After making more than $1.4 billion at the box office, producer Will Packer has gotten into the streaming game with “Praise This.”
The Peacock original marks Packer’s first time producing a movie that wasn’t destined for cinemas. While the new distribution plan might seem like a reaction to the hit or miss theatrical business — or the kind of pivot that would happen after a box office bomb, which Packer has yet to suffer, by the way — that’s not what’s behind the change in strategy.
“Malleable” is a word Packer has found himself using quite often in reference to the current state of moviemaking.
“I’ve had a lot of success with movies that were moderately-budgeted breakout theatrical hits,” he tells Variety over tea at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. “But there are some of my movies that were successful theatrically five to 10 years ago that...
The Peacock original marks Packer’s first time producing a movie that wasn’t destined for cinemas. While the new distribution plan might seem like a reaction to the hit or miss theatrical business — or the kind of pivot that would happen after a box office bomb, which Packer has yet to suffer, by the way — that’s not what’s behind the change in strategy.
“Malleable” is a word Packer has found himself using quite often in reference to the current state of moviemaking.
“I’ve had a lot of success with movies that were moderately-budgeted breakout theatrical hits,” he tells Variety over tea at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. “But there are some of my movies that were successful theatrically five to 10 years ago that...
- 4/12/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
The wait is over! The Peacock original film Praise This is now available to watch exclusively on Peacock! But, first, check out the “first look” featurette of the film (above).
About The Film
Genre: Musical, Comedy, Drama Cast: Chloe Bailey, Druski, Anjelika Washington, Quavo, Tristan Mack Wilds, Birgundi Baker, Crystal Hayslett, Loren Lott, Jekalyn Carr, Koryn Hawthorne Director: Tina Gordon Screenplay: Tina Gordon and Brandon Broussard & Hudson Obayuwana and Jana Salvage Story: Brandon Broussard & Hudson Obayuwana & Jana Salvage Producer: Will Packer, Tim Story, Sharla Sumpter Bridgett, James Lopez
Praise This is streaming exclusively on Peacock on April 7, 2023!
For More Information, Please Visit:
Official Site / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube / TikTok / #PraiseThis
The post Look Inside “Praise This” Featurette Released first appeared on CinemaNerdz.
About The Film
Genre: Musical, Comedy, Drama Cast: Chloe Bailey, Druski, Anjelika Washington, Quavo, Tristan Mack Wilds, Birgundi Baker, Crystal Hayslett, Loren Lott, Jekalyn Carr, Koryn Hawthorne Director: Tina Gordon Screenplay: Tina Gordon and Brandon Broussard & Hudson Obayuwana and Jana Salvage Story: Brandon Broussard & Hudson Obayuwana & Jana Salvage Producer: Will Packer, Tim Story, Sharla Sumpter Bridgett, James Lopez
Praise This is streaming exclusively on Peacock on April 7, 2023!
For More Information, Please Visit:
Official Site / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube / TikTok / #PraiseThis
The post Look Inside “Praise This” Featurette Released first appeared on CinemaNerdz.
- 4/7/2023
- by Editor
- CinemaNerdz
Image Source: Getty / Christopher Polk
Chlöe's mentor and confidant Beyoncé once said, "You know you that b*tch when you cause all this conversation." These days, Chlöe is used to being a trending topic on social media. Not that the 24-year-old singer, songwriter, and actor pays attention to it, seeing as she occasionally removes apps like Twitter and Instagram from her phone when the negative comments get overwhelming.
"It's been hard, difficult, [and] unsettling," Chlöe tells Popsugar of dealing with constant judgment from some of her biggest critics online. "I could go down the whole negative path but I have to learn to not really care and to know that as long as I am being authentically and unapologetically myself, then I'm good."
"Everything that I'm doing right now I've prayed for and God has given it to me."
Between her viral series "Swarm," freshly-dropped solo debut album "In Pieces," lead role in Peacock's "Praise This,...
Chlöe's mentor and confidant Beyoncé once said, "You know you that b*tch when you cause all this conversation." These days, Chlöe is used to being a trending topic on social media. Not that the 24-year-old singer, songwriter, and actor pays attention to it, seeing as she occasionally removes apps like Twitter and Instagram from her phone when the negative comments get overwhelming.
"It's been hard, difficult, [and] unsettling," Chlöe tells Popsugar of dealing with constant judgment from some of her biggest critics online. "I could go down the whole negative path but I have to learn to not really care and to know that as long as I am being authentically and unapologetically myself, then I'm good."
"Everything that I'm doing right now I've prayed for and God has given it to me."
Between her viral series "Swarm," freshly-dropped solo debut album "In Pieces," lead role in Peacock's "Praise This,...
- 4/6/2023
- by Njera Perkins
- Popsugar.com
In the pleasantly amusing “Praise This,” Chloe Bailey is the self professed nonreligious Sam, a musical artist in the making who finds her niche in Atlanta’s competitive gospel youth choir scene. Director Tina Gordon crafts a musical that’s carried through by a charming cast and highly entertaining ensemble performances. Streaming April 7 on Peacock, “Praise This” adds a mostly delightful entry to the genre, even if it doesn’t offer a unique take. More successfully it acts as a winning introductory calling card to the acting and musical talents of its rising star, the slightly-older sister of upcoming “The Little Mermaid” actor Halle Bailey and one-half of the sibling R&b duo Chloe x Halle.
The story starts with Sam forced to leave Los Angeles by her dad because of some rebellious behavior. He entrusts her care to her aunt and uncle (Kendrick Cross and Janora McDuffie), but the...
The story starts with Sam forced to leave Los Angeles by her dad because of some rebellious behavior. He entrusts her care to her aunt and uncle (Kendrick Cross and Janora McDuffie), but the...
- 4/5/2023
- by Murtada Elfadl
- Variety Film + TV
The official trailer for the Peacock original film Praise This has just been released. The film will stream exclusively on Peacock on April 7th!
Five-time Grammy nominee Chloe Bailey, star of Grown-ish and half of the sibling musical duo Chloe x Halle, stars in a new cinematic musical event set in the world of Atlanta’s competitive gospel youth choir praise teams.
From director Tina Gordon, writer-director of Little and the writer of What Men Want and Drumline, Praise This follows aspiring musical superstar Sam (Chloe Bailey), a young woman driven, at almost any cost, to break into the music business. So, when her father, worried that Sam is associating with a dangerous crowd, moves them from Los Angeles to Atlanta to live with Sam’s sunny cousin, Jess, Sam is . . . not happy.
But when Sam is forced to join her cousin’s struggling, underdog praise team in the...
Five-time Grammy nominee Chloe Bailey, star of Grown-ish and half of the sibling musical duo Chloe x Halle, stars in a new cinematic musical event set in the world of Atlanta’s competitive gospel youth choir praise teams.
From director Tina Gordon, writer-director of Little and the writer of What Men Want and Drumline, Praise This follows aspiring musical superstar Sam (Chloe Bailey), a young woman driven, at almost any cost, to break into the music business. So, when her father, worried that Sam is associating with a dangerous crowd, moves them from Los Angeles to Atlanta to live with Sam’s sunny cousin, Jess, Sam is . . . not happy.
But when Sam is forced to join her cousin’s struggling, underdog praise team in the...
- 3/9/2023
- by Editor
- CinemaNerdz
Image Source: YouTube user Peacock
Art imitates life for Chloe Bailey, who stars in the upcoming movie "Praise This" as an ambitious young singer named Sam whose music career seems to be taking off in a huge way. There are some big differences about her life and Sam's, though - Bailey is already a massive star, and also, "Praise This" follows Sam's journey into the world of competitive gospel youth choirs.
The trailer, released on March 6, finds Sam unhappily stuck in Atlanta after being sent away from Los Angeles for the summer by her concerned father to live with her upbeat cousin Jess (Anjelika Washington). Things start to take off when Jess persuades Sam to join her faltering praise team, and Sam eventually dives in, determined to help the group win a national championship competition while launching her music career.
Related: Dominique Fishback Obsesses Over a Beyoncé-Like Pop Star in...
Art imitates life for Chloe Bailey, who stars in the upcoming movie "Praise This" as an ambitious young singer named Sam whose music career seems to be taking off in a huge way. There are some big differences about her life and Sam's, though - Bailey is already a massive star, and also, "Praise This" follows Sam's journey into the world of competitive gospel youth choirs.
The trailer, released on March 6, finds Sam unhappily stuck in Atlanta after being sent away from Los Angeles for the summer by her concerned father to live with her upbeat cousin Jess (Anjelika Washington). Things start to take off when Jess persuades Sam to join her faltering praise team, and Sam eventually dives in, determined to help the group win a national championship competition while launching her music career.
Related: Dominique Fishback Obsesses Over a Beyoncé-Like Pop Star in...
- 3/6/2023
- by Eden Arielle Gordon
- Popsugar.com
With the film industry as a whole taking a significant hit during the early years of the pandemic, one progressive change that has been stifled for the past couple years is studios hiring more directors from underrepresented backgrounds.
There are all sorts of data points repeated over the years by annual studies, like USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, which has repeatedly revealed how increasing diversity within filmmaking helps, not harms, business prospects. For example, the latest USC study shared that films by underrepresented directors earned marginally higher Metacritic scores than movies from white directors, and yet 2022 had a 6.6 percent decline in the number of the directors from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups who helmed the top 100 films of the year.
Though the upcoming slate of studio films does not seem like it will move the needle even back to 2021 numbers, where the percentage of directors from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups reached a 15-year high,...
There are all sorts of data points repeated over the years by annual studies, like USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, which has repeatedly revealed how increasing diversity within filmmaking helps, not harms, business prospects. For example, the latest USC study shared that films by underrepresented directors earned marginally higher Metacritic scores than movies from white directors, and yet 2022 had a 6.6 percent decline in the number of the directors from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups who helmed the top 100 films of the year.
Though the upcoming slate of studio films does not seem like it will move the needle even back to 2021 numbers, where the percentage of directors from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups reached a 15-year high,...
- 1/4/2023
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Universal Pictures has rounded out the musician-heavy cast for its film Praise This, starring Grown-ish‘s Chloe Bailey, with Anjelika Washington, Quavo, Druski, Koryn Hawthorne, Tristan Mack Wilds and Jekalyn Carr among those signing on for roles. Other new cast members include newcomers Kiara Iman Heffner and Ilario Grant, Birgundi Baker, Loren Lott, Crystal Renee Hayslett, Cocoa Brown, Vanessa Fraction and Kountry Wayne.
Praise This is a music-competition feature comedy set in the world of youth choirs, announced earlier this year as one of three Universal films coming to Peacock in 2023. Tina Gordon (Little) is directing, having penned the latest draft of the script, which was based off an original idea by The Story Company. Earlier drafts were written by Camilla Blackett and Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana and Jana Savage—the trio otherwise known as Murder Ink.
The film falls under Will Packer Productions’ first-look deal with Universal,...
Praise This is a music-competition feature comedy set in the world of youth choirs, announced earlier this year as one of three Universal films coming to Peacock in 2023. Tina Gordon (Little) is directing, having penned the latest draft of the script, which was based off an original idea by The Story Company. Earlier drafts were written by Camilla Blackett and Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana and Jana Savage—the trio otherwise known as Murder Ink.
The film falls under Will Packer Productions’ first-look deal with Universal,...
- 7/7/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Upfronts can be comforting and/or dull in their familiarity. Here come the old TV shows, the new ones, and Jimmy Kimmel. Variation isn’t necessary because the goal remains the same: Hold an advertiser’s attention while you reach into their budgets. Upfronts go where media buyers go and from here on out, one place they’re going is to the movies.
This year, the upfronts accommodated the (ad-supported) streamers and all that they contain — including movies, both ones original to the platforms as well as those that receive a theatrical release. Every major streamer has announced its intention (if not the reality) of lower-priced AVOD tiers, all but promising Wall Street that advertising will become a primary revenue stream. That means Disney, NBCUniversal, and Paramount Global had a lot more to talk about — and that advertisers will be keeping a much closer eye on their movie slates.
NBCUniversal...
This year, the upfronts accommodated the (ad-supported) streamers and all that they contain — including movies, both ones original to the platforms as well as those that receive a theatrical release. Every major streamer has announced its intention (if not the reality) of lower-priced AVOD tiers, all but promising Wall Street that advertising will become a primary revenue stream. That means Disney, NBCUniversal, and Paramount Global had a lot more to talk about — and that advertisers will be keeping a much closer eye on their movie slates.
NBCUniversal...
- 5/19/2022
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Chloe Bailey, the “Grown-ish” star and one half of the pop duo Chloe x Halle, is set to star in a youth choir comedy called “Praise This” at Universal.
Tina Gordon is directing the film and also wrote the most recent draft of the script, which is a music-competition feature comedy set in the world of youth choirs. “Praise This” is based on an original idea by The Story Company and Camilla Blackett, and the writing group Murder Ink wrote previous drafts of the screenplay.
Production on “Praise This” will begin in Atlanta in June.
Will Packer Productions founder and CEO Will Packer (“The Photograph,” “Little”) and The Story Company co-founder and CEO Tim Story are set to produce alongside executive producer and Will Packer Productions EVP Johanna Byer.
“Praise This” falls under Will Packer Productions’ first look deal with Universal which has also been behind Gordon’s “Little” as well as “Night School,...
Tina Gordon is directing the film and also wrote the most recent draft of the script, which is a music-competition feature comedy set in the world of youth choirs. “Praise This” is based on an original idea by The Story Company and Camilla Blackett, and the writing group Murder Ink wrote previous drafts of the screenplay.
Production on “Praise This” will begin in Atlanta in June.
Will Packer Productions founder and CEO Will Packer (“The Photograph,” “Little”) and The Story Company co-founder and CEO Tim Story are set to produce alongside executive producer and Will Packer Productions EVP Johanna Byer.
“Praise This” falls under Will Packer Productions’ first look deal with Universal which has also been behind Gordon’s “Little” as well as “Night School,...
- 4/26/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Chloe Bailey (Grown-ish) has signed on to star in the upcoming film Praise This, which Tina Gordon (Little) is directing for Universal Pictures.
Praise This is a music-competition feature comedy set in the world of youth choirs. We hear that Universal is eyeing it for a potential franchise in the vein of Pitch Perfect, with production on the first installment set to kick off in Atlanta in June. Gordon penned the latest draft of the script, which was based off an original idea by The Story Company. Earlier drafts were written by Camilla Blackett and Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana and Jana Savage—the trio otherwise known as Murder Ink.
The film falls under Will Packer Productions’ first-look deal with Universal, which has produced such hits as Night School, Girls Trip, the Ride Along films and Little. Wpp’s founder and CEO Will Packer will produce alongside The Story Company’s co-founder and CEO Tim Story, with Wpp EVP Johanna Byer exec producing. Executive Vice President of Production Erik Baiers and Director of Production Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project on behalf of Universal.
Bailey is an actress, singer-songwriter and record producer who rose to fame as a member of the Grammy-nominated sister duo Chloe x Halle, which was signed to Beyoncés Parkwood Entertainment Company after catching the attention of the musical icon. The multi-hyphenate most recently starred alongside Yara Shahidi on Freeform’s hit show Grown-ish, last year releasing her debut solo single, “Have Mercy.” She will next be seen in Miramax’s supernatural thriller The Georgetown Project, with Russell Crowe and Ryan Simpkins.
In addition to Little, starring Regina Hall, Issa Rae and Marsai Martin, Gordon previously wrote and directed the 2013 romantic comedy Peeples for Lionsgate. Her credits as a screenwriter also include Drumline and What Men Want.
Bailey is represented by CAA, Parkwood Entertainment and Schure Media Group; Gordon by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham; Blackett by UTA, Independent Talent Group and Yorn, Levine, Barnes; and Murder Ink by APA and Joel VanderKloot of VanderKloot Law.
Praise This is a music-competition feature comedy set in the world of youth choirs. We hear that Universal is eyeing it for a potential franchise in the vein of Pitch Perfect, with production on the first installment set to kick off in Atlanta in June. Gordon penned the latest draft of the script, which was based off an original idea by The Story Company. Earlier drafts were written by Camilla Blackett and Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana and Jana Savage—the trio otherwise known as Murder Ink.
The film falls under Will Packer Productions’ first-look deal with Universal, which has produced such hits as Night School, Girls Trip, the Ride Along films and Little. Wpp’s founder and CEO Will Packer will produce alongside The Story Company’s co-founder and CEO Tim Story, with Wpp EVP Johanna Byer exec producing. Executive Vice President of Production Erik Baiers and Director of Production Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project on behalf of Universal.
Bailey is an actress, singer-songwriter and record producer who rose to fame as a member of the Grammy-nominated sister duo Chloe x Halle, which was signed to Beyoncés Parkwood Entertainment Company after catching the attention of the musical icon. The multi-hyphenate most recently starred alongside Yara Shahidi on Freeform’s hit show Grown-ish, last year releasing her debut solo single, “Have Mercy.” She will next be seen in Miramax’s supernatural thriller The Georgetown Project, with Russell Crowe and Ryan Simpkins.
In addition to Little, starring Regina Hall, Issa Rae and Marsai Martin, Gordon previously wrote and directed the 2013 romantic comedy Peeples for Lionsgate. Her credits as a screenwriter also include Drumline and What Men Want.
Bailey is represented by CAA, Parkwood Entertainment and Schure Media Group; Gordon by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham; Blackett by UTA, Independent Talent Group and Yorn, Levine, Barnes; and Murder Ink by APA and Joel VanderKloot of VanderKloot Law.
- 4/26/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
“Black-ish” and “Little” star Marsai Martin and her Genius Entertainment production company have signed with UTA for representation in all areas.
In 2019, Martin starred in “Little,” a feature that she conceptualized, pitched, sold and then executive produced with Will Packer for Universal. The move made Martin, who was just 14, the youngest person to executive produce a major Hollywood film. Directed by Tina Gordon and co-starring Regina Hall and Issa Rae, “Little” went on to gross $49 million at the box office. Most recently, she voiced characters in Universal/Dreamworks Animation’s “Spirit Untamed,” as well as Paramount’s feature film “Paw Patrol.”
For the past seven years, Martin has starred on the Emmy-nominated comedy “Black-ish,” stealing scenes as the Johnson family’s smart, witty, youngest daughter Diane Johnson. Martin has earned nine NAACP Image Awards and three BET Awards for her performance on the hit ABC show, which is set to...
In 2019, Martin starred in “Little,” a feature that she conceptualized, pitched, sold and then executive produced with Will Packer for Universal. The move made Martin, who was just 14, the youngest person to executive produce a major Hollywood film. Directed by Tina Gordon and co-starring Regina Hall and Issa Rae, “Little” went on to gross $49 million at the box office. Most recently, she voiced characters in Universal/Dreamworks Animation’s “Spirit Untamed,” as well as Paramount’s feature film “Paw Patrol.”
For the past seven years, Martin has starred on the Emmy-nominated comedy “Black-ish,” stealing scenes as the Johnson family’s smart, witty, youngest daughter Diane Johnson. Martin has earned nine NAACP Image Awards and three BET Awards for her performance on the hit ABC show, which is set to...
- 11/19/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Tracy Oliver, the writer behind “Girls Trip,” “Little” and “The Sun Is Also a Star,” has signed an overall deal with Apple.
Apple landed the multiyear deal with Oliver in a competitive bidding situation. The deal will span original TV series and films, all through Oliver’s Tracy Yvonne Productions banner. The projects will have an emphasis on telling diverse and meaningful stories.
Oliver co-wrote the blockbuster comedy “Girls Trip” from 2017, making her the first Black woman to write a film that grossed over $100 million at the box office. The film starred Regina Hall, Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith, and was the breakout role for Tiffany Haddish, grossing $140 million worldwide.
Oliver is currently at work on an untitled Amy Poehler single-camera TV comedy and the second season of “First Wives Club.” Her other film credits include the comedy “Little,” which she co-wrote with Tina Gordon, “Barbershop: The Next Cut...
Apple landed the multiyear deal with Oliver in a competitive bidding situation. The deal will span original TV series and films, all through Oliver’s Tracy Yvonne Productions banner. The projects will have an emphasis on telling diverse and meaningful stories.
Oliver co-wrote the blockbuster comedy “Girls Trip” from 2017, making her the first Black woman to write a film that grossed over $100 million at the box office. The film starred Regina Hall, Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith, and was the breakout role for Tiffany Haddish, grossing $140 million worldwide.
Oliver is currently at work on an untitled Amy Poehler single-camera TV comedy and the second season of “First Wives Club.” Her other film credits include the comedy “Little,” which she co-wrote with Tina Gordon, “Barbershop: The Next Cut...
- 3/25/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Chernin Entertainment has named Sharla Sumpter Bridgett as senior vice president of film and television, Chernin Entertainment’s President of Film and Television Jenno Topping announced on Tuesday.
Sumpter Bridgett has produced film and TV projects over the past 15 years across all formats and genres. Most recently, she worked as Tim Story’s producing partner running The Story Company where current projects in development are Kevin Hart’s “Monopoly” and Universal Pictures’ musical comedy film “Praise This” directed by Tina Gordon.
Before The Story Company, she produced TV and film projects through her Sb&Co shingle, and she also consulted for multiple companies. She also served as Partner and President of Production at Varsity Pictures where she produced films and TV projects like “The To Do List,” “Blue Mountain State” and “Sonny with a Chance.” She also served as president of film at Tollin/Robbins Productions where she executive produced “Coach Carter” and “Wild Hogs.
Sumpter Bridgett has produced film and TV projects over the past 15 years across all formats and genres. Most recently, she worked as Tim Story’s producing partner running The Story Company where current projects in development are Kevin Hart’s “Monopoly” and Universal Pictures’ musical comedy film “Praise This” directed by Tina Gordon.
Before The Story Company, she produced TV and film projects through her Sb&Co shingle, and she also consulted for multiple companies. She also served as Partner and President of Production at Varsity Pictures where she produced films and TV projects like “The To Do List,” “Blue Mountain State” and “Sonny with a Chance.” She also served as president of film at Tollin/Robbins Productions where she executive produced “Coach Carter” and “Wild Hogs.
- 10/6/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Chernin Entertainment has brought on Sharla Sumpter Bridgett in the role of Senior Vice President of Film and Television, where she’ll produce projects for the company’s slate.
Sumpter Bridgett, who has over 15 years of experience in development and production, was previously Tim Story’s producing partner running The Story Company where projects in development include Lionsgate and Hasbro’s live-action feature Monopoly starring Kevin Hart, Universal Pictures’ musical comedy Praise This directed by Tina Gordon, and the STX Entertainment superhero comedy Night Wolf led by Hart.
Before this, Sumpter Bridgett produced television and film through her Sb&Co shingle, consulted for multiple companies, and cultivated a writer’s program. She’s also served as Partner and President of Production at Varsity Pictures, where she produced titles like The To-Do List, Blue Mountain State and Sonny with a Chance, as well as President of Film at Tollin/Robbins Productions where...
Sumpter Bridgett, who has over 15 years of experience in development and production, was previously Tim Story’s producing partner running The Story Company where projects in development include Lionsgate and Hasbro’s live-action feature Monopoly starring Kevin Hart, Universal Pictures’ musical comedy Praise This directed by Tina Gordon, and the STX Entertainment superhero comedy Night Wolf led by Hart.
Before this, Sumpter Bridgett produced television and film through her Sb&Co shingle, consulted for multiple companies, and cultivated a writer’s program. She’s also served as Partner and President of Production at Varsity Pictures, where she produced titles like The To-Do List, Blue Mountain State and Sonny with a Chance, as well as President of Film at Tollin/Robbins Productions where...
- 10/6/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
In only its second year, Made in Her Image — a nonprofit, incubator-based workshop that teaches short filmmaking, start to finish, to girls of color ages 8 to 18 — has given more than 200 prospective filmmakers the chance to see themselves in a profession historically reserved for white males.
“I didn’t look like what a director looked like in the course books,” says Malakai, the founder of Mihi and a self-taught director who recently released the short film “Souls” and directed “Postmarked” for AT&T’s Hello Lab in collaboration with Lena Waithe.
Nearly a decade ago, and a few years out of Scottsdale Community College’s School of Film+Theatre, Malakai was working for a post-production house but feeling her potential was being wasted. “This isn’t a sob story,” she says. “It’s just something that I was always told — sometimes it was implied — that I should stick to the post-production track.
“I didn’t look like what a director looked like in the course books,” says Malakai, the founder of Mihi and a self-taught director who recently released the short film “Souls” and directed “Postmarked” for AT&T’s Hello Lab in collaboration with Lena Waithe.
Nearly a decade ago, and a few years out of Scottsdale Community College’s School of Film+Theatre, Malakai was working for a post-production house but feeling her potential was being wasted. “This isn’t a sob story,” she says. “It’s just something that I was always told — sometimes it was implied — that I should stick to the post-production track.
- 3/13/2020
- by Valentina I. Valentini
- Variety Film + TV
The ReFrame coalition has awarded 26 feature films released in 2019 with its ReFrame Stamp, which recognizes the top 100-grossing gender-balanced narrative and animated features. The list, which grew from 20 total films that earned the stamp a year ago, includes Booksmart, Captain Marvel, Harriet, Hustlers and Oscar Best Picture nominee Little Women.
This reflects gains for women in the important roles of director, department heads, and women of color leads and co-leads. With an aim to increase the number of women of all backgrounds working in film, TV, and media, the ReFrame Stamp, which is showcased in end credits and appears on IMDb, serves as a mark of distinction for projects that have demonstrated success in gender-balanced hiring. Additional points are awarded to content that has women of color in key positions.
This year’s list included 12 women directors (12 percent) in the top 100 films at the box office compared to 4 in 2018, with...
This reflects gains for women in the important roles of director, department heads, and women of color leads and co-leads. With an aim to increase the number of women of all backgrounds working in film, TV, and media, the ReFrame Stamp, which is showcased in end credits and appears on IMDb, serves as a mark of distinction for projects that have demonstrated success in gender-balanced hiring. Additional points are awarded to content that has women of color in key positions.
This year’s list included 12 women directors (12 percent) in the top 100 films at the box office compared to 4 in 2018, with...
- 2/26/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Last spring, ahead of Universal’s release of the Tina Gordon-directed comedy Little, star Issa Rae hatched a big plan to drum up support: She challenged Insecure pal Yvonne Orji to buy out a screening. Orji accepted and fulfilled the request, then kept it going by asking someone else who asked someone else who asked someone else who eventually asked Cynthia Erivo.
So, when people started plunking down plastic to reserve entire theaters for Harriet when it came out Nov. 1, Erivo knew the significance of the gesture because she’d extended it herself. “I love the idea of supporting others in ...
So, when people started plunking down plastic to reserve entire theaters for Harriet when it came out Nov. 1, Erivo knew the significance of the gesture because she’d extended it herself. “I love the idea of supporting others in ...
Last spring, ahead of Universal’s release of the Tina Gordon-directed comedy Little, star Issa Rae hatched a big plan to drum up support: She challenged Insecure pal Yvonne Orji to buy out a screening. Orji accepted and fulfilled the request, then kept it going by asking someone else who asked someone else who asked someone else who eventually asked Cynthia Erivo.
So, when people started plunking down plastic to reserve entire theaters for Harriet when it came out Nov. 1, Erivo knew the significance of the gesture because she’d extended it herself. “I love the idea of supporting others in ...
So, when people started plunking down plastic to reserve entire theaters for Harriet when it came out Nov. 1, Erivo knew the significance of the gesture because she’d extended it herself. “I love the idea of supporting others in ...
Effie T. Brown, the veteran producer of “Dear White People,” “Real Women Have Curves” and “But I’m a Cheerleader,” has been tapped as CEO of the female-focused film financing fund Gamechanger, the fund announced on Tuesday.
Now with Brown at the helm — she also appeared in Season 4 of HBO’s “Project Greenlight” as a producer — Gamechanger is broadening its scope to include projects by and about people of color, Lgbtq+ and people with disabilities. The fund will also expand into TV and digital content with a new, fully monetized development fund that will enable it to buy, option and develop IP for TV, streaming and digital platforms.
“As a black female producer who’s been in the business for over 20 years, I know how hard it is to not only get into the room but to then secure financing when you have a culturally diverse or gender specific point of view,...
Now with Brown at the helm — she also appeared in Season 4 of HBO’s “Project Greenlight” as a producer — Gamechanger is broadening its scope to include projects by and about people of color, Lgbtq+ and people with disabilities. The fund will also expand into TV and digital content with a new, fully monetized development fund that will enable it to buy, option and develop IP for TV, streaming and digital platforms.
“As a black female producer who’s been in the business for over 20 years, I know how hard it is to not only get into the room but to then secure financing when you have a culturally diverse or gender specific point of view,...
- 1/7/2020
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
A record 10.6% of the directors of 2019’s top 100-grossing movies were women, directing 12% of Hollywood’s biggest hits last year, according to the latest study by Stacy L. Smith and USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.
That’s the best gender representation since Smith and her team began studying the prevalence of female directors in 2007 — though the overall percentage remains 4.8% across all 13 years of the research. The top-grossing female filmmaker was Jennifer Lee, who co-directed the year’s No. 4 domestic box office hit, “Frozen II,” with Chris Buck.
“This is the first time we have seen a shift in hiring practices for female film directors in 13 years,” Smith said, noting that Universal alone had five films in the top 100 with female directors: Jill Culton’s “Abominable,” Melina Matsoukas’ “Queen & Slim,” Tina Gordon’s “Little,” Gail Mancuso’s “A Dog’s Journey” and Kasi Lemmons’ “Harriet” (through art-house division Focus Features). “Yet there...
That’s the best gender representation since Smith and her team began studying the prevalence of female directors in 2007 — though the overall percentage remains 4.8% across all 13 years of the research. The top-grossing female filmmaker was Jennifer Lee, who co-directed the year’s No. 4 domestic box office hit, “Frozen II,” with Chris Buck.
“This is the first time we have seen a shift in hiring practices for female film directors in 13 years,” Smith said, noting that Universal alone had five films in the top 100 with female directors: Jill Culton’s “Abominable,” Melina Matsoukas’ “Queen & Slim,” Tina Gordon’s “Little,” Gail Mancuso’s “A Dog’s Journey” and Kasi Lemmons’ “Harriet” (through art-house division Focus Features). “Yet there...
- 1/2/2020
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative have wasted no time in the new year when it comes to keeping tabs on diversity in Hollywood. On Tuesday morning, they released a new research brief that revealed 10.6% of the directors of 2019’s top movies were women. This marks a watershed moment as it is the highest percentage of female directors in the top films in 13 years. Still, 10.6% is a considerably low number that could afford to be higher — a lot higher.
Nonetheless, the movement of the needle should be celebrated. The study examined the presence of female directors working across the 1,300 top-grossing films from 2007 to 2019. The findings found that 12 women each directed one of the 100 top films in 2019. While the overall percentage of female directors across the 13-year time frame remains 4.8%, 2019’s number was the highest across the years examined.
“This is the first time we have seen...
Nonetheless, the movement of the needle should be celebrated. The study examined the presence of female directors working across the 1,300 top-grossing films from 2007 to 2019. The findings found that 12 women each directed one of the 100 top films in 2019. While the overall percentage of female directors across the 13-year time frame remains 4.8%, 2019’s number was the highest across the years examined.
“This is the first time we have seen...
- 1/2/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Is 2020 the year it will all change? In its latest study, “Inclusion in the Director’s Chair? Gender, Race & Age of Directors across 1,000 films from 2007-2018,” the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative identified that, of the 112 directors behind the 100 top-grossing movies of 2018, only 3.6 percent were women. Still worse: that percentage was actually down from the year before, when 7.3 percent of the top films were helmed by women. The report also found that percentage of women directors has not markedly changed over time, despite strong calls for gender parity, and the introduction of various industry initiatives aimed at shifting historical trends. You can read the full report right here.
And yet the next two years, and in particular what looks to be a game-changing 2020, could see those numbers altered in a major way. Most of those 100 top-grossing movies, of course, come from the studio world, the home of the big blockbusters, the major moneymakers,...
And yet the next two years, and in particular what looks to be a game-changing 2020, could see those numbers altered in a major way. Most of those 100 top-grossing movies, of course, come from the studio world, the home of the big blockbusters, the major moneymakers,...
- 1/1/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Universal’s Global Talent Development and Inclusion have unveiled the participants for the 2019 Directors Initiative. The initiative has also expanded their partnerships to include the American Black Film Festival and the New York Latino Film Festival. In addition, NBCUniversal Filmmasters will join veteran partners AFI Directing Workshop for Women as well as the Sundance Institute’s FilmTwo Fellowship.
This year, the Initiative has doubled in size with 17 directors from diverse backgrounds selected to participate. This year, the Initiative has the strongest international reach with directors from China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Iran and Singapore.
Sundance Institute FilmTwo filmmakers participating in this year’s Initiative include Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (The Mustang), Rhys Ernst (Adam), Atsuko Hirayanagi (Oh Lucy!) and Kirsten Tan (Pop Aye). From the AFI Directing Workshop for Women are directors Amber Sealey (How Does it Start), Jessica Kaye (Inheritance), Carly Usdin (Suicide Kale), Parisa Barani (Ablution (Wuzu)), Marielle Woods...
This year, the Initiative has doubled in size with 17 directors from diverse backgrounds selected to participate. This year, the Initiative has the strongest international reach with directors from China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Iran and Singapore.
Sundance Institute FilmTwo filmmakers participating in this year’s Initiative include Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (The Mustang), Rhys Ernst (Adam), Atsuko Hirayanagi (Oh Lucy!) and Kirsten Tan (Pop Aye). From the AFI Directing Workshop for Women are directors Amber Sealey (How Does it Start), Jessica Kaye (Inheritance), Carly Usdin (Suicide Kale), Parisa Barani (Ablution (Wuzu)), Marielle Woods...
- 10/7/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion group has selected filmmakers for its 2019 Directors Initiative, which introduces directors to the studio filmmaking process as well as executives across the company.
The Sundance Institute FilmTwo filmmakers participating in the Directors Initiative include Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (“The Mustang”), Rhys Ernst (“Adam”), Atsuko Hirayanagi (“Oh Lucy!”), and Kirsten Tan (“Pop Aye”). From the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, directors participating include Amber Sealey (“How Does it Start”), Jessica Kaye (“Inheritance”), Carly Usdin (“Suicide Kale”), Parisa Barani (“Ablution (Wuzu)”), Marielle Woods (“Do No Harm”), Shilpi Roy (“Hipsterhood”), Siyou Tan (“Hello Ahma”) and Talia Zucker (“Child”).
Additionally, Lukas von Berg (“L’aria Del Moscerino”) is joining from NBCUniversal’s Global Distribution & International Filmmasters program, while Numa Perrier (“Jezebel”) is participating from American Black Film Festival, and Gabriela Calvache (“The Longest Night”) is joining from New York Latino Film Festival. Dinh Thai (“Monday”) is joining from last...
The Sundance Institute FilmTwo filmmakers participating in the Directors Initiative include Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (“The Mustang”), Rhys Ernst (“Adam”), Atsuko Hirayanagi (“Oh Lucy!”), and Kirsten Tan (“Pop Aye”). From the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, directors participating include Amber Sealey (“How Does it Start”), Jessica Kaye (“Inheritance”), Carly Usdin (“Suicide Kale”), Parisa Barani (“Ablution (Wuzu)”), Marielle Woods (“Do No Harm”), Shilpi Roy (“Hipsterhood”), Siyou Tan (“Hello Ahma”) and Talia Zucker (“Child”).
Additionally, Lukas von Berg (“L’aria Del Moscerino”) is joining from NBCUniversal’s Global Distribution & International Filmmasters program, while Numa Perrier (“Jezebel”) is participating from American Black Film Festival, and Gabriela Calvache (“The Longest Night”) is joining from New York Latino Film Festival. Dinh Thai (“Monday”) is joining from last...
- 10/7/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
The big boss gets a small dose of karma when Little, an inventive new twist on the “body swap” comedy, arrives on Digital June 25 and Blu-ray July 9. The irreverent comedy about the price of success, the power of sisterhood and having a second chance to grow up – and glow up – right stars Regina Hall (Girls Trip),Marsai Martin (“Black-ish”) and Issa Rae (“Insecure”).
Now you can win the Win the Blu-ray of Little. We Are Movie Geeks has three copies to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment below telling us what your favorite movie with the word ‘Little’ in the title is. (mine’s Big Trouble In Little China). It’s so easy!
1. You Must Be A Us Resident. Prize Will Only Be Shipped To Us Addresses. No P.O. Boxes. No Duplicate Addresses.
2. Winner Will Be Chosen From All Qualifying Entries.
The big boss...
Now you can win the Win the Blu-ray of Little. We Are Movie Geeks has three copies to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment below telling us what your favorite movie with the word ‘Little’ in the title is. (mine’s Big Trouble In Little China). It’s so easy!
1. You Must Be A Us Resident. Prize Will Only Be Shipped To Us Addresses. No P.O. Boxes. No Duplicate Addresses.
2. Winner Will Be Chosen From All Qualifying Entries.
The big boss...
- 7/4/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Director Tina Gordon is warming up her vocal cords to helm Universal Pictures’ musical comedy Praise This, a music-competition feature set in the world of youth choirs. The film is slated for release on September 25, 2020.
Gordon will rewrite the script for Praise This, which is based on an original idea by Tim Story’s The Story Company. An earlier draft of the script was written by Camilla Blackett (ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat) as well as Jana Savage, Brandon Broussard and Hudson Obayuwana, the writing team collectively known as Murder Ink (Netflix’s #RealityHigh).
The musical comedy will be produced by Will Packer and James Lopez under Packer’s eponymous production company, Will Packer Productions, and Story and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett under The Story Company.
“It is a pleasure to be teaming up with Tina once again,” said Lopez. “She is a great leader and will bring tremendous energy to this project.
Gordon will rewrite the script for Praise This, which is based on an original idea by Tim Story’s The Story Company. An earlier draft of the script was written by Camilla Blackett (ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat) as well as Jana Savage, Brandon Broussard and Hudson Obayuwana, the writing team collectively known as Murder Ink (Netflix’s #RealityHigh).
The musical comedy will be produced by Will Packer and James Lopez under Packer’s eponymous production company, Will Packer Productions, and Story and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett under The Story Company.
“It is a pleasure to be teaming up with Tina once again,” said Lopez. “She is a great leader and will bring tremendous energy to this project.
- 6/11/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
“Little” director Tina Gordon is reuniting with Universal Pictures and Will Packer Productions for “Praise This,” a musical drama centered around the world of youth choirs.
Gordon will write and direct the movie, based on an original idea by Tim Story’s the Story Company. An earlier draft of the script was penned by Camilla Blackett, Jana Savage, Brandon Broussard and Hudson Obayuwana.
Plot details are scarce on the film, which will be produced by Packer and James Lopez under Packer’s eponymous production company, Will Packer Productions, along with Tim Story and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett for the Story Company. Senior VP of production Erik Baiers will oversee the project for Universal.
“It is a pleasure to be teaming up with Tina once again,” Lopez said. “She is a great leader and will bring tremendous energy to this project. Tim, Sharla, Will and I look forward to the collaboration.”
“Praise...
Gordon will write and direct the movie, based on an original idea by Tim Story’s the Story Company. An earlier draft of the script was penned by Camilla Blackett, Jana Savage, Brandon Broussard and Hudson Obayuwana.
Plot details are scarce on the film, which will be produced by Packer and James Lopez under Packer’s eponymous production company, Will Packer Productions, along with Tim Story and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett for the Story Company. Senior VP of production Erik Baiers will oversee the project for Universal.
“It is a pleasure to be teaming up with Tina once again,” Lopez said. “She is a great leader and will bring tremendous energy to this project. Tim, Sharla, Will and I look forward to the collaboration.”
“Praise...
- 6/11/2019
- by Justin Kroll
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Regina Hall, Tone Bell, Luke James, Mikey Day, Jd McCrary, Tucker Meek, Thalia Tran, Justin Hartley, Rachel Dratch | Written by Tina Gordon, Tracy Oliver | Directed by Tina Gordon
Little, directed by Tina Gordon Chism, follows tough stuck up business women Jordan Sanders after she’s transformed into her younger child self during her latest meltdown at work. Hilarity Ensues. Little is a fine comedy that plays about with its subject matter in a restrained, albeit, fun circumstance.
Without sounding pretentious and ultra-arthouse, at its heart Little is a child’s film plain and simple. While that might sound like a degrading remark, let me assure you it isn’t. Agreed elements of Little are slightly “out there” and at times a little provocative than it perhaps should be, however, at the basis of this narrative we have a wonderfully executed tale on the teething pain of growing up,...
Little, directed by Tina Gordon Chism, follows tough stuck up business women Jordan Sanders after she’s transformed into her younger child self during her latest meltdown at work. Hilarity Ensues. Little is a fine comedy that plays about with its subject matter in a restrained, albeit, fun circumstance.
Without sounding pretentious and ultra-arthouse, at its heart Little is a child’s film plain and simple. While that might sound like a degrading remark, let me assure you it isn’t. Agreed elements of Little are slightly “out there” and at times a little provocative than it perhaps should be, however, at the basis of this narrative we have a wonderfully executed tale on the teething pain of growing up,...
- 5/23/2019
- by Jak-Luke Sharp
- Nerdly
The big boss gets a small dose of karma when Little, an inventive new twist on the “body swap” comedy, arrives on Digital June 25 and Blu-ray July 9. The irreverent comedy about the price of success, the power of sisterhood and having a second chance to grow up – and glow up – right stars Regina Hall (Girls Trip),Marsai Martin (“Black-ish”) and Issa Rae (“Insecure”).
The big boss gets a small dose of karma in Little, an inventive new twist on the “body swap” comedy. The film arrives on Digital and the all-new digital movie app Movies Anywhere on June 25, 2019 and on Blu-Ray, DVD, and On Demand July 9, 2019 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Hailed by critics as “big fun”, Little shines a bright light on the incredible talent of the three female leads and shows the true meaning of Black Girl Magic. This light-hearted, comedic and heartwarming film on Blu-rayTM, DVD and...
The big boss gets a small dose of karma in Little, an inventive new twist on the “body swap” comedy. The film arrives on Digital and the all-new digital movie app Movies Anywhere on June 25, 2019 and on Blu-Ray, DVD, and On Demand July 9, 2019 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Hailed by critics as “big fun”, Little shines a bright light on the incredible talent of the three female leads and shows the true meaning of Black Girl Magic. This light-hearted, comedic and heartwarming film on Blu-rayTM, DVD and...
- 5/23/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
“Breaking Black” is a weekly column focused on emerging black talent.
“Girls Trip” screenwriter Tracy Y. Oliver got a career by getting mad. Before she became the co-star, writer, and producer on fellow Stanford University alum Issa Rae’s web series “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl,” she watched the 2009 ensemble rom-com “He’s Just Not That Into You” starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly and Scarlett Johansson. The film was set in Baltimore, which has a population that is 64% black and 30% white.
That let to a spec script: “Marriage Is for White People.” She said she wrote it in jest, but it stemmed from a very real response. “It had an all-white cast, which made little sense to me,” she said. “Baltimore is very black, and it felt like an aggressive erasure of people of color. So instead of just being upset about it, I thought, let me...
“Girls Trip” screenwriter Tracy Y. Oliver got a career by getting mad. Before she became the co-star, writer, and producer on fellow Stanford University alum Issa Rae’s web series “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl,” she watched the 2009 ensemble rom-com “He’s Just Not That Into You” starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly and Scarlett Johansson. The film was set in Baltimore, which has a population that is 64% black and 30% white.
That let to a spec script: “Marriage Is for White People.” She said she wrote it in jest, but it stemmed from a very real response. “It had an all-white cast, which made little sense to me,” she said. “Baltimore is very black, and it felt like an aggressive erasure of people of color. So instead of just being upset about it, I thought, let me...
- 5/16/2019
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
‘Little’ Screenwriter Speaks Out Against Film’s ‘Insensitive’ Transphobic Joke: ‘I Did Not Write It’
Screenwriter Tracy Oliver spoke out on social media about her latest feature, “Little,” in the wake of backlash over a transphobic joke made in the Regina Hall and Issa Rae-starring comedy. The movie has been at the center of controversy since its April 12 release due to a joke towards the beginning in which Hall’s ruthless tech mogul Jordan confuses a young girl for being a young boy. When the child’s mother tries to correct Jordan, she snaps back, “Oh, he’s transitioning?”
The transphobic joke has been called out by many film critics and moviegoers, and now Oliver says she too found the bit “mean-spirited” and “insensitive.” The “Little” screenplay is credited to both Oliver and director Tina Gordon. Oliver came forward on Twitter to distance herself from the joke, writing she never wrote the transphobic moment into her draft of “Little.”
“As a feature writer, when...
The transphobic joke has been called out by many film critics and moviegoers, and now Oliver says she too found the bit “mean-spirited” and “insensitive.” The “Little” screenplay is credited to both Oliver and director Tina Gordon. Oliver came forward on Twitter to distance herself from the joke, writing she never wrote the transphobic moment into her draft of “Little.”
“As a feature writer, when...
- 4/22/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
What if you could return to a time in your childhood and relive your life from that point knowing what you know now? That’s the fantasy at the core of Universal’s “Little,” released April 12, in which Regina Hall’s Jordan Sanders, a character overwhelmed by the pressures of adulthood, gets the chance to relive the life of her younger self, played by Marsai Martin in an oversize wig.
Writer-director Tina Gordon crafted the fluid look of the fantasy comedy in close collaboration with Dp Greg Gardiner and editor David Moritz. Gordon and Gardiner spent their weekends walking through sets and locations, discussing blocking and playing roles including Hall and Martin’s Sanders while acting out the scenes together.
“Greg played everyone in blocking,” says Gordon with a laugh. Among the scenes: a striptease with Luke James’ character, Trevor, and a separate dance atop a bar by Martin.
Gardiner...
Writer-director Tina Gordon crafted the fluid look of the fantasy comedy in close collaboration with Dp Greg Gardiner and editor David Moritz. Gordon and Gardiner spent their weekends walking through sets and locations, discussing blocking and playing roles including Hall and Martin’s Sanders while acting out the scenes together.
“Greg played everyone in blocking,” says Gordon with a laugh. Among the scenes: a striptease with Luke James’ character, Trevor, and a separate dance atop a bar by Martin.
Gardiner...
- 4/17/2019
- by Zoe Hewitt
- Variety Film + TV
‘Back of the Net’
Facing zero competition from the new releases, New Line/DC Entertainment’s family superhero adventure Shazam! continued its reign at Australian cinemas last weekend.
Lionsgate’s Hellboy reboot, Universal’s comedy Little, Fox’s romantic drama The Aftermath and Laika Studios/Roadshow’s stop-motion animated comedy Missing Link all struggled, generally mirroring their Us results.
Meanwhile Umbrella’s Back of the Net, a young adult drama directed by Louise Alston and scripted by Casie Tabanou and Alison Spuck, launched in Queensland and Victoria, netting $14,000 from limited sessions on 38 screens.
Don’t read too much into that because the film starring Sofia Wylie (the Disney Channel’s Andi Mack) as a soccer academy student who locks horns with the school’s star player Evie (Tiarnie Coupland) is rolling out over the next few weeks, dated for the school holidays.
Also, producer Steve Jaggi is soon expected to...
Facing zero competition from the new releases, New Line/DC Entertainment’s family superhero adventure Shazam! continued its reign at Australian cinemas last weekend.
Lionsgate’s Hellboy reboot, Universal’s comedy Little, Fox’s romantic drama The Aftermath and Laika Studios/Roadshow’s stop-motion animated comedy Missing Link all struggled, generally mirroring their Us results.
Meanwhile Umbrella’s Back of the Net, a young adult drama directed by Louise Alston and scripted by Casie Tabanou and Alison Spuck, launched in Queensland and Victoria, netting $14,000 from limited sessions on 38 screens.
Don’t read too much into that because the film starring Sofia Wylie (the Disney Channel’s Andi Mack) as a soccer academy student who locks horns with the school’s star player Evie (Tiarnie Coupland) is rolling out over the next few weeks, dated for the school holidays.
Also, producer Steve Jaggi is soon expected to...
- 4/15/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Events are considered box-office salvation. Case in point: This week brought the trailer debut of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” and next week is the debut of “Avengers: Endgame.” Both are, to put it mildly, highly anticipated.
However, this week also saw the detailed, appetite-whetting announcement of the Disney+ streaming service as well as “Guava Island,” a just-under one-hour musical starring Donald Glover and Rihanna that premiered at the Coachella Music Festival before showing on Amazon Prime for a brief period Saturday. The social media attention these events received dwarfed interest in any standard theatrical release this weekend. And then add the “Game of Thrones” final season opener to the mix.
Four new wide movies debuted, with the lower-budget “Little” showing the best total with $15.5 million. It placed second to “Shazam!”, despite the D.C. Comics film’s 53% second-week drop.
For individual films, the news is more downbeat than positive.
However, this week also saw the detailed, appetite-whetting announcement of the Disney+ streaming service as well as “Guava Island,” a just-under one-hour musical starring Donald Glover and Rihanna that premiered at the Coachella Music Festival before showing on Amazon Prime for a brief period Saturday. The social media attention these events received dwarfed interest in any standard theatrical release this weekend. And then add the “Game of Thrones” final season opener to the mix.
Four new wide movies debuted, with the lower-budget “Little” showing the best total with $15.5 million. It placed second to “Shazam!”, despite the D.C. Comics film’s 53% second-week drop.
For individual films, the news is more downbeat than positive.
- 4/14/2019
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Chicago – After a typical late night, deep dive of the internet, I found something terrifying. Around the 60’s, creating dinners in Jello were popular for some reason. Although I liked every individual ingredient, seeing the way they fit together was a less than appetizing. Watching “Little” reminds me of this experience except after the film, I was left with a bland, spiceless taste in my mouth.
Rating: 2.0/5.0
With a strong cast of black, female actresses, I had certain expectations when going into this film. Obviously, I had hoped that there would be a message of female empowerment at the forefront, especially since the three main actresses have recently been part of productions that have emphasized that, most notably Regina Hall in last year’s indie hit “Support the Girls”. I’m ecstatic to report that this aspect was more than well-represented, which made the baffling part about why the black perspective was so underplayed/underutilized.
Rating: 2.0/5.0
With a strong cast of black, female actresses, I had certain expectations when going into this film. Obviously, I had hoped that there would be a message of female empowerment at the forefront, especially since the three main actresses have recently been part of productions that have emphasized that, most notably Regina Hall in last year’s indie hit “Support the Girls”. I’m ecstatic to report that this aspect was more than well-represented, which made the baffling part about why the black perspective was so underplayed/underutilized.
- 4/14/2019
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Warner Bros.’ superhero adventure “Shazam!” took a victory lap at the domestic box office, retaining the No. 1 spot for the second weekend in a row.
“Shazam!” added another $25 million in its sophomore outing, bringing its North American haul to $94 million. That sum was easily enough to top a crop of newcomers including Universal’s comedy “Little,” Lionsgate’s remake of “Hellboy,” and Lakai’s stop-motion animation “Missing Link.”
While “Shazam!” continued to entice comic-book fans, “Hellboy” wasn’t as fortunate. The R-rated fantasy film, based on Mike Mignola’s graphic novel, debuted below expectations with $12 million from 3,303 locations. Neil Marshall directed the reboot of “Hellboy,” which sees “Stranger Things” actor David Harbour assume the role of the red-skinned superhero. The movie was skewered by critics and audiences alike. It holds an abysmal 15% on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a disappointing C CinemaScore.
Males accounted for 56% of opening weekend crowds for “Hellboy,...
“Shazam!” added another $25 million in its sophomore outing, bringing its North American haul to $94 million. That sum was easily enough to top a crop of newcomers including Universal’s comedy “Little,” Lionsgate’s remake of “Hellboy,” and Lakai’s stop-motion animation “Missing Link.”
While “Shazam!” continued to entice comic-book fans, “Hellboy” wasn’t as fortunate. The R-rated fantasy film, based on Mike Mignola’s graphic novel, debuted below expectations with $12 million from 3,303 locations. Neil Marshall directed the reboot of “Hellboy,” which sees “Stranger Things” actor David Harbour assume the role of the red-skinned superhero. The movie was skewered by critics and audiences alike. It holds an abysmal 15% on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a disappointing C CinemaScore.
Males accounted for 56% of opening weekend crowds for “Hellboy,...
- 4/14/2019
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Warner Bros.’ “Shazam!” is powering its way to a super second weekend, retaining its No. 1 spot at the box office with an estimated $22 million.
Meanwhile, Lionsgate’s remake of “Hellboy” is getting scorched, with just $12 million estimated from 3,303 domestic locations in its debut weekend. That number would place it at No. 3 after Universal’s body-swap comedy “Little,” with about $15 million.
“Shazam!” has so far generated $76 million domestically for WB and New Line, with another $126 million overseas. David F. Sandberg directed the film, which stars Zachary Levi as the titular superhero.
The third “Hellboy” adaptation is coming in below earlier projections, which had placed it in the $16 million to $20 million range. The film, starring “Stranger Things'” David Harbour in the titular role, took in $4.93 million on Friday. It cost about $50 million to produce, so if estimates hold, “Hellboy’s” start could look ominous.
The original 2004 film, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro,...
Meanwhile, Lionsgate’s remake of “Hellboy” is getting scorched, with just $12 million estimated from 3,303 domestic locations in its debut weekend. That number would place it at No. 3 after Universal’s body-swap comedy “Little,” with about $15 million.
“Shazam!” has so far generated $76 million domestically for WB and New Line, with another $126 million overseas. David F. Sandberg directed the film, which stars Zachary Levi as the titular superhero.
The third “Hellboy” adaptation is coming in below earlier projections, which had placed it in the $16 million to $20 million range. The film, starring “Stranger Things'” David Harbour in the titular role, took in $4.93 million on Friday. It cost about $50 million to produce, so if estimates hold, “Hellboy’s” start could look ominous.
The original 2004 film, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro,...
- 4/13/2019
- by Erin Nyren
- Variety Film + TV
(from left) April Williams (Issa Rae) and little Jordan Sanders (Marsai Martin) in “Little,” co-written and directed by Tina Gordon.
In this weekend’s new comedy, several familiar elements are tossed in the movie blender hoping to come up with a frothy cool entertainment. You’ve heard the old phrase, “Be careful what you wish for”? Well, with this flick it’s “be careful what gets wished on you”. Just two months after a self-absorbed ambitious businesswoman of color got zapped with an unusual ability in What Men Want, we’ve got another woman (though much more abrasive) getting a “Twilight Zone-style” upgrade. Well, makeover is more like it. An extreme one for certain. Perhaps in tribute to the passing last year of the multi-talented Penny Marshall, we’re seeing another variation of her greatest directing smash, Big. Last week it inspired the number one box office hit Shazam!, in...
In this weekend’s new comedy, several familiar elements are tossed in the movie blender hoping to come up with a frothy cool entertainment. You’ve heard the old phrase, “Be careful what you wish for”? Well, with this flick it’s “be careful what gets wished on you”. Just two months after a self-absorbed ambitious businesswoman of color got zapped with an unusual ability in What Men Want, we’ve got another woman (though much more abrasive) getting a “Twilight Zone-style” upgrade. Well, makeover is more like it. An extreme one for certain. Perhaps in tribute to the passing last year of the multi-talented Penny Marshall, we’re seeing another variation of her greatest directing smash, Big. Last week it inspired the number one box office hit Shazam!, in...
- 4/13/2019
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
“Shazam!” is still showing box office power as it heads for a repeat victory in North American, with about $21 million, early estimates showed on Friday.
Universal’s body-swap comedy “Little” is eyeing second place with about $14 million, narrowly topping another newcomer, Lionsgate’s “Hellboy” remake, at around $12 million. The second weekend of “Pet Sematary” and the third frame of “Dumbo” will battle for fourth at about $8 million each. Laika’s animated “Missing Link” and Avrion’s romantic drama “After” are both debuting quietly in the $6 million range.
“Shazam!” will likely have the year’s lowest gross for a domestic box office winner since the third weekend of “Glass” topped the chart during Super Bowl weekend with $9.5 million.
“Shazam!,” starring Zachary Levi as the boyish superhero, is declining about 61% from its opening. The DC Comics tentpole, which carries an $80 million budget, should wind up the frame with more than $90 million domestically in its first 10 days.
Universal’s body-swap comedy “Little” is eyeing second place with about $14 million, narrowly topping another newcomer, Lionsgate’s “Hellboy” remake, at around $12 million. The second weekend of “Pet Sematary” and the third frame of “Dumbo” will battle for fourth at about $8 million each. Laika’s animated “Missing Link” and Avrion’s romantic drama “After” are both debuting quietly in the $6 million range.
“Shazam!” will likely have the year’s lowest gross for a domestic box office winner since the third weekend of “Glass” topped the chart during Super Bowl weekend with $9.5 million.
“Shazam!,” starring Zachary Levi as the boyish superhero, is declining about 61% from its opening. The DC Comics tentpole, which carries an $80 million budget, should wind up the frame with more than $90 million domestically in its first 10 days.
- 4/12/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Regina Hall, Tone Bell, Luke James, Mikey Day, Jd McCrary, Tucker Meek, Thalia Tran, Justin Hartley, Rachel Dratch | Written by Tina Gordon, Tracy Oliver | Directed by Tina Gordon
My initial thoughts on Little, after watching the trailer, were optimistic. The trailer was funny and I was hoping that it wouldn’t be another case of the funniest parts being in the trailer. Thankfully, that concern in the back of my head was squashed within the first two minutes of this movie.
The plot of Little is straight-forward. After being bullied as a teen, Jordan Sanders decides to bully people before they get a chance to bully her. It’s an attitude that has gotten her far in her career but not in her personal life. At work, she makes her employee’s lives incredibly difficult and she is that boss you either dread having or hate working for.
My initial thoughts on Little, after watching the trailer, were optimistic. The trailer was funny and I was hoping that it wouldn’t be another case of the funniest parts being in the trailer. Thankfully, that concern in the back of my head was squashed within the first two minutes of this movie.
The plot of Little is straight-forward. After being bullied as a teen, Jordan Sanders decides to bully people before they get a chance to bully her. It’s an attitude that has gotten her far in her career but not in her personal life. At work, she makes her employee’s lives incredibly difficult and she is that boss you either dread having or hate working for.
- 4/12/2019
- by Xenia Grounds
- Nerdly
Lionsgate’s “Hellboy” remake launched to $1.4 million at 2,700 North American locations on Thursday night.
The number compares favorably with 2017’s “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter,” which scored $1 million in previews and opened with $13.6 million.
Universal’s body-swap comedy “Little” opened with $735,000 at 2,200 sites during Thursday previews.
“Shazam!” will probably repeat as the box office champ in North America after the DC Comics superhero tentpole debuted with $53 million. As of Wednesday, it had earned $67 million at the domestic box office. “Shazam!” launched at the top end of forecasts with an “A” Cinemascore from audiences. It could add another $24 to $28 million in its sophomore frame at 4,306 sites.
“Hellboy,” starring “Stranger Things” actor David Harbour, is expected to take in between $16 million to $20 million when it hits 3,303 screens. Directer by Neil Marshall, “Hellboy” is the third movie based on the Dark Horse comic about the half-demon superhero. The cast includes Ian McShane, Sasha Lane and Daniel Dae Kim.
The number compares favorably with 2017’s “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter,” which scored $1 million in previews and opened with $13.6 million.
Universal’s body-swap comedy “Little” opened with $735,000 at 2,200 sites during Thursday previews.
“Shazam!” will probably repeat as the box office champ in North America after the DC Comics superhero tentpole debuted with $53 million. As of Wednesday, it had earned $67 million at the domestic box office. “Shazam!” launched at the top end of forecasts with an “A” Cinemascore from audiences. It could add another $24 to $28 million in its sophomore frame at 4,306 sites.
“Hellboy,” starring “Stranger Things” actor David Harbour, is expected to take in between $16 million to $20 million when it hits 3,303 screens. Directer by Neil Marshall, “Hellboy” is the third movie based on the Dark Horse comic about the half-demon superhero. The cast includes Ian McShane, Sasha Lane and Daniel Dae Kim.
- 4/12/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Here’s how the rest of April looks before Avengers: Endgame blows up all box office records on April 26: There’s an avalanche of counter-programming going on over the next two weeks, and this week that includes Millennium Entertainment/Lionsgate’s R-rated reboot of Hellboy, Aviron/Voltage’s feature take on Anna Todd’s new adult novel After, Universal’s kid comedy Little and United Artists release of Laika’s Missing Link.
This is different from the event film-a-weekend release pattern that occurred throughout most of March and into last weekend with Captain Marvel, Us, Dumbo and Shazam!. Plus there’s not a four quad blockbuster opening over the next Holy Weekend, a period in recent years which has been RSVP’ed by blockbuster launches such as Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Furious 7. Instead, we have another R-rated horror pic, The Curse of La Llorna.
Again, all...
This is different from the event film-a-weekend release pattern that occurred throughout most of March and into last weekend with Captain Marvel, Us, Dumbo and Shazam!. Plus there’s not a four quad blockbuster opening over the next Holy Weekend, a period in recent years which has been RSVP’ed by blockbuster launches such as Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Furious 7. Instead, we have another R-rated horror pic, The Curse of La Llorna.
Again, all...
- 4/12/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Alternately smarmy and achingly familiar, Little squeezes Big for one more run through the Hollywood grinder. (For starters, Shazam! does it better.) This time it’s the Tom Hanks movie in reverse: Instead of a kid turning into a grown-up, it’s an adult (Regina Hall) who gets zapped into her bullied, 13-year-old body (Marsai Martin). The young star of TV’s black-ish had the idea for the switcheroo switch-up when she was 10 years old; she then sold the idea to the studio suits and director Tina Gordon. Her efforts...
- 4/11/2019
- by Peter Travers
- Rollingstone.com
It’s about to get crowded at multiplexes.
That’s because four movies — Lionsgate’s “Hellboy” remake, Universal’s comedy “Little,” Laika’s stop-motion animation “Missing Link” and Aviron’s romantic drama “After” — are all opening nationwide. The quartet of films joins an already packed box office marquee that includes last week’s champ “Shazam!” and Paramount’s horror pic “Pet Sematary.”
Unless one of this weekend’s newcomers becomes a surprise hit, it’s likely that “Shazam!” will repeat No. 1 in North America. The comic-book tentpole debuted with $53 million, along with $102 million overseas. As of Wednesday, it has earned $162 million worldwide, including $59 million at the domestic box office. If “Shazam!” sees holdover similar to other recent superhero origin stories like “Ant-Man,” “Wonder Woman,” and “Captain Marvel,” it could add another $24 to $28 million in its second weekend of release.
“Hellboy,” the reboot that sees “Stranger Things” actor David Harbour take...
That’s because four movies — Lionsgate’s “Hellboy” remake, Universal’s comedy “Little,” Laika’s stop-motion animation “Missing Link” and Aviron’s romantic drama “After” — are all opening nationwide. The quartet of films joins an already packed box office marquee that includes last week’s champ “Shazam!” and Paramount’s horror pic “Pet Sematary.”
Unless one of this weekend’s newcomers becomes a surprise hit, it’s likely that “Shazam!” will repeat No. 1 in North America. The comic-book tentpole debuted with $53 million, along with $102 million overseas. As of Wednesday, it has earned $162 million worldwide, including $59 million at the domestic box office. If “Shazam!” sees holdover similar to other recent superhero origin stories like “Ant-Man,” “Wonder Woman,” and “Captain Marvel,” it could add another $24 to $28 million in its second weekend of release.
“Hellboy,” the reboot that sees “Stranger Things” actor David Harbour take...
- 4/10/2019
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Long before America’s childhood bullying epidemic made headlines, Hollywood had taken the issue to heart, making it a standard ingredient of Ya films to condemn the mistreatment of misfits by mean girls, jocks, rich kids, and cool cliques. But the movies have largely ignored the reverse phenomenon, in which those who once identified as outcasts grow up to become perpetrators of an even worse kind of conduct when they get big. One need look no further than Silicon Valley to see how some personalities use whatever wealth and power they acquire as adults to avenge the abuse they endured in their early years.
Well, “Little” lets such bullies have it, addressing precisely that problem via the tried-and-true body-transformation genre — which has given us teens in adult bodies, adults in teen bodies, and parents and kids trading places, with seemingly infinite variations on the formula. Well, not exactly infinite: Until now,...
Well, “Little” lets such bullies have it, addressing precisely that problem via the tried-and-true body-transformation genre — which has given us teens in adult bodies, adults in teen bodies, and parents and kids trading places, with seemingly infinite variations on the formula. Well, not exactly infinite: Until now,...
- 4/10/2019
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The simple desire to be seen and valued is usually something we discuss regarding adults, often in terms of onscreen representation and in our romantic and professional lives. Rarely do we talk about what that really means through the eyes of children — specifically, a young girl today who knows she’s got #BlackGirlMagic but is still treated like a pariah among her peers.
That’s what makes director Tina Gordon’s “Little” so special. Through its heroine, the movie engages audiences in a narrative that at its core is about all of our purest intents: to feel loved, to be heard and to be good.
So it makes sense to begin the story when bespectacled Jordan Sanders is 13 years old; honest, smart, and with her heart always in the right place. It’s the night of her school’s talent show, and she is sure she’s going to win...
That’s what makes director Tina Gordon’s “Little” so special. Through its heroine, the movie engages audiences in a narrative that at its core is about all of our purest intents: to feel loved, to be heard and to be good.
So it makes sense to begin the story when bespectacled Jordan Sanders is 13 years old; honest, smart, and with her heart always in the right place. It’s the night of her school’s talent show, and she is sure she’s going to win...
- 4/10/2019
- by Candice Frederick
- The Wrap
The word on Tina Gordon’s “Little,” a slapdash modern inversion of “Big,” is that “Black-ish” star Marsai Martin came up with the idea for the movie when she was only 10 years old, and became the youngest executive producer in Hollywood history when the thing actually went into production a few years later. That’s a nice bit of trivia, but “the hacky premise for this studio comedy was pitched by the child star of a network sitcom” may not be the strongest hook for a PG-13 comedy that’s aimed at adults (though also still appropriate for older kids). If anything, it sounded like a chintzy excuse to soft-pedal another lazy remake at a time when audiences are desperate for original fare that rewards their decision to leave Netflix at home for the night.
And maybe it was. The finished product won’t exactly disabuse you of your most...
And maybe it was. The finished product won’t exactly disabuse you of your most...
- 4/10/2019
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
A dictatorial tech entrepreneur is magically transformed into her younger self in this confused comedy with little to laugh at
Last year, at the age of 13, child star Marsai Martin (from the TV show Black-ish) made Hollywood history by becoming the youngest ever executive producer of a studio film – this one. She was inspired by the Tom Hanks classic Big, and had the idea for a new twist on this fantasy comedy, which has been brought to the screen by director and co-writer Tina Gordon.
Martin plays Jordan Sanders, a nerdy high school student in the 90s who is bullied by a mean girl. Cut to the present day, and Jordan has grown up, and toughened up, as a dictatorial tech entrepreneur, played by Regina Hall, bullying her assistant April, played by Issa Rae, who is too scared of the boss to pitch her own ideas for an app. But...
Last year, at the age of 13, child star Marsai Martin (from the TV show Black-ish) made Hollywood history by becoming the youngest ever executive producer of a studio film – this one. She was inspired by the Tom Hanks classic Big, and had the idea for a new twist on this fantasy comedy, which has been brought to the screen by director and co-writer Tina Gordon.
Martin plays Jordan Sanders, a nerdy high school student in the 90s who is bullied by a mean girl. Cut to the present day, and Jordan has grown up, and toughened up, as a dictatorial tech entrepreneur, played by Regina Hall, bullying her assistant April, played by Issa Rae, who is too scared of the boss to pitch her own ideas for an app. But...
- 4/10/2019
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
When mean tech boss from hell Jordan Sanders (Regina Hall) wakes up one morning back in her 13-year-old body (Marsai Martin) in director Tina Gordon's Little, the grown-up Jordan is forced to revisit and reckon with the painful moments of her adolescence. Fed up with her boss, Jordan’s assistant, April Williams (Issa Rae), uses this extraordinary event to take charge at work and feed her supervisor a much-deserved dose of humility.
A heartwarming allegory about the long-term effects of bullying on the psyche of a child and the adult she eventually becomes, it’s a movie that ...
A heartwarming allegory about the long-term effects of bullying on the psyche of a child and the adult she eventually becomes, it’s a movie that ...
- 4/10/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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