The Holdovers collaborators, director Alexander Payne and screenwriter David Hemingson, are working on another film together—a Western, in fact—and during a Q&a following a screening of The Holdovers at Soho House in West Hollywood on Friday, Hemingson revealed there’s a part earmarked for Paul Giamatti.
“I’ve been sworn to secrecy,” Hemingson said, “but what I will say is we’ve written him a part and I hope he’ll do it.”
If Giamatti, who stars in The Holdovers, accepts, it would be his third collaboration with Payne since Sideways in 2004.
Hemingson went on to reveal some details of the new project: “Alexander and I are writing a Western together, so we’re going to co-write something, and it’s set in Nebraska in 1886, and it’s like no Western you have ever seen before, because it’s an Alexander Payne Western. So, all those interpersonal dynamics,...
“I’ve been sworn to secrecy,” Hemingson said, “but what I will say is we’ve written him a part and I hope he’ll do it.”
If Giamatti, who stars in The Holdovers, accepts, it would be his third collaboration with Payne since Sideways in 2004.
Hemingson went on to reveal some details of the new project: “Alexander and I are writing a Western together, so we’re going to co-write something, and it’s set in Nebraska in 1886, and it’s like no Western you have ever seen before, because it’s an Alexander Payne Western. So, all those interpersonal dynamics,...
- 2/24/2024
- by Antonia Blyth
- Deadline Film + TV
Hunter Biden took House Republicans to task on Wednesday, defying a subpoena for closed-door testimony and instead delivering a statement outside the Capitol decrying the party’s efforts to impeach his father, President Joe Biden.
In November, Republicans subpoenaed Hunter, ordering him to appear before members of Congress to answer questions in a closed-door setting. Biden rejected the demand despite threats to hold him in contempt of Congress, instead offering to testify before the committee in a public setting, where his statements would not be subject to cherry-picking and selective releases by the GOP.
In November, Republicans subpoenaed Hunter, ordering him to appear before members of Congress to answer questions in a closed-door setting. Biden rejected the demand despite threats to hold him in contempt of Congress, instead offering to testify before the committee in a public setting, where his statements would not be subject to cherry-picking and selective releases by the GOP.
- 12/13/2023
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, agreed to testify in a public hearing before the House Oversight Committee. Republicans immediately shot him down.
According to a Tuesday letter addressed to committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), Biden agreed to testify before the committee on Dec. 13 — as long as the hearing was public. In the letter, Biden’s attorneys quoted Comer’s own demand, issued in November, that given Biden’s “willingness to address this investigation publicly up to this point, we would expect him to be willing to testify before Congress.
According to a Tuesday letter addressed to committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), Biden agreed to testify before the committee on Dec. 13 — as long as the hearing was public. In the letter, Biden’s attorneys quoted Comer’s own demand, issued in November, that given Biden’s “willingness to address this investigation publicly up to this point, we would expect him to be willing to testify before Congress.
- 11/28/2023
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
The House is back in session, and Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s first order of business was to announce that he will direct a House committee to open “a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.” Notably, the decision allows McCarthy and Republicans to skirt a full vote in the House on weather or not to proceed with an impeachment investigation.
In a televised statement delivered Tuesday at the Capitol, McCarthy cited allegations of “abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption,” against Biden that warranted “further investigation by the House of Representatives.
In a televised statement delivered Tuesday at the Capitol, McCarthy cited allegations of “abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption,” against Biden that warranted “further investigation by the House of Representatives.
- 9/12/2023
- by Nikki McCann Ramirez
- Rollingstone.com
U.S. Attorney David Weiss, the special counsel Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed to investigate Hunter Biden, will file a new indictment against the president’s son by the end of September, according to a court filing.
“The Speedy Trial Act requires that the Government obtain the return of an indictment by a grand jury by Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at the earliest,” the special counsel’s office wrote in the Wednesday filing. “The Government intends to seek the return of an indictment in this case before that date.”
Garland appointed Weiss as special counsel on Aug.
“The Speedy Trial Act requires that the Government obtain the return of an indictment by a grand jury by Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at the earliest,” the special counsel’s office wrote in the Wednesday filing. “The Government intends to seek the return of an indictment in this case before that date.”
Garland appointed Weiss as special counsel on Aug.
- 9/6/2023
- by Peter Wade
- Rollingstone.com
On Aug. 3, Prime Video and Variety collaborated to host Master Crafts at Nya Studios East, an event featuring the Emmy-nominated artisans behind Prime Video’s shows.
Moderated by Variety’s senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay, the five panels included “Music to Our Ears,” with music supervisors, sound editors and mixers; “World Building” with cinematographers, production designers and a VFX supervisor; “Looking the Part,” with costume designers and makeup artists; “Names and Faces” with casting directors; and “The Final Cut” with producers.
The creatives behind critically acclaimed shows such as “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Daisy Jones and the Six,” “Jury Duty,” “Swarm,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Judy Blume Forever,” and “Dead Ringers” participated in the event. Speaking on a wide range of topics, the panelists drew back the curtain on some of this year’s most popular shows and explained how they brought them to life on screen.
Moderated by Variety’s senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay, the five panels included “Music to Our Ears,” with music supervisors, sound editors and mixers; “World Building” with cinematographers, production designers and a VFX supervisor; “Looking the Part,” with costume designers and makeup artists; “Names and Faces” with casting directors; and “The Final Cut” with producers.
The creatives behind critically acclaimed shows such as “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Daisy Jones and the Six,” “Jury Duty,” “Swarm,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Judy Blume Forever,” and “Dead Ringers” participated in the event. Speaking on a wide range of topics, the panelists drew back the curtain on some of this year’s most popular shows and explained how they brought them to life on screen.
- 8/16/2023
- by Jaden Thompson and Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday named David Weiss, a federal prosector appointed by Donald Trump, as a special counsel tasked with investigating Hunter Biden.
Weiss, who has been investigating the president’s son since 2019, requested to be made a special counsel on Tuesday. The appointment gives Weiss the authority to continue investigating Biden “as well as any matters that arose from that investigation or may arise,” and to “prosecute federal crimes in any federal judicial district arising from the investigation of these matters.”
Trump nominated Weiss to serve as...
Weiss, who has been investigating the president’s son since 2019, requested to be made a special counsel on Tuesday. The appointment gives Weiss the authority to continue investigating Biden “as well as any matters that arose from that investigation or may arise,” and to “prosecute federal crimes in any federal judicial district arising from the investigation of these matters.”
Trump nominated Weiss to serve as...
- 8/11/2023
- by Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
According to a new congressional analysis by the Joint Committee on Taxation (Jct), most of the tax benefits provided by President Joe Biden‘s $750 billion Inflation Reduction Act (Ira) of 2022 are going to big banks and billion-dollar corporations. This has raised concerns among House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.), who believes […]
The post Big Banks and Corporations Benefit Most from Biden’s $750 Billion Green Energy Tax Breaks, Says Congressional Analysis appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Big Banks and Corporations Benefit Most from Biden’s $750 Billion Green Energy Tax Breaks, Says Congressional Analysis appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 4/28/2023
- by Grady Owen
- ShockYa
In a scathing rebuke of the Biden administration, Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has criticized the lack of transparency in the wake of the recent leak of thousands of taxpayer files to the news group ProPublica. The leak, which revealed the tax information of some of America’s wealthiest […]
The post IRS Exposed: Shocking Revelation of Thousands of Americans’ Tax Filings Leaked with Possible Political Motives – Congress Launches Investigation appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post IRS Exposed: Shocking Revelation of Thousands of Americans’ Tax Filings Leaked with Possible Political Motives – Congress Launches Investigation appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 2/21/2023
- by Grady Owen
- ShockYa
James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” swept the 21st annual Ves Awards Wednesday night in an unprecedented wave of dominance in every category, winning nine of its record-breaking 14 nominations, including the top photoreal feature, and the newest category, The Emerging Technology Award, for its innovative water toolset.
Although the prestigious visual effects honorary society has not been a reliable Oscar bellwether in recent years — picking the VFX winner only twice in the last six years — this now looks like a lock for the “Avatar” sequel.
Hosted by Patton Oswalt at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” (from Netflix) — the favorite to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar — won the top animation trophy and took home three awards; Amazon’s “Thirteen Lives” snagged the supporting prize, and Amazon Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” grabbed the episodic prize and also took home three awards.
Although the prestigious visual effects honorary society has not been a reliable Oscar bellwether in recent years — picking the VFX winner only twice in the last six years — this now looks like a lock for the “Avatar” sequel.
Hosted by Patton Oswalt at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” (from Netflix) — the favorite to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar — won the top animation trophy and took home three awards; Amazon’s “Thirteen Lives” snagged the supporting prize, and Amazon Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” grabbed the episodic prize and also took home three awards.
- 2/16/2023
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
“Avatar: The Way of Water” topped the 21st Annual Ves Awards with nine wins, including for photoreal feature.
Meanwhile, Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” was named best animated feature and took home three awards total. On the TV side, Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” won three awards and was named best photoreal episode.
Rian Johnson, Domee Shi, Tig Notaro, Jay Pharoah, Tyler Posey and Randall Park were among the presenters for the night. James Cameron presented the Ves Lifetime Achievement award to acclaimed producer Gale Anne Hurd.
Former Ves executive director Eric Roth received the Board of Directors Award from the current board, which includes Lisa Cooke, current Ves Chair; Jim Morris, Ves, president of Pixar Animation and founding Ves Chair; and former Chairs Jeffrey A. Okun, Ves; Mike Chambers, Ves; Carl Rosendahl, Ves; and Jeff Barnes.
“As we celebrate the 21st Annual Ves Awards,...
Meanwhile, Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” was named best animated feature and took home three awards total. On the TV side, Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” won three awards and was named best photoreal episode.
Rian Johnson, Domee Shi, Tig Notaro, Jay Pharoah, Tyler Posey and Randall Park were among the presenters for the night. James Cameron presented the Ves Lifetime Achievement award to acclaimed producer Gale Anne Hurd.
Former Ves executive director Eric Roth received the Board of Directors Award from the current board, which includes Lisa Cooke, current Ves Chair; Jim Morris, Ves, president of Pixar Animation and founding Ves Chair; and former Chairs Jeffrey A. Okun, Ves; Mike Chambers, Ves; Carl Rosendahl, Ves; and Jeff Barnes.
“As we celebrate the 21st Annual Ves Awards,...
- 2/16/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
“Avatar: The Way of Water” came out on top at the Visual Effects Society’s 2023 Ves Awards, held Wednesday evening at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
The James Cameron epic set a Ves record this year with 14 nominations in nine different categories, and it set a record for wins by coming out on top in every category in which it was nominated. By contrast, the original 2009 “Avatar” received 10 nominations and won five awards. The previous record for wins by a film was set by “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” at the first Ves Awards in 2003, when it won eight awards. (The show had fewer awards then than it does now.)
The nine awards for “Avatar: The Way of Water” included Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature, the Ves category that aligns most closely with the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Competing with “Avatar...
The James Cameron epic set a Ves record this year with 14 nominations in nine different categories, and it set a record for wins by coming out on top in every category in which it was nominated. By contrast, the original 2009 “Avatar” received 10 nominations and won five awards. The previous record for wins by a film was set by “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” at the first Ves Awards in 2003, when it won eight awards. (The show had fewer awards then than it does now.)
The nine awards for “Avatar: The Way of Water” included Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature, the Ves category that aligns most closely with the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Competing with “Avatar...
- 2/16/2023
- by Libby Hill
- The Wrap
“Avatar: The Way of Water” has made history once more.
As James Cameron’s long-gestating sequel continues its climb up the all-time box-office charts, “The Way of Water” set a new record for the most nominations for a single project from the Visual Effects Society Awards, announced this morning. The film’s 14 nods highlight achievements that range from VFX to character animation to emerging technology, where it accounts for three of the category’s five nominees. This tally surpasses the previous records set by the 11 nominations for the original “Avatar” in 2010 and the 13 nominations for “The Mandalorian” in 2021.
Joining “The Way of Water” on the Ves leaderboard are “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” which respectively top the animation and TV fields with six and seven nominations. The 21st annual Visual Effects Society Awards will take place February 15 at the Beverly Hilton,...
As James Cameron’s long-gestating sequel continues its climb up the all-time box-office charts, “The Way of Water” set a new record for the most nominations for a single project from the Visual Effects Society Awards, announced this morning. The film’s 14 nods highlight achievements that range from VFX to character animation to emerging technology, where it accounts for three of the category’s five nominees. This tally surpasses the previous records set by the 11 nominations for the original “Avatar” in 2010 and the 13 nominations for “The Mandalorian” in 2021.
Joining “The Way of Water” on the Ves leaderboard are “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” which respectively top the animation and TV fields with six and seven nominations. The 21st annual Visual Effects Society Awards will take place February 15 at the Beverly Hilton,...
- 1/17/2023
- by Erik Adams
- Indiewire
James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” leads the feature competition at the 21st Annual Ves Awards.
The film earned a total of 14 Ves Awards nominations, setting a new record for record nominations for a feature film. The original “Avatar” was the previous record holder when it received 11 nominations at the 8th Annual Ves Awards held in 2010.
“Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio” received six nominations in the animation category making it the top animated contender.
Ves members selected nominees in 25 categories at 27 in-person and virtual nomination events conducted worldwide. The winners will be announced on Feb. 15 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
This year marks the presentation of the first Ves Emerging Technology Award, which celebrates the creators of the technology behind the visuals and honors the inventors of a novel and uniquely innovative tool, device, software or methodology of outstanding value to the art and science of visual effects,...
The film earned a total of 14 Ves Awards nominations, setting a new record for record nominations for a feature film. The original “Avatar” was the previous record holder when it received 11 nominations at the 8th Annual Ves Awards held in 2010.
“Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio” received six nominations in the animation category making it the top animated contender.
Ves members selected nominees in 25 categories at 27 in-person and virtual nomination events conducted worldwide. The winners will be announced on Feb. 15 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
This year marks the presentation of the first Ves Emerging Technology Award, which celebrates the creators of the technology behind the visuals and honors the inventors of a novel and uniquely innovative tool, device, software or methodology of outstanding value to the art and science of visual effects,...
- 1/17/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
The week of chaos, confusion, and (literal) infighting that preceded Kevin McCarthy’s election as speaker was a pretty strong indication that the Republican Party’s control of the House of Representatives was going to be a shitshow.
They’ve been in control for a week now. Yes, it’s been a shitshow, but the past few days have also served as a reminder that along with all of the antics comes a laser-like focus on derailing the American government.
Republicans have hit the ground running since McCarthy belatedly took up the gavel last Friday.
They’ve been in control for a week now. Yes, it’s been a shitshow, but the past few days have also served as a reminder that along with all of the antics comes a laser-like focus on derailing the American government.
Republicans have hit the ground running since McCarthy belatedly took up the gavel last Friday.
- 1/12/2023
- by Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
For the unprecedented VFX demands of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” producer Ron Ames (who oversaw VFX and post-production) devised a new cloud-based processing system, leveraging tech from Amazon to wrangle the work of more than 20 visual effects companies and 1,500 artists around the globe (led by Industrial Light & Magic and Wētā FX). This allowed them to quickly and efficiently handle such epic sequences as the Sundering Seas storm in Episodes 1 and 2 and the cataclysmic destruction at the end of Episode 6.
“We had to build a new industrial system and put together teams that would allow us to do eight hours of content, 70 visual effects,” Ames told IndieWire. “We probably had 9,000 to 9,500 shots at any one time in flow somewhere in the pipeline for a final 6,500 shots.” Managing the daily workflow and shot review was VFX supervisor Jason Smith, who was referred to as “ubervisor” for his unconventional role.
“We had to build a new industrial system and put together teams that would allow us to do eight hours of content, 70 visual effects,” Ames told IndieWire. “We probably had 9,000 to 9,500 shots at any one time in flow somewhere in the pipeline for a final 6,500 shots.” Managing the daily workflow and shot review was VFX supervisor Jason Smith, who was referred to as “ubervisor” for his unconventional role.
- 10/5/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
If you've been watching "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," you know that the show is expansive in scope, and that we see several major areas in Tolkien's world in full glory on screen. Creating these fictional fantastical places is a group effort of several different departments, not least of which is visual effects. "All of it is a construction, carefully crafted between props, set deck, set, and visual effects," explains the series VFX producer Ron Ames in an exclusive interview with /Film. "They're all one thing."
I talked with Ames about his work on the series, particularly about some sequences we see in the latest episode, "Udûn," that are certainly massive in scope. Read on for that discussion though be warned:
Spoilers through the sixth episode of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" lie below!
This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
I talked with Ames about his work on the series, particularly about some sequences we see in the latest episode, "Udûn," that are certainly massive in scope. Read on for that discussion though be warned:
Spoilers through the sixth episode of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" lie below!
This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
- 9/30/2022
- by Vanessa Armstrong
- Slash Film
Julie Plec is ramping up her development slate and has put a slew of projects into the pipeline including an adaptation of YA novel Running Out of Time at Peacock.
It comes after a number of shows from The Vampire Diaries co-creator were axed earlier this spring including Legacies, Roswell, New Mexico and The Endgame.
Plec and her production banner My So-Called Company signed a mega-multi-year overall deal with Universal Television in 2020. She said that when she signed that deal she told the studio that she believes in “earning my keep” and added that “this slate reflects that promise”.
The first project set is Clifton, based on Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Running Out of Time. The series, which is in the works at NBCU streamer Peacock, follows 17-year-old Jazzie Smith, who was born and raised in the idyllic, island village of Clifton – a sanctuary for runaway slaves and others who...
It comes after a number of shows from The Vampire Diaries co-creator were axed earlier this spring including Legacies, Roswell, New Mexico and The Endgame.
Plec and her production banner My So-Called Company signed a mega-multi-year overall deal with Universal Television in 2020. She said that when she signed that deal she told the studio that she believes in “earning my keep” and added that “this slate reflects that promise”.
The first project set is Clifton, based on Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Running Out of Time. The series, which is in the works at NBCU streamer Peacock, follows 17-year-old Jazzie Smith, who was born and raised in the idyllic, island village of Clifton – a sanctuary for runaway slaves and others who...
- 7/13/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
TrekMovie has landed a couple of scoops for J.J. Abrams' highly anticipated sequel to his Star Trek reboot, which recently wrapped production. First up, the website has learned that Jason Matthew Smith - who played a security officer nicknamed "Cupcake" in the first movie - will reprise the role in the sequel. "Cupcake" first encountered James Kirk (Chris Pine) in a bar fight near the beginning of the first movie, which is where he received the nickname. He's later seen as a security officer who finds Kirk aboard the USS Enterprise after beaming up on the ship with Scotty. How large his role will be in the sequel is currently unknown (though it's said that he's still assigned to security aboard the Enterprise), and hasn't been officially confirmed by Paramount. Additionally, the character (who's also given the name "Mr. Hendorff") has appeared in Idw's current comic book series, and...
- 5/27/2012
- ComicBookMovie.com
HBO might have a biker-sized legal problem on its hands with its motorcycle-themed drama pilot 1%.
Hells Angels founder Sonny Barger filed a lawsuit last week against the pay cable network, the production company behind the project and its writer/executive producer Michael Tolkin claiming that the concept and the script for the show were developed with his collaboration. The complaint, filed in Los Angeles federal court, contends that HBO, the White Mountain Co. and Tolkin cut him out of the project and violated many of his publicity rights when he demanded changes to protect his own brand.
"1%" originally was set at the Carefree, Ariz., chapter of the Death Rangers, one of the toughest motorcycle clubs in the country, and centered on Misfit (Donal Logue), a Silicon Valley member who is sent to the troubled chapter to bring it under control. The project was ordered to pilot in October.
The lawsuit comes as HBO is readying "1%" for production. Casting on the pilot was completed late last week with the recruitment of Abe Ben Rubi, Jason Matthew Smith, Kim Dickens and James LeGros in the last regular roles.
Chip Esten, M.C. Gainey, Jeff Fahey and Hans Howes were tapped as guest stars/potential recurring.
Hells Angels founder Sonny Barger filed a lawsuit last week against the pay cable network, the production company behind the project and its writer/executive producer Michael Tolkin claiming that the concept and the script for the show were developed with his collaboration. The complaint, filed in Los Angeles federal court, contends that HBO, the White Mountain Co. and Tolkin cut him out of the project and violated many of his publicity rights when he demanded changes to protect his own brand.
"1%" originally was set at the Carefree, Ariz., chapter of the Death Rangers, one of the toughest motorcycle clubs in the country, and centered on Misfit (Donal Logue), a Silicon Valley member who is sent to the troubled chapter to bring it under control. The project was ordered to pilot in October.
The lawsuit comes as HBO is readying "1%" for production. Casting on the pilot was completed late last week with the recruitment of Abe Ben Rubi, Jason Matthew Smith, Kim Dickens and James LeGros in the last regular roles.
Chip Esten, M.C. Gainey, Jeff Fahey and Hans Howes were tapped as guest stars/potential recurring.
- 4/20/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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