IndieWire and Paramount+ are proud to announce a Consider This FYC event to take place in Los Angeles on June 8, featuring Kelsey Grammer, David Oyelowo, and Matt Bomer, plus creators and talent from “Star Trek: Discovery” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” “A Gentleman in Moscow,” “Colin from Accounts,” “Fellow Travelers,” “Frasier,” and “Lawmen: Bass Reeves.”
Emmy voters and guild members can request an invitation to attend here.
The event will feature a reception with food and drinks. It will begin at 10:00am Pt and run until 2:30pm Pt, including lunch.
“Consider This Live is essential to our growing collection of creator- and artisan-driven live events that include IndieWire Honors and Pass the Remote,” said Dana Harris-Bridson, senior VP and Editor-in-Chief of IndieWire. “We’re proud to celebrate the Paramount+ lineup.”
“We’re thrilled to bring back Consider This Live exclusively with Paramount+,” said IndieWire SVP & Publisher James Israel.
Emmy voters and guild members can request an invitation to attend here.
The event will feature a reception with food and drinks. It will begin at 10:00am Pt and run until 2:30pm Pt, including lunch.
“Consider This Live is essential to our growing collection of creator- and artisan-driven live events that include IndieWire Honors and Pass the Remote,” said Dana Harris-Bridson, senior VP and Editor-in-Chief of IndieWire. “We’re proud to celebrate the Paramount+ lineup.”
“We’re thrilled to bring back Consider This Live exclusively with Paramount+,” said IndieWire SVP & Publisher James Israel.
- 5/22/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
IndieWire launched our “Pass the Remote” FYC TV screening series, produced in partnership with Disney, with a dynamic casting directors panel April 25, two Disney Storytellers panels April 29, and a panel about “Abbott Elementary” May 20.
Next up? A “Jim Henson Idea Man” panel on May 24 celebrating the documentary about the Muppets creator, which just premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Like all events in the “Pass the Remote” screening series, it will take place at the Vidiots Foundation in Los Angeles’s Eagle Rock neighborhood.
Legendary director Ron Howard will be in attendance on the panel, as will composer David Fleming and editor Paul Crowder. Howard is a two-time Oscar winner. In recent vintage, he’s become a more prolific documentary director, with films such as “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week” (2016), “Pavarotti” (2019), “Rebuilding Paradise” (2020), and 2022’s profile of Jose Andres and the World Central Kitchen, “We Feed People.”
“Jim Henson...
Next up? A “Jim Henson Idea Man” panel on May 24 celebrating the documentary about the Muppets creator, which just premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Like all events in the “Pass the Remote” screening series, it will take place at the Vidiots Foundation in Los Angeles’s Eagle Rock neighborhood.
Legendary director Ron Howard will be in attendance on the panel, as will composer David Fleming and editor Paul Crowder. Howard is a two-time Oscar winner. In recent vintage, he’s become a more prolific documentary director, with films such as “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week” (2016), “Pavarotti” (2019), “Rebuilding Paradise” (2020), and 2022’s profile of Jose Andres and the World Central Kitchen, “We Feed People.”
“Jim Henson...
- 5/22/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Asked about language learning models (LLMs) at the recent 2024 AI on the Lot summit, writers and showrunners Matt Nix and Mark Groffman had a lot to say. On a panel moderated by IndieWire editor-in-chief Dana Harris-Bridson on May 16 — also featuring filmmaker Joe Penna and animator/director Momo Wang — the creatives discussed a handful of the potential uses for systems like ChatGPT in scripted projects with an emphasis on episodic work.
“Every show has instructions and rules, whether it’s a way that a character behaves or the type of world view that [the show] has or the general shape of an episode or how two characters interact with each other,” Groffman said of using LLMs to break stories. “You can feed it all of this.”
“I’ve done a lot of experimenting with my own past work,” Nix said, likening the process of teaching ChatGPT to hiring a new writer on his show “Burn Notice.
“Every show has instructions and rules, whether it’s a way that a character behaves or the type of world view that [the show] has or the general shape of an episode or how two characters interact with each other,” Groffman said of using LLMs to break stories. “You can feed it all of this.”
“I’ve done a lot of experimenting with my own past work,” Nix said, likening the process of teaching ChatGPT to hiring a new writer on his show “Burn Notice.
- 5/21/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Editor’s note: This post was previously published on Thursday, May 16. It’s been updated to include more honorees, including Fisher Stevens, for this edition of IndieWire Honors.
IndieWire, the definitive outlet for creative independence in film and TV, announced on Thursday, May 16 a new edition of its IndieWire Honors event focused entirely on television. Curated and selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, IndieWire Honors is a celebration of the creators and stars responsible for some of the most stellar work of the TV season.
Hosted by “Just for Us” comedian Alex Edelman, the latest edition of the event will be celebrated at an intimate cocktail reception taking place Thursday, June 6 in Los Angeles. Exclusive editorial content, including honoree profiles, will also be featured on IndieWire beginning May 29 and will continue throughout the lead-up to the awards night, followed up video interviews and more content from the event. Other honorees...
IndieWire, the definitive outlet for creative independence in film and TV, announced on Thursday, May 16 a new edition of its IndieWire Honors event focused entirely on television. Curated and selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, IndieWire Honors is a celebration of the creators and stars responsible for some of the most stellar work of the TV season.
Hosted by “Just for Us” comedian Alex Edelman, the latest edition of the event will be celebrated at an intimate cocktail reception taking place Thursday, June 6 in Los Angeles. Exclusive editorial content, including honoree profiles, will also be featured on IndieWire beginning May 29 and will continue throughout the lead-up to the awards night, followed up video interviews and more content from the event. Other honorees...
- 5/21/2024
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
Before digital tools allowed composers to simulate any instrument on a laptop, musical scores for TV were simple melodies performed by a handful of session musicians. The newer technology meant those musicians lost their jobs; so did the guy who transcribed the composer’s scores.
However: That doesn’t mean scores require fewer people, or became cheaper to produce.
Today, even the smallest TV shows employ full orchestras. Tech made things easier, but the cost to produce scores for film and TV has only increased. With greater possibilities, more advanced jobs replaced those that were lost.
That’s the analogy Matt Nix, showrunner for “Burn Notice” and the recent “True Lies,” used when describing the advent of artificial intelligence at the May 16 AI on the Lot summit at Los Angeles Center Studios. He rejected the idea that AI will become a pathway to low-cost filmmaking and TV production that uses...
However: That doesn’t mean scores require fewer people, or became cheaper to produce.
Today, even the smallest TV shows employ full orchestras. Tech made things easier, but the cost to produce scores for film and TV has only increased. With greater possibilities, more advanced jobs replaced those that were lost.
That’s the analogy Matt Nix, showrunner for “Burn Notice” and the recent “True Lies,” used when describing the advent of artificial intelligence at the May 16 AI on the Lot summit at Los Angeles Center Studios. He rejected the idea that AI will become a pathway to low-cost filmmaking and TV production that uses...
- 5/20/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
This year’s nominees for the 66th Southern California Journalism Awards were released today by the Los Angeles Press Club and IndieWire received a site-record nine nominations. Coming on the heels of our wins last year for Criticism of TV and Entertainment Reporting and following our 2022 win for Best Website, Traditional News Organization, the entire IndieWire staff has been nominated for Best Website, News Organization Exclusive to the Internet. IndieWire writers also earned nominations for individual accolades in eight categories.
“The nominated work illustrates the scope, insight, and unparalleled quality of our team,” said Dana Harris-Bridson, Senior VP and Editor-in-Chief at IndieWire. “We are thrilled and sincerely appreciate the Los Angeles Press Club for the Southern California Journalism Award nods.”
After winning the award for Best Criticism of TV last year, IndieWire’s Deputy TV Editor and TV Critic Ben Travers is a finalist in the category again for a number of his reviews,...
“The nominated work illustrates the scope, insight, and unparalleled quality of our team,” said Dana Harris-Bridson, Senior VP and Editor-in-Chief at IndieWire. “We are thrilled and sincerely appreciate the Los Angeles Press Club for the Southern California Journalism Award nods.”
After winning the award for Best Criticism of TV last year, IndieWire’s Deputy TV Editor and TV Critic Ben Travers is a finalist in the category again for a number of his reviews,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
In 2023, generative artificial intelligence company Runway launched its AI Film Festival and received about 300 short-film submissions. A year later, the festival received over 3,000 and its 10 finalists premiered May 1 at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles.
In the last year, AI also has become a major point of contention in Hollywood, a topic of several labor strikes, and multiple panicked headlines. Meanwhile, filmmakers are using it.
“Among my peers, the reality is there’s more people using it than they’d like to admit,” said Paul Trillo, an AI filmmaker who spoke on a panel discussion at Wednesday’s Aiff moderated by IndieWire editor in chief Dana Harris-Bridson. “I’ve even seen people that pretend to be anti-ai, and they are using Midjourney, ChatGPT, they try and take a stance, but I know people are using things.”
Joining Trillo on the panel were Emmy-winning animator Joel Kuwahara, tech writer, artist, and...
In the last year, AI also has become a major point of contention in Hollywood, a topic of several labor strikes, and multiple panicked headlines. Meanwhile, filmmakers are using it.
“Among my peers, the reality is there’s more people using it than they’d like to admit,” said Paul Trillo, an AI filmmaker who spoke on a panel discussion at Wednesday’s Aiff moderated by IndieWire editor in chief Dana Harris-Bridson. “I’ve even seen people that pretend to be anti-ai, and they are using Midjourney, ChatGPT, they try and take a stance, but I know people are using things.”
Joining Trillo on the panel were Emmy-winning animator Joel Kuwahara, tech writer, artist, and...
- 5/3/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
The legendary Jim Henson changed the face of puppeteering forever. Now, the “Sesame Street” and “The Muppet Show” icon is at the center of Academy Award winner Ron Howard’s latest documentary, “Jim Henson Idea Man.”
Howard helms the Disney+ original documentary that takes audiences into the mind of Henson’s singular creative vision. The film charts his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of “Sesame Street,” “The Muppet Show,” and beyond. Featuring unprecedented access to Jim’s personal archives, director Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.
The original documentary from Disney Branded Television, is produced by Howard’s Imagine Documentaries. Howard also serves as a producer alongside Brian Grazer, Sara Bernstein, Margaret Bodde, Justin Wilkes, Mark Monroe, and Christopher St. John.
Paul Crowder, Meredith Kaulfers, and Michael Rosenberg serve as executive producers.
IndieWire...
Howard helms the Disney+ original documentary that takes audiences into the mind of Henson’s singular creative vision. The film charts his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of “Sesame Street,” “The Muppet Show,” and beyond. Featuring unprecedented access to Jim’s personal archives, director Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.
The original documentary from Disney Branded Television, is produced by Howard’s Imagine Documentaries. Howard also serves as a producer alongside Brian Grazer, Sara Bernstein, Margaret Bodde, Justin Wilkes, Mark Monroe, and Christopher St. John.
Paul Crowder, Meredith Kaulfers, and Michael Rosenberg serve as executive producers.
IndieWire...
- 4/24/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
This year, Sundance saw big deals go down for “A Real Pain”, “It’s What’s Inside”, “Presence” (Neon), and “My Old Ass” as well as smaller acquisitions for “Kneecap” (Sony Pictures Classics), “Ghostlight” (IFC Films), and “Ibelin”(Netflix).
It’s not the same bull market as the old days, but we’ll take it. And while streamers made their presence felt with the two largest acquisitions to date, it’s clear that for most of these films theatrical will be part of their lifecycles. But is that a smart move?
Based on last year’s results, the answer is: Could be. Domestic box office from all Sundance 2023 films was the best for any year since Covid. At around $100 million, it quadrupled the take from 2022 Festival titles (around $25 million). All told, about two thirds of the 2023 films have some sort of domestic distribution, including streaming outlets. Of these, about a dozen films have yet to open.
It’s not the same bull market as the old days, but we’ll take it. And while streamers made their presence felt with the two largest acquisitions to date, it’s clear that for most of these films theatrical will be part of their lifecycles. But is that a smart move?
Based on last year’s results, the answer is: Could be. Domestic box office from all Sundance 2023 films was the best for any year since Covid. At around $100 million, it quadrupled the take from 2022 Festival titles (around $25 million). All told, about two thirds of the 2023 films have some sort of domestic distribution, including streaming outlets. Of these, about a dozen films have yet to open.
- 1/27/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
IndieWire’s longtime commitment to highlighting boundary-pushing documentary filmmaking reached new heights this fall during the inaugural Art of the Doc screening series. Presented in partnership with National Geographic, Art of the Doc showcased six of the best nonfiction films of 2023 at the Landmark Westwood in Los Angeles. Each screening featured in-person conversations with filmmakers and documentary subjects moderated by IndieWire editors.
“Our editors gave careful consideration in selecting these films for our inaugural screening series, Art of the Doc,” IndieWire senior VP and editor in chief Dana Harris-Bridson said in a statement announcing the series. “We’re excited to have the in-person opportunity to share IndieWire’s perspective with the work of great filmmakers.”
“We’re thrilled to be launching our first documentary screening series with our partner National Geographic,” said IndieWire senior VP and publisher James Israel. “Nat Geo’s support of the art of current documentary filmmaking...
“Our editors gave careful consideration in selecting these films for our inaugural screening series, Art of the Doc,” IndieWire senior VP and editor in chief Dana Harris-Bridson said in a statement announcing the series. “We’re excited to have the in-person opportunity to share IndieWire’s perspective with the work of great filmmakers.”
“We’re thrilled to be launching our first documentary screening series with our partner National Geographic,” said IndieWire senior VP and publisher James Israel. “Nat Geo’s support of the art of current documentary filmmaking...
- 11/27/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Greta Gerwig, Lily Gladstone, Todd Haynes, ‘The Curse’ Creators to Be Celebrated at IndieWire Honors
IndieWire, the definitive outlet for creative independence in film and TV, announced on Friday, November 17 the return of its annual IndieWire Honors event. Curated and selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, IndieWire Honors is a celebration of those who made a true impact on entertainment this year.
The third edition of the event will be celebrated at an intimate cocktail reception taking place on Wednesday, December 6 in Los Angeles. Exclusive editorial content, including honoree profiles, will also be featured on IndieWire.com beginning November 29 and will continue throughout the lead-up to the awards night, followed up by video interviews from the event. Other honorees will be announced in the coming days.
“We’re very proud to present our lineup for IndieWire Honors, which represents some of our most compelling film and TV creators,” said IndieWire senior VP and Editor In Chief Dana Harris-Bridson. “These are people we’ve supported from...
The third edition of the event will be celebrated at an intimate cocktail reception taking place on Wednesday, December 6 in Los Angeles. Exclusive editorial content, including honoree profiles, will also be featured on IndieWire.com beginning November 29 and will continue throughout the lead-up to the awards night, followed up by video interviews from the event. Other honorees will be announced in the coming days.
“We’re very proud to present our lineup for IndieWire Honors, which represents some of our most compelling film and TV creators,” said IndieWire senior VP and Editor In Chief Dana Harris-Bridson. “These are people we’ve supported from...
- 11/17/2023
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
Updated with details about the next and final screening, which is “Stamped from the Beginning” on November 20. Learn more here.
This Monday, November 20, the next and concluding screening in our Art of the Doc series will be of Roger Ross Williams’ acclaimed “Stamped from the Beginning” at the Landmark Westwood. Doors open at 6:30pm with a pre-reception featuring beer, wine, and conversations with other documentary fans. Then at 7:30, the screening will begin, after which there will be a Q&a moderated by IndieWire’s Marcus Jones with director Roger Ross Williams himself. The film, based on the book by Ibram X. Kendi about how racist tropes permeate American culture, debuted to extraordinary acclaim at TIFF in September, and IndieWire’s Anne Thompson considers it a frontrunner in the Best Documentary Feature race at the Oscars.
New to our Art of the Doc series? Well, IndieWire has celebrated the...
This Monday, November 20, the next and concluding screening in our Art of the Doc series will be of Roger Ross Williams’ acclaimed “Stamped from the Beginning” at the Landmark Westwood. Doors open at 6:30pm with a pre-reception featuring beer, wine, and conversations with other documentary fans. Then at 7:30, the screening will begin, after which there will be a Q&a moderated by IndieWire’s Marcus Jones with director Roger Ross Williams himself. The film, based on the book by Ibram X. Kendi about how racist tropes permeate American culture, debuted to extraordinary acclaim at TIFF in September, and IndieWire’s Anne Thompson considers it a frontrunner in the Best Documentary Feature race at the Oscars.
New to our Art of the Doc series? Well, IndieWire has celebrated the...
- 11/17/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
The scrapped “Coyote Vs. Acme” has now garnered a filmmakers vs. Warner Bros. campaign on social media.
On private Facebook group Crew Stories, “Coyote Vs. Acme” crew member Nate Bannister posted (and gave IndieWire permission to quote) his frustration. “I was Key Alm [assistant location manager] on this movie, almost died of stress pulling all the permits, we closed down the entirety of downtown Albuquerque, I had to call in every favor of my career to close an overpass with a half a days notice, I got so many angry calls from neighbors, business owners, etc day and night, working on this movie almost tore apart my relationship with my fiancée,” he wrote. “Why do I work in this industry?”
The live-action and animated hybrid film starring John Cena was officially axed by Warner Bros. November 9 as a tax write-off for its Q3 earnings, even though the film had been finished. The $70 million...
On private Facebook group Crew Stories, “Coyote Vs. Acme” crew member Nate Bannister posted (and gave IndieWire permission to quote) his frustration. “I was Key Alm [assistant location manager] on this movie, almost died of stress pulling all the permits, we closed down the entirety of downtown Albuquerque, I had to call in every favor of my career to close an overpass with a half a days notice, I got so many angry calls from neighbors, business owners, etc day and night, working on this movie almost tore apart my relationship with my fiancée,” he wrote. “Why do I work in this industry?”
The live-action and animated hybrid film starring John Cena was officially axed by Warner Bros. November 9 as a tax write-off for its Q3 earnings, even though the film had been finished. The $70 million...
- 11/10/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
IndieWire proudly announces that Deputy Managing Editor Ryan Lattanzio will join Editor-at-Large Anne Thompson as co-host of our long-running, popular weekly podcast series, “Screen Talk.” Launched in 2014, “Screen Talk” is a weekly dive behind the scenes of the latest industry news while debating and discussing new film and television releases. Thompson previously co-hosted “Screen Talk” with Eric Kohn, who joined filmmaker Harmony Korine’s multidisciplinary design collective Edglrd earlier this fall.
“It’s been a lot of fun to see Ryan grow his career and his voice at IndieWire,” said IndieWire Editor-in-Chief Dana Harris-Bridson. “I’m looking forward to hearing what he brings to ‘Screen Talk’ and his longtime partnership with Anne.”
“I’m thrilled to take the reins of co-hosting ‘Screen Talk’ alongside Anne, my friend and mentor of many years,” Lattanzio said. “Eric shaped such a great legacy for the podcast with his sharp week-by-week analyses and insights.
“It’s been a lot of fun to see Ryan grow his career and his voice at IndieWire,” said IndieWire Editor-in-Chief Dana Harris-Bridson. “I’m looking forward to hearing what he brings to ‘Screen Talk’ and his longtime partnership with Anne.”
“I’m thrilled to take the reins of co-hosting ‘Screen Talk’ alongside Anne, my friend and mentor of many years,” Lattanzio said. “Eric shaped such a great legacy for the podcast with his sharp week-by-week analyses and insights.
- 10/11/2023
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
After almost 17 years on staff at IndieWire as writer, reporter, one-time chief critic, and columnist, Eric Kohn is leaving to join Edglrd, the new multidisciplinary design collective founded by filmmaker and artist Harmony Korine, as Head of Film Strategy and Development. In the new job, which begins August 30, Kohn will focus on developing new films from emerging and established talent for the experimental creative studio.
Kohn will be sorely missed. A respected journalist who made an impact on film culture, Kohn shared an expansive enthusiasm for movies, independent cinema, and the future of emerging entertainment technology. Most recently named VP, Editorial Strategy and Executive Editor at IndieWire, Kohn started his IndieWire career as a sofa-hopping freelance critic delivering reviews at festivals like Sundance and Cannes.
Kohn said he was inspired by meeting indie heroes such as Bingham Ray. “He was compelled not just by the business but by a passion for the medium itself,...
Kohn will be sorely missed. A respected journalist who made an impact on film culture, Kohn shared an expansive enthusiasm for movies, independent cinema, and the future of emerging entertainment technology. Most recently named VP, Editorial Strategy and Executive Editor at IndieWire, Kohn started his IndieWire career as a sofa-hopping freelance critic delivering reviews at festivals like Sundance and Cannes.
Kohn said he was inspired by meeting indie heroes such as Bingham Ray. “He was compelled not just by the business but by a passion for the medium itself,...
- 8/30/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
In a way, “Succession” will never end. The Roy family’s wealth is too immense to be squelched in a single episode — even a finale that’s as long as a film. That kind of money isn’t even money anymore; it’s capital, power, and, as Kendall put it in his eulogy to Logan, “the lifeblood […] of this wonderful civilization we have built from the mud.” Whomever succeeds the Waystar Royco business titan will grab the reigns of an ecosystem that may not be too big to fail, but certainly protects its own. Barring an asteroid smashing into the planet or a significant time-jump into the post-apocalypse, “Succession’s” ending isn’t likely to halt the Roys’ destructive rampage across this planet. There will be survivors. There will be enterprise. There will be wealth.
But we won’t get to see any of it because “Succession” is still ending.
But we won’t get to see any of it because “Succession” is still ending.
- 5/28/2023
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
The Los Angeles Press Club released the nominees for its 60th annual award Southern California Journalism Awards on Friday, and IndieWire earned six nominations. Following its 2022 win for Best Website, Traditional News Organization, IndieWire’s entire staff was once again honored with a nomination for Website, News Organization Exclusive to the Internet. IndieWire writers also earned nominations for individual accolades in five categories.
“I’m so proud of our team,” said Dana Harris-Bridson, senior VP and editor in chief at IndieWire. “The nominations demonstrate the range, depth, and quality of the thoughtful work we produce across film and TV every day and we’re grateful for the honor.”
IndieWire’s Deputy TV Editor and TV Critic Ben Travers — who won in the Entertainment Commentary category last year — picked up a Criticism of TV nomination for his pieces “‘Atlanta’ Ends as Whatever Dream You Want It to Be,” “‘Yellowjackets Caps Off...
“I’m so proud of our team,” said Dana Harris-Bridson, senior VP and editor in chief at IndieWire. “The nominations demonstrate the range, depth, and quality of the thoughtful work we produce across film and TV every day and we’re grateful for the honor.”
IndieWire’s Deputy TV Editor and TV Critic Ben Travers — who won in the Entertainment Commentary category last year — picked up a Criticism of TV nomination for his pieces “‘Atlanta’ Ends as Whatever Dream You Want It to Be,” “‘Yellowjackets Caps Off...
- 5/12/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Thanks to Josh Gad, we can always build a snowman.
“Frozen” star Gad saved lovable character Olaf from being cut out of the Disney film, according to co-director Jennifer Lee. Gad presented Lee the award for Distinguished Storyteller by the Los Angeles Press Club on December 4 as part of the 15th annual National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards.
“Josh is Olaf,” Lee said during the acceptance speech (via Variety). Lee noted that she came on board to helm the 2013 feature after the film was already in development. An early cut left Lee with one comment: “My first note was, ‘Kill the snowman,'” Lee said.
Yet after a “sneaky” animator sent over a three-page script treatment for Olaf with Gad in mind, Lee couldn’t resist casting Gad in the role of the adorable snowman who accompanies Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), and Sven (Frank Welker) to find Anna...
“Frozen” star Gad saved lovable character Olaf from being cut out of the Disney film, according to co-director Jennifer Lee. Gad presented Lee the award for Distinguished Storyteller by the Los Angeles Press Club on December 4 as part of the 15th annual National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards.
“Josh is Olaf,” Lee said during the acceptance speech (via Variety). Lee noted that she came on board to helm the 2013 feature after the film was already in development. An early cut left Lee with one comment: “My first note was, ‘Kill the snowman,'” Lee said.
Yet after a “sneaky” animator sent over a three-page script treatment for Olaf with Gad in mind, Lee couldn’t resist casting Gad in the role of the adorable snowman who accompanies Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), and Sven (Frank Welker) to find Anna...
- 12/6/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
IndieWire’s own Chief Film Critic David Ehrlich has received rave reviews from the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
The 2022 awards ceremony, which took place in Los Angeles on December 4, feted Ehrlich with the honor of Best Film Critic. IndieWire’s Chief TV Critic Ben Travers also won third place for TV Critic of the year.
The Naej judges praised Ehrlich’s “smart, insightful, and wonderfully detailed and very entertaining” reviews, specifically citing Ehrlich’s reviews for “No Time to Die,” “The Green Knight,” and “Dune.”
IndieWire Senior VP and Editor-in-Chief Dana Harris-Bridson applauded the acknowledgement of Ehrlich and Travers. “David and Ben each possess extraordinary critical voices in addition to being talented writers, ” she said. “I’m always proud of the work our critics produce, but I’m thrilled to see it recognized by the jurors for the National Arts and Entertainment Awards.”
The 15th National Arts & Entertainment Journalism...
The 2022 awards ceremony, which took place in Los Angeles on December 4, feted Ehrlich with the honor of Best Film Critic. IndieWire’s Chief TV Critic Ben Travers also won third place for TV Critic of the year.
The Naej judges praised Ehrlich’s “smart, insightful, and wonderfully detailed and very entertaining” reviews, specifically citing Ehrlich’s reviews for “No Time to Die,” “The Green Knight,” and “Dune.”
IndieWire Senior VP and Editor-in-Chief Dana Harris-Bridson applauded the acknowledgement of Ehrlich and Travers. “David and Ben each possess extraordinary critical voices in addition to being talented writers, ” she said. “I’m always proud of the work our critics produce, but I’m thrilled to see it recognized by the jurors for the National Arts and Entertainment Awards.”
The 15th National Arts & Entertainment Journalism...
- 12/5/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
IndieWire announces a return to in-person awards season festivities with a Consider This Brunch in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 12.
The event will feature panels on Showtime’s hit coming-of-age horror series “Yellowjackets,” Apple TV+’s multigenerational family drama “Pachinko,” Amazon Prime Video’s science-fiction neo-Western “Outer Range,” HBO Max’s true-crime-inspired mystery “The Staircase,” as well as a panel from Hulu to be announced soon. The brunch will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pt in Hollywood.
Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, “Yellowjackets” premiered last November to instant acclaim for its strong performances and addictive storytelling. The series centers on an all-girls high school soccer team who become stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash in 1996. Meanwhile, their present-day selves must reckon with their dark past.
Panelists for “Yellowjackets” include Co-Creator and Showrunner, Ashley Lyle, Co-Creator and Showrunner Bart Nickerson, Executive Producer and Showrunner Jonathan Lisco,...
The event will feature panels on Showtime’s hit coming-of-age horror series “Yellowjackets,” Apple TV+’s multigenerational family drama “Pachinko,” Amazon Prime Video’s science-fiction neo-Western “Outer Range,” HBO Max’s true-crime-inspired mystery “The Staircase,” as well as a panel from Hulu to be announced soon. The brunch will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pt in Hollywood.
Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, “Yellowjackets” premiered last November to instant acclaim for its strong performances and addictive storytelling. The series centers on an all-girls high school soccer team who become stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash in 1996. Meanwhile, their present-day selves must reckon with their dark past.
Panelists for “Yellowjackets” include Co-Creator and Showrunner, Ashley Lyle, Co-Creator and Showrunner Bart Nickerson, Executive Producer and Showrunner Jonathan Lisco,...
- 4/29/2022
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
IndieWire is pleased to announce that Marcus Jones is joining the publication in the newly created role of Awards Editor, TV & Film, contributing to our year-round coverage of the TV and film races.
Jones will serve as IndieWire’s lead for TV awards coverage during the TV awards season including Emmys and the Winter TV awards. In the fall, he will turn his attention toward film awards and work closely with IndieWire’s veteran Editor-at-Large Anne Thompson, who leads film awards and strategy. Like Thompson, Jones is based in Los Angeles and will report to Editor in Chief Dana Harris-Bridson.
He begins his new role at IndieWire April 18 and will immediately get to work covering the increasingly heated Emmys race, which is already frantic with FYC events in the first in-person season since the pandemic.
“Marcus is a passionate entertainment journalist who will become a key element in growing our year-round awards season strategy,...
Jones will serve as IndieWire’s lead for TV awards coverage during the TV awards season including Emmys and the Winter TV awards. In the fall, he will turn his attention toward film awards and work closely with IndieWire’s veteran Editor-at-Large Anne Thompson, who leads film awards and strategy. Like Thompson, Jones is based in Los Angeles and will report to Editor in Chief Dana Harris-Bridson.
He begins his new role at IndieWire April 18 and will immediately get to work covering the increasingly heated Emmys race, which is already frantic with FYC events in the first in-person season since the pandemic.
“Marcus is a passionate entertainment journalist who will become a key element in growing our year-round awards season strategy,...
- 4/13/2022
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
IndieWire is pleased to announce an expansion of our News team with the promotion of two veteran staffers and the addition of several new hires. Christian Blauvelt has been promoted to Executive Managing Editor and Ryan Lattanzio has been promoted to Deputy Managing Editor. Joining the News team are News Editor Samantha Bergeson, Weekend Editor Christian Zilko, and Social Media Manager Vincent Perella Jr.
Blauvelt top-edits news, oversees planning of evergreen content, and coordinates the site’s staffing, operations, and budgeting. Blauvelt, who joined IndieWire as its Managing Editor in 2018, is based in the Tampa Bay area and reports to Editor in Chief Dana Harris-Bridson.
Lattanzio, who joined IndieWire as Weekend Editor in 2019, oversees day-to-day coverage for the News team, story scheduling, and manages the IndieWire social media team. He is based in New York City and reports to Blauvelt.
“Christian and Ryan have proven themselves to be invaluable as our site continues to grow,...
Blauvelt top-edits news, oversees planning of evergreen content, and coordinates the site’s staffing, operations, and budgeting. Blauvelt, who joined IndieWire as its Managing Editor in 2018, is based in the Tampa Bay area and reports to Editor in Chief Dana Harris-Bridson.
Lattanzio, who joined IndieWire as Weekend Editor in 2019, oversees day-to-day coverage for the News team, story scheduling, and manages the IndieWire social media team. He is based in New York City and reports to Blauvelt.
“Christian and Ryan have proven themselves to be invaluable as our site continues to grow,...
- 3/11/2022
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
IndieWire has hired two executive editors to bolster our growing coverage of TV and analysis of the businesses that create entertainment.
Erin Strecker is our new Executive Editor, TV and Tony Maglio takes the brand-new role of Executive Editor, Business. Both are based in New York and report to Editor in Chief Dana Harris-Bridson.
Strecker leads the TV vertical, directing and expanding our coverage at an essential moment for the medium. She comes to IndieWire from Mashable, where she most recently served as its Entertainment Editor. Prior to that, she worked at Billboard and at Entertainment Weekly.
Maglio is IndieWire’s first-ever Executive Editor, Business and will oversee the site’s coverage of the TV and film industries in addition to offering his own insight and analysis. He comes to IndieWire after nine years at The Wrap, most recently as its TV Editor. A former financial analyst, he holds an...
Erin Strecker is our new Executive Editor, TV and Tony Maglio takes the brand-new role of Executive Editor, Business. Both are based in New York and report to Editor in Chief Dana Harris-Bridson.
Strecker leads the TV vertical, directing and expanding our coverage at an essential moment for the medium. She comes to IndieWire from Mashable, where she most recently served as its Entertainment Editor. Prior to that, she worked at Billboard and at Entertainment Weekly.
Maglio is IndieWire’s first-ever Executive Editor, Business and will oversee the site’s coverage of the TV and film industries in addition to offering his own insight and analysis. He comes to IndieWire after nine years at The Wrap, most recently as its TV Editor. A former financial analyst, he holds an...
- 3/8/2022
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
It started, as so many things do these days, with a tweet. Over the weekend, IndieWire’s own Anne Thompson took to social media to share a recent interaction regarding the consumption of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic, “Dune,” which finally arrived in both domestic theaters and streaming on HBO Max after a year of pandemic-pushed delays. Thompson tweeted, “A friend of mine admitted he stopped watching Dune on @hbomax after 90 minutes and I lost it. That’s only one part of what’s wrong with watching a $165-million space epic shot in IMAX with Dolby sound at home. You have to be immersed in something from start to finish.”
Inevitably, the tweet set off a firestorm of reactions, from those who agreed with the sentiment to those who very much did not. Villeneuve has been one of the most vocal proponents of seeing the film in theaters, and the...
Inevitably, the tweet set off a firestorm of reactions, from those who agreed with the sentiment to those who very much did not. Villeneuve has been one of the most vocal proponents of seeing the film in theaters, and the...
- 10/25/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The annual Southern California Journalism Awards have recognized IndieWire’s overall website, plus film features, television criticism, and multimedia, with six nominations. Each year, the Los Angeles Press Club presents its annual awards to “support, promote, and defend quality journalism in Southern California.” Nominations include news feature, obituary, television criticism, and multimedia. IndieWire is also nominated in the “website, news organization exclusive to the internet” category, which recognizes the entire staff.
Deputy editor TV and TV critic Ben Travers was nominated in the Criticism of TV category, with his reviews of “Ted Lasso,” “City So Real,” and “Ratched” earning particular attention. Also on the TV side, deputy editor Film and TV Craft Chris O’Falt, creative producer Leonardo Adrian Garcia, TV editor Kristen Lopez, associate editor TV Steve Greene, and craft and animation editor Bill Desowitz were nominated for best Multimedia Package for their work on “IndieWire Influencers: TV.”
Executive editor...
Deputy editor TV and TV critic Ben Travers was nominated in the Criticism of TV category, with his reviews of “Ted Lasso,” “City So Real,” and “Ratched” earning particular attention. Also on the TV side, deputy editor Film and TV Craft Chris O’Falt, creative producer Leonardo Adrian Garcia, TV editor Kristen Lopez, associate editor TV Steve Greene, and craft and animation editor Bill Desowitz were nominated for best Multimedia Package for their work on “IndieWire Influencers: TV.”
Executive editor...
- 8/11/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
As IndieWire celebrates its 25th anniversary, the site has promoted three key staff members. In addition to serving as Executive Editor, Eric Kohn will take on the newly created role of Vice President, Editorial Strategy. Kate Erbland has been promoted to Executive Editor, Film and David Ehrlich has been promoted to Chief Film Critic.
As VP Editorial Strategy, Kohn will focus on expansion opportunities for IndieWire including education, original content, and events. He will work with Editor at Large Anne Thompson on IndieWire’s Awards Season Spotlight video series and continue to host the pair’s weekly Screen Talk podcast. He will also oversee IndieWire’s film festival strategies while contributing features, essays, and analysis to the site. He continues to report to Editor in Chief Dana Harris-Bridson.
Erbland will lead IndieWire’s daily film coverage and its staff, as well as develop big-picture strategy for the film vertical. Ehrlich...
As VP Editorial Strategy, Kohn will focus on expansion opportunities for IndieWire including education, original content, and events. He will work with Editor at Large Anne Thompson on IndieWire’s Awards Season Spotlight video series and continue to host the pair’s weekly Screen Talk podcast. He will also oversee IndieWire’s film festival strategies while contributing features, essays, and analysis to the site. He continues to report to Editor in Chief Dana Harris-Bridson.
Erbland will lead IndieWire’s daily film coverage and its staff, as well as develop big-picture strategy for the film vertical. Ehrlich...
- 8/9/2021
- by IndieWire Staff
- Indiewire
This week provided an unwelcome, although not entirely unexpected, raft of Covid news in the entertainment industry: Rising case numbers, a canceled theatrical release, confusing protocols, uncertain futures, and a movie-star ultimatum. IndieWire editor in chief Dana Harris-Birdsong and editor-at-large Anne Thompson stopped for a Double Take to assess what might happen next.
Dana Harris-bridson: This was a busy week for Covid in Hollywood. We saw the guilds and producers tentatively negotiate a short-term deal that appears to be double-jointed in its flexibility: It simultaneously relaxes Covid protocols while “allowing” producers to require vaccinations in Zone A on sets. Meanwhile there’s a 15.7 percent positive test rate in Clark County, Nevada, where Las Vegas plans to host CinemaCon next month. In the U.K., A24’s “The Green Knight” was pulled from theatrical distribution two weeks before release in response to rapidly rising Covid fears — even though the...
Dana Harris-bridson: This was a busy week for Covid in Hollywood. We saw the guilds and producers tentatively negotiate a short-term deal that appears to be double-jointed in its flexibility: It simultaneously relaxes Covid protocols while “allowing” producers to require vaccinations in Zone A on sets. Meanwhile there’s a 15.7 percent positive test rate in Clark County, Nevada, where Las Vegas plans to host CinemaCon next month. In the U.K., A24’s “The Green Knight” was pulled from theatrical distribution two weeks before release in response to rapidly rising Covid fears — even though the...
- 7/24/2021
- by Dana Harris-Bridson and Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Another day, another platform launch. Today it’s CNN and CNN+, scheduled to debut in the first quarter of 2022. Promising a “new experience for CNN superfans, news junkies, and fans of quality non-fiction,” IndieWire editor in chief Dana Harris-Bridson and Deputy TV editor Ben Travers wanted to take a deeper look at the latest platform to join the Plus Connected Universe. Their conversation follows.
Dana: My first question upon reading the CNN+ announcement this morning was: Why? The obvious reasons are revenue, and because streaming is gaining ground as the dominant business model, but I look sideways at Jeff Zucker’s press-release assessment: “We will offer consumers a streaming product that grows the reach and scope of the CNN brand in a way that no one else is doing.” Certainly, they will do CNN better than anyone else. But “Nothing like this exists” sounds like pure hubris.
Ben: Whenever I...
Dana: My first question upon reading the CNN+ announcement this morning was: Why? The obvious reasons are revenue, and because streaming is gaining ground as the dominant business model, but I look sideways at Jeff Zucker’s press-release assessment: “We will offer consumers a streaming product that grows the reach and scope of the CNN brand in a way that no one else is doing.” Certainly, they will do CNN better than anyone else. But “Nothing like this exists” sounds like pure hubris.
Ben: Whenever I...
- 7/20/2021
- by Dana Harris-Bridson and Ben Travers
- Indiewire
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