Archive for February, 2010
February 28, 2010 - 8:00 pm
  By Jay A. Fernandez
The Gersh Agency has signed award-winning independent filmmaker Debra Granik and her writing-producing partner Anne Rosellini.
At last month’s Sundance Film Festival, Granik’s latest film, “Winter’s Bone,” won the grand jury prize in the dramatic competition. She and Rosellini were also honored with the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for their adaptation of the Daniel Woodrell novel. Rosellini produced the dark drama.
February 26, 2010 - 5:15 pm
 By Jay A. Fernandez
Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson and producer Barrie Osborne have been involved with a filmmaking competition called 100% Pure New Zealand Presents Your Big Break.
Aspiring filmmakers from around the world were asked to capture the spirit of 100% Pure New Zealand in a three-minute script. Osborne and a panel of judges picked five finalists, including two Americans, two New Zealanders and one Argentinian, who then flew to New Zealand to produce their films under Osborne’s guidance.
Those films have gone live.
February 26, 2010 - 4:31 pm
 By Jay A. Fernandez
As she did for the Golden Globes weekend, THR party maven Alene Dawson has compiled a list of some of the major happenings on and around Oscar weekend.
We will be updating and adding to the list over the next nine increasingly hectic days, so be sure to check back.
February 23, 2010 - 7:06 pm
By Jay A. Fernandez
WME has signed screenwriter Bill Kelly and “Hardball” host Chris Matthews.
Kelly most recently wrote the scripts for “Premonition” and the Disney hit “Enchanted,” which grossed $340 million worldwide. He also co-wrote the screenplay for “Blast From the Past.”
February 23, 2010 - 4:28 pm
By Jay A. Fernandez
Humphrey Bogart has spoken dozens of my favorite lines. But this annual montage of bloopers from Warner Bros. films of 1936 includes what may be my new favorite.
February 22, 2010 - 5:49 pm
By Jay A. Fernandez
I had the pleasure of running into filmmaker Hilari Scarl at a cocktail party up at Sundance last month, and she had me captivated while talking about her documentary “See What I’m Saying: The Deaf Entertainers Documentary.”
February 22, 2010 - 5:11 pm
 By Jay A. Fernandez
I’ve been wanting to get this up since Thursday night, when the Writers Guild held its annual star-studded Beyond Words panel, but too many events piled up. The WGA’s awards-season closer turned out to be a bizarre laugh-riot that managed to skirt almost completely any discussion of the craft of writing.
In attendance were James Cameron (”Avatar”), Jon Lucas & Scott Moore (”The Hangover”), Scott Neustadter (”(500) Days of Summer”), Mark Boal (”The Hurt Locker”), Alex Kurtzman (”Star Trek”), Geoffrey Fletcher (”Precious”), Scott Cooper (”Crazy Heart”) and Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner (”Up in the Air”). Missing were Nora Ephron (”Julie & Julia”), Roberto Orci (”Star Trek”), Michael H. Weber (”(500) Days of Summer”) and Joel and Ethan Coen (”A Serious Man”).
February 22, 2010 - 11:50 am
 By Jay A. Fernandez
The Austin-based SXSW Film Festival has added a few late entries to its features and shorts programs.
“Four Lions,” a comedy, believe it or not, about a quartet of British jihadists, will screen at the festival. Chris Morris co-wrote and directed the film, which premiered at Sundance last month and will close the SXSW fest March 20. The festival kicks off March 12.
February 20, 2010 - 12:00 pm
 By Jay A. Fernandez
APA has signed popular YouTube personality Shane Dawson for representation in all areas.
Dawson’s videos parodying films and pop culture and showcasing his stable of wacky characters are among the most popular on the video-sharing site, with over 200 million views. His YouTube channels claim over 1.2 million subscribers and gain an average of 40,000 subscribers per week.
Dawson is also repped by manager Patti Crosby and lawyer Matt Saver.
February 19, 2010 - 2:53 pm
By Jay A. Fernandez
WME has signed “Curb Your Enthusiam” comic actor J.B. Smoove.
Smoove most recently wrapped a role in the Shawn Levy-directed feature comedy “Date Night,” which Fox will release in April. He’s currently negotiating to climb aboard the Farrelly Brothers’ comedy “Hall Pass” at New Line.
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