Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet, creators of the new Showtime series The Man Who Fell to Earth, talk to hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante about the movies that inspired them.
Show Notes:
Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Man Who Fell To Earth (1976) – Michael Lehmann’s trailer commentary
Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
Amistad (1997)
Love Actually (2003)
Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)
Blazing Saddles (1974) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Dennis Cozzalio’s Blazing Saddles Thanksgiving
Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Bad News Bears (1976) – Jessica Bendinger’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Airplane! (1980) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
The Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
Bambi (1942)
Singin’ In The Rain (1952) – John Landis trailer commentary
The Asphalt Jungle (1950) – Michael Lehmann’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
The Boy Friend (1971) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Yellow Submarine (1968) – George Hickenlooper...
Show Notes:
Movies Referenced In This Episode
The Man Who Fell To Earth (1976) – Michael Lehmann’s trailer commentary
Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
Amistad (1997)
Love Actually (2003)
Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)
Blazing Saddles (1974) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Dennis Cozzalio’s Blazing Saddles Thanksgiving
Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary
The Bad News Bears (1976) – Jessica Bendinger’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review
Airplane! (1980) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
The Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
Bambi (1942)
Singin’ In The Rain (1952) – John Landis trailer commentary
The Asphalt Jungle (1950) – Michael Lehmann’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review
The Boy Friend (1971) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
Yellow Submarine (1968) – George Hickenlooper...
- 5/24/2022
- by Alex Kirschenbaum
- Trailers from Hell
Grab your spankies and don't you dare drop the spirit stick, we've got something to celebrate. Can you believe Bring It On, the teen cheerleading comedy starring Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union as the captains of rival squads, came out more than 20 years ago? Directed by Peyton Reed and written by Jessica Bendinger, the movie premiered on Aug. 25, 2000, and became a surprise hit at the box office, with audiences quickly learning Bring It On was the poo, so they needed to take a big whiff. And take a huge one they did as Bring It On would continue to dominate the box office for several weeks, spawn five direct-to-video sequels and continued to endure as a cult classic decades...
- 4/30/2022
- E! Online
HBO is developing a limited series version of the Stitcher podcast “Mob Queens” with Lena Dunham, Ruth Wilson, and Dennis Lehane, Variety has learned.
The series tells the story of Anna Genovese (Wilson), most widely known as the second wife of infamous crime boss Vito Genovese and a fixture in the Village’s drag bar scene in the 1930s who later broke Cosa Nostra law when she spilled the illegal dealings of her husband in divorce hearings.
Dunham will co-write, direct, and executive produce under her Good Thing Going banner. In addition to starring, Wilson will executive produce via Lady Lazarus. Lehane will co-write and executive produce. Michael P. Cohen of Good Thing Going will also executive produce along with Ryan Selzer of Lady Lazarus, Stitcher, Animal Kingdom, and Michael Seligman and Jessica Bendinger. Seligman and Bendinger created and hosted the podcast.
Wilson has previously produced and starred in the BBC miniseries “Mrs. Wilson,...
The series tells the story of Anna Genovese (Wilson), most widely known as the second wife of infamous crime boss Vito Genovese and a fixture in the Village’s drag bar scene in the 1930s who later broke Cosa Nostra law when she spilled the illegal dealings of her husband in divorce hearings.
Dunham will co-write, direct, and executive produce under her Good Thing Going banner. In addition to starring, Wilson will executive produce via Lady Lazarus. Lehane will co-write and executive produce. Michael P. Cohen of Good Thing Going will also executive produce along with Ryan Selzer of Lady Lazarus, Stitcher, Animal Kingdom, and Michael Seligman and Jessica Bendinger. Seligman and Bendinger created and hosted the podcast.
Wilson has previously produced and starred in the BBC miniseries “Mrs. Wilson,...
- 11/11/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
The story of Anna Genovese, the second wife of infamous crime boss Vito Genovese who broke Cosa Nostra law when she spilled the illegal dealings of her husband in divorce hearings, is being turned into a limited series for HBO.
The WarnerMedia network is developing Mob Queens with Ruth Wilson set to star as Genovese. The series is being written and exec produced by Lena Dunham and The Wire and Boardwalk Empire writer Dennis Lehane.
The series is based on the Mob Queens podcast, from Stitcher, which was created and hosted by Michael Seligman and Jessica Bendinger. It is the latest scripted series based on an audio series following the likes of Homecoming and Dr. Death.
Mob Queens will tell Genovese’s story, which also includes her as a fixture in the Village’s drag bar scene in the 1930s.
His Dark Materials star Wilson will also exec produce via...
The WarnerMedia network is developing Mob Queens with Ruth Wilson set to star as Genovese. The series is being written and exec produced by Lena Dunham and The Wire and Boardwalk Empire writer Dennis Lehane.
The series is based on the Mob Queens podcast, from Stitcher, which was created and hosted by Michael Seligman and Jessica Bendinger. It is the latest scripted series based on an audio series following the likes of Homecoming and Dr. Death.
Mob Queens will tell Genovese’s story, which also includes her as a fixture in the Village’s drag bar scene in the 1930s.
His Dark Materials star Wilson will also exec produce via...
- 11/11/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The Black List has chosen six screenwriters out of 1,400 submissions for its ninth annual Features Lab.
Lab participants will workshop their scripts through peer groups, and one-on-one mentorship over the course of six weeks. Participating mentors include Minhal Baig (Hala), Jessica Bendinger (Bring It On), Scott Myers, David Rabinowitz (BlackKklansman), Kiwi Smith (Legally Blonde), and Chris Weitz (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story).
Previous Black List Lab alumni include Baig, Tom Dean, Noga Pnueli and Jimmy Keyrouz. Two additional Black List Lab projects (The Enclosed by Chris Basler and Empire Waist by Claire Ayoub) are currently in production.
The Feature Lab participants and their projects are:
New Hampshire Boy
by...
Lab participants will workshop their scripts through peer groups, and one-on-one mentorship over the course of six weeks. Participating mentors include Minhal Baig (Hala), Jessica Bendinger (Bring It On), Scott Myers, David Rabinowitz (BlackKklansman), Kiwi Smith (Legally Blonde), and Chris Weitz (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story).
Previous Black List Lab alumni include Baig, Tom Dean, Noga Pnueli and Jimmy Keyrouz. Two additional Black List Lab projects (The Enclosed by Chris Basler and Empire Waist by Claire Ayoub) are currently in production.
The Feature Lab participants and their projects are:
New Hampshire Boy
by...
- 10/5/2021
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
The actress recalls her favorite memories from the film, including being terrified about working with Jeff Bridges
2006 was a golden year for young adult films: “Step Up,” “She’s the Man” and “John Tucker Must Die” to name a few. There was also “Stick It” starring Missy Peregrym as Haley Graham, a young gymnast rebelling against the sport and all it stands for as she recovers from how it traumatized her family. Today, “Stick It” turns 15 years old.
The film was directed by Jessica Bendinger, who was just coming off of writing “Bring It On.” Much like that movie, “Stick It” was cheeky and lovable, and over the years has carved out it’s own spot in the hearts of millennials. These days, you can watch Missy Peregrym still kicking butt, this time as an FBI agent in CBS’ “FBI,” but she still remembers playing Haley Graham quite clearly.
“It feels like so long ago,...
2006 was a golden year for young adult films: “Step Up,” “She’s the Man” and “John Tucker Must Die” to name a few. There was also “Stick It” starring Missy Peregrym as Haley Graham, a young gymnast rebelling against the sport and all it stands for as she recovers from how it traumatized her family. Today, “Stick It” turns 15 years old.
The film was directed by Jessica Bendinger, who was just coming off of writing “Bring It On.” Much like that movie, “Stick It” was cheeky and lovable, and over the years has carved out it’s own spot in the hearts of millennials. These days, you can watch Missy Peregrym still kicking butt, this time as an FBI agent in CBS’ “FBI,” but she still remembers playing Haley Graham quite clearly.
“It feels like so long ago,...
- 4/28/2021
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
Roger Ebert would refer to “Bring It On” as “the ‘Citizen Kane’ of cheerleader movies” in his February 2009 review of the comedy “Fired Up,” but his appreciation for the former 2000 teen comedy came later in life. Ebert originally gave “Bring It On” a two-star review that was mostly negative and criticized the movie for cramming too much R-rated material into a PG-13 teen comedy. While marking the movie’s 20th anniversary this week, “Bring It On” screenwriter Jessica Bendinger remembered how her father reacted to Ebert’s negative review in a surprising manner.
“There’s a story there. I’m from Chicago and Roger Ebert was a neighbor of my dad’s and he would see him at the grocery store,” Bendinger told the AP. “Apparently after that review, my dad confronted Roger in the Carnival Grocery like, ‘Hey, I’m Jessica’s dad and I really don’t like what you wrote.
“There’s a story there. I’m from Chicago and Roger Ebert was a neighbor of my dad’s and he would see him at the grocery store,” Bendinger told the AP. “Apparently after that review, my dad confronted Roger in the Carnival Grocery like, ‘Hey, I’m Jessica’s dad and I really don’t like what you wrote.
- 8/26/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Twenty years after “Bring It On” debuted, “Brr it’s cold in here” and “This is not a democracy, it’s a cheerocracy” have shown no signs of being shunted aside from the cultural lexicon.
But in the late ’90s when screenwriter Jessica Bendinger shopped her lengthy 120-page script around Hollywood, every major studio passed on making a teen movie about cheerleaders. She was about to give up hope that the Rancho Carne Toros and the East Compton Clovers would get their due on the big screen when producers at Beacon Pictures fell in love with the screenplay and agreed to make the movie. (Universal Pictures ended up distributing the film in theaters.)
Despite the initial reluctance of many executives, “Bring It On” became a hit when it was released in theaters on Aug. 25, 2000 — eventually grossing $90 million at the box office. The legacy of “Bring It On” extended far beyond that original movie,...
But in the late ’90s when screenwriter Jessica Bendinger shopped her lengthy 120-page script around Hollywood, every major studio passed on making a teen movie about cheerleaders. She was about to give up hope that the Rancho Carne Toros and the East Compton Clovers would get their due on the big screen when producers at Beacon Pictures fell in love with the screenplay and agreed to make the movie. (Universal Pictures ended up distributing the film in theaters.)
Despite the initial reluctance of many executives, “Bring It On” became a hit when it was released in theaters on Aug. 25, 2000 — eventually grossing $90 million at the box office. The legacy of “Bring It On” extended far beyond that original movie,...
- 8/21/2020
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Women and Film, Los Angeles and The Black List unveiled the participants of the 2020 Feature Lab and Residency on Monday. The annual program is an expansion of the original writing lab which is a joint effort between Wif and The Black List.
The program provides mentorship and career opportunities to seven rising women screenwriters over the course of a year. The Lab and Residency will include intensive script and professional development sessions, initially in online sessions to address stay-at-home requirements.
“I very much look forward to the year that doing two writing labs with Wif with only women participants makes no rational sense because women represent at least fifty percent of the working screenwriters in film and at every level of television,” says Black List founder Franklin Leonard. “We clearly have a long way to go, and so until then are committed to our ongoing work with Wif, this year’s Lab,...
The program provides mentorship and career opportunities to seven rising women screenwriters over the course of a year. The Lab and Residency will include intensive script and professional development sessions, initially in online sessions to address stay-at-home requirements.
“I very much look forward to the year that doing two writing labs with Wif with only women participants makes no rational sense because women represent at least fifty percent of the working screenwriters in film and at every level of television,” says Black List founder Franklin Leonard. “We clearly have a long way to go, and so until then are committed to our ongoing work with Wif, this year’s Lab,...
- 6/29/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The Black List and Women In Film, Los Angeles (Wif La) revealed the participants in their 2019 Feature Residency program as well as their Annual Feature Lab.
The collaboration between the organizations provides mentorship and career opportunities to six rising women screenwriters over the course of a year, the Feature Residency kicked off with a three-day intensive this past weekend in a Los Angeles and included mentors Haifaa Al-Mansour (Wadja), Jessica Bendinger (Bring it On), Andrea Berloff (The Kitchen), Aline Brosh McKenna (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Scott Myers, Liz Hannah (Long Shot), and Kiwi Smith (Legally Blonde). The participants will continue in mentorship, script work, and career development for the next twelve months. The Residency is supported by Airbnb and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
For the Annual Feature Lab, six writers were selected from over 1,000 submissions via the Black List website...
The collaboration between the organizations provides mentorship and career opportunities to six rising women screenwriters over the course of a year, the Feature Residency kicked off with a three-day intensive this past weekend in a Los Angeles and included mentors Haifaa Al-Mansour (Wadja), Jessica Bendinger (Bring it On), Andrea Berloff (The Kitchen), Aline Brosh McKenna (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Scott Myers, Liz Hannah (Long Shot), and Kiwi Smith (Legally Blonde). The participants will continue in mentorship, script work, and career development for the next twelve months. The Residency is supported by Airbnb and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
For the Annual Feature Lab, six writers were selected from over 1,000 submissions via the Black List website...
- 7/29/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The slate of Phyllis Nagy is getting a massive showing of support from some of the biggest names in film and television. More than 300 writers of all levels in the film and TV business, from up-and-comers to superstars, have signed an open letter endorsing Nagy, who is running for president of WGA West, as well as her slate of Craig Mazin, who’s running for vice president, and Nick Jones Jr., up for secretary-treasurer.
Those who have signed the letter include heavyweights Shonda Rhimes, Greg Berlanti, Ryan Murphy, Ava DuVernay, Dan Fogelman, Kenya Barris, Steve Levitan, Damien Chazelle, Courtney Kemp, Aaron Sorkin, David E. Kelley, Akiva Goldsman, Lena Waithe, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Allan Heinberg, David Benioff, Db Weiss, Alex Kurtzman, Sarah Treem,, Darren Star, Nic Pizzolatto, Scott Frank, Eric Kripke and Alex Gibney.
The list also includes top showrunner John Wells, one of the most respected leaders in the...
Those who have signed the letter include heavyweights Shonda Rhimes, Greg Berlanti, Ryan Murphy, Ava DuVernay, Dan Fogelman, Kenya Barris, Steve Levitan, Damien Chazelle, Courtney Kemp, Aaron Sorkin, David E. Kelley, Akiva Goldsman, Lena Waithe, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Allan Heinberg, David Benioff, Db Weiss, Alex Kurtzman, Sarah Treem,, Darren Star, Nic Pizzolatto, Scott Frank, Eric Kripke and Alex Gibney.
The list also includes top showrunner John Wells, one of the most respected leaders in the...
- 7/26/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
America’s core copyright industries added a whopping $1.3 trillion to the nation’s economy last year and employed nearly 5.7 million American workers, accounting for 3.85% of the entire U.S. workforce and 4.54% of all private sector jobs, according to a new study.
Prepared by the International Intellectual Property Alliance, the study also found that core copyright industries are growing at a faster rate than the rest of the economy – at an aggregate annual rate of 5.23% from 2014-17, compared with the 2.21% average annual growth rate of the entire U.S. economy over the same period. “The core copyright industries grew at a rate more than 137% greater than the remainder of the U.S. economy,” according to the report (read it here).
The average annual wage of workers in the core copyright industries is also considerably higher than the average U.S. annual wage – $98,336 compared to $70,498, amounting to a 39% “compensation premium” over the average U.
Prepared by the International Intellectual Property Alliance, the study also found that core copyright industries are growing at a faster rate than the rest of the economy – at an aggregate annual rate of 5.23% from 2014-17, compared with the 2.21% average annual growth rate of the entire U.S. economy over the same period. “The core copyright industries grew at a rate more than 137% greater than the remainder of the U.S. economy,” according to the report (read it here).
The average annual wage of workers in the core copyright industries is also considerably higher than the average U.S. annual wage – $98,336 compared to $70,498, amounting to a 39% “compensation premium” over the average U.
- 12/7/2018
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
After whittling down a list from more than 1,200 applicants, The Black List has the seven screenwriters to participate in its fifth annual Feature Writers Lab.
The writers, none of whom has made more than $100K in their writing careers, and their scripts are:
Amber Alexander, Juniper’s Point
Chris Basler, The Enclosed
Ryan Jow, Windfall
Halia Meguid, Monsters of Philsdelphia
Cody Newton, American Patriot
Kim & Mai Spurlock, The Breakline
All seven writers will participate in a residential workshop from August 5-11 in Manhattan Beach, CA, Each writer will workshop one screenplay through peer workshops and one-on-one sessions with working professional screenwriting mentors. They also will attend a series of events and screenings that will further expose them to the realities of a life as a professional screenwriter.
Read their official bios below.
The Black List today also named its 2018 Feature Writers Lab mentors:
Max Borenstein (Kong: Skull Island)
Phil Hay...
The writers, none of whom has made more than $100K in their writing careers, and their scripts are:
Amber Alexander, Juniper’s Point
Chris Basler, The Enclosed
Ryan Jow, Windfall
Halia Meguid, Monsters of Philsdelphia
Cody Newton, American Patriot
Kim & Mai Spurlock, The Breakline
All seven writers will participate in a residential workshop from August 5-11 in Manhattan Beach, CA, Each writer will workshop one screenplay through peer workshops and one-on-one sessions with working professional screenwriting mentors. They also will attend a series of events and screenings that will further expose them to the realities of a life as a professional screenwriter.
Read their official bios below.
The Black List today also named its 2018 Feature Writers Lab mentors:
Max Borenstein (Kong: Skull Island)
Phil Hay...
- 8/2/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Does a new year mean a new Netflix? Probably not, as their slate for the first month of 2018 is still troublingly light on movies that would be old enough to have their own Netflix accounts. Nevertheless, the streaming giant has plugged a few of the biggest gaps in their library of classic films, adding “The Godfather” trilogy, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and the entire “Bring it On” series in one fell swoop.
Here are the seven best films to stream on Netflix in January 2018 (and click here for a list of everything that’s been added to the service this month).
7. “Definitely, Maybe” (2008)
Remember romantic comedies? They were nice. Sure, many of them were patently insane, and almost all of them reinforced some pernicious gender norms, but they could also be sweet and sincere reminders that we’re all just out there looking for love. “Definitely, Maybe” is one of the genre’s better examples,...
Here are the seven best films to stream on Netflix in January 2018 (and click here for a list of everything that’s been added to the service this month).
7. “Definitely, Maybe” (2008)
Remember romantic comedies? They were nice. Sure, many of them were patently insane, and almost all of them reinforced some pernicious gender norms, but they could also be sweet and sincere reminders that we’re all just out there looking for love. “Definitely, Maybe” is one of the genre’s better examples,...
- 1/8/2018
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Think of Scriptd like IMDb, but for unproduced screenplays. The digital marketplace boasts an intuitive interface that makes it easy to sort through (totally digital) stacks of scripts, all looking for a home to call their own. First launched in 2015, the website packages each script for maximum readability, first listed by title, author, and logline, along with tags denoting if it’s a film, television, or web project. Click on a script, and you can read its first few pages and reach out if you’d like to purchase the full script or are eager to chat about picking up the rights.
Perhaps it’s too easy. In an effort to maximize the browsing capabilities of Scriptd and help shine a light on the works of traditionally underrepresented groups, Scriptd has now added a curated function in partnership with industry experts. Per Scriptd, their aim is simple: “to both increase inclusion and quality,...
Perhaps it’s too easy. In an effort to maximize the browsing capabilities of Scriptd and help shine a light on the works of traditionally underrepresented groups, Scriptd has now added a curated function in partnership with industry experts. Per Scriptd, their aim is simple: “to both increase inclusion and quality,...
- 10/5/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Welcome to Career Watch, a vocational checkup of top actors and directors, and those who hope to get there. In this edition we take on Kirsten Dunst, who steals the show from Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell in Cannes director-winner Sofia Coppola’s Civil War potboiler “The Beguiled” (June 23, Focus Features). It’s her fourth collaboration with Coppola.
Bottom Line: Dunst steered toward playing strong women from an early age, with films that include political comedy “Dick” with Michelle Williams, John Stockwell’s “Crazy/Beautiful” with Jay Hernandez, and Peyton Reed and Jessica Bendinger’s cheerleader sleeper “Bring It On,” shot the year she graduated from Los Angeles’ Catholic high school Notre Dame. She has never settled for The Girlfriend or romantic lead, although she made a memorable Mary Jane Watson in the “Spider-Man” franchise. “Looking back, I’m proud of the choices that I’ve made,” she said. “A...
Bottom Line: Dunst steered toward playing strong women from an early age, with films that include political comedy “Dick” with Michelle Williams, John Stockwell’s “Crazy/Beautiful” with Jay Hernandez, and Peyton Reed and Jessica Bendinger’s cheerleader sleeper “Bring It On,” shot the year she graduated from Los Angeles’ Catholic high school Notre Dame. She has never settled for The Girlfriend or romantic lead, although she made a memorable Mary Jane Watson in the “Spider-Man” franchise. “Looking back, I’m proud of the choices that I’ve made,” she said. “A...
- 6/22/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Welcome to Career Watch, a vocational checkup of top actors and directors, and those who hope to get there. In this edition we take on Kirsten Dunst, who steals the show from Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell in Cannes director-winner Sofia Coppola’s Civil War potboiler “The Beguiled” (June 23, Focus Features). It’s her fourth collaboration with Coppola.
Bottom Line: Dunst steered toward playing strong women from an early age, with films that include political comedy “Dick” with Michelle Williams, John Stockwell’s “Crazy/Beautiful” with Jay Hernandez, and Peyton Reed and Jessica Bendinger’s cheerleader sleeper “Bring It On,” shot the year she graduated from Los Angeles’ Catholic high school Notre Dame. She has never settled for The Girlfriend or romantic lead, although she made a memorable Mary Jane Watson in the “Spider-Man” franchise. “Looking back, I’m proud of the choices that I’ve made,” she said. “A long career is up to you. It’s your barometer of taste and the choices you make as an actress inform how other people look at you and if they want you in their movies. So you have to be wise.”
Career Peaks: A model from the age of three, the child actress shot out of a cannon when she won a worldwide search for 11-year-old Claudia, starring opposite Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in “Interview with the Vampire,” Neil Jordan’s fabulously kinky 1994 take on the Anne Rice classic. Dunst has long leaned into women’s subjects and directors, from Gillian Armstrong and Robin Swicord’s “Little Women” and Leslye Hedland’s raucous “Bachelorette,” to Coppola’s Cannes breakout “The Virgin Suicides,” shot when she was 16.
That film marked her segue to more adult roles. “I was sexualized,” Dunst told me, “but through her lens, which was such a wonderful way to be transitioned. There was nothing grotesque, even though I was doing things in that film that I was uncomfortable doing. I’d stress out about ‘Oh, I have to make out with that boy on the roof,’ but Sofia would just have me nuzzle into the side of their face. Even though I was blossoming, it was not something I was comfortable with yet. She really opened that door for me.”
Dunst went on to star for Coppola as a coquettish queen in the title role “Marie Antoinette,” and cameoed in “The Bling Ring.”
Assets: Beyond sexual allure, Dunst brings depth and mystery. She can play the girl next door (“Spider-Man”), a drunk bride peeing on the lawn in the moonlight in her wedding dress (“Melancholia”), an imperious 18th-century queen (“Marie Antoinette”), or a racist Nasa administrator (“Hidden Figures”). She has a steely edge, as well as a wicked sense of humor. Her career pivot came before 2010 Ryan Gosling two-hander “All Good Things,” when she started to meet with acting coach/therapist Greta Seacat (who also works with Coppola).
While Dunst always picks projects based on directors, she credits Seacat with a total game change “in terms of acting and how I approach things,” said Dunst. “And now it’s all about me. It’s cathartic for me. It’s my thing, it’s my experience, it’s nothing about pleasing anyone else but myself. And it all comes from me, so I have so much more control than anybody else; it’s all about my own inner life. By the time I get to set, I’m so prepared no one needs to direct me. No one needs to tell me anything. I feel so powerful with what I have to bring, that making movies is for myself now and it’s like getting rid of poisons. Like if you went to a therapist all the time, but I get to do it by acting out anything I want to, so that’s a powerful tool.”
She draws the line at too much nudity, and turned down a sexy role in another Lars von Trier movie. “I would work with him again,” she said. “It just depends on the part because he loves exposing… like Charlotte Gainsbourg, she has a less curvaceous body, so it’s less assaulting to see than if someone with larger breasts and more womanly-shaped did some of the things she did in movies.”
Biggest Problem: As she has come into a strong sense of her own identity, Dunst is making career choices for herself, not her fans. She’s not looking to please anyone else or playing the movie-star game, as evidenced by her maverick choices, from “Melancholia” to “Fargo.” “Only Lars and Pedro Almodovar write these incredible, messy roles for women,” she has said.
Awards Attention: She won Best Actress at Cannes for her hilariously depressed bride in Lars von Trier’s comedic end-of-the-world tragedy, “Melancholia,” after being quick enough on her feet to survive a disastrous Cannes press conference when her director went off the rails. While she earned plaudits and a Golden Globe nomination for Season Two of “Fargo” as the deeply flawed murderess Peggy Blumquist, she’s never earned an Oscar nomination. “The Beguiled” could be her first — she’s earning raves across the board.
Next page: Dunst scribes her character in “The Beguiled”: “Edwina would be me at my worst, working on a film that I don’t want to be on.”
Related storiesHow Controversies Can Hurt Movies Before They're Released -- IndieWire's Movie Podcast (Screen Talk Episode 154)'The Beguiled' Exclusive: Here's What It's Like to Work On A Sofia Coppola Set -- WatchSofia Coppola Explains Why She Left Her Ambitious Take on 'The Little Mermaid'...
Bottom Line: Dunst steered toward playing strong women from an early age, with films that include political comedy “Dick” with Michelle Williams, John Stockwell’s “Crazy/Beautiful” with Jay Hernandez, and Peyton Reed and Jessica Bendinger’s cheerleader sleeper “Bring It On,” shot the year she graduated from Los Angeles’ Catholic high school Notre Dame. She has never settled for The Girlfriend or romantic lead, although she made a memorable Mary Jane Watson in the “Spider-Man” franchise. “Looking back, I’m proud of the choices that I’ve made,” she said. “A long career is up to you. It’s your barometer of taste and the choices you make as an actress inform how other people look at you and if they want you in their movies. So you have to be wise.”
Career Peaks: A model from the age of three, the child actress shot out of a cannon when she won a worldwide search for 11-year-old Claudia, starring opposite Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in “Interview with the Vampire,” Neil Jordan’s fabulously kinky 1994 take on the Anne Rice classic. Dunst has long leaned into women’s subjects and directors, from Gillian Armstrong and Robin Swicord’s “Little Women” and Leslye Hedland’s raucous “Bachelorette,” to Coppola’s Cannes breakout “The Virgin Suicides,” shot when she was 16.
That film marked her segue to more adult roles. “I was sexualized,” Dunst told me, “but through her lens, which was such a wonderful way to be transitioned. There was nothing grotesque, even though I was doing things in that film that I was uncomfortable doing. I’d stress out about ‘Oh, I have to make out with that boy on the roof,’ but Sofia would just have me nuzzle into the side of their face. Even though I was blossoming, it was not something I was comfortable with yet. She really opened that door for me.”
Dunst went on to star for Coppola as a coquettish queen in the title role “Marie Antoinette,” and cameoed in “The Bling Ring.”
Assets: Beyond sexual allure, Dunst brings depth and mystery. She can play the girl next door (“Spider-Man”), a drunk bride peeing on the lawn in the moonlight in her wedding dress (“Melancholia”), an imperious 18th-century queen (“Marie Antoinette”), or a racist Nasa administrator (“Hidden Figures”). She has a steely edge, as well as a wicked sense of humor. Her career pivot came before 2010 Ryan Gosling two-hander “All Good Things,” when she started to meet with acting coach/therapist Greta Seacat (who also works with Coppola).
While Dunst always picks projects based on directors, she credits Seacat with a total game change “in terms of acting and how I approach things,” said Dunst. “And now it’s all about me. It’s cathartic for me. It’s my thing, it’s my experience, it’s nothing about pleasing anyone else but myself. And it all comes from me, so I have so much more control than anybody else; it’s all about my own inner life. By the time I get to set, I’m so prepared no one needs to direct me. No one needs to tell me anything. I feel so powerful with what I have to bring, that making movies is for myself now and it’s like getting rid of poisons. Like if you went to a therapist all the time, but I get to do it by acting out anything I want to, so that’s a powerful tool.”
She draws the line at too much nudity, and turned down a sexy role in another Lars von Trier movie. “I would work with him again,” she said. “It just depends on the part because he loves exposing… like Charlotte Gainsbourg, she has a less curvaceous body, so it’s less assaulting to see than if someone with larger breasts and more womanly-shaped did some of the things she did in movies.”
Biggest Problem: As she has come into a strong sense of her own identity, Dunst is making career choices for herself, not her fans. She’s not looking to please anyone else or playing the movie-star game, as evidenced by her maverick choices, from “Melancholia” to “Fargo.” “Only Lars and Pedro Almodovar write these incredible, messy roles for women,” she has said.
Awards Attention: She won Best Actress at Cannes for her hilariously depressed bride in Lars von Trier’s comedic end-of-the-world tragedy, “Melancholia,” after being quick enough on her feet to survive a disastrous Cannes press conference when her director went off the rails. While she earned plaudits and a Golden Globe nomination for Season Two of “Fargo” as the deeply flawed murderess Peggy Blumquist, she’s never earned an Oscar nomination. “The Beguiled” could be her first — she’s earning raves across the board.
Next page: Dunst scribes her character in “The Beguiled”: “Edwina would be me at my worst, working on a film that I don’t want to be on.”
Related storiesHow Controversies Can Hurt Movies Before They're Released -- IndieWire's Movie Podcast (Screen Talk Episode 154)'The Beguiled' Exclusive: Here's What It's Like to Work On A Sofia Coppola Set -- WatchSofia Coppola Explains Why She Left Her Ambitious Take on 'The Little Mermaid'...
- 6/22/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Every week, IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit rounds up the latest in opportunities that can help those looking to advance projects or get a career started in the film industry. The following grants, labs, fellowships, contests and other non-profit opportunities could be a great way to help kickstart your movie and TV dreams.
New Opportunities & Upcoming Deadlines
NBC’s Writers on the Verge
– NBCUniversal’s Writers on the Verge 12-week program focuses on polishing and preparing television writers for a staff writer position on a television series. Writers who are “almost there” but need assistance with their final bit of preparation with their writing and personal presentation skills are encouraged to apply. The program consists of two night classes, which will typically be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 – 10 Pm weekly at NBCUniversal in Universal City, CA. Once accepted, students must attend all classes and turn in all written assignments.
Past...
New Opportunities & Upcoming Deadlines
NBC’s Writers on the Verge
– NBCUniversal’s Writers on the Verge 12-week program focuses on polishing and preparing television writers for a staff writer position on a television series. Writers who are “almost there” but need assistance with their final bit of preparation with their writing and personal presentation skills are encouraged to apply. The program consists of two night classes, which will typically be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 – 10 Pm weekly at NBCUniversal in Universal City, CA. Once accepted, students must attend all classes and turn in all written assignments.
Past...
- 3/24/2017
- by Allison Picurro and Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Read More: 7 Best Screenwriting Apps to Make Life Easier
New York Women in Film & Television (Nywift) and Iris , a collective of women filmmakers, have officially announced the 10 selected screenwriters who will participate in this year’s The Writers Lab. Now in its second year, The Writers Lab is a program where emerging female screenwriters team up with industry mentors to help develop their screenplays. The lab is open to women over the age of 40 and is funded by Meryl Streep. This year’s participants include:
Carol Carpenter, “The Guadalupe”
Melody Cooper, “The Sound of Darkness”
Meredith DePaolo, “Devil’s Eye””
Nancy Duff, “Dead Drop”
Kate Erickson, “Roll With It”
Tina Field Howe, “Drone War”
Christina Hulen, “A Gentleman of Good Hope”
Christine Toy Johnson, “Jumping the Third Rail”
Nanci Katz-Ellis, “Blink”
Leslie Longworth, “One Bad Astronaut”
Barbara Nunberg, “Willful Blindness”
Stephanie Stanley, “The Radical”
The mentors who will be included...
New York Women in Film & Television (Nywift) and Iris , a collective of women filmmakers, have officially announced the 10 selected screenwriters who will participate in this year’s The Writers Lab. Now in its second year, The Writers Lab is a program where emerging female screenwriters team up with industry mentors to help develop their screenplays. The lab is open to women over the age of 40 and is funded by Meryl Streep. This year’s participants include:
Carol Carpenter, “The Guadalupe”
Melody Cooper, “The Sound of Darkness”
Meredith DePaolo, “Devil’s Eye””
Nancy Duff, “Dead Drop”
Kate Erickson, “Roll With It”
Tina Field Howe, “Drone War”
Christina Hulen, “A Gentleman of Good Hope”
Christine Toy Johnson, “Jumping the Third Rail”
Nanci Katz-Ellis, “Blink”
Leslie Longworth, “One Bad Astronaut”
Barbara Nunberg, “Willful Blindness”
Stephanie Stanley, “The Radical”
The mentors who will be included...
- 8/4/2016
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
In Great Moments in Gay, Team Tfe looks at our favorite queer scenes in the movies for Pride Month. Here's Kieran Scarlett on Bring it On (2000)
Peyton Reed's Bring it On is one of the best high school movies of all time. It's best to get that out of the way first in any writing about the 2000 flick about the politics of high school cheerleading. It's often dismissed, forgotten or written off as a trifle, which couldn't be further from the truth. It so stylishly inhabits its own cinematic universe and does such an excellent job of world building--something that's often missing in a lot of high school movies where the environment can sometimes feel generic or a retread of superior movies. Its first scene brilliantly employs a Greek chorus-style device set to a cheer routine to introduce the world and its characters. And it manages to do so...
Peyton Reed's Bring it On is one of the best high school movies of all time. It's best to get that out of the way first in any writing about the 2000 flick about the politics of high school cheerleading. It's often dismissed, forgotten or written off as a trifle, which couldn't be further from the truth. It so stylishly inhabits its own cinematic universe and does such an excellent job of world building--something that's often missing in a lot of high school movies where the environment can sometimes feel generic or a retread of superior movies. Its first scene brilliantly employs a Greek chorus-style device set to a cheer routine to introduce the world and its characters. And it manages to do so...
- 6/2/2016
- by Kieran Scarlett
- FilmExperience
The first ever Writers Lab, a program targeting female screenwriters over 40, took place at Wiawaka on Lake George, New York from September 18-20, 2015.
The group of mentors included Caroline Kaplan ("Boyhood," "Time Out of Mind," "Personal Velocity"), Kirsten Smith ("Legally Blonde," "Ten Things I Hate About You"), Jessica Bendinger ("Bring It On," "Aquamarine"), Mary Jane Skalski ("Win Win," "The Station Agent"),Gina Prince-Bythewood ("Secret Life of Bees," "Beyond the Lights"),Lydia Dean-Pilcher ("The Lunchbox," The Reluctant Fundamentalist"), Meg LeFauve ("Inside Out," "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys"), and Darnell Martin (“Cadillac Records” and “I Like It Like That”).
Launched by New York Women in Film and Television (Nywift) and Iris, a collective of women filmmakers dedicated to championing the female voice in narrative film, was funded in part by Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep, and with the collaboration of the Writers Guild of America East.
Motivated by its screenwriting members who were frustrated with the paucity of development opportunities, Iris founders Elizabeth Kaiden, Kyle Ann Stoke, and Nitza Wilson approached Nywift to support a screenwriting Lab exclusively for this demographic and The Writers Lab came into being.
I spoke with Iris cofounder Elizabeth Kaiden to follow up about the first Writers Lab.
Kouguell: How many screenplays were submitted for consideration?
Kaiden: There were approximately 3,500 screenplays submitted. The selected participants were Sarah Bird ("Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen), Vanessa Carmichael ("The American"). Tracy Charlton ("Raised Up"), Kellen Hertz ("Ashburn"), Anna Hozian ("Anchor Baby"), Lyralen Kaye ("St John the Divine in Iowa"), Jan Kimbrough ("The Glastonbury Cow Party"), Billie Jo Mason ("The Cargo"), Peres Owino ("Basketweaver"), Gretchen Somerfeld ("Face Value"), Janet Stilson ("Jaguar Trail"), and Kim Turner ("It Goes Like This").
Kouguell: What were some highlights from the three-day Lab?
Kaiden: Highlights included the chemistry, warmth and enthusiasm of the group, the bucolic setting in which serious and thoughtful individual meetings between writers and mentors took place, the outstanding, locally sourced, group meals presented by Wiawaka chef Meg, and evening conversations around a bonfire. Oh, and the weather was fabulous.
Kouguell: What is the next step for these writers selected for the Lab?
Kaiden: Writers are all revising their work and communicating with each other. They will use the feedback, resources, references, and friendships they took away from the Lab to further develop their scripts and their opportunities.
Kouguell: In addition to the one-on-one meetings, what other events took place?
Kaiden: There were three panel discussions in which the mentors addressed specific craft issues and general industry insight, informal conversations, group meals, as well as small, directed group conversations led by Nywift Board President Alexis Alexanian to address the challenges writers face in navigating the film world.
Kouguell: What do you feel were some of the most positive outcomes from the weekend in Lake George?
Kaiden: The most exciting outcome of this venture, for me, is uncovering and bringing to public attention the field of women screenwriters, particularly its enormous breadth and depth. The most positive outcomes of the weekend Lab, for me, include the sense of empowerment I believe the Lab gave the writers to continue their work and develop their projects, and the supportive community of writers we all discovered, which can only further our goals of ensuring that more of their stories will reach audiences.
Kouguell: Will the Writers Lab take place again next year?
Kaiden: Yes.
Kouguell: Anything else you’d like to add?
Kaiden: We were excited and delighted by the energy and enthusiasm at the Lab. It felt like an important event. It Was an important event. We discussed and debated issues of theme, tone, craft, structure, character, as well as production, representation, and target markets. The mentors were unbelievably focused, supportive and encouraging. Serious work was done. The writers left feeling, I think, that their voices had been heard, and that they should all continue to tell their stories. I think you will be hearing more from these writers and about these projects. And, although that would have been enough, everyone had a blast.
Award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, Susan Kouguell teaches screenwriting at Purchase College Suny, and presents international seminars on screenwriting and film. Author of Savvy Characters Sell Screenplays! and The Savvy Screenwriter, she is chairperson of Su-City Pictures East, LLC, a consulting company founded in 1990 where she works with writers, filmmakers, and executives worldwide. www.su-city-pictures.com, http://su-city-pictures.com/wpblog...
The group of mentors included Caroline Kaplan ("Boyhood," "Time Out of Mind," "Personal Velocity"), Kirsten Smith ("Legally Blonde," "Ten Things I Hate About You"), Jessica Bendinger ("Bring It On," "Aquamarine"), Mary Jane Skalski ("Win Win," "The Station Agent"),Gina Prince-Bythewood ("Secret Life of Bees," "Beyond the Lights"),Lydia Dean-Pilcher ("The Lunchbox," The Reluctant Fundamentalist"), Meg LeFauve ("Inside Out," "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys"), and Darnell Martin (“Cadillac Records” and “I Like It Like That”).
Launched by New York Women in Film and Television (Nywift) and Iris, a collective of women filmmakers dedicated to championing the female voice in narrative film, was funded in part by Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep, and with the collaboration of the Writers Guild of America East.
Motivated by its screenwriting members who were frustrated with the paucity of development opportunities, Iris founders Elizabeth Kaiden, Kyle Ann Stoke, and Nitza Wilson approached Nywift to support a screenwriting Lab exclusively for this demographic and The Writers Lab came into being.
I spoke with Iris cofounder Elizabeth Kaiden to follow up about the first Writers Lab.
Kouguell: How many screenplays were submitted for consideration?
Kaiden: There were approximately 3,500 screenplays submitted. The selected participants were Sarah Bird ("Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen), Vanessa Carmichael ("The American"). Tracy Charlton ("Raised Up"), Kellen Hertz ("Ashburn"), Anna Hozian ("Anchor Baby"), Lyralen Kaye ("St John the Divine in Iowa"), Jan Kimbrough ("The Glastonbury Cow Party"), Billie Jo Mason ("The Cargo"), Peres Owino ("Basketweaver"), Gretchen Somerfeld ("Face Value"), Janet Stilson ("Jaguar Trail"), and Kim Turner ("It Goes Like This").
Kouguell: What were some highlights from the three-day Lab?
Kaiden: Highlights included the chemistry, warmth and enthusiasm of the group, the bucolic setting in which serious and thoughtful individual meetings between writers and mentors took place, the outstanding, locally sourced, group meals presented by Wiawaka chef Meg, and evening conversations around a bonfire. Oh, and the weather was fabulous.
Kouguell: What is the next step for these writers selected for the Lab?
Kaiden: Writers are all revising their work and communicating with each other. They will use the feedback, resources, references, and friendships they took away from the Lab to further develop their scripts and their opportunities.
Kouguell: In addition to the one-on-one meetings, what other events took place?
Kaiden: There were three panel discussions in which the mentors addressed specific craft issues and general industry insight, informal conversations, group meals, as well as small, directed group conversations led by Nywift Board President Alexis Alexanian to address the challenges writers face in navigating the film world.
Kouguell: What do you feel were some of the most positive outcomes from the weekend in Lake George?
Kaiden: The most exciting outcome of this venture, for me, is uncovering and bringing to public attention the field of women screenwriters, particularly its enormous breadth and depth. The most positive outcomes of the weekend Lab, for me, include the sense of empowerment I believe the Lab gave the writers to continue their work and develop their projects, and the supportive community of writers we all discovered, which can only further our goals of ensuring that more of their stories will reach audiences.
Kouguell: Will the Writers Lab take place again next year?
Kaiden: Yes.
Kouguell: Anything else you’d like to add?
Kaiden: We were excited and delighted by the energy and enthusiasm at the Lab. It felt like an important event. It Was an important event. We discussed and debated issues of theme, tone, craft, structure, character, as well as production, representation, and target markets. The mentors were unbelievably focused, supportive and encouraging. Serious work was done. The writers left feeling, I think, that their voices had been heard, and that they should all continue to tell their stories. I think you will be hearing more from these writers and about these projects. And, although that would have been enough, everyone had a blast.
Award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, Susan Kouguell teaches screenwriting at Purchase College Suny, and presents international seminars on screenwriting and film. Author of Savvy Characters Sell Screenplays! and The Savvy Screenwriter, she is chairperson of Su-City Pictures East, LLC, a consulting company founded in 1990 where she works with writers, filmmakers, and executives worldwide. www.su-city-pictures.com, http://su-city-pictures.com/wpblog...
- 10/26/2015
- by Susan Kouguell
- Sydney's Buzz
Presented by New York Women in Film and Television (Nywift) and Iris, The Writers Lab is funded with the generous support of Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep. The one-of-a-kind lab will bring 12 women screenwriters over the age of 40 together with established mentors from the film industry for an intimate gathering and intensive workshop at Wiawaka Center for Women on Lake George, NY from September 18-20, 2015. The Lab is also presented in collaboration with the Writers Guild of America, East.
Being the only program of its kind, The Writers Lab evolved in recognition of the absence of the female voice in narrative film, along with the lack of support for script development. The lab will offer these 12 promising features by women over 40 a springboard to production.
The prestigious group of mentors includes Caroline Kaplan ("Boyhood," "Time Out of Mind," "Personal Velocity"), Kirsten Smith ("Legally Blonde," "Ten Things I Hate About You"), Jessica Bendinger ("Bring It On," "Aquamarine"), Mary Jane Skalski ("Win Win," "The Station Agent"), Gina Prince-Bythewood ("Secret Life of Bees," "Beyond the Lights"), Lydia Dean-Pilcher ( "The Lunchbox,"The Reluctant Fundamentalist"), Meg LeFauve ("Inside Out," "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys"). During one-on-one meetings they will provide the participants with insightful feedback and will take part in additional events to inspire the artists to hone their creative vision.
The Writers Lab, which was first announced at this year’s Tribeca film festival, received over 3,500 submissions, which encouraged the organizer to support not eight, as they originally had planned, but 12 women in film.
The selected participants are Sarah Bird ("Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen), Vanessa Carmichael ("The American"). Tracy Charlton ("Raised Up"), Kellen Hertz ("Ashburn"), Anna Hozian ("Anchor Baby"), Lyralen Kaye ("St John the Divine in Iowa"), Jan Kimbrough ("The Glastonbury Cow Party"), Billie Mason ("The Cargo"), Peres Owino ("Basketweaver"), Gretchen Somerfeld ("Face Value"), Janet Stilson ("Jaguar Trail"), and Kim Turner ("It Goes Like This").
You can find out more about this initiative and others from Nywift Here...
Being the only program of its kind, The Writers Lab evolved in recognition of the absence of the female voice in narrative film, along with the lack of support for script development. The lab will offer these 12 promising features by women over 40 a springboard to production.
The prestigious group of mentors includes Caroline Kaplan ("Boyhood," "Time Out of Mind," "Personal Velocity"), Kirsten Smith ("Legally Blonde," "Ten Things I Hate About You"), Jessica Bendinger ("Bring It On," "Aquamarine"), Mary Jane Skalski ("Win Win," "The Station Agent"), Gina Prince-Bythewood ("Secret Life of Bees," "Beyond the Lights"), Lydia Dean-Pilcher ( "The Lunchbox,"The Reluctant Fundamentalist"), Meg LeFauve ("Inside Out," "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys"). During one-on-one meetings they will provide the participants with insightful feedback and will take part in additional events to inspire the artists to hone their creative vision.
The Writers Lab, which was first announced at this year’s Tribeca film festival, received over 3,500 submissions, which encouraged the organizer to support not eight, as they originally had planned, but 12 women in film.
The selected participants are Sarah Bird ("Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen), Vanessa Carmichael ("The American"). Tracy Charlton ("Raised Up"), Kellen Hertz ("Ashburn"), Anna Hozian ("Anchor Baby"), Lyralen Kaye ("St John the Divine in Iowa"), Jan Kimbrough ("The Glastonbury Cow Party"), Billie Mason ("The Cargo"), Peres Owino ("Basketweaver"), Gretchen Somerfeld ("Face Value"), Janet Stilson ("Jaguar Trail"), and Kim Turner ("It Goes Like This").
You can find out more about this initiative and others from Nywift Here...
- 8/14/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Back in April, I interviewed the directors of Nywift and Iris about their noted launch of The Writers Lab, a retreat for women screenwriters over 40, that received a substantial amount of funding from Meryl Streep. The 12 inaugural participants, listed below, were selected from a pool of over 3,500 applicants. The eight mentors for the weekend long September lab are Jessica Bendinger (Bring It On, Aquamarine), Caroline Kaplan (Time Out of Mind, Me and You and Everyone We Know), Meg LeFauve (Inside Out), Darnell Martin (Cadillac Records), Lydia Dean Pilcher (Darjeeling Limited, The Talented Mr. Ripley), Gina Prince-Bythewood (Secret Life of Bees, Beyond the Lights, Mary Jane Skalski (Win Win, The Station Agent) and […]...
- 8/10/2015
- by Sarah Salovaara
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Back in April, I interviewed the directors of Nywift and Iris about their noted launch of The Writers Lab, a retreat for women screenwriters over 40, that received a substantial amount of funding from Meryl Streep. The 12 inaugural participants, listed below, were selected from a pool of over 3,500 applicants. The eight mentors for the weekend long September lab are Jessica Bendinger (Bring It On, Aquamarine), Caroline Kaplan (Time Out of Mind, Me and You and Everyone We Know), Meg LeFauve (Inside Out), Darnell Martin (Cadillac Records), Lydia Dean Pilcher (Darjeeling Limited, The Talented Mr. Ripley), Gina Prince-Bythewood (Secret Life of Bees, Beyond the Lights, Mary Jane Skalski (Win Win, The Station Agent) and […]...
- 8/10/2015
- by Sarah Salovaara
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Roll call! The cast and crew of Bring It On took it back to Rancho Carne High School this week, spilling to MTV News for the movie's 15th anniversary. Stars of the flick, such as Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, and Gabrielle Union, as well as director Peyton Reed and screenwriter Jessica Bendinger, dished on the months they spent filming the beloved 2000 cheerleader movie in California, and revealed some juicy secrets along the way. Dunst, who was just 17 at the time of production, may have [...]...
- 8/6/2015
- Us Weekly
Read More: 7 Best Screenwriting Apps to Make Life Easier The Black List has just revealed plans to host four Screenwriters Mini-Labs, scheduled to take place this fall in Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Each Mini-Lab will bring together four writers for a weekend-long intensive where writers will receive feedback from their peers, as well as professional mentors. Previous mentors include Kiwi Smith, Billy Ray, Max Borenstein, Jessica Bendinger, Beau Willimon, Leslye Headland, Brian Koppelman, Michael Mitnick, Jesse Wigutow and Scott Myers. The lab format of professional development is not a new venture for The Black List -- the company previously hosted two week-long labs in Las Vegas, Nv and one Mini-Lab in New York, NY. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and deadlines for the Mini-Labs click here. Make sure to read the fine print. Bear in mind that travel and accommodations are only provided for participants of the Los Angeles.
- 7/20/2015
- by Shipra Harbola Gupta
- Indiewire
The issue of the lack of women working in the film industry just received a huge Meryl Streep-sized boost in the form of a substantial amount of money.
Variety reported Sunday that Streep, currently about to star in the women’s voting rights drama Suffragette, will be funding a new screenwriting lab for women over 40. The news should stir joy in the hearts of anyone who wants to see more diversity in the film industry (which should be everyone). Everyone knows that Streep is a gem among actors working today, and now she has proven to be even more awesome than we mere mortals could have anticipated.
The screenwriting lab, officially called The Writer’s Lab, will be moderated by New York Women in Film and Television and Iris (a group of women filmmakers) and will accept submissions from May 1 to June 1. The eight winning writers will be notified...
Variety reported Sunday that Streep, currently about to star in the women’s voting rights drama Suffragette, will be funding a new screenwriting lab for women over 40. The news should stir joy in the hearts of anyone who wants to see more diversity in the film industry (which should be everyone). Everyone knows that Streep is a gem among actors working today, and now she has proven to be even more awesome than we mere mortals could have anticipated.
The screenwriting lab, officially called The Writer’s Lab, will be moderated by New York Women in Film and Television and Iris (a group of women filmmakers) and will accept submissions from May 1 to June 1. The eight winning writers will be notified...
- 4/21/2015
- by Sarah Pearce
- SoundOnSight
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed its 276-member-strong class of 2013.
The list, published by The Hollywood Reporter, includes actors, cinematographers, designers, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, "members-at-large," musicians, producers, PR folks, short filmmakers and animators, sound technicians, visual effects artists, and writers.
Jason Bateman, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milla Jovovich, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Mortimer, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Peña are among the roster of actors, while "The Heat" and "Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig made the directors' cut.
"We did not change our criteria at all," says Academy president Hawk Koch of this year's larger-than-usual class. "Yes, this year there is a tremendous amount of women, a tremendous amount of people of color, people from all walks of life. This year, we asked the branches to look at everybody who wasn't in the Academy but who deserved to be.
The list, published by The Hollywood Reporter, includes actors, cinematographers, designers, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, "members-at-large," musicians, producers, PR folks, short filmmakers and animators, sound technicians, visual effects artists, and writers.
Jason Bateman, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milla Jovovich, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Mortimer, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Peña are among the roster of actors, while "The Heat" and "Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig made the directors' cut.
"We did not change our criteria at all," says Academy president Hawk Koch of this year's larger-than-usual class. "Yes, this year there is a tremendous amount of women, a tremendous amount of people of color, people from all walks of life. This year, we asked the branches to look at everybody who wasn't in the Academy but who deserved to be.
- 7/4/2013
- by Laura Larson
- Moviefone
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today the 276 members of the entertainment industry invited to join organization. The list includes actors, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, producers and more. Of those listed below, those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2013. "These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today," said Academy President Hawk Koch in a press release. "Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy." Koch also told Variety, "In the past eight or nine years, each branch could only bring in X amount of members. There were people each branch would have liked to get in but couldn't. We asked them to be more inclusive of the best of the best, and each branch was excited, because they got...
- 6/28/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Academy just added 276 Oscar voters.
That’s 100 more than last year, and part of an easing of a longstanding cap on the number of new members allowed to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences each year.
AMPAS usually adds between 130 and 180 new members, replacing those who have quit or passed away. The membership now stands around 6,000.
Jason Bateman, Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emmanuelle Riva, and Chris Tucker are among the actors who have been invited to join, the organization announced today.
Other interesting additions: the musician Prince, Girls and Tiny Furniture writer/director/actress Lena Dunham,...
That’s 100 more than last year, and part of an easing of a longstanding cap on the number of new members allowed to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences each year.
AMPAS usually adds between 130 and 180 new members, replacing those who have quit or passed away. The membership now stands around 6,000.
Jason Bateman, Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emmanuelle Riva, and Chris Tucker are among the actors who have been invited to join, the organization announced today.
Other interesting additions: the musician Prince, Girls and Tiny Furniture writer/director/actress Lena Dunham,...
- 6/28/2013
- by Anthony Breznican
- EW - Inside Movies
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 276 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2013.
“These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Hawk Koch. “Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy.”
The 2013 invitees are:
Actors
Jason Bateman – “Up in the Air,” “Juno”
Miriam Colon – “City of Hope,” “Scarface”
Rosario Dawson – “Rent,” “Frank Miller’s Sin City”
Kimberly Elise – “For Colored Girls,” “Beloved”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – “Lincoln,” “The Dark Knight Rises”
Charles Grodin – “Midnight Run,” “The Heartbreak Kid”
Rebecca Hall – “Iron Man 3,” “The Town”
Lance Henriksen – “Aliens,” “The Terminator”
Jack Huston – “Not Fade Away,” “Factory Girl”
Milla Jovovich – “Resident Evil,...
“These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Hawk Koch. “Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy.”
The 2013 invitees are:
Actors
Jason Bateman – “Up in the Air,” “Juno”
Miriam Colon – “City of Hope,” “Scarface”
Rosario Dawson – “Rent,” “Frank Miller’s Sin City”
Kimberly Elise – “For Colored Girls,” “Beloved”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – “Lincoln,” “The Dark Knight Rises”
Charles Grodin – “Midnight Run,” “The Heartbreak Kid”
Rebecca Hall – “Iron Man 3,” “The Town”
Lance Henriksen – “Aliens,” “The Terminator”
Jack Huston – “Not Fade Away,” “Factory Girl”
Milla Jovovich – “Resident Evil,...
- 6/28/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of speaking with Jessica Bendinger, screen writer, director, and now author. Her best-known work, at least in my age demographic, is writing Bring It On. Jessica also wrote and directed Stick It, with Missy Peregrim and Jeff Bridges, and last December she published her first novel with Simon & Schuster, titled The Seven Rays. It’s a young adult caper into karma and destiny and love and teenage hilarity, and I got the scoop on her inspirations, intentions, and more in our conversation…which you can read below!
Elena: I wanted to start by asking you about the soundtrack for The Seven Rays that’s on the book’s website. Did you have anything to do with that?
Jessica Bendinger: Oh, yeah, that was me. I did the entire thing, that’s me—I am the soundtrack. I started a record label...
Elena: I wanted to start by asking you about the soundtrack for The Seven Rays that’s on the book’s website. Did you have anything to do with that?
Jessica Bendinger: Oh, yeah, that was me. I did the entire thing, that’s me—I am the soundtrack. I started a record label...
- 4/1/2013
- by Elena Nola
- Boomtron
That awesome Bring It On musical about to hit Los Angeles for a preview run? It might not happen -- at least if the film's original screenwriter Jessica Bendinger has any say. Bendinger, through the Writers Guild of America, has filed a claim that states Bring It On: The Musical production company Beacon Communications Corp. is exploiting Bendinger's rights without her consent. Said the screenwriter, who has been left out in the cold like a Clover from the home video Bring It On sequels as well: "Imitation is not the sincerest form of flattery. Compensation is." Beacon's counsel says the claim is without merit. [THR/Hollywood, Esq.]...
- 8/15/2011
- Movieline
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: Broadway musicals inspired by popular films are nothing new. Theater crowds routinely line up for “Marry Poppins,” “The Lion King” or “Legally Blonde.” And if you can’t make it to Manhattan, traveling productions usually bring the music and run to you via regional tours.
But on the eve of its first tour, a musical based on the cheerleading comedy “Bring It On” is facing some resistance.
The Writers Guild of America has filed a claim on behalf of original “Bring It On” scripter Jessica Bendinger claiming that that Beacon Communications Corp. and Beacon Communications, LLC are “exploiting Bendinger’s dramatic rights in the cheerleader-themed Bring It On without her consent, in violation of the guild agreement’s ‘separated rights’ provisions.” THR says that the guild “seeks damages and an injunction against Bring It On: The Musical, which is being coproduced by Universal Pictures Stage Productions,...
Hollywoodnews.com: Broadway musicals inspired by popular films are nothing new. Theater crowds routinely line up for “Marry Poppins,” “The Lion King” or “Legally Blonde.” And if you can’t make it to Manhattan, traveling productions usually bring the music and run to you via regional tours.
But on the eve of its first tour, a musical based on the cheerleading comedy “Bring It On” is facing some resistance.
The Writers Guild of America has filed a claim on behalf of original “Bring It On” scripter Jessica Bendinger claiming that that Beacon Communications Corp. and Beacon Communications, LLC are “exploiting Bendinger’s dramatic rights in the cheerleader-themed Bring It On without her consent, in violation of the guild agreement’s ‘separated rights’ provisions.” THR says that the guild “seeks damages and an injunction against Bring It On: The Musical, which is being coproduced by Universal Pictures Stage Productions,...
- 8/15/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
I wrote my first spec in less than 30 days.
Don’t hyperventilate yet—it wasn’t a feature I specced in less than a month, it was an hour-long TV drama. You should also know, in case you don’t already, that speccing for TV and speccing for film are two totally different terms. For television, to spec is to write an episode of a pre-existing show in order to prove to the world (or at least those who care to hire you) that you can assimilate your style to match that of another show.
“So what if you write an original TV pilot? What do you call it?”
An original TV pilot.
I know.
It blew my mind too.
What I want to share with you here is the step-by-step process I took, in 27 days to be exact, to get from concept to final draft. For a feature, the process would indisputably be longer,...
Don’t hyperventilate yet—it wasn’t a feature I specced in less than a month, it was an hour-long TV drama. You should also know, in case you don’t already, that speccing for TV and speccing for film are two totally different terms. For television, to spec is to write an episode of a pre-existing show in order to prove to the world (or at least those who care to hire you) that you can assimilate your style to match that of another show.
“So what if you write an original TV pilot? What do you call it?”
An original TV pilot.
I know.
It blew my mind too.
What I want to share with you here is the step-by-step process I took, in 27 days to be exact, to get from concept to final draft. For a feature, the process would indisputably be longer,...
- 2/11/2011
- Cinelinx
It's time for Best Shot, in which we choose a favorite single image from a film. [Next week's topic is the '57 classic A Face in the Crowd starring Patricia Neal. Nick's Flick Picks suggested it as a fine way to commemorate Neal & the late cinematographer Harry Stradling Sr on his bday.]
This week...
Bring It On !
"I'm major. I roar. I swear I'm not a whore."
Damn but I didn't know how hard this week's decision would be. Sometimes you love a movie for the entire duration and it's hard to single out a scene. Bring It On is 98 minutes of uncut joy.
Today is the 10th anniversary of its release. My anniversary with it is tomorrow. I still remember my first encounter vividly. I had spent the whole day at the beach with my best friend. I was probably a little crisp and was definitely sun fatigued. We had planned to catch 'that cheerleading comedy' on our way home but I was wavering, tired. We trained back into Manhattan and hit the Union Square multiplex with our beach bags in tow. The movie was...
This week...
Bring It On !
"I'm major. I roar. I swear I'm not a whore."
Damn but I didn't know how hard this week's decision would be. Sometimes you love a movie for the entire duration and it's hard to single out a scene. Bring It On is 98 minutes of uncut joy.
Today is the 10th anniversary of its release. My anniversary with it is tomorrow. I still remember my first encounter vividly. I had spent the whole day at the beach with my best friend. I was probably a little crisp and was definitely sun fatigued. We had planned to catch 'that cheerleading comedy' on our way home but I was wavering, tired. We trained back into Manhattan and hit the Union Square multiplex with our beach bags in tow. The movie was...
- 8/26/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
How to: Submit to an AgentWhen you're ready to submit your headshot and résumé to agents in order to find representation, pick up a copy of Call Sheet, published by Back Stage, to see what agencies are looking for and what kind of performers they represent. Many agencies now have websites, which may even list specific guidelines and the agency's clients. Look at those client rosters and see where you might fit in or help fill an agency's needs.Nancy Moon-Broadstreet, theatrical agent, the Geddes Agency, Los Angeles: "Find out what kind of business they do and where their clients work. If you see someone who has three clients that are kind of like you, then maybe that's not the office to press for. They clearly have the same taste, but you would be fourth on the list, so maybe you should look for somebody who doesn't have anyone like you.
- 5/5/2010
- backstage.com
This could get tense, people. Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift and Dakota Fanning are reportedly being pitted against each other in a casting battle for the lead role in the upcoming film The Seven Rays, based on the novel by Jessica Bendinger. Bendinger, who also wrote the screenplay for Bring It On, has stated that she either of the three actresses starring in the movie, which will follow teenager Beth Michaels as she uncovers secrets of the supernatural after discovering that the woman she thought was her mother actually isn't. Should Bendinger's casting wishes come down to an actual face-off, things could get...
- 4/30/2010
- by Celebuzz
- Celebuzz.com
This decade's Secret Shames are, more often than not, the next decade's Hangover Theater films. It's a decade-long process, really. Movies debut on the screen to terrible reviews, eventually get aired on television cable on a loop, and then viewers inexplicably get caught up in them, revel in their atrociousness, and a consensus begins to form until films once thought to be terrifically heinous can be collectively appreciated on the so-bad-it's good scale. The next thing you know, it's in your DVD collection, and you're waking up on a Saturday morning covered in your own drool and begging your roommate to pop in fucking Joe Dirt because you can't bear anything more intelligent.
Over the years, Secret Shames have been a popular topic on Pajiba -- it takes an intelligent audience, I suppose, to own up to their guilty pleasures without fear of reproach. And as someone familiar with thousands...
Over the years, Secret Shames have been a popular topic on Pajiba -- it takes an intelligent audience, I suppose, to own up to their guilty pleasures without fear of reproach. And as someone familiar with thousands...
- 12/8/2009
- by Dustin Rowles
Selena Gomez is allegedly in talks to star in movie "The Seven Rays" which is based on Jessica Bendinger's debut novel of the same title. The speculation came out after people behind the book adaptation confirmed through Twitter that the Disney star met Jessica over lunch to discuss about the movie.
"Pretty jazzed that Jessica is lunching with Selena Gomez on Tuesday. So flattered that she and her mom love thesevenrays," the post dated November 21 on "The Seven Rays" page read. A couple hours later, another tweet was posted, "Hi Selena! Jessica is excited to have lunch on Tuesday and discuss The Seven Rays!"
"The Seven Rays" follows 17-year-old student named Beth Michaels who starts receiving gold envelopes with message read, "You Are More Than You Think You Are." Not long after that, Beth begins seeing people's thoughts, feelings and personal histories, and decides to set a journey of self discovery.
"Pretty jazzed that Jessica is lunching with Selena Gomez on Tuesday. So flattered that she and her mom love thesevenrays," the post dated November 21 on "The Seven Rays" page read. A couple hours later, another tweet was posted, "Hi Selena! Jessica is excited to have lunch on Tuesday and discuss The Seven Rays!"
"The Seven Rays" follows 17-year-old student named Beth Michaels who starts receiving gold envelopes with message read, "You Are More Than You Think You Are." Not long after that, Beth begins seeing people's thoughts, feelings and personal histories, and decides to set a journey of self discovery.
- 11/25/2009
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
Screenwriter Jessica Bendinger (Bring it On) is going interactive to promote the November 24 release of her Simon & Schuster novel The Seven Rays. She’s inviting aspiring screenwriters to adapt any portion of the book into a 2-5 page screenplay in order to win an in-depth consultation with her. One catch: the contest is also a promo for Final Draft, so the writers have to use that software (a free demo is available for download). The contest opened on November 15, 2009 and closes on February 15, 2010 at 12:00 am Pst. The Grand Prize winner gets a one-on-one script consultation for their screenplay with Bendinger. …...
- 11/20/2009
- Thompson on Hollywood
It’s getting closer and closer to the release of Twilight: New Moon, and Vf.com is eager to keep you abreast of all things vampire for the next few weeks. After interviewing Peter Facinelli (who plays Dr. Carlisle Cullen), I recently spoke to another member of the Cullen coven, Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen), while he was on the set of the next film in the saga, Eclipse, in Vancouver. As he was preparing to shoot a climatic Cullen-family-get-together, he discussed the cast’s love of reading, what’ll make it on the blooper reel, and his part in the upcoming remake of horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street. You’re currently on a break. What do you usually love to do on your downtime? I love to read. I have a Kindle, and it’s nice to be able to download books that people refer. Rob[ert Pattinson] reads all...
- 10/30/2009
- Vanity Fair
Director Ron Howard has been chosen for special honors at this year's Austin Film Festival.
The "Apollo 13" director will receive the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award at the fest's 16th annual event, set for Oct. 22-29. The award will be presented Oct. 24 during a luncheon at the Austin Club.
Writer-producer Mitchell Hurwitz will receive the Outstanding Television Writer Award during the ceremony.
Howard's acting, directing and producing career stretches back 50 years and includes such TV and film work as "The Andy Griffith Show," "Happy Days," "Parenthood," "A Beautiful Mind," "The Da Vinci Code," "Night Shift," "Frost/Nixon" and his latest directing effort, "Angels & Demons."
The Imagine Entertainment partner won two Oscars for 2001's "A Beautiful Mind" and in 2008 was nominated for directing and producing "Frost/Nixon." He also has produced a number of films and television series including HBO's "From the Earth to the Moon" and "Arrested Development," which Hurwitz created.
The "Apollo 13" director will receive the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award at the fest's 16th annual event, set for Oct. 22-29. The award will be presented Oct. 24 during a luncheon at the Austin Club.
Writer-producer Mitchell Hurwitz will receive the Outstanding Television Writer Award during the ceremony.
Howard's acting, directing and producing career stretches back 50 years and includes such TV and film work as "The Andy Griffith Show," "Happy Days," "Parenthood," "A Beautiful Mind," "The Da Vinci Code," "Night Shift," "Frost/Nixon" and his latest directing effort, "Angels & Demons."
The Imagine Entertainment partner won two Oscars for 2001's "A Beautiful Mind" and in 2008 was nominated for directing and producing "Frost/Nixon." He also has produced a number of films and television series including HBO's "From the Earth to the Moon" and "Arrested Development," which Hurwitz created.
- 7/14/2009
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sony Pictures' RV camped out in the top spot at the boxoffice for the weekend as the Robin Williams starrer hooked up an estimated $16.4 million from 3,639 sites in its debut. The Barry Sonnenfeld-directed family comedy, which carries a PG rating, marked the fifth No. 1 opening for the distributor this year. Universal Pictures' much-talked-about United 93, the story of the one hijacked plane on Sept. 11 that didn't reach its intended target, debuted in the second spot with an estimated $11.6 million from 1,795 theaters. The R-rated drama from director Paul Greengrass had the highest per-theater average of the top 12 films and also generated the highest theater grosses in North America on Friday and Saturday at the AMC Empire in New York. Buena Vista Pictures' Stick It had a surprisingly strong bow with an estimated $11.3 million from 2,038 houses, enough to catapult the film into the third spot. Early tracking had the PG-13 drama, centering on the world of competitive female gymnastics, pulling up a single-digit gross. Jeff Bridges and Missy Peregrym star in the Spyglass Entertainment co-production, from writer-director Jessica Bendinger. Not surprisingly, the largest portion of the audience was female and under age 18.
Sony Pictures' RV camped out in the top spot at the boxoffice for the weekend as the Robin Williams starrer hooked up an estimated $16.4 million from 3,639 sites in its debut. The Barry Sonnenfeld-directed family comedy, which carries a PG rating, marked the fifth No. 1 opening for the distributor this year. Universal Pictures' much-talked-about United 93, the story of the one hijacked plane on Sept. 11 that didn't reach its intended target, debuted in the second spot with an estimated $11.6 million from 1,795 theaters. The R-rated drama from director Paul Greengrass had the highest per-theater average of the top 12 films and also generated the highest theater grosses in North America on Friday and Saturday at the AMC Empire in New York. Buena Vista Pictures' Stick It had a surprisingly strong bow with an estimated $11.3 million from 2,038 houses, enough to catapult the film into the third spot. Early tracking had the PG-13 drama, centering on the world of competitive female gymnastics, pulling up a single-digit gross. Jeff Bridges and Missy Peregrym star in the Spyglass Entertainment co-production, from writer-director Jessica Bendinger. Not surprisingly, the largest portion of the audience was female and under age 18.
Sony Pictures' RV camped out in the top spot at the boxoffice for the weekend as the Robin Williams starrer hooked up an estimated $16.4 million from 3,639 sites in its debut. The Barry Sonnenfeld-directed family comedy, which carries a PG rating, marked the fifth No. 1 opening for the distributor this year. Universal Pictures' much-talked-about United 93, the story of the one hijacked plane on Sept. 11 that didn't reach its intended target, debuted in the second spot with an estimated $11.6 million from 1,795 theaters. The R-rated drama from director Paul Greengrass had the highest per-theater average of the top 12 films and also generated the highest theater grosses in North America on Friday and Saturday at the AMC Empire in New York. Buena Vista Pictures' Stick It had a surprisingly strong bow with an estimated $11.3 million from 2,038 houses, enough to catapult the film into the third spot. Early tracking had the PG-13 drama, centering on the world of competitive female gymnastics, pulling up a single-digit gross. Jeff Bridges and Missy Peregrym star in the Spyglass Entertainment co-production, from writer-director Jessica Bendinger. Not surprisingly, the largest portion of the audience was female and under age 18.
- 4/30/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sony Pictures' RV camped out in the top spot at the boxoffice for the weekend as the Robin Williams starrer hooked up an estimated $16.4 million from 3,639 sites in its debut. The Barry Sonnenfeld-directed family comedy, which carries a PG rating, marked the fifth No. 1 opening for the distributor this year. Universal Pictures' much-talked-about United 93, the story of the one hijacked plane on Sept. 11 that didn't reach its intended target, debuted in the second spot with an estimated $11.6 million from 1,795 theaters. The R-rated drama from director Paul Greengrass had the highest per-theater average of the top 12 films and also generated the highest theater grosses in North America on Friday and Saturday at the AMC Empire in New York. Buena Vista Pictures' Stick It had a surprisingly strong bow with an estimated $11.3 million from 2,038 houses, enough to catapult the film into the third spot. Early tracking had the PG-13 drama, centering on the world of competitive female gymnastics, pulling up a single-digit gross. Jeff Bridges and Missy Peregrym star in the Spyglass Entertainment co-production, from writer-director Jessica Bendinger. Not surprisingly, the largest portion of the audience was female and under age 18.
- 4/30/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- This gently titled film has to do with the world of female gymnastics, which instantly provides it with a commercial hook. Much like "Bring It On", the cheerleading movie also written by this film's writer-director Jessica Bendinger, "Stick It" spends an inordinate amount of time ogling the tight, lithe bodies of its young female characters. Thus, what might have appealed only to teen girls might well have crossover appeal to leering young boys as well.
Yes, there is an inspirational plot of sorts in the film, which mainly involves advising young people to defy the rules of their chosen sport and seek only personal satisfaction and glory rather than strive for discipline and honor.
The central character is 17-year-old Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym), a rebel without a cause who, after getting into some trouble with the law, is sentenced by a judge to do time at an elite gymnastics academy. (Apparently, Texas, where the story is set, has loosened its forms of punishment).
Thus, Haley is reunited with the same girls she let down when she abruptly walked out of a championship competition years before. Given a dose of tough love by her new, hard-nosed coach (Jeff Bridges), she reluctantly takes up the sport again. Despite the ire of her teammates, particularly her chief competitor Joanne (Vanessa Lengies), Haley finds herself inspired to again lead her group to the championships.
It comes as no surprise that the director, making her feature debut, has music video experience because "Stick It" is filmed in a hyperkinetic, in your face style that will induce headaches in anyone who has passed their teens. Equally assaulting is the ultra-loud rock soundtrack, featuring music by the likes of Missy Elliott, Electric Six, K7 and My Morning Jacket.
The film might well inspire young girls to take up the sport, especially because its egregious climactic segment features the characters engaging in routines more inspired by "Flashdance" than anything ever seen at the Olympics.
On every other level, the film is thoroughly ordinary, with the only distinction being Bridges' typically unaffected and engaging performance. Still, as with Tommy Lee Jones' recent "Man of the House", it's depressing to see this distinguished actor, a four-time Oscar nominee, playing second fiddle to skimpily dressed teens.
Peregrym displays some charisma, as well as her firm physique, in the central role, and among those adult performers showing up as aggrieved parents are Julie Warner, Jon Gries and Gia Carides.
Stick It
A Buena Vista Pictures release
A Touchstone Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment presentation
A Barber/Birnbaum, Jessica Bendinger/Gail Lyon production
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Jessica Bendinger
Producer: Gail Lyon
Executive producers: Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Jonathan Glickman, Derek Evans, David Crockett
Director of photography: Daryn Okada
Production designer: Bruce Curtis
Editor: Troy Takaki
Costume designer: Carol Ramsey: Music: Mike Simpson
Cast:
Burt Vickerman: Jeff Bridges
Haley Graham: Missy Peregrym
Joanne Charis: Vanessa Lengies
Wei Wei Yong: Nikki Soorhoo
Mina Hoyt: Maddy Curley
Frank: Kellan Lutz
Poot: John Patrick Amedori
Brice Graham: Jon Gries
Mrs. Charis: Julie Warner
Alice Graham: Gia Carides
MPAA rating PG-13
Running time -- 103 minutes...
Yes, there is an inspirational plot of sorts in the film, which mainly involves advising young people to defy the rules of their chosen sport and seek only personal satisfaction and glory rather than strive for discipline and honor.
The central character is 17-year-old Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym), a rebel without a cause who, after getting into some trouble with the law, is sentenced by a judge to do time at an elite gymnastics academy. (Apparently, Texas, where the story is set, has loosened its forms of punishment).
Thus, Haley is reunited with the same girls she let down when she abruptly walked out of a championship competition years before. Given a dose of tough love by her new, hard-nosed coach (Jeff Bridges), she reluctantly takes up the sport again. Despite the ire of her teammates, particularly her chief competitor Joanne (Vanessa Lengies), Haley finds herself inspired to again lead her group to the championships.
It comes as no surprise that the director, making her feature debut, has music video experience because "Stick It" is filmed in a hyperkinetic, in your face style that will induce headaches in anyone who has passed their teens. Equally assaulting is the ultra-loud rock soundtrack, featuring music by the likes of Missy Elliott, Electric Six, K7 and My Morning Jacket.
The film might well inspire young girls to take up the sport, especially because its egregious climactic segment features the characters engaging in routines more inspired by "Flashdance" than anything ever seen at the Olympics.
On every other level, the film is thoroughly ordinary, with the only distinction being Bridges' typically unaffected and engaging performance. Still, as with Tommy Lee Jones' recent "Man of the House", it's depressing to see this distinguished actor, a four-time Oscar nominee, playing second fiddle to skimpily dressed teens.
Peregrym displays some charisma, as well as her firm physique, in the central role, and among those adult performers showing up as aggrieved parents are Julie Warner, Jon Gries and Gia Carides.
Stick It
A Buena Vista Pictures release
A Touchstone Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment presentation
A Barber/Birnbaum, Jessica Bendinger/Gail Lyon production
Credits:
Director-screenwriter: Jessica Bendinger
Producer: Gail Lyon
Executive producers: Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Jonathan Glickman, Derek Evans, David Crockett
Director of photography: Daryn Okada
Production designer: Bruce Curtis
Editor: Troy Takaki
Costume designer: Carol Ramsey: Music: Mike Simpson
Cast:
Burt Vickerman: Jeff Bridges
Haley Graham: Missy Peregrym
Joanne Charis: Vanessa Lengies
Wei Wei Yong: Nikki Soorhoo
Mina Hoyt: Maddy Curley
Frank: Kellan Lutz
Poot: John Patrick Amedori
Brice Graham: Jon Gries
Mrs. Charis: Julie Warner
Alice Graham: Gia Carides
MPAA rating PG-13
Running time -- 103 minutes...
- 4/28/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Alice Hoffman and Hollywood haven't traditionally made a great fit if the screen adaptations of her novels "Practical Magic" and "The River King" (which went directly to video) are of any indication.
But things are looking up with the arrival of "Aquamarine", a bright and breezy tween fantasy romantic comedy that coasts along on its charming performances and the light comedic touch of first-time feature director Elizabeth Allen.
Playing like "Splash" in a training bra, this mermaid-out-of-water story should perform swimmingly with its target audience of young females, who will no doubt be lured by its popular teenage leads Emma Roberts, star of Nickelodeon's "Unfabulous", and pop singer JoJo, aka Joanna Levesque.
Roberts and Levesque respectively play Claire and Hailey, best friends spending what likely will be their last summer vacation together, what with Claire moving to Australia with her marine biologist mother.
So far they've been whiling away their days soaking up the sun at the quaint Florida beach club where Claire lives with her grandparents and pining after the hunky lifeguard, Raymond (Jake McDorman), but as fate would have it, a violent storm has dumped an honest-to-goodness mermaid (Sara Paxton) in the Capri Beach Club pool.
Having swam away from home to duck an arranged marriage, Aquamarine is determined to prove to her father that true love actually exists, and she's got three days to make a guy fall in love with her or it's back in the dip.
Naturally, she also has her eye on Raymond, but Claire and Hailey are willing to help her get her land-legs in exchange for granting them one very special mermaid wish.
In adapting the Hoffman material, screenwriters John Quaintance ("Material Girls") and Jessica Bendinger ("Bring It On") do a nice job of putting across the story's themes of friendship and individuality without going all meaningful and stuff.
Director Allen keeps the buoyant tone aloft at least until the third act, which gets a bit soggy in places, but she's obviously got a terrific rapport with her young actors.
While Roberts and Levesque make for affably authentic 13-year-olds, Paxton, who plays the title character in the NBC family comedy "Darcy's Wild Life", has an infectious, nutty energy as the wide-eyed Aquamarine that ensures the laughs keep flowing at an agreeable pace.
Production values for this budget-minded enterprise (in which the role of Florida was played by Australia) are cheerfully efficient, though many of the required visual effects really pay the price for those all-too-apparent cost-cutting measures.
Aquamarine
20th Century Fox
Fox 2000 Pictures presents a Storefront Pictures production
Credits:
Director: Elizabeth Allen
Screenwriters: John Quaintance, Jessica Bendinger
Based on the novel by: Alice Hoffman
Producer: Susan Cartsonis
Director of photography: Brian Breheny
Production designer: Nelson Coates
Editor: Jane Moran
Costume designer: Sally Sharpe
Music: David Hirschfelder
Cast:
Claire: Emma Roberts
Hailey: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
Aquamarine: Sara Paxton
Raymond: Jake McDorman
Cecilia: Arielle Kebbel
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 103 minutes...
But things are looking up with the arrival of "Aquamarine", a bright and breezy tween fantasy romantic comedy that coasts along on its charming performances and the light comedic touch of first-time feature director Elizabeth Allen.
Playing like "Splash" in a training bra, this mermaid-out-of-water story should perform swimmingly with its target audience of young females, who will no doubt be lured by its popular teenage leads Emma Roberts, star of Nickelodeon's "Unfabulous", and pop singer JoJo, aka Joanna Levesque.
Roberts and Levesque respectively play Claire and Hailey, best friends spending what likely will be their last summer vacation together, what with Claire moving to Australia with her marine biologist mother.
So far they've been whiling away their days soaking up the sun at the quaint Florida beach club where Claire lives with her grandparents and pining after the hunky lifeguard, Raymond (Jake McDorman), but as fate would have it, a violent storm has dumped an honest-to-goodness mermaid (Sara Paxton) in the Capri Beach Club pool.
Having swam away from home to duck an arranged marriage, Aquamarine is determined to prove to her father that true love actually exists, and she's got three days to make a guy fall in love with her or it's back in the dip.
Naturally, she also has her eye on Raymond, but Claire and Hailey are willing to help her get her land-legs in exchange for granting them one very special mermaid wish.
In adapting the Hoffman material, screenwriters John Quaintance ("Material Girls") and Jessica Bendinger ("Bring It On") do a nice job of putting across the story's themes of friendship and individuality without going all meaningful and stuff.
Director Allen keeps the buoyant tone aloft at least until the third act, which gets a bit soggy in places, but she's obviously got a terrific rapport with her young actors.
While Roberts and Levesque make for affably authentic 13-year-olds, Paxton, who plays the title character in the NBC family comedy "Darcy's Wild Life", has an infectious, nutty energy as the wide-eyed Aquamarine that ensures the laughs keep flowing at an agreeable pace.
Production values for this budget-minded enterprise (in which the role of Florida was played by Australia) are cheerfully efficient, though many of the required visual effects really pay the price for those all-too-apparent cost-cutting measures.
Aquamarine
20th Century Fox
Fox 2000 Pictures presents a Storefront Pictures production
Credits:
Director: Elizabeth Allen
Screenwriters: John Quaintance, Jessica Bendinger
Based on the novel by: Alice Hoffman
Producer: Susan Cartsonis
Director of photography: Brian Breheny
Production designer: Nelson Coates
Editor: Jane Moran
Costume designer: Sally Sharpe
Music: David Hirschfelder
Cast:
Claire: Emma Roberts
Hailey: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
Aquamarine: Sara Paxton
Raymond: Jake McDorman
Cecilia: Arielle Kebbel
MPAA rating PG
Running time -- 103 minutes...
Touchstone Pictures has cast Jeff Bridges in the upcoming comedy "Stick It". Bridges will play the coach in the sports-themed picture about a team of rule-abiding gymnasts who develop a taste for rebellion after a renegade member (Missy Peregrym) joins the crew. Vanessa Lengies co-stars as Peregrym's rival. Jessica Bendinger is making her directorial debut on the project from her own script. Nina Jacobson, Kristen Burr and Louanne Brickhouse are overseeing for the studio. Gail Lyon is producing. Bridges' recent credits include "The Door in the Floor" and "Seabiscuit". His upcoming features include "Tideland" and "The Moguls", in which he plays a small-town character who rounds up his friends to make a porn flick. Bridges is repped by UTA.
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