Colleagues of legendary casting director Mike Fenton remembered the industry veteran as a tireless champion of actors who had a keen eye for talent, a great sense of humor and a full life outside of work with a wide circle of friends.
Fenton, who died Dec. 30 at the age of 85, had nearly 300 casting credits to his name and helped launch the careers of such stars as Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, Drew Barrymore and Robert Downey Jr. He won the Casting Society of America’s Artios Award in 1996 for Best Casting for TV Nighttime Special for “Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree” and again in 2000 Best Casting for TV Miniseries for “Arabian Nights”
Graham Yost, screenwriter and showrunner known for “Broken Arrow,” “Speed” and FX’s “Justified,” became friendly with Fenton through a running club dubbed Flying Squirrels that the casting pro founded in the 1980s. Yost met his wife, Connie, through the group.
Fenton, who died Dec. 30 at the age of 85, had nearly 300 casting credits to his name and helped launch the careers of such stars as Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfuss, Drew Barrymore and Robert Downey Jr. He won the Casting Society of America’s Artios Award in 1996 for Best Casting for TV Nighttime Special for “Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree” and again in 2000 Best Casting for TV Miniseries for “Arabian Nights”
Graham Yost, screenwriter and showrunner known for “Broken Arrow,” “Speed” and FX’s “Justified,” became friendly with Fenton through a running club dubbed Flying Squirrels that the casting pro founded in the 1980s. Yost met his wife, Connie, through the group.
- 1/2/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Jason Priestley and Caitlin Carmichael (Dwight in Shining Armor) will star in Speedway, a female-focused car-racing drama currently in development from Jane Kelly Kosek’s Meritage Pictures. Priestley, a former race car driver himself, will also serve as executive producer and is set to direct a number of episodes in the potential series, which is being pitched to broadcast and streaming networks.
Created and written by Kosek with a story from Kosek, Penny Edmiston and Chelsey Neders, Speedway follows 15-year-old Jordy (Carmichael) through her journey to become a race car champion. The series takes a fresh look at the race car industry through the eyes of a young, talented race car driver from a small town, who experiences many obstacles in her journey, including being taken seriously as a professional driver. Priestley will play a top race car driver who oversees one of the last remaining family-owned race tracks in America.
Created and written by Kosek with a story from Kosek, Penny Edmiston and Chelsey Neders, Speedway follows 15-year-old Jordy (Carmichael) through her journey to become a race car champion. The series takes a fresh look at the race car industry through the eyes of a young, talented race car driver from a small town, who experiences many obstacles in her journey, including being taken seriously as a professional driver. Priestley will play a top race car driver who oversees one of the last remaining family-owned race tracks in America.
- 7/18/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, Janelle Monae will star in a Lionsgate movie, Bill Nighy joins “Emma,” and documentaries on surfer Bethany Hamilton and Asbury Park are dated.
Castings
Janelle Monae will star in an untitled Lionsgate movie directed by the duo Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz.
The film will be produced by QC Entertainment’s Ray Mansfield and Sean McKittrick, along with Zev Foreman and Lezlie Wills. QC Entertainment produced “Get Out” and “BlacKkKlansman.” McKittrick also recently produced Jordan Peele’s “Us.”
Monae is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who starred in “Hidden Figures” and “Moonlight.” Bush and Renz have worked on campaigns for the Mlk Memorial Foundation and Amnesty International, in addition to directing Jay-z’s music video “Kill Jay Z” and the police brutality PSA “Against the Wall,” starring Michael B. Jordan, Danny Glover, and Michael K. Williams. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
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Bill Nighy...
Castings
Janelle Monae will star in an untitled Lionsgate movie directed by the duo Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz.
The film will be produced by QC Entertainment’s Ray Mansfield and Sean McKittrick, along with Zev Foreman and Lezlie Wills. QC Entertainment produced “Get Out” and “BlacKkKlansman.” McKittrick also recently produced Jordan Peele’s “Us.”
Monae is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who starred in “Hidden Figures” and “Moonlight.” Bush and Renz have worked on campaigns for the Mlk Memorial Foundation and Amnesty International, in addition to directing Jay-z’s music video “Kill Jay Z” and the police brutality PSA “Against the Wall,” starring Michael B. Jordan, Danny Glover, and Michael K. Williams. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
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Bill Nighy...
- 3/22/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures has acquired the worldwide rights to “Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable,” a documentary about the famed competitive surfer Bethany Hamilton who lost her arm in a shark attack when she was a teenager.
Esmp will release the film in U.S. theaters on July 12.
“Unstoppable” is directed by Aaron Lieber. The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018 and was also featured at both the Los Angeles Film Festival and Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.
Also Read: Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios 'Aggressively' Pursues Mergers, Acquisitions With New Exec Hire
“Unstoppable” tells the story of surfer Hamilton, who was attacked by a 15-foot tiger shark while surfing at age 13, causing the loss of her left arm.
But not only did Hamilton survive the attack, she was back on the competitive surfing circuit just a year later. More than a decade later, Hamilton, now a mother,...
Esmp will release the film in U.S. theaters on July 12.
“Unstoppable” is directed by Aaron Lieber. The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018 and was also featured at both the Los Angeles Film Festival and Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.
Also Read: Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios 'Aggressively' Pursues Mergers, Acquisitions With New Exec Hire
“Unstoppable” tells the story of surfer Hamilton, who was attacked by a 15-foot tiger shark while surfing at age 13, causing the loss of her left arm.
But not only did Hamilton survive the attack, she was back on the competitive surfing circuit just a year later. More than a decade later, Hamilton, now a mother,...
- 3/21/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable, the documentary that catches the world up on Hamilton, the pro surfer who returned to competition a year after she lost an arm in a shark attack when she was just 13.
The film from Aaron Lieber shows Hamilton more than a decade after that attack. She’s taking on a new challenge — being a mom — which frames a story about bravery, perseverance, athleticism and inspiration as she chases both her toddler son and the biggest wave of her career.
The pic, which bowed at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival, will now hit theaters July 12, 2019.
Penny Edmiston and Jane Kelly Kosek produced with Lieber.
“Releasing Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable into theaters is a dream come true and I am beyond thrilled to be working with Byron Allen and Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures,” Lieber said. “This film was meant...
The film from Aaron Lieber shows Hamilton more than a decade after that attack. She’s taking on a new challenge — being a mom — which frames a story about bravery, perseverance, athleticism and inspiration as she chases both her toddler son and the biggest wave of her career.
The pic, which bowed at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival, will now hit theaters July 12, 2019.
Penny Edmiston and Jane Kelly Kosek produced with Lieber.
“Releasing Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable into theaters is a dream come true and I am beyond thrilled to be working with Byron Allen and Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures,” Lieber said. “This film was meant...
- 3/21/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The Weinstein Company announced on Tuesday additions to the voice cast of its adaptation of Alibaba Pictures’ The Little Door Gods.
Previously announced Meryl Streep, Mel Brooks and Nicole Kidman are on board the story of a Chinese family in danger of losing its family-owned wonton soup shop
Michael Lappin is the executive in charge of production at TWC, which acquired worldwide rights excluding China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.
Film editors Thelma Schoonmaker and Janet Ashikaga will receive the American Cinema Editors’ career Achievement award at the 67th Annual Ace Eddie Awards on January 27 in Los Angeles. Schoonmaker is Martin Scorsese’s editor who has won Oscars for Raging Bull, The Aviator and The Departed and most recently worked on Silence, while Ashikaga’s credits include Seinfeld, Sports Night, My Name is Earl and The West Wing. Lionsgate-Summit has acquired Morgan Creek Entertainment’s Tupac Shakur drama All Eyez On Me and will released wide on...
Previously announced Meryl Streep, Mel Brooks and Nicole Kidman are on board the story of a Chinese family in danger of losing its family-owned wonton soup shop
Michael Lappin is the executive in charge of production at TWC, which acquired worldwide rights excluding China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.
Film editors Thelma Schoonmaker and Janet Ashikaga will receive the American Cinema Editors’ career Achievement award at the 67th Annual Ace Eddie Awards on January 27 in Los Angeles. Schoonmaker is Martin Scorsese’s editor who has won Oscars for Raging Bull, The Aviator and The Departed and most recently worked on Silence, while Ashikaga’s credits include Seinfeld, Sports Night, My Name is Earl and The West Wing. Lionsgate-Summit has acquired Morgan Creek Entertainment’s Tupac Shakur drama All Eyez On Me and will released wide on...
- 1/17/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Principal photography has begun on Los Angeles-based Meritage Pictures’ 80s-themed comedy.
Michael Grant, Booboo Stewart, Jim Norton, Eric Allan Kramer, Jonathan Lipnicki, Marco James, Samantha Basalari, Spencer Daniels and Vincent Pastore star.
Jacob Cooney directs Pitching Tents based on a script by Jayme Petrille and Rob A Fox about a high school senior from a blue collar town facing tough choices about his future who makes the fateful decision to attend an annual teen bacchanal.
Jane Kelly Kosek and Petrille produce.
Michael Grant, Booboo Stewart, Jim Norton, Eric Allan Kramer, Jonathan Lipnicki, Marco James, Samantha Basalari, Spencer Daniels and Vincent Pastore star.
Jacob Cooney directs Pitching Tents based on a script by Jayme Petrille and Rob A Fox about a high school senior from a blue collar town facing tough choices about his future who makes the fateful decision to attend an annual teen bacchanal.
Jane Kelly Kosek and Petrille produce.
- 8/11/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
When we first told you about the availability of Jacob Cooney's short film entitled "The Frolic" based on a short story of the same name by Thomas Ligotti, it was only available as a rather spendy collector's edition DVD or a finicky download that wouldn't work with all players. But that's been remedied now as Cooney has informed us that he's partnered with a new online digital vendor at a greatly reduced cost.
With the use of Indie Reign's technology, Cooney is now offering the film digitally at just $1.99 to rent for up to 7 days or $5.99 to own. Check it out below!
Directed by Jacob Cooney and produced by Jane Kelly Kosek (Wonder Entertainment), "The Frolic" follows the story of Dr. David Munck, a prison psychologist, who uncovers a deadly supernatural force in one of his inmate patients that ultimately leads him to his breaking point.
Starring Maury Sterling...
With the use of Indie Reign's technology, Cooney is now offering the film digitally at just $1.99 to rent for up to 7 days or $5.99 to own. Check it out below!
Directed by Jacob Cooney and produced by Jane Kelly Kosek (Wonder Entertainment), "The Frolic" follows the story of Dr. David Munck, a prison psychologist, who uncovers a deadly supernatural force in one of his inmate patients that ultimately leads him to his breaking point.
Starring Maury Sterling...
- 11/11/2011
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Last month we got on update on all the various projects indie filmmaker Jacob Cooney has a hand in, and now comes word that he's secured the necessary funding to start shooting the ultra low budget film Grime commencing February 8th, 2011.
Grime follows the story of a shut-in loner who becomes infatuated with an organism growing out of his bathtub drain. The film, which Cooney will direct, is currently being written by Dave Downey and is produced by Thyme Lewis, Jane Kelly Kosek, and Jade DeCosta along with Cooney and Downey. Casting news should follow shortly given the quickly upcoming production start date.
For more info and to keep tabs on Cooney's other products, visit the official Jacob Cooney website.
- Debi Moore
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Become infatuated with the organisms you'll find in the comments section below!
Grime follows the story of a shut-in loner who becomes infatuated with an organism growing out of his bathtub drain. The film, which Cooney will direct, is currently being written by Dave Downey and is produced by Thyme Lewis, Jane Kelly Kosek, and Jade DeCosta along with Cooney and Downey. Casting news should follow shortly given the quickly upcoming production start date.
For more info and to keep tabs on Cooney's other products, visit the official Jacob Cooney website.
- Debi Moore
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Become infatuated with the organisms you'll find in the comments section below!
- 12/16/2010
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
A short while ago we ran a story on Jacob Cooney's short film "The Frolic", and as if to prove that the only way to get ahead in this business is to work your ass off, Cooney dropped us a line with some early details on the not just one or two new projects he working on, but rather the Six films the writer/director/producer is in various stages of development and involvement with.
The prolific young Cooney tells Dread, "Directorially, my next project is the indie thriller Grass Lake. Written by Brandon Trenz ("The Frolic") and produced by Jane Kelly Kosek and Jade DeCosta of Wonder Entertainment, this film is about four friends in their 30’s who go on a fishing trip. But when they find a package of marijuana and one hundred fifty thousand dollars cash, they discover that even lifelong friendships have their limits. Currently...
The prolific young Cooney tells Dread, "Directorially, my next project is the indie thriller Grass Lake. Written by Brandon Trenz ("The Frolic") and produced by Jane Kelly Kosek and Jade DeCosta of Wonder Entertainment, this film is about four friends in their 30’s who go on a fishing trip. But when they find a package of marijuana and one hundred fifty thousand dollars cash, they discover that even lifelong friendships have their limits. Currently...
- 11/28/2010
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
We're always on the lookout for interesting sounding new films to clue you guys into, and an email that recently landed in our inbox from director Jacob Cooney details just such a project: a short film entitled "The Frolic" based on a short story of the same name by Thomas Ligotti.
Here's the skinny:
Directed by Jacob Cooney and produced by Jane Kelly Kosek (Wonder Entertainment), "The Frolic" follows the story of Dr. David Munck, a prison psychologist, who uncovers a deadly supernatural force in one of his inmate patients that ultimately leads him to his breaking point.
Starring Maury Sterling (John Doe), Michael Reilly Burke (Dr. Munck), Jennifer Aspen (Leslie Munck) and Kailey Swanson (Colleen Munck), this short film has played in numerous film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival, Los Angeles International Short Films Festival, Dead by Dawn Film Festival, Shriekfest and Dances with Films and has frightened audiences across the world.
Here's the skinny:
Directed by Jacob Cooney and produced by Jane Kelly Kosek (Wonder Entertainment), "The Frolic" follows the story of Dr. David Munck, a prison psychologist, who uncovers a deadly supernatural force in one of his inmate patients that ultimately leads him to his breaking point.
Starring Maury Sterling (John Doe), Michael Reilly Burke (Dr. Munck), Jennifer Aspen (Leslie Munck) and Kailey Swanson (Colleen Munck), this short film has played in numerous film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival, Los Angeles International Short Films Festival, Dead by Dawn Film Festival, Shriekfest and Dances with Films and has frightened audiences across the world.
- 11/19/2010
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
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