Thompson on Hollywood

Jonathan Frid, Barnabas Collins in TV series 'Dark Shadows', Has Died

News

What timing. On the verge of the opening of the Tim Burton 'Dark Shadows' movie--which looks like an all-out campy take led by Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, the actor who originated the role in the long-running afternoon soap opera, Jonathan Frid, has died. He was 87. He had been active in various promo activities for the new movie; his cameo (along with Kathryn Leigh Scott, David Selby and Lara Parker), will be his last film appearance.

By Anne Thompson
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April 19, 2012 2:09 PM
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EXCLUSIVE: Online Indie Label SundanceNOW Launches Curated Doc Club

News

It's no secret for film festivalgoers that the best titles tend to be documentaries. And yet they are often not released widely outside of major cities. Thus the folks at Sundance Selects have not only launched their digital sister online site SundanceNow ("a new online destination for independent film") but a VOD subscriber site for doc lovers as well. Doc Club offers subscribers eight new titles a month for $3.99, or $19.99 a year.

By Anne Thompson
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April 19, 2012 1:08 PM
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Adorable: Chris Pine Reads 'The Man in the Moon' at Milk + Bookies to Promo "Rise of the Guardians"

News

In a marked switch from his macho turn as Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," Chris Pine reads "The Man in the Moon" by William Joyce aloud at the third annual Milk + Bookies at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles. "The Man in the Moon" is the inspiration behind DreamWorks Animation's "Rise of the Guardians" (November 21).

By Maggie Lange
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April 18, 2012 7:19 PM
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IN THE WORKS: Laika Options "Goblins" from Novelist Philip Reeve, Mark Gustafson Will Direct

News

Laika, the Oregon animation studio behind the Oscar-nominated "Coraline" and the upcoming feature "ParaNorman," plans to adapt the upcoming fantasy novel "Goblins." Novelist Philip Reeve's "Goblins" will be published in the UK on April 5, 2012 and in the US in the Fall of 2013.

By Maggie Lange
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April 18, 2012 7:15 PM
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New Trailer and Early Reviews: Lynn Shelton's 'Your Sister's Sister' Triangle Stars Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass, Rosemarie DeWitt

News

Actress-writer-director Lynn Shelton's fourth feature, "Your Sister's Sister" (June 15), showcases an exhilarating trio of actors at the top of their improv game: Mark Duplass ("Humpday"), Rosemarie DeWitt ("Rachel's Getting Married," and Emily Blunt ("Young Victoria"). (See the new official trailer below.)

By Anne Thompson
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April 18, 2012 4:29 PM
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Press Release to Toh! from The Esteemed Dictator of The Republic of Wadiya

News

To sell his upcoming film "The Dictator" (May 16), Sacha Baron Cohen, as is his wont, is immersing himself in character. Following Cohen's opening promo salvo --his intentional slip-up on Ryan Seacrest on the Oscar red carpet--Paramount now has blasted an official "press release" from the Esteemed Dictatorship of The Republic of Wadiya (below).

By Maggie Lange
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April 18, 2012 4:02 PM
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Entertainers in Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World Include Depp on Weinstein, Griffin on Handler, Tyson on Davis

News

Time has made its 100 Most Influential People in the World list; it's both surprising and all-too predictable. Here's a sampling of the entertainment side:

By Maggie Lange
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April 18, 2012 1:44 PM
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'Little Miss Sunshine''s Carell & Collette Reteam for 'Descendants' Writers' Directorial Debut

News

Toni Collette and Steve Carell, who played sister and brother in indie fave "Little Miss Sunshine," will reteam for "The Way, Way Back" alongside Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney and Annasophia Robb. Actor-writers Jim Rash and Nat Faxon will make their directorial debut, following up on their Oscar win (with director Alexander Payne) for Best Adapted Screenplay for "The Descendants."

By Sophia Savage
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April 18, 2012 1:36 PM
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New Media: Film Society of Lincoln Center, StoryCode and Kill Screen Mag Present Story Hackathon

News

Jumping into multi-platform media programming, on April 28th, the Film Society of Lincoln Center and partners StoryCode and Kill Screen Magazine will host the first "Story Hackathon." This 24-hour event will challenge participants to design a cohesive narrative that spans three or more technology platforms to execute a single story.

By Maggie Lange
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April 18, 2012 1:05 PM
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Tribeca Watch: Felicity Jones in 'Cheerful Weather for the Wedding'

News

Felicity Jones can do Shakespeare ("The Tempest") or indie romance ("Like Crazy"). Warren Beatty cast her in his new Howard Hughes movie--which may or may not get made. Next up: Donald Rice's 1930s period comedy "Cheerful Weather for the Wedding" debuts at Tribeca on April 20 and seeks a North American distributor.