Sarah Paulson as Bette and Dot Tattler in ‘American Horror Story: Freak Show’ (Photo by Frank Ockenfels/FX)
What better way to kick off October than with new videos from FX’s popular anthology series American Horror Story. American Horror Story: Freak Show debuts on October 8, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT and the opening credits have just been revealed featuring creepy dolls, clowns, and skeletons. FX has also released a new trailer for the series starring returning cast members Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, and Evan Peters.
The Plot:
American Horror Story: Freak Show begins its tale in the quiet, sleepy hamlet of Jupiter, Florida. The year is 1952. A troupe of curiosities has just arrived to town, coinciding with the strange emergence of a dark entity that savagely threatens the lives of townsfolk and freaks alike. This is the story of the performers and their desperate journey of survival amidst the dying world of the American carny experience.
Netflix and 41 Entertainment are teaming up on the animated TV series for kids, Kong – King of the Apes(TM), coming to the streaming service in 2016. Avi Arad (producer of Iron Man, Spider-Man and other superhero movies) is executive producing the CGI animated series which will be set in 2050. Season one’s 12 half-hour episodes will air after Netflix airs a Kong feature film.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Avi who has made some of the most successful action and adventure franchises today and whose Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventure series has been very popular on Netflix around the world,” stated Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer for Netflix. “With 41 Entertainment as our partner on this, we continue to work with some of the finest animation studios around the world to create shows that will appeal to kids of all ages globally.”
“I always loved King Kong. This is a unique opportunity to introduce him in brilliant CGI animation to kids worldwide with the power of Netflix,” said Arad.
The Plot:
Even far in the future, KONG is still the strongest creature ever born with many human traits that make him the ultimate iconic hero. In KONG, the future looks bright for San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island since its transformation into the most impressive Natural History and Marine Preserve on the planet. But when the star attraction suddenly goes ape and KONG becomes public enemy number one, the villain that framed him is free to unleash an army of gigantic robotic dinosaurs on the unsuspecting world. Ironically, KONG is the only force formidable enough to stop these super-powered dinosaurs and the evil genius manipulating them. But KONG is now the world’s most hunted fugitive. Fortunately, there are three young humans who know the truth and are willing to risk their lives to help KONG evade capture, while he battles to save humankind.
Writer Margaret Nagle’s journey to bring The Good Lie to the screen took 11 years, yet the film’s release in October 2014 couldn’t be more timely. Nagle extensively researched the Lost Boys of Sudan and the desperate conditions that have led to two million men, women, and children being displaced by civil war. Hundreds of thousands of refugees live in camps and while the story that unfolds in The Good Lie starring Arnold Oceng, Kuoth Wiel, Emmanuel Jal, and Ger Duany centers around one very specific ‘family’, all involved hope moviegoers will take an interest in the conditions in Sudan and seek out ways to help those in need.
In conjunction with the release of the film, the Good Lie Fund has been launched to assist in getting donations to support UNICEF’s relief programs in Sudan. On October 1, 2014, The Good Life Fund, UNICEF, and other charitable organizations will be holding a Thunderclap on social media to get the word out.
Margaret Nagle and actors Arnold Oceng and Kuoth Wiel have been on the road visiting cities in support of The Good Lie, discussing the film and keeping the topic of Sudan front and center. And strange as it sounds, while Nagle was working on getting producers on board for the film it was even suggested that she move the story out of Sudan. Another potential backer wanted her to remove one of the critical scenes because it was too depressing, but Nagle stuck to her guns. She wrote 42 drafts total, however the finished film is very close to her first draft thanks to the support of producers who understood Nagle’s vision and to director Philippe Falardeau’s connection with the material.
In our exclusive interview, writer Nagle and actors Oceng and Wiel talked about the responsibility of getting the story right, reactions to the film from Sudanese refugees, and why 2014 is the perfect time for The Good Lie to open in theaters:
Chuck (Josh Gad), Red (Jason Sudeikis), Bomb (Danny McBride) in Columbia Pictures and Rovio’s ANGRY BIRDS. (Photo credit: Columbia Pictures and Rovio)
Jason Sudeikis (soon to be seen in Horrible Bosses 2) will be voicing Red, a “bird with a temper problem,” in the animated comedy movie Angry Birds based on the popular – and addictive – Rovio game. Sony Pictures also just announced Josh Gad will voice Chuck and Danny McBride will lend his voice to Bomb. Bill Hader will voice a pig, Maya Rudolph is Matilda, and Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage is the Mighty Eagle.
The voice cast will also include Keegan-Michael Key, Kate McKinnon, Tony Hale, Ike Barinholtz, Hannibal Buress, Cristela Alonzo, Jillian Bell, Danielle Brooks, Romeo Santos, Ian Andrew Hecox, and Anthony Padilla.
Announcing the voice cast, producer John Cohen said, “I’m extremely proud of this cast. Not only do we have Jason, Josh, Danny, Bill, Maya, and Peter bringing these characters to life, but they’re surrounded by an all-star ensemble of emerging comedic talent – these are some of the funniest people out there today, and we’re thrilled to have them all on board.”
“With two and a half billion gamers around the world, Angry Birds is one of those brands that can drive massive fan engagement. That’s why we wanted to bring this unlock to the fans first. Our filmmakers are cooking up a hilarious movie, and we know these fans can’t wait to see how they’re going to bring the Angry Birds’ story to life on the big screen of movie theaters,” added Dwight Caines, president, Theatrical Marketing for Sony Pictures.
Fergal Reilly and Clay Kaytis are on board as directors, with Jon Vitti penning the script. Sony is targeting a July 1, 2016 theatrical launch of Angry Birds.
Gus Van Sant has finished up shooting The Sea of Trees starring Matthew McConaughey, Ken Watanabe, Naomi Watts, Katie Aselton, and Orphan Black‘s Jordan Gavaris. Chris Sparling wrote the script and Gil Netter, Ken Kao, Kevin Halloran, F. Gary Gray, Brian Dobbins, Allen Fischer, and Sparling produced the drama.
The international production traveled from Massachusetts to Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Shizuoka, and the foothills of Mt. Fuji, with Gus Van Sant’s behind the scenes crew including editor Pietro Scalia and director of photography Kasper Tuxen. The team also included production designer Alex DiGerlando, costume designer Danny Glicker, makeup department head Felicity Bowring, and music supervisor Chris Douridas.
The Plot:
Arthur Brennan (McConaughey) treks into Aokigahara, known as the The Sea of Trees, a mysterious dense forest at the base of Japan’s Mount Fuji where people go to contemplate life and death. Having found the perfect place to die, Arthur encounters Takumi Nakamura (Watanabe), a Japanese man who has also lost his way. The two men begin a journey of reflection and survival, which affirms Arthur’s will to live and reconnects him to his love with his wife (Watts).
Emma Ishta and Jack Turner in ‘Stitchers’ Photo: ABC Family / Eric McCandless)
ABC Family just made fans of the comedy series Young & Hungry happy by announcing an early season two renewal of the series starring Emily Osment, Jonathan Sadowski, Aimee Carrero, Kym Whitley, and Rex Lee. The network’s also just acquired its first procedural drama with Stitchers from writer Jeffrey A. Schechter.
Schechter’s also executive producing the series along with Jonathan Baruch and Rob Wolken.
“Stitchers is new ground for us and I’m excited to bring procedurals to the network,” said Tom Ascheim, President, ABC Family, announcing the new series. “We think our fans will love the intricate mysteries that Stitchers will solve week to week as much as they love our relationship-driven dramas. We are also going back for seconds of our new comedy, Young & Hungry. Good food, good laughs – of course we want more.”
Details on Stitchers:
Stitchers follows a young woman recruited into a covert government agency to be ‘stitched’ into the minds of the recently deceased using their memories to investigate murders and decipher mysteries that otherwise would have gone to the grave.
Lionsgate, Facebook, Twilight author Stephenie Meyer, and Women in Film are combining forces on a Twilight-inspired short film contest for women. “The Storytellers – New Creative Voices of The Twilight Saga” is a campaign to produce and develop short films by women filmmakers, with all the films to be based on a character from the Twilight series.
“We’re delighted to expand our longstanding relationship with Stephenie and confident that her participation in the Twilight short films campaign will add an exciting new dimension to the incredible world she has created as an author and producer,” said Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer and Vice Chairman Michael Burns. “Our partnership with Facebook and Women In Film underscores the opportunities for growing our franchises in exciting new directions, and we’re pleased to introduce fresh creative talent to the Twilight universe as part of our commitment to female empowerment in front of and behind the camera.”
“Accessing Hollywood is a momentous challenge, especially for aspiring female filmmakers, so I‘m thrilled that Women In Film has been invited to join Stephenie Meyer, Lionsgate and Facebook to empower new storytellers with diverse voices,” stated WIF President Cathy Schulman. “Women In Film is proud to help recruit and mentor female filmmakers as part of a project that illustrates the power of a beloved book and movie franchise to lessen the gender gap in our film community and provide a platform for women’s perspectives to be seen and heard.”
The Details:
The campaign will center on a multiphase contest culminating in the selection of at least five aspiring female filmmakers to direct short films based on characters from the Twilight universe. The films will be produced and directed with the mentorship of a blue chip panel of advisors, which will ultimately select the winning shorts that will premiere exclusively on the Facebook platform next year. The star-studded group of female panelists will include Stephenie Meyer, actress Kristen Stewart, Academy Award winners Kate Winslet and Octavia Spencer, Jennifer Lee, the award-winning writer and one of the directors of Disney’s global blockbuster Frozen, Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke, Emmy Award-winning actress Julie Bowen, and Women In Film President Cathy Schulman.
Five winning shorts will be financed through production advances, and fans will help select a grand prize winning filmmaker who will receive a cash prize and career opportunities. The short film development and production process will involve extensive fan engagement on the Facebook and Tongal platforms.
Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day are ready to extend their criminal careers in Horrible Bosses 2 coming to theaters over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and showing off a new trailer today. Also reprising their roles in this R-rated comedy are Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, and Jamie Foxx, with Chris Pine and Christoph Waltz joining the Horrible Bosses franchises as villains.
The Plot:
Fed up with answering to higher-ups, Nick (Bateman), Dale (Day) and Kurt (Sudeikis) decide to become their own bosses by launching their own business in Horrible Bosses 2. But a slick investor soon pulls the rug out from under them. Outplayed and desperate, and with no legal recourse, the three would-be entrepreneurs hatch a misguided plan to kidnap the investor’s adult son and ransom him to regain control of their company.
Is Birdman going to be an Oscar contender? After a festival run, the film currently stands at 94% fresh at Rotten Tomatoes, with Variety calling it a “triumph on every creative level” and Screen International saying it’s “a beautifully performed and smartly scripted black comedy.”
Praise is being lavished on the film’s star, Michael Keaton, as well as director Alejandro González Iñárritu, and it could be one of Fox Searchlight’s big Oscar pushes.
Coming to theaters on October 17, 2014, Birdman also stars Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Naomi Watts, and Lindsay Duncan.
Michael Keaton and Edward Norton in ‘Birdman’ (Photo Courtesy of Fox Searchlight)
The Plot:
Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance is a black comedy that tells the story of an actor (Michael Keaton) – famous for portraying an iconic superhero – as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself.
Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls and The X Factor UK will be releasing her first album on the Epic Records label in 2015 and she’s just debuted the first single, “Run.” “Run,” produced by Felix Snow, is a gorgeous ballad, showing a softer, more thoughtful and emotional side to Scherzinger.
Discussing the upcoming album and her first single, Scherzinger said, “I’ve always spoken about my life in music, but I’m at an age where I can be even more open.”
Scherzinger worked with Tricky Stewart and The-Dream – the production team behind Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” – on the upcoming full-length album in trying to put out songs that she truly emotionally connected with and that felt honest.
“There’s not a million people’s fingerprints all over it, or the feeling that anyone else could sing these songs,” said Scherzinger, adding, “I’ve battled a lot of issues and demons, as we all do growing up. But I finally feel confident in my own skin, and so I’m open enough to talk about love, insecurities, relationships, my sensual side. I’ve found my own musical soundtrack to my soul.”
