Thompson on Hollywood

Wright's 'World's End' Goes Into Production, with Pegg, Frost, Freeman & Considine Heading Cast

News

Edgar Wright's "The World's End," his next team-up with co-writer Simon Pegg and the third installment in the loose trilogy with "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz," has gone into production. All the Wright usuals are onboard, with Nick Frost, Martin Freeman (soon to be known to the world as Bilbo Baggins) and Paddy Considine joining Pegg in the cast.

By Beth Hanna
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September 28, 2012 3:43 PM
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Garfield & Webb Back for 'Spider-Man' Sequel, Set for May 2014

News

Andrew Garfield and director Marc Webb will return for Columbia Pictures' next installment of "The Amazing Spider-Man," while Emma Stone is currently in talks. The script for the sequel is by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci ("Transformers," "Star Trek") and Jeff Pinkler, based on James Vanderbilt's earlier draft. The film is set for a May 2, 2014 release in 3-D.

By Sophia Savage
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September 28, 2012 3:42 PM
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NYFF Press Conference: Ang Lee Talks Logistics and Spirituality Behind 'Life of Pi'

News

At the "Life of Pi" post-screening press conference, Ang Lee, actor Suraj Sharma, producer Elizabeth Gabler and novelist Yann Martel answered questions which focused primarily on the logistical challenges of a production that, according to Lee, involved participants from 23 countries, a year of pre-production that included a 70 minute pre-vis, and 3-D animation modeling based on the meticulous observation of four trained tigers.

By Sheerly Avni
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September 28, 2012 2:25 PM
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Author David Mitchell on 'Cloud Atlas' Adaptation Process -- "surreal," "primal" & "ingenious"

News

In the current NY Times Magazine, "Cloud Atlas" author David Mitchell provides his perspective on the production process of the Wachowskis' and Tom Tykwer's wild cinematic event, which spans continents, eras and every possible iteration of Tom Hanks' facial hair, and recently premiered at Toronto. Highlights from Mitchell's perceptive piece below.

By Beth Hanna
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September 28, 2012 2:00 PM
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Drafthouse Films to Release Rare 35mm Exploitation Compilation 'Trailer War'

News

Drafthouse Films is partnering with the American Genre Film Archive to release "Trailer War," a carefully curated feature-length program of rare, 35mm vintage trailers. Alamo Drafthouse programmer Lars Nilsen quips that the selection of 3-minute time capsule genre goodies includes everything from "the explosive metal mayhem of 'Stunt Rock'" to the "disembodied flying head chaos" of "Thundercops." NSFW trailer for the trailers below.

By Beth Hanna
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September 28, 2012 1:43 PM
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Entertainment One Hooks De Palma's 'Passion'

News

Entertainment One has picked up North American rights for Brian De Palma's sexy femme faceoff "Passion," with plans for a 2013 release. The psychological thriller, which stars Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace, played at both Venice and Toronto.

By Beth Hanna
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September 28, 2012 12:26 PM
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'My First Big Break': Spike Lee on Spike Lee [Video]

Video

Spike Lee has the coolest-professor-ever vibe down, which makes sense after his 15-year stint teaching at NYU. In this video interview from journalism site Mediabistro, Lee talks like he's addressing a classroom of young filmmakers and creatives. He dispenses expert advice about how to fall in love with work and make the best of boredom. "My first big break came because I coudn't get a job," he says. He borrowed a friend's Super 8 camera and filmed New York in the summer of 1977 -- when New York was a broke city with record high temperatures and fabulous music at block parties. As Lee says: "Film found me. I didn't say I found film."

By Maggie Lange
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September 28, 2012 11:58 AM
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Immersed in Movies: Talking 'Looper' VFX

Interviews

Rian Johnson, like many directors, hated CG without really understanding it. But no more, thanks to "Looper's" VFX supervisor, Karen Goulekas ("Green Lantern," "The Day After Tomorrow," "Spider-Man"). In fact, she made it her mission to turn Johnson into a convert. But then Goulekas had no choice: she needed A-list VFXers to create convincing work for the futuristic thriller about time traveling hit man Joseph Gordon-Levitt confronting his older self (Bruce Willis) in an existential showdown.

By Bill Desowitz
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September 28, 2012 11:54 AM
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Julian Fellowes Contemplates 'Downton Abbey' Prequel

Television

"Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes is mulling over a prequel to the latest British upstairs-downstairs series. His idea is an origin story, centering on "the courtship between Robert and Cora." He mused about the history of Lord and Lady Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern and Hugh Bonneville) at a BAFTA screenwriting lecture reported by the Daily Mail:

By Maggie Lange
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September 28, 2012 11:53 AM
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Elizabeth Banks vs. Nikki Finke: 'Ugly or Pretty Has Nothing to Do with Funny'

News

Actress/comedian Elizabeth Banks ("30 Rock," "The Hunger Games") has blogged in response to Nikki Finke's comment at the Emmys that "beautiful actresses are not funny," with a post entitled "Ugly or pretty has nothing to do with funny." Finke made her comment about women in comedy in her "Live-Snarking The 64th Emmys" post just after Julie Bowen's "Modern Family" win.