Animation Guild commissioned the report, which was conducted from Nov. 17 to Dec. 22 by consulting firm Cvl Economics, amid concerns from members over the impact of AI on their work. Among the issues is that concept artists are increasingly being asked to “clean up” AI-generated works by studios, lowering their billed hours and the pool of available jobs, says Nicole Hendrix,...
- 1/31/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Terry Press is officially reuniting with Steven Spielberg.
Amblin Partners has tapped the veteran and widely regarded Hollywood studio executive in the newly created role of president of strategy and communications. The announcement was made jointly by Amblin founder Spielberg and CEO Jeff Small.
In the newly created role, Press will join the executive team and will oversee the strategy and execution of all elements of marketing, publicity, consumer products and communication strategy for the film and television divisions of Amblin Partners and Spielberg. She is not filling the job vacated recently by top corporate communications exec Dan Berger.
Press — known for her wit and sharp eye — served as head of marketing for a decade at DreamWorks Skg, the now-defunct studio launched by Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg. She oversaw the campaigns for Saving Private Ryan and best picture winners American Beauty, Gladiator and Universal’s A Beautiful Mind.
Amblin Partners has tapped the veteran and widely regarded Hollywood studio executive in the newly created role of president of strategy and communications. The announcement was made jointly by Amblin founder Spielberg and CEO Jeff Small.
In the newly created role, Press will join the executive team and will oversee the strategy and execution of all elements of marketing, publicity, consumer products and communication strategy for the film and television divisions of Amblin Partners and Spielberg. She is not filling the job vacated recently by top corporate communications exec Dan Berger.
Press — known for her wit and sharp eye — served as head of marketing for a decade at DreamWorks Skg, the now-defunct studio launched by Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg. She oversaw the campaigns for Saving Private Ryan and best picture winners American Beauty, Gladiator and Universal’s A Beautiful Mind.
- 1/18/2024
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When Los Angeles voters head to the polls March 5 and again in the November general election, President Biden won’t have to sweat the results here and across the state. Nearly twice as many Californians are registered Democrat as they are Republican. In 2020, 71 percent of L.A. County voters picked Biden.
But Los Angeles remains popular for Democrats for reasons beyond ballot counting — it’s a fountain of campaign cash, much of it spouting from the entertainment industry. Consider that clutch of December fundraisers where co-hosts and attendees included such glossy names as Steven Spielberg, Shonda Rhimes, Jon Hamm and Barbra Streisand. The events may have taken place amid some grumbling over lagging poll numbers and questions about whether the octogenarian commander-in-chief can woo young voters, but ultimately the wallets opened wide. Media reports put the take from the soirees at about $15 million, a hefty part of the $97 million the campaign on Jan.
But Los Angeles remains popular for Democrats for reasons beyond ballot counting — it’s a fountain of campaign cash, much of it spouting from the entertainment industry. Consider that clutch of December fundraisers where co-hosts and attendees included such glossy names as Steven Spielberg, Shonda Rhimes, Jon Hamm and Barbra Streisand. The events may have taken place amid some grumbling over lagging poll numbers and questions about whether the octogenarian commander-in-chief can woo young voters, but ultimately the wallets opened wide. Media reports put the take from the soirees at about $15 million, a hefty part of the $97 million the campaign on Jan.
- 1/18/2024
- by Jon Regardie
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Networks are heavily promoting their night of Iowa caucus coverage, with reporters fanned out across the state and, throughout the day on Monday, anchors doing their best to stir up excitement in the waiting game before voting actually begins.
But as large as the investment is for broadcast and cable networks, the coverage is facing heavy competition on the night of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Fox has the Emmys, and ABC has what is likely to draw the biggest audience, the NFL playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Broadcast networks are sticking to their regular schedules with the possibility of news updates, leaving the ongoing coverage to their streaming and cable channels.
Four years ago, about 8.5 million watched Iowa caucus coverage across the three major cable news networks, but it was for a Democratic primary with a tight race for first place. In...
But as large as the investment is for broadcast and cable networks, the coverage is facing heavy competition on the night of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Fox has the Emmys, and ABC has what is likely to draw the biggest audience, the NFL playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Broadcast networks are sticking to their regular schedules with the possibility of news updates, leaving the ongoing coverage to their streaming and cable channels.
Four years ago, about 8.5 million watched Iowa caucus coverage across the three major cable news networks, but it was for a Democratic primary with a tight race for first place. In...
- 1/15/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Update: Joe Biden’s reelection campaign raised almost $100 million in the most recent quarter, helped in part by a huge haul during a Los Angeles fundraising swing in December.
The campaign said that it raised more than $97 million for the campaign and the Democratic party during the October to December time frame. That exceeds the amount raised in the second and third quarters of 2023, when around $72 million was raised in each of those time frames.
The Biden campaign also said that it had $117 million in cash on hand, the highest by any Democratic candidate at this point in the cycle.
Where D.C. and Hollywood Converge – Click Here
Biden’s coffers got a boost from Hollywood donors, when he trekked to California for his first Los Angeles fundraising swing since announcing his reelection bid. That trip raised more than $15 million, according to Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is serving as campaign co-chair.
Tj Ducklo,...
The campaign said that it raised more than $97 million for the campaign and the Democratic party during the October to December time frame. That exceeds the amount raised in the second and third quarters of 2023, when around $72 million was raised in each of those time frames.
The Biden campaign also said that it had $117 million in cash on hand, the highest by any Democratic candidate at this point in the cycle.
Where D.C. and Hollywood Converge – Click Here
Biden’s coffers got a boost from Hollywood donors, when he trekked to California for his first Los Angeles fundraising swing since announcing his reelection bid. That trip raised more than $15 million, according to Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is serving as campaign co-chair.
Tj Ducklo,...
- 1/15/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
If you’re a fan of animation, you know the name John Musker, whose four decades at Disney included writing and directing such classics as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Moana. Since retiring from the studio in 2018, he independently pursued an idea for a playful hand-drawn short, which he populated with caricatures of dozens of people from his life, among them fellow animators, CalArts classmates and Disney studios execs.
I’m Hip — shortlisted for an Academy Award — is a charming, music video-like film featuring a cat singing the catchy title song, Dave Frishberg’s 1970s recording of a tune he wrote with Bob Dorough. “[The song’s] very witty, and I always thought that would make for a fun short,” says Musker, 70.
“I have a penchant for teasing people,” he says, and his film “teases people who are so desperate to be on the cutting edge of things. Certainly Los Angeles is full of those people.
I’m Hip — shortlisted for an Academy Award — is a charming, music video-like film featuring a cat singing the catchy title song, Dave Frishberg’s 1970s recording of a tune he wrote with Bob Dorough. “[The song’s] very witty, and I always thought that would make for a fun short,” says Musker, 70.
“I have a penchant for teasing people,” he says, and his film “teases people who are so desperate to be on the cutting edge of things. Certainly Los Angeles is full of those people.
- 1/10/2024
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The very idea of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston collaborating is breathtaking. Carey discussed what it was like getting to know Houston while they worked on the movie The Prince of Egypt. She also revealed that something about the creative process irked her.
Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston did a song by a Broadway titan for ‘The Prince of Egypt’
In her 2020 book The Meaning of Mariah Carey, the “Touch My Body” singer recalled producer Jeffrey Katzenberg asking her to perform “When You Believe” with Houston for The Prince of Egypt. Katzenberg was a Disney producer who later went on to co-found DreamWorks Skg. Neither singer had anything to do with the writing of the song. “When You Believe” was by Stephen Schwartz, who is known for writing tunes for Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and Enchanted. He also wrote the Broadway musicals Wicked, Pippin, and Godspell. While he’s...
Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston did a song by a Broadway titan for ‘The Prince of Egypt’
In her 2020 book The Meaning of Mariah Carey, the “Touch My Body” singer recalled producer Jeffrey Katzenberg asking her to perform “When You Believe” with Houston for The Prince of Egypt. Katzenberg was a Disney producer who later went on to co-found DreamWorks Skg. Neither singer had anything to do with the writing of the song. “When You Believe” was by Stephen Schwartz, who is known for writing tunes for Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and Enchanted. He also wrote the Broadway musicals Wicked, Pippin, and Godspell. While he’s...
- 1/3/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The very idea of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston collaborating is breathtaking. Carey discussed what it was like getting to know Houston while they worked on the movie The Prince of Egypt. She also revealed that something about the creative process irked her.
Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston did a song by a Broadway titan for ‘The Prince of Egypt’
In her 2020 book The Meaning of Mariah Carey, the “Touch My Body” singer recalled producer Jeffrey Katzenberg asking her to perform “When You Believe” with Houston for The Prince of Egypt. Katzenberg was a Disney producer who later went on to co-found DreamWorks Skg. Neither singer had anything to do with the writing of the song. “When You Believe” was by Stephen Schwartz, who is known for writing tunes for Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and Enchanted. He also wrote the Broadway musicals Wicked, Pippin, and Godspell. While he’s...
Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston did a song by a Broadway titan for ‘The Prince of Egypt’
In her 2020 book The Meaning of Mariah Carey, the “Touch My Body” singer recalled producer Jeffrey Katzenberg asking her to perform “When You Believe” with Houston for The Prince of Egypt. Katzenberg was a Disney producer who later went on to co-found DreamWorks Skg. Neither singer had anything to do with the writing of the song. “When You Believe” was by Stephen Schwartz, who is known for writing tunes for Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and Enchanted. He also wrote the Broadway musicals Wicked, Pippin, and Godspell. While he’s...
- 1/3/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Herman “Hy” Levine, a 48-year veteran of the film industry who rose through the marketing ranks at Universal and Disney, died Dec. 27 in Rockville, Md. after suffering from pancreatic cancer. He was 87.
Levine was an executive Disney from 1986 to 1998, rising to the rank of Vice President of Co-Op Advertising at the time when the studio began stepping up its movie output under CEO Michael Eisner after a particularly fallow period in the early 1980s. In his position, Levine was responsible for print and outdoor advertising on all Disney features, including those that fell under the Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures banners.
Among the films Levine helped launch were such animated megahits as “The Lion King,” “Aladdin” and “The Little Mermaid” as well as live-action titles such as “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” and “Beaches.” Levine worked closely with then film marketing chief Bob Levin as...
Levine was an executive Disney from 1986 to 1998, rising to the rank of Vice President of Co-Op Advertising at the time when the studio began stepping up its movie output under CEO Michael Eisner after a particularly fallow period in the early 1980s. In his position, Levine was responsible for print and outdoor advertising on all Disney features, including those that fell under the Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures banners.
Among the films Levine helped launch were such animated megahits as “The Lion King,” “Aladdin” and “The Little Mermaid” as well as live-action titles such as “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” and “Beaches.” Levine worked closely with then film marketing chief Bob Levin as...
- 1/2/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Herman (Hy) Levine, who had a nearly 50-year career in the film industry and worked with Lew Wasserman, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Dick Cook, and many other prominent executives, has died at 87.
Levine died Dec. 27 in Rockville, MD, following a short battle with pancreatic cancer, according to his son, Stuart Levine, who is the VP editorial and media relations at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.
Levine was at Disney from 1986-1998 and rose to VP of co-op advertising at the time when the studio was accelerating its film output after a particularly fallow period. In his position, Levine was responsible for the print and outdoor advertising for all the Disney features, which also fell under the Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures banner.
Among the many films where Levine played a vital role in their success were The Lion King, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Down and Out in Beverly Hills and Beaches.
Levine died Dec. 27 in Rockville, MD, following a short battle with pancreatic cancer, according to his son, Stuart Levine, who is the VP editorial and media relations at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.
Levine was at Disney from 1986-1998 and rose to VP of co-op advertising at the time when the studio was accelerating its film output after a particularly fallow period. In his position, Levine was responsible for the print and outdoor advertising for all the Disney features, which also fell under the Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures banner.
Among the many films where Levine played a vital role in their success were The Lion King, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Down and Out in Beverly Hills and Beaches.
- 1/2/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
I love cartoons. Specifically cartoon series from the 80’s and 90’s. Whenever someone asks me what my favorite childhood cartoon is, I always say there are two. The first is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the second is Darkwing Duck. I was the biggest fan of the masked mallard, and who wouldn’t be? He was brave, smart, egotistical, and accident-prone but would persevere against evil. He had a killer costume and cool equipment to fight bad guys. He had an awesome rogue’s gallery that was a bit of a joke but also surprisingly formidable. The cartoon was also not afraid to show its love for classic superhero comics at a time when the general public didn’t understand it. It even broke through the Iron Curtain at the height of the Cold War. But does this cartoon from the early 90’s still hold up? Is it a silly...
- 12/31/2023
- by David Arroyo
- JoBlo.com
The entertainment company that everyone in Hollywood is talking about is based in a nondescript three-story office building in the Boston suburb of Norwood, Massachusetts.
Nestled between an indoor ice-skating rink and a Home Depot distribution center is the headquarters of National Amusements, Inc., a movie theater operator with 22 cinemas in the U.S., almost all in the New York to Boston corridor.
But it’s not the movie theaters that have investment bankers, media moguls and opportunistic private equity firms salivating. National Amusements, the pride and joy of the media titan Sumner Redstone, and now controlled by his daughter Shari, serves as a holding company for the family’s most precious asset: voting control of Paramount Global, the owner of CBS, Paramount+, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, and other media brands.
Paramount — or at least control of Paramount via National Amusements — now appears to be on the block, with Redstone reportedly...
Nestled between an indoor ice-skating rink and a Home Depot distribution center is the headquarters of National Amusements, Inc., a movie theater operator with 22 cinemas in the U.S., almost all in the New York to Boston corridor.
But it’s not the movie theaters that have investment bankers, media moguls and opportunistic private equity firms salivating. National Amusements, the pride and joy of the media titan Sumner Redstone, and now controlled by his daughter Shari, serves as a holding company for the family’s most precious asset: voting control of Paramount Global, the owner of CBS, Paramount+, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, and other media brands.
Paramount — or at least control of Paramount via National Amusements — now appears to be on the block, with Redstone reportedly...
- 12/15/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Christopher Nolan is headed to the Saturn Awards, where the filmmaker will be honored with the genre-focused ceremony’s visionary award.
Nolan’s Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt will present the honor at a ceremony on Feb. 4. Jeffrey Katzenberg, Kevin Feige and James Cameron are previous recipients of the visionary award.
The Saturn Awards date back to 1973, with the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films having previously honored Nolan for writing his features Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Inception and Interstellar. He won for directing Inception as well. This year, he is nominated for writing and for directing Oppenheimer, the R-rated biopic that surprised by becoming an outsized commercial hit, grossing $953 million globally.
“Mr. Nolan’s exceptional and groundbreaking work has not only entertained and enlightened audiences for years, but most recently with the seminal Oppenheimer, he continues to contribute to the art of cinema by exploring the advent...
Nolan’s Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt will present the honor at a ceremony on Feb. 4. Jeffrey Katzenberg, Kevin Feige and James Cameron are previous recipients of the visionary award.
The Saturn Awards date back to 1973, with the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films having previously honored Nolan for writing his features Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Inception and Interstellar. He won for directing Inception as well. This year, he is nominated for writing and for directing Oppenheimer, the R-rated biopic that surprised by becoming an outsized commercial hit, grossing $953 million globally.
“Mr. Nolan’s exceptional and groundbreaking work has not only entertained and enlightened audiences for years, but most recently with the seminal Oppenheimer, he continues to contribute to the art of cinema by exploring the advent...
- 12/12/2023
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After a weekend of schmoozing with the Hollywood elite, Joe Biden departed Los Angeles on Sunday with his re-election campaign more than $15 million flusher.
The boffo fundraising figure for the weekend was confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by a source close to Jeffrey Katzenberg, the DreamWorks and Quibi co-founder and Biden campaign co-chair. The haul would be a record for a president or presidential candidate on a single fundraising trip to Los Angeles, and tops the $15 million Barack Obama raised in 2012 at a reception held at George and Amal Clooney’s house.
The president and First Lady Jill Biden began their whirlwind 36-hour tour of Los Angeles after landing on the West Coast on Friday, eventually hitting six private fundraising events and also finding time to attend the shiva of TV icon Norman Lear, who died Tuesday at age 101.
The couple kicked off a weekend of fundraising activity by speaking at a Holmby Hills event.
The boffo fundraising figure for the weekend was confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by a source close to Jeffrey Katzenberg, the DreamWorks and Quibi co-founder and Biden campaign co-chair. The haul would be a record for a president or presidential candidate on a single fundraising trip to Los Angeles, and tops the $15 million Barack Obama raised in 2012 at a reception held at George and Amal Clooney’s house.
The president and First Lady Jill Biden began their whirlwind 36-hour tour of Los Angeles after landing on the West Coast on Friday, eventually hitting six private fundraising events and also finding time to attend the shiva of TV icon Norman Lear, who died Tuesday at age 101.
The couple kicked off a weekend of fundraising activity by speaking at a Holmby Hills event.
- 12/11/2023
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden wrapped up a weekend of fundraising in Los Angeles on Sunday, with a record amount raised.
More than $15 million was raised through the weekend, including for the Biden Victory Fund, said campaign co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg, founding partner of WndrCo. That is the most raised for a single visit to Los Angeles of any president or presidential candidate, he said.
It also surpassed the amount raised by Barack Obama in May, 2012, when Obama headlined a fundraiser at the home of George Clooney and co-hosted by Katzenberg. That fundraising trip brought in almost $15 million.
Through the weekend, Biden and the first lady headlined seven events, including private gatherings with high-dollar donors and a Hollywood-centric fundraiser on Friday evening at the Holmby Hills home of James Costos, the former U.S. ambassador to Spain, and designer Michael Smith. That event included co-chairs such as Steven Spielberg,...
More than $15 million was raised through the weekend, including for the Biden Victory Fund, said campaign co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg, founding partner of WndrCo. That is the most raised for a single visit to Los Angeles of any president or presidential candidate, he said.
It also surpassed the amount raised by Barack Obama in May, 2012, when Obama headlined a fundraiser at the home of George Clooney and co-hosted by Katzenberg. That fundraising trip brought in almost $15 million.
Through the weekend, Biden and the first lady headlined seven events, including private gatherings with high-dollar donors and a Hollywood-centric fundraiser on Friday evening at the Holmby Hills home of James Costos, the former U.S. ambassador to Spain, and designer Michael Smith. That event included co-chairs such as Steven Spielberg,...
- 12/11/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
President Joe Biden kicked off a weekend of fundraising activity in Los Angeles Friday night, speaking at an event, which also featured Steven Spielberg and Shonda Rhimes.
As the first Hollywood-centric fundraiser of his reelection campaign, Biden used his time on the stage to call out Donald Trump and explain why he poses the “greatest threat” to democracy.
“This is an incredibly successful night,” the president said at the beginning of his speech, according to the Associated Press, before joking that he didn’t want to talk long because he was “the only thing standing between you and Lenny Kravitz.”
The Grammy-winning singer performed at the event hosted by celebrity interior designer Michael Smith and his partner, James Costos. The latter of whom said earlier that supporters from across the country came to attend the fundraiser: “This is not just a Hollywood gathering, it’s more like a national event.
As the first Hollywood-centric fundraiser of his reelection campaign, Biden used his time on the stage to call out Donald Trump and explain why he poses the “greatest threat” to democracy.
“This is an incredibly successful night,” the president said at the beginning of his speech, according to the Associated Press, before joking that he didn’t want to talk long because he was “the only thing standing between you and Lenny Kravitz.”
The Grammy-winning singer performed at the event hosted by celebrity interior designer Michael Smith and his partner, James Costos. The latter of whom said earlier that supporters from across the country came to attend the fundraiser: “This is not just a Hollywood gathering, it’s more like a national event.
- 12/9/2023
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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