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The world of Stephen King adaptations runs the gamut across nearly every aspect of filmmaking. You have theatrically released ones and straight to video ones. Stories stretched into TV miniseries and short stories used as segments of anthology movies. Of course, there are features that do well with critics but fail with audiences and vice versa, fail with critics but are eaten up but movie goers worldwide. 1408 came at the beginning of the King renaissance in 2007 and was a success with both critics and audiences but somehow stands alone in the mid 2000s horror pantheon as a successful but forgotten movie. Who was originally going to star in the title role? How many endings does the movie technically have? How meticulous was the production about the number 1408? Grab your room keys as we find out what happened to 1408.

Stephen King had released books in several different ways throughout his career...

Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer and composer, died November 3 at age 91, his family announced Monday morning. Tributes immediately began pouring in, as celebrities from all over the entertainment industry paid tribute to the 28-time Grammy winner for his contributions to culture, which included producing Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” and “Bad,” producing and conducting the “We Are the World” charity single, and composing the score for and producing the film “The Color Purple,” among countless other achievements in music, film, and television.

“The world mourns the loss & celebrates the life of Quincy Jones – a legendary talent whose contributions to music spanned generations and genres. What an Mj/Q decade-long partnership produced is unmatched and includes the biggest selling album of all time,” the official X account of Michael Jackson’s estate posted. “Rest in Peace, Q.”

“My Celestial twin Quincy was a titan in the musical world,...

Ever since he debuted his "American Crime Story" in 2016 with the critically acclaimed miniseries "The People v. O.J. Simpson," Ryan Murphy has become television/streaming's preeminent purveyor of lurid, fact-based sagas. Murphy and his collaborators are masters of titillation and/or revulsion, but they've yet to come close to matching the whip-smart dialogue and nimble storytelling of "The People v. O.J. Simpson" writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" and "Impeachment" were more facile and, in alarming respects, callous to the point of mean-spiritedness.

This quality was hugely amplified when Murphy took his true crime game to Netflix for "Dahmer: Monster -- The Jeffrey Dahmer Story." The 2022 10-part series was long on unpleasantness, gore, and outright cruelty, but disappointingly short on insight. It was a wallow. And I say this as someone fascinated by serial killers. As such, it'll be interesting to see if...

Folks, we've made it: we're officially in September, which means it's now Spooky Season. Sure, you could argue that the Halloween festivities shouldn't start until October, but I say: nuts to that! Summer is over (more or less), the temperatures are dropping (sometimes), and it's time to start watching horror movies left and right. If you're anything like me, you know that any time of the year is a good time for horror — I'll watch a horror movie in January, I'm so crazy! — but there's something extra special about embracing the genre as we get closer and closer to Halloween. It's almost as if we're given an excuse to cut loose and watch as many scary movies as we possibly can. Tis this season, after all.

With all that in mind, for this month's horror streaming column I've decided to bring out the big guns: Stephen King movies. It's probably...

Poster for the 2024 Beyond Fest

82 feature films will screen during the 2024 Beyond Fest, taking place September 25 through October 9 in Los Angeles. Among the offerings will be the West Coast premieres of Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist, Sean Baker’s Anora, Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice, Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch, and Damien Leone’s Terrifier 3.

The 12th edition of the festival kicks off with the world premiere of Salem’s Lot, directed by Gary Dauberman and based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel. Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cloud is this year’s closing night film. Plus, the genre festival hosts a reunion of Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, and director Jan de Bont in honor of the 30th anniversary of Speed.

“Combining a celebration of cinema whilst firmly focusing our gaze on the next generation of filmmakers has always been at the heart of the Beyond Fest,” stated Head of Programming Evrim Ersoy. “And...

Beyond Fest 2024 announced today its complete, insanely packed slate of programming comprising 82 features, including 16 World Premieres, 4 International Premieres, 1 North American Premiere, 3 US Premieres, and 25 West Coast Premieres. Buckle up for 15 days of cinematic mayhem.

The fest returns to Los Angeles for its 12th edition spanning September 25 – October 9. Beyond Fest opens with the World Premiere of Gary Dauberman’s chilling adaptation of Stephen King’s seminal novel Salem’s Lot whilst closing night honors are bestowed upon Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cloud with the legendary Japanese auteur joining in-person to launch a 7-film retrospective.

Genre spotlight events include the World Premiere of the brand new, never-before-seen ‘Shush Cut’ of Hush with Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel in person, who also hosts the International Premiere of the 4K Restoration of Lake Mungo, Tobin Bell, Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell join to debut the restored and unrated cut of their seminal shocker, Saw, and

the...

Beyond Fest 2024, the genre film festival based in the United States is returning for its 12th presentation with an 82-feature lineup for 15 days of cinematic spectacle! This year’s celebration includes a killer roster of firsts, special screenings, anticipated reunions, and more fan-favorite filmmakers than most cinephiles could handle for one momentous event! This year’s collection of films and creators is better than ever, so prepare yourself for a gauntlet of big-screen wonders, a popcorn diet, and random encounters with celebrities and fans alike.

Per Beyond Fest’s official press release (with some flavor text sprinkled in):

Beyond Fest, the biggest and highest-attended genre film festival in the US is excited to announce its complete slate of 2024 programming comprising 82 features, including 16 World Premieres, 4 International Premieres, 1 North American Premiere, 3 US Premieres, and 25 West Coast Premieres. After entertaining over 25,000 guests in 2023, Beyond Fest returns for its 12th edition, spanning September 25th – October 9th.

The long-awaited unveiling of Gary Dauberman’s Salem’s Lot, the west coast premiere of Terrifier 3, a 30th anniversary Speed reunion with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, and focus on filmmakers Sam Raimi and Shane Black are among the many highlights of the 12th edition of Beyond Fest, which will hit Los Angeles starting Sept. 25.

Other big-name titles include the international premiere of Toho’s My Hero Academia: You’re Next and the west coast premieres of The Brutalist, the immigration thriller that is coming off a Silver Lion award for best director at the Venice Film Festival. Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or winner Anora, Donald Trump origin story The Apprentice, and Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch are also on the docket And there will be the U.S. premiere of Sarah Paulson’s suspense thriller Hold Your Breath.

Billing itself the largest genre film festival in the United States,...

The 2024 Beyond Fest lineup has officially been unveiled, and fans are ready for a spooky good festival.

The genre film festival will open with the highly-anticipated reimagining of Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot.” The novel was originally brought to the screen in 1979 with a two-part miniseries and a 2004 film.

Now, director Gary Dauberman is giving the horror classic his own twist, with Lewis Pullman starring. The feature had a delayed debut as Warner Bros. pushed its slated September 2022 until Spring 2023 before pulling the film from a U.S. theatrical release all together. “Salem’s Lot” will debut on Max October 3, and will have its world premiere on the big screen for Beyond Fest.

The festival will take place from September 25 to October 9.

Beyond Fest will close with Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Cloud.” Kurosawa will be in-person to launch a 7-film retrospective with the festival. A Guy Maddin retrospective will also take place...

Somehow, ‘Lil Cinephile has returned.

The book series, a spin-off of the wildly successful Cinephile: A Card Game, returns with a new volume of books designed to make your baby the coolest kid at day care. “My Fist Sci-Fi Movie,” “My First Kung Fu Movie” and “My First Midnight Movie,” represents the next chapter of the book series, with installments that “take readers on a cinematic journey of filmmaking styles from around the world,” according to the official synopsis.

These new books were written by Cory Everett and illustrated by Julie Olivi and cover everything from “2001: A Space Odyssey” to “Enter the Dragon” to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” This might be the greatest set of ‘Lil Cinephile books yet. Expect your budding to cineaste to have some new favorites.

Independently made and produced, “My First Sci-Fi Movie,” “My First Kung Fu Movie,” and “My First Midnight Movie,” will be available from lilcinephile.

The enduring legacy of campy cult favorite “Ed Wood” is still celebrated 30 years later.

The beloved 1994 film was directed by Tim Burton and starred Johnny Depp as the filmmaker known for helming B-movie greats, most infamously 1959’s “Plan 9 from Outer Space.” Wood’s other features include “Orgy of the Dead,” “Glen or Glenda,” and “Bride of the Monster.” He was awarded the Golden Turkey title of Worst Director in 1975.

Burton’s 1994 biopic “Ed Wood” was written by Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander, and co-starred Bill Murray, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Martin Landau, who won an Oscar for portraying Bela Lugosi.

“Ed Wood” producer Denise Di Novi detailed her own love of the film three decades later, explaining why “Ed Wood” is one of the most personal projects for both her and longtime collaborator Burton to date. After working as the creative consultant on David Cronenberg’s iconic “Videodrome,” Di...

Genre filmmaker Mike Flanagan has brought feature film adaptations of the Stephen King novels Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep to the screen, and recently wrapped up post-production on a feature adaptation of the King short story The Life of Chuck. His production company Intrepid Pictures is currently developing a TV series adaptation of King’s epic The Dark Tower saga for Amazon’s Prime Video. For a while, he was also set to make a movie based on King’s novel Revival, but that fell apart. But one King story he wanted to bring to the screen and never got the chance to work on was the short story 1408, which served as the basis for a 2007 film that was directed by Mikael Håfström from a screenplay by Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander, and Larry Karaszewski, and starred John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. Flanagan missed out on 1408, but...

The iconic dark comedy Heathers is set to make a triumphant return with a limited edition 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release on 5th August 2024. This cult classic, which has captivated audiences with its sharp satire and dark humour, will be available through Arrow Films, featuring a comprehensive collection of special features and a stunning new restoration.

Heathers has long been celebrated as a quintessential piece of modern American cinema, renowned for its biting critique of 1980s high school culture. Set at Westerburg High School, the film follows the story of Veronica Sawyer, a bright and popular student who reluctantly becomes part of an elite group of girls known as the “Heathers.” Disillusioned by their cruelty, Veronica finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Jd. Their partnership takes a deadly turn when a prank on the clique’s leader, Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), leads to her accidental poisoning, staged as a suicide.

Milos Forman’s multi-Oscar-winning epic “Amadeus” has received a major 40th anniversary present thanks to the Academy Film Archive: a 4k digital restoration which will be unveiled May 31st at the Academy Museum. There’s major anticipation for this new restoration; the event is sold out with stand-by tickets available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The restoration by the archive and the Saul Zaentz Co. with funding provided by Teatro Della Pace Film marks the first time the original theatrical release has been available in over two decades.

“Amadeus,” produced by Saul Zaentz and adapted by Peter Shaffer from his Tony Award-winning Broadway play, revolves around the rivalry in last half of the 18th century Vienna between the mediocre court composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) and his rival, the brilliant young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). Shot on location in Prague, the film was a homecoming for Forman who...

The Hollywood filmmaking community remembered Roger Corman today as a man who had a “can-do” attitude about making movies. Along the way, he touched many lives, blazing a path for newcomers to enter the business and others to keep the lights on through his relentless drive to produce films.

Amid that hustle, he was remembered as a kind man who had a passion for what he did.

Here are some of the reactions:

Robert De Niro:

“ I’m sorry to hear of the passing of Roger. He started many of us over the years. He was a legend. May he rest in peace.”

Roger Corman was my very first boss, my lifetime mentor and my hero. Roger was one of the greatest visionaries in the history of cinema. I am absolutely devastated by his loss and send my love and deepest condolences to the Corman family. #Rip #RogerCorman pic.

Exclusive: Jonah Hill has rounded out the cast of Outcome, the dark comedy that he wrote and is directing and starring in for Apple. Newcomers include Susan Lucci (All My Children), David Spade (The Wrong Missy), Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black), Kaia Gerber (Palm Royale), Roy Wood Jr. (The Daily Show) and Atsuko Okatsuka (The Intruder).

No word on the roles to be played by the new cast members. As previously announced, Keanu Reeves leads the ensemble of the Apple Original Film, which will also star Cameron Diaz and Matt Bomer.

Written by Hill and Ezra Woods, Outcome centers on Reef (Reeves), a damaged Hollywood star who must dive into the dark depths of his past to confront his demons and make amends after he is extorted with a mysterious video clip from his past.

An Apple Studios production, the film will be produced by Matt Dines, Ali Goodwin...

While David Zaslav and Bob Iger’s tax-optimization strategy of deleting films and TV shows from their streamers has triggered plenty of agita among creators, the custodians of Hollywood’s digital era have an even greater fear: wholesale decay of feature and episodic files. Behind closed doors and NDAs, the fragility of archives is a perpetual Topic A, with pros sweating the possibility that contemporary pop culture’s master files might be true goners, destined to the same fate as so many vanished silent movies, among them Alfred Hitchcock’s second feature, The Mountain Eagle, and Ernst Lubitsch’s Oscar-winning The Patriot.

It’s underscored by initiatives such as Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation. “The preservation of every art form is fundamental,” the industry icon says on a video on the organization’s web site. For the business, these are valuable studio assets — to use one example, the MGM Library...

Exclusive: Matt Bomer is set to co-star opposite Keanu Reeves, Jonah Hill and Cameron Diaz in the dark comedy Outcome for Apple Studios. Hill will also direct.

Co-written by Hill and Ezra Woods, Outcome follows Reef (Reeves), a damaged Hollywood star who must dive into the dark depths of his past to confront his demons and make amends after he is extorted with a mysterious video clip. An Apple Studios production, the film will be produced by Matt Dines, Ali Goodwin and Hill under their Strong Baby banner.

The film marks the latest collaboration for Hill and Apple Original Films; they are also developing a Grateful Dead biopic with Martin Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions, to be directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. Hill is starring and producing in that under Strong Baby with Dines and Goodwin.

Bomer is coming off quite a celebrated fall...

It was recently reported that Cameron Diaz will be coming out of her decade-long hiatus to star with Jamie Foxx in the film that’s ironically titled Back in Action. Deadline is now reporting that Diaz will be continuing her return to movies with a part in a dark comedy that has been co-written and set to be directed by Jonah Hill. The movie was a big acquisition for Apple Original Films and has taken to assembling an A-list cast. Diaz is reportedly in negotiations to star alongside Keanu Reeves, who is also negotiating his contract. The two had previously starred together in the 1996 comedy Feeling Minnesota.

The details of the film, per Deadline, say,

“Co-written by Hill and Ezra Woods, Outcome will star Reeves as Reef, a damaged Hollywood star who must dive into the dark depths of his past to confront his demons and make amends after he...

Cameron Diaz in talks to star opposite Keanu Reeves in the dark comedy Outcome, which Jonah Hill will direct and also star in.

The Apple Studios pic will center on Reeves as Reef, a damaged Hollywood star who must dive into the dark depths of his past to confront his demons and make amends after he is extorted with a mysterious video clip from his past.

Diaz’s long list of screen credits include Something About Mary, The Mask, the Shrek animated franchise and the Charlie’s Angels films. Reeves recently reprised his titular role in the hit John Wick franchise, starring in the fourth film, which hit theaters in March 2023.

Outcome, which landed at Apple Studios a year ago, is also being written by Hill and Ezra Woods and will be produced by Matt Dines, Ali Goodwin and Hill under their Strong Baby banner. The film reteams Hill and Apple...

Cameron Diaz is looking to make her comeback to acting a bit more permanent, with Apple Original Films announcing that she’s in final negotiations to star alongside Jonah Hill and Keanu Reeves in the upcoming dark comedy “Outcome.”

Directed by Hill from a script he co-wrote with Ezra Woods, “Outcome” will star Reeves as Reef, a damaged Hollywood star who must “dive into the dark depths of his past to confront his demons and make amends after he is extorted with a mysterious video clip from his past.”

Details of Diaz’s role have not been disclosed, but the casting is quite a coup. Diaz has made quite the career based on her comedic chops, with films like “The Mask,” “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “There’s Something About Mary,” “Bad Teacher” and the “Charlie’s Angels” and “Shrek” franchises grossing more than $7 billion worldwide. Plus, she’s nabbed Golden Globe, SAG...

Exclusive: After landing the coveted package last year, Apple Original Films is putting together quite the cast for Jonah Hill’s dark comedy Outcome. Cameron Diaz is in final negotiations to co-star opposite Keanu Reeves — who is also in final negotiations — in the pic, which Hill will direct.

Co-written by Hill and Ezra Woods, Outcome follows Reef (Reeves), a damaged Hollywood star who must dive into the dark depths of his past to confront his demons and make amends after he is extorted with a mysterious video clip. An Apple Studios production, the film will be produced by Matt Dines, Ali Goodwin and Hill under their Strong Baby banner.

The film marks the latest collaboration for Hill and Apple Original Films; they are also developing a Grateful Dead biopic with Martin Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions, to be directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. Hill...

In April 2019, the Academy made a major change to the category formerly known as best foreign-language film. The following March, at the 92nd Academy Awards, Parasite made Oscar history when it became the first non-English film to take best picture — and the first movie to win the Oscar for the newly designated category of best international film.

The decision to rename the category was born out of the Academy’s efforts to diversify its membership and embrace the global filmmaking community. “We believe that ‘international feature film’ better represents this category, and promotes a positive and inclusive view of filmmaking, and the art of film as a universal experience,” Larry Karaszewski and Diane Weyermann, then co-chairs of the international film committee (Weyermann died in 2021), said in a statement.

The Academy has embraced more foreign-language films in its competition — since Parasite’s win in 2020, the best picture category has seen international (or largely non-English) nominees Minari,...

Angela Bassett, collecting an honorary Oscar, gave an impassioned speech about the history of Black actresses in Hollywood and Michelle Satter, becoming the 45th recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, paid tribute to her son Michael Latt, who was murdered just weeks ago, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 14th Governors Awards on Tuesday night.

Donning tuxes and dresses, many of Hollywood’s biggest names filled the Hollywood and Highland Center, a ballroom just steps from the Dolby Theatre at which the 96th Academy Awards will take place March 10, to honor Bassett and Satter, as well as legendary filmmaker Mel Brooks and film editor Carol Littleton, who were also presented with honorary Oscars.

The event was originally scheduled for Nov. 18 but was pushed into 2024 back because the WGA and SAG-AFTRA were still on strike. Despite not being televised, there had been concerns that it might be...

Exclusive: Matthew Wilder has been set to write and direct an untitled film that chronicles the life and work of author Joan Didion.

The plan is to paint a dreamlike day in the life of Didion and California in the late 1960s, when the brilliant young journalist is hurtled from encounters with jailed Manson girls to protesting Black Panthers, and from Nancy Reagan pausing in a photo op to Vietnam War POWs — climaxing with an epilogue in a near-future California where an AI Joan encounters a dystopia beyond her wildest anxiety dreams.

The film, produced under David Michaels’ Enfant Terrible Cinema, will shoot in Los Angeles in the first or second quarter of 2024. Financing is being discussed with potential partners this week at AFM.

A National Book Award winner and recipient of a National Humanities Medal, Didion’s account of grief and loss in 2005’s The Year of Magical Thinking...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Killers of the Flower Moon, the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s Albie Awards and the Versace Icons Dinner.

Los Angeles Beverly Arts Icon Awards

The third annual Laba Icon Awards took place on Friday in Beverly Hills, where artist and photographer Michael Warren was presented with an award by his son Cash Warren (and support from daughter-in-law Jessica Alba) and visual artist Alexandra Grant was honored by sound mixer Paul N. J. Ottosson.

Michael Warren, Jenny Warren, Jessica Alba and Cash Warren

L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade

After a three year hiatus, L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade, hosted by Chef Suzanne Goin and partner Caroline Styne along with Chef David Lentz, returned on Saturday to UCLA’s Royce Quad. The culinary cookout, which supports Alex’s Lemonade...

Stephen King knows a thing or two about haunted hotels. His "The Shining" is the granddaddy of haunted hotel tales, and he even returned to the Overlook Hotel with the sequel "Doctor Sleep." And then there's "1408," King's short story about one mean room. King originally wrote part of the story as part of his non-fiction work "On Writing." It was merely meant to illustrate how a story changes from draft to draft. But the story turned out to be pretty darn good, and a fully formed "1408" became part of an audiobook collection before ending up in King's short story anthology "Everything's Eventual."

Since this is a Stephen King story we're talking about, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood came calling. Writers Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski took King's story and expanded it to feature length, keeping the basic outline of what King had...

“American Crime Story” writer/producer Scott Alexander remembers the WGA strikes of 1988 and 2007 and told TheWrap that this time there’s “a sense of righteousness” as writers and actors hold out for issues like higher residuals from streaming.

“There’s a positive attitude this time and a sense of righteousness. And a sense that there’s something bigger happening here in society that wasn’t there in the previous strikes,”Alexander told TheWrap on Monday while picketing at CBS Television City in Los Angeles.

“There’s a sense of just completely not being able to back down on this one. And it’s very clear-cut. In ’88, it wasn’t really clear what we were striking for… This time, everyone knows what they’re fighting for. They’re fighting [to end] s—ty practices and streaming, and mini-rooms, and short orders and non-existent residuals,” he added.

Alexander, who also penned features “The People vs. Larry Flynt,...

The scene outside Netflix on Thursday was an energetic one, as SAG-AFTRA and WGA members together on the (very hot) picket lines while Hollywood’s double strike wears on. TheWrap’s creative director Jeff Vespa was on hand to photograph the likes of Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Aubrey Plaza, Sarah Silverman, Edgar Wright, Kendrick Sampson, Timothy Simons, Brett Gelman, June Diane Raphael, Paul Scheer and more at the site of one of the most contentious studios. Netflix has drawn the ire of many striking actors and writers for not paying residuals on shows and films it doesn’t own.

Peruse TheWrap’s gallery of photos below.

Photographed by Jeff Vespa for TheWrap

Kendrick Sampson

Photographed by Jeff Vespa for TheWrap

Sarah Silverman

Photographed by Jeff Vespa for TheWrap

Brett Gelman and Aubrey Plaza

Photographed by Jeff Vespa for TheWrap

Hannah Einbinder and Paul W. Downs

Photographed by Jeff Vespa for...

The works of Stephen King are one of (if not the) biggest reasons that I fell in love with horror. With so many of his novels and short stories having been turned into feature films, it’s kind of hard to have never watched at least one – even if by accident. You have classic films such as The Shining and Pet Sematary, and then you have adaptations that you’re better off just reading the book. Speaking of Cell, its two stars, John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, happen to be in one of my all-time favorite King stories brought to life, 1408. Based on the short story of the same name, it started out as an audiobook (Blood and Smoke) before being printed in the collection, Everything's Eventual in 2002.

In the film, John Cusack plays Mike Enslin, an author who is highly skeptical of anything paranormal (even if writing about...

There will be a lot of new faces in the room at the next meeting of the Board Of Governors of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences including actor Lou Diamond Phillips. Eleven first timers have been elected in the organizations annual election to select one third of the Board as eleven other members have termed off including Actors Branch Governor Whoopi Goldberg and Writers Branch Governor Larry Karaszewski. With AMPAS’ more stringent guidelines for service in place now two longtime Board members, Charles Bernstein (Music) and Jon Bloom (shorts and feature animation) are permanently off the Board, while others termed out can run again in two years.

Incumbent governors reelected to the Board:

Rob Bredow, Visual Effects Branch

Ava DuVernay, Directors Branch

Linda Flowers, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch

Lynette Howell Taylor, Producers Branch

Stephen Rivkin, Film Editors Branch

Debra Zane, Casting Directors Branch

Elected to the Board...

As a result of elections that took place this year from June 5-9, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 55-person board of governors convenes in July, more than one-fifth of its seats will be occupied by people who were not a part of it in June.

This is the result not of a repudiation of incumbents — in fact, no incumbent who could have sought reelection opted not to, and no incumbent who sought reelection lost — but rather of stricter term limits that the board imposed upon itself in recent years.

For the 2023-24 term, the board — which is composed of three governors representing each of the Academy’s 18 branches except for the newly created production/technology branch, which has just one, plus three “governors at large” — will be joined by 11 rookie governors: Wendy Aylsworth (production/technology branch), David I. Dinerstein (marketing/public relations), Richard Gibbs (music), Jinko Gotoh...

Actor Lou Diamond Phillips, documentary filmmaker Simon Kilmurry and writer Dana Stevens are among the 11 film professionals who have been elected to the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy announced on Thursday.

Those new governors are part of a wholesale makeover of the AMPAS board prompted by new term limits imposed last year. In 10 of the 11 branches where first-time governors were elected, the incumbent governors were unable to run again because of those new limits, which restrict governors to two consecutive three-year terms. Last year, when those limits were instituted, 10 governors were termed off the board and 12 first-time governors were elected.

This year’s election means that 23 of the 55 members of the board will be in their first or second term.

In the Academy’s 18 branches, all six incumbent governors who were eligible to run again were re-elected. Those are Debra Zane...

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has announced its newly elected Board of Governors. The governors, who set the Academy’s strategic vision and watch out for the organization’s financial health, will take office at the first scheduled board meeting of the new term. Wednesday the board voted to expand theatrical release requirements in order to qualify for Best Picture eligibility.

Directors branch member Ava DuVernay is back on the 55-member 2023-2024 Academy Board of Governors. So is producer Lynette Howell Taylor. The incumbents stay, while the ones who have served their three-year term move on, to be replaced by someone else. And, after three terms, like those served by Charles Bernstein and Jon Bloom, they are permanently termed off.

The Academy’s 18 branches are each represented by three governors, except for the recently established Production and Technology Branch, which is represented by a single governor. As a result of this election,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the newly elected Board of Governors for the 2023-2024 year.

Elected to the board for the first time are acclaimed actor Lou Diamond Phillips, screenwriter Dana Stevens, executive Hannah Minghella, costume designer Daniel Orlandi and more. Among the newly elected is technology executive Wendy Aylsworth, who will represent the brand new Production and Technology Branch. Aylsworth, who also serves on the Board of Governors for the Television Academy, spent more than two decades at Warner Bros. and became the first woman president of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

In addition, six incumbents were re-elected to the board — Rob Bredow (visual effects), Ava DuVernay (directors), Linda Flowers (makeup artists and hairstylists), Lynette Howell Taylor (producers), Stephen Rivkin (film editors) and Debra Zane (casting directors). Also, cinematographer Ellen Kuras returns after a hiatus.

They will join returning governors Pam Abdy,...

Two years ago, during the lockdown, I wrote that I had become addicted to those little bird-box libraries that make walking here something of a literary pilgrimage.

I’m still addicted. And almost two months ago, just before the writers strike began, I made a charming discovery–that one of my neighbors is a Very Famous Writer– all thanks to his sidewalk library.

The writer will remain unnamed, because privacy is something to be respected, even by reporters. But here’s the short form:

About four o’clock one afternoon, before the dog-crowd comes out, I felt a need for one of those short, head-clearing walks. A good target, I figured, would be a spot some blocks away, where somebody or other was maintaining what I’d long thought was the best little library in town. I won’t give titles, because some of those might tip the owner’s identity.

Apple Original Films has landed Academy Award nominee Jonah Hill’s newest directorial effort Outcome in a competitive situation, Deadline can confirm. Keanu Reeves (John Wick franchise) is in negotiations to star alongside Hill in the film, marking his follow-up to Mid90s, as we were first to tell you.

The dark comedy penned by Hill and Ezra Woods will star Reeves as Reef, a damaged Hollywood star who must dive into the dark depths of his past to confront his demons and make amends after he is extorted with a mysterious video clip from his past.

Apple Studios is producing alongside Matt Dines and Hill under their Strong Baby banner. The project reteams Hill and Apple following their partnership on a Grateful Dead biopic from Martin Scorsese‘s Sikelia Productions, which is currently in development. Scorsese will direct the film from a script by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski,...

Jonah Hill is staying in business with Apple. His next directorial project, “Outcome,” which was first announced back in November, has landed at the streamer. As previously revealed, Keanu Reeves will star in the film, co-written by Hill and Ezra Woods, but new plot details have emerged with the release of Wednesday’s news.

“Outcome” will star Reeves as Reef, a damaged Hollywood star who must dive into the dark depths of his past to confront his demons and make amends after he is extorted with a mysterious video clip from his past.

Apple Original Films landed “Outcome” in a competitive situation, according to the streamer. The film will be produced by Matt Dines and Hill under their Strong Baby banner.

The film marks the latest collaboration for Hill and Apple Original Films, who are also developing a Grateful Dead biopic with Martin Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions, which will be directed by Scorsese,...

The University of Southern California Libraries revealed the winners for the 35th annual USC Libraries Scripter Award on Saturday. The awards, which honor the year’s best film and television adaptations (along with the works on which they are based), returned live to USC’s elegant Edward L. Doheny Jr. Memorial Library for the annual black tie awards fete.

This group of academics, industry professionals, and critics is often predictive of the Adapted Screenplay Oscar race, presaging 14 eventual Oscar winners, including in the last decade “Argo” (2013), “12 Years a Slave” (2014), “The Imitation Game” (2015), “The Big Short” (2016), “Moonlight” (2017), and “Call Me By Your Name” (2018).

Screenwriter Sarah Polley and novelist Miriam Toews won the film award for “Women Talking,” which is nominated for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay Oscars, while the television prize went to English stand-up comedian and screenwriter Will Smith for the episode “Failure’s Contagious,” from “Slow Horses,” based...

By 1993, Sylvester Stallone was an established action star, thanks to three "Rambo" films and five "Rocky" movies. But after his rival, Arnold Schwarzenegger, tricked him into starring in the abject "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot", the then-46-year-old needed to reassert himself. And so, '93 was the year Stallone returned to action, first as Ranger Gabe Walker in rock climbing thriller "Cliffhanger," before facing off against Wesley Snipes in "Demolition Man."

The latter was the project of big-time action producer Joel Silver, the man responsible in large part for the "Lethal Weapon" and "Die Hard" franchises. "Demolition Man" saw Stallone play John Spartan, an LAPD cop who's given a 70-year-long "cryo-sentence" after being wrongfully convicted of indirectly killing hostages in pursuit of his criminal nemesis, Simon Phoenix (Snipes). He's thawed out in the year 2032 to help the police track down Phoenix, who was also cryogenically frozen but escaped after being thawed out for parole.

In 2017, following eight losses throughout the preceding decade, Ryan Murphy finally achieved his first competitive PGA Award win for producing the first iteration of “American Crime Story,” aka “The People v. O.J. Simpson.” Two years later, his work on the show’s second season – “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” – led to him becoming one of the inaugural honorees in the Best Limited Series PGA category (which was established to separate such programs from TV movies). Now, according to Gold Derby’s odds, he is heavily favored to triumph there again as the producer of Netflix’s “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.”

70% of the Gold Derby users who have made predictions for this particular race are anticipating a “Monster” victory. Nearly all of the remaining top choice votes have been thrown toward “The Dropout,” with “Pam and Tommy,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Inventing Anna” all receiving relatively little support. Taking recent...

Movies That Made Me veteran guest and screenwriter Dan Waters discusses his favorite year of cinema (1989) with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Phantom Carriage (1921)

Love At First Bite (1979)

Hudson Hawk (1991)

Demolition Man (1993)

Heathers (1989)

Warlock (1989)

The Matrix (1999)

Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

Barry Lyndon (1975)

Jaws (1975)

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Nashville (1975)

Born On The Fourth Of July (1989)

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Field Of Dreams (1989)

My Left Foot (1989)

Crimes And Misdemeanors (1989)

Do The Right Thing (1989)

Drugstore Cowboy (1989)

Sex Lies And Videotape (1989)

Easy Rider (1969)

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

The Wild Bunch (1969)

Apocalypse Now (1979)

All That Jazz (1979)

Hair (1979)

Alien (1979)

Fight Club (1999)

Office Space (1999)

Magnolia (1999)

The Sixth Sense (1999)

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

American Pie (1999)

The Iron Giant (1999)

All About My Mother (1999)

Being John Malkovich (1999)

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Pretty In Pink (1986)

Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Say Anything… (1989)

Miracle Mile (1989)

True Love (1989)

Powwow Highway (1989)

Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)

Southside With You...

The legendary RZA joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss a few of his favorite movies.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Man With The Iron Fists (2012)

Cut Throat City (2020)

Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)

Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)

Cooley High (1975) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Car Wash (1976) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Grease (1978)

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) – Dennis Cozzalio’s best of 2020

The Devil You Know (2022)

The Last American Virgin (1982)

The Beastmaster (1982)

Porky’s (1981)

Sixteen Candles (1984)

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) – Karyn Kusama’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

There Will Be Blood (2007)

Carmen Jones (1954)

An American In Paris (1951)

Singin’ In The Rain (1952) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

The Wizard Of Oz (1939) – John Badham’s trailer commentary

Is That Black Enough for You?!?...

Diane Warren, Brian Wilson, Sheryl Crow and Emmy-winning screenwriter Larry Karaszewski are among the stars remembering Burt Bacharach.

The Grammy- and Oscar-winning composer died Wednesday of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles. He was 94.

Through his partnership with Hal David, Bacharach brought swanky sophistication to pop music in the ’60s.

He won three Oscars and eight Grammys and composed the music for roughly 50 top 10 hits, including “Walk on By,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” “What’s New Pussycat?” “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?”

Crow, who performed Bacharach’s song “Dancing With My Shadow,” from the 2016 film A Boy Called Po, for which he also wrote his first score in 16 years, called getting to know him, “one of the great thrills and honors” of her life.

“There will never be...

Henry Winkler, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael McKean and Ron Howard are among the notable figures in Hollywood remembering Cindy Williams, who died at the age of 75.

The actress, who starred in the sitcom Laverne & Shirley, died in Los Angles on Wednesday following a short illness, according to a statement from her children. “Knowing and loving her has been our joy and privilege,” the statement read. “She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved.”

Henry Winkler, who met Williams while playing Fonzie on Happy Days – the show that kicked off Laverne & Shirley, shared in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, “Cindy has been my friend and professional colleague since I met her on the set of Happy Days in 1975. Not once have I ever been in her presence when she wasn’t gracious, thoughtful and kind.

Hollywood is mourning the loss of Cindy Williams, the optimistic foil to Penny Marshall’s Laverne in the hit 1970s sitcom Laverne & Shirley. Williams died in Los Angeles on Wednesday after a brief illness, her family told The Associated Press.

Related Story Cindy Williams Dies: ‘Laverne & Shirley’ Star Who Appeared In ’American Graffiti’ & ‘The Conversation’ Was 75 Related Story Sylvia Syms Dies: 'The Queen' & 'Victim' Star Was 89 Related Story Gina Lollobrigida Dies: Italian Cinema Diva Was 95

“The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed,” reads the statement from her children, Emily and Zak Hudson.

After news of Williams’ death, Hollywood shared their thoughts on social media remembering the star.

Ron Howard remembered his frequent on-screen partner. “Her unpretentious intelligence, talent, wit & humanity impacted every character she created & person she worked with,” he wrote on Twitter.

Tár writer/director Todd Field discusses a few of his favorite movies with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

You Only Live Twice (1967) – Dana Gould’s trailer commentary

Tár (2022)

Man With A Movie Camera (1929)

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

The Big Parade (1925)

Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)

The Crowd (1928)

Star Wars (1977)

The Servant (1963)

Parasite (2019) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Dennis Cozzalio’s review

The Three Musketeers (1973) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

Figures In A Landscape (1970)

M (1931)

M (1951)

I Am Cuba (1964)

The Cranes Are Flying (1957) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Letter Never Sent (1960)

Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965)

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)

The Towering Inferno (1974) – George Hickenlooper’s trailer commentary

The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)

The Sting (1973)

The World of Henry Orient (1964) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Thelma And Louise (1991)

Murmur Of The Heart (1971)

The Silent World (1956)

Opening Night (1977)

The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie (1976) – Larry Karaszewski’s...

Director Luca Guadagnino discusses a few of his favorite films with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Bones And All (2022)

A Bigger Splash (2015)

Suspiria (2018)

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Apocalypse Now (1979) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)

Amarcord (1973) – Bernard Rose’s trailer commentary

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Jason And The Argonauts (1963) – Ernest Dickerson’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s review

After Hours (1985) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

Nashville (1975) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary, Dan Perri’s trailer commentary, Dennis Cozzalio’s review

Journey To Italy (1954)

Empire Of The Sun (1987)

The Flower Of My Secret (1995)

The Last Emperor (1987) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

1900 (1976)

Last Tango In Paris (1972) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Psycho (1960) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Suspiria (1977) – Edgar Wright’s U.S. and international trailer commentaries,...

Joe.Movie-lovers!Welcome back to The Deuce Notebook, a collaboration between Mubi's Notebook and The Deuce Film Series, our monthly event at Nitehawk Williamsburg that excavates the facts and fantasies of cinema's most infamous block in the world: 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. For each screening, my co-hosts and I pick a title that we think embodies the era of 24-hour moviegoing, and present the venue at which it premiered…This month, we welcome yet another guest writer, Jason Bailey. Jason is a film critic, historian, and author. His most recent book, “Fun City Cinema: New York City and the Movies That Made It,” tracks the intersections between New York movies and the city’s history. That is also the subject of his “Fun City Cinema” podcast, and the following essay was adapted from the episode “Keep America Great.” Special thanks to co-host Mike Hull and guests Jefferson Cowie,...

Writer/producer/showrunner David Kajganich discusses a few of his favorite films with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

All The Fine Young Cannibals (1960)

Badlands (1973)

Bones And All (2022)

A Bigger Splash (2015)

Suspiria (2018)

Deathdream (1974) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Porky’s (1981)

A Christmas Story (1983)

Black Christmas (1974) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Murder By Decree (1979) – Mick Garris’s trailer commentary

Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972)

Black Vengeance a.k.a. Poor Pretty Eddie (1975)

The Poseidon Adventure (1972) – Robert Weide’s trailer commentary

Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Tfh’s Mogwai Madness

Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975)

The Last Wave (1977) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)

What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary

Dressed To Kill (1980) – Dennis Cozzalio’s Criterion review

The Last Picture Show (1971) – Mark Pellington’s trailer...