The dust from Will Smith’s Oscar slap still hasn’t cleared. As The New York Times reports, the highly publicized altercation between the “King Richard” Best Actor winner and comedian Chris Rock has ignited an internal debate at Apple as executives reconsider delaying their release of Smith’s next awards season hopeful: his upcoming Civil War drama, “Emancipation,” for which the studio paid a staggering 120 million to acquire in 2020.
Although Apple pushed the film’s release to 2023 in May following Smith’s public fallout, three people involved with the film speaking anonymously with The Times said that Apple staffers have discussed releasing “Emancipation” by the end of this year, within the window of eligibility for awards consideration. But such a move naturally raises the question: What would that release and subsequent awards campaign even look like?
Also Read:
Academy Leaders Vow to ‘Reinvigorate’ Oscars Show in Meeting With Members...
Although Apple pushed the film’s release to 2023 in May following Smith’s public fallout, three people involved with the film speaking anonymously with The Times said that Apple staffers have discussed releasing “Emancipation” by the end of this year, within the window of eligibility for awards consideration. But such a move naturally raises the question: What would that release and subsequent awards campaign even look like?
Also Read:
Academy Leaders Vow to ‘Reinvigorate’ Oscars Show in Meeting With Members...
- 9/19/2022
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
The Sundance Film Festival is always a snapshot of where the film industry goes next. For years, Searchlight Pictures (then Fox Searchlight) had its pick of the films most-likely-to-succeed with critics, movie audiences, and Oscar voters, from “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Brooklyn” to the ill-fated “Birth of a Nation” and its big 2021 buys, Rebecca Hall thriller “Night House” and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s concert documentary “Summer of Soul.” The pandemic put a crimp in those films’ theatrical performances but Hulu saved the day, as it did with Searchlight’s big Oscar-winner “Nomadland.”
Eyes are on the label Disney acquired from Twentieth Century Fox in 2019; since then, Searchlight has not only dropped the Fox but also said farewell to veteran co-chairs Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula, who shepherded the specialty distributor to most of its 164 Oscar nominations and 43 wins (including five Best Picture winners). When they handed the co-presidency to production...
Eyes are on the label Disney acquired from Twentieth Century Fox in 2019; since then, Searchlight has not only dropped the Fox but also said farewell to veteran co-chairs Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula, who shepherded the specialty distributor to most of its 164 Oscar nominations and 43 wins (including five Best Picture winners). When they handed the co-presidency to production...
- 2/3/2022
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The Sundance Film Festival is always a snapshot of where the film industry goes next. For years, Searchlight Pictures (then Fox Searchlight) had its pick of the films most-likely-to-succeed with critics, movie audiences, and Oscar voters, from “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Brooklyn” to the ill-fated “Birth of a Nation” and its big 2021 buys, Rebecca Hall thriller “Night House” and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s concert documentary “Summer of Soul.” The pandemic put a crimp in those films’ theatrical performances but Hulu saved the day, as it did with Searchlight’s big Oscar-winner “Nomadland.”
Eyes are on the label Disney acquired from Twentieth Century Fox in 2019; since then, Searchlight has not only dropped the Fox but also said farewell to veteran co-chairs Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula, who shepherded the specialty distributor to most of its 164 Oscar nominations and 43 wins (including five Best Picture winners). When they handed the co-presidency to production...
Eyes are on the label Disney acquired from Twentieth Century Fox in 2019; since then, Searchlight has not only dropped the Fox but also said farewell to veteran co-chairs Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula, who shepherded the specialty distributor to most of its 164 Oscar nominations and 43 wins (including five Best Picture winners). When they handed the co-presidency to production...
- 2/3/2022
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Six months after departing from Searchlight Pictures, that studio’s former co-chairman Nancy Utley is opening the doors to a new production company, Lake Ellyn Entertainment, that will produce film and TV content in a first-look deal with Chernin Entertainment.
Chernin Entertainment has had a first-look deal with Netflix since April 2020, one of its big releases being the Fear Street trilogy this summer. Chernin’s pact with Netflix will now extend to Utley projects as well.
Jenno Topping, Chernin Entertainment’s President of Film and Television, made the announcement Wednesday.
“Nancy is the ultimate executive—smart, savvy, experienced, and kind. She built Searchlight Pictures into one of the jewels of the film business; a company with an unparalleled record of achievement and a reputation for nurturing the finest filmmakers. I’m delighted to have her join Jenno and me and the rest of our team,” Chernin Entertainment chairman and CEO Peter Chernin said.
Chernin Entertainment has had a first-look deal with Netflix since April 2020, one of its big releases being the Fear Street trilogy this summer. Chernin’s pact with Netflix will now extend to Utley projects as well.
Jenno Topping, Chernin Entertainment’s President of Film and Television, made the announcement Wednesday.
“Nancy is the ultimate executive—smart, savvy, experienced, and kind. She built Searchlight Pictures into one of the jewels of the film business; a company with an unparalleled record of achievement and a reputation for nurturing the finest filmmakers. I’m delighted to have her join Jenno and me and the rest of our team,” Chernin Entertainment chairman and CEO Peter Chernin said.
- 10/27/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Nancy Utley, the veteran movie executive who ran Searchlight Pictures, has launched a new content label and secured a first-look arrangement with Chernin Entertainment.
Utley’s Lake Ellyn Entertainment will produce film and television for Chernin, whose own first-look pact with Netflix will now include work from Utley. Jenno Topping, president of film and TV at Chernin, made the announcement on Wednesday.
“Nancy is the ultimate executive — smart, savvy, experienced, and kind. She built Searchlight Pictures into one of the jewels of the film business; a company with an unparalleled record of achievement and a reputation for nurturing the finest filmmakers. I’m delighted to have her join Jenno and me and the rest of our team,” said Peter Chernin.
Under its agreement thus far, Chernin has produced the buzzy “Fear Street” film trilogy — a series of feature films that premiered over a series of weeks — for Netflix.
“After decades as a studio executive,...
Utley’s Lake Ellyn Entertainment will produce film and television for Chernin, whose own first-look pact with Netflix will now include work from Utley. Jenno Topping, president of film and TV at Chernin, made the announcement on Wednesday.
“Nancy is the ultimate executive — smart, savvy, experienced, and kind. She built Searchlight Pictures into one of the jewels of the film business; a company with an unparalleled record of achievement and a reputation for nurturing the finest filmmakers. I’m delighted to have her join Jenno and me and the rest of our team,” said Peter Chernin.
Under its agreement thus far, Chernin has produced the buzzy “Fear Street” film trilogy — a series of feature films that premiered over a series of weeks — for Netflix.
“After decades as a studio executive,...
- 10/27/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Indie film stalwarts Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula are retiring as co-chairmen of Searchlight Pictures.
The longtime executives and producers behind the unit, formerly Fox Searchlight, will be replaced by executives David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield. Utley and Gilula each served more than two decades at the label, offering consistency and prestige cinema through ownership changes and market transformation. The news comes as Searchlight’s “Nomadland” is heavily tipped to win Best Picture at this Sunday’s Oscars.
Greenbaum and Greenfield, equally long-serving heads of production, have been elevated to co-presidents and will report to Disney Studios Content chairman Alan Bergman and chief creative officer Alan Horn. The Walt Disney Company purchased Searchlight as part of its 2019 deal for the Murdoch family’s entertainment assets.
“Thanks to the stewardship and pitch-perfect creative instincts of Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, Searchlight has cemented itself as one of the finest film studios in history,...
The longtime executives and producers behind the unit, formerly Fox Searchlight, will be replaced by executives David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield. Utley and Gilula each served more than two decades at the label, offering consistency and prestige cinema through ownership changes and market transformation. The news comes as Searchlight’s “Nomadland” is heavily tipped to win Best Picture at this Sunday’s Oscars.
Greenbaum and Greenfield, equally long-serving heads of production, have been elevated to co-presidents and will report to Disney Studios Content chairman Alan Bergman and chief creative officer Alan Horn. The Walt Disney Company purchased Searchlight as part of its 2019 deal for the Murdoch family’s entertainment assets.
“Thanks to the stewardship and pitch-perfect creative instincts of Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley, Searchlight has cemented itself as one of the finest film studios in history,...
- 4/20/2021
- by Matt Donnelly and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Change effective January 1, 2021.
Alan Bergman has been named chairman, Disney Studios Content, and Alan Horn will continue to serve as the division’s chief creative officer, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced on Monday (December 21).
The changes are effective January 1, 2021. The executives have led the Studios group as co-chairmen since May 2019, and both report to Chapek.
Bergman will oversee creative, production, marketing, and operations for Disney Studios Content, which encompasses the production hubs at Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures and Blue Sky Studios, as well as Disney Theatrical Productions.
Horn will focus...
Alan Bergman has been named chairman, Disney Studios Content, and Alan Horn will continue to serve as the division’s chief creative officer, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced on Monday (December 21).
The changes are effective January 1, 2021. The executives have led the Studios group as co-chairmen since May 2019, and both report to Chapek.
Bergman will oversee creative, production, marketing, and operations for Disney Studios Content, which encompasses the production hubs at Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures and Blue Sky Studios, as well as Disney Theatrical Productions.
Horn will focus...
- 12/21/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Disney this morning has named Alan Bergman as Chairman, Disney Studios Content, with Alan Horn continuing to serve as the division’s Chief Creative Officer.
The two previously served as Co-Chairmen since May 2019. News was swirling heading into Disney Investor Day on Dec. 10 that Horn might possibly retire, but that’s not the case for the motion picture industry vet of 50 years. He remains integral to the Disney production pipeline as the company will commit $14 billion-$16 billion to Disney+ streaming content over the next four years.
Both Bergman and Horn will continue to report to Disney CEO Bob Chapek, and all production studio heads will continue to report in to Bergman and Horn as they oversee big-screen features and Disney+ movies and series.
Together Bergman and Horn have seen the 2012 integration of Lucasfilm and the 2019 absorption of 20th Century studios, and have propelled The Walt Disney Studios to industry box...
The two previously served as Co-Chairmen since May 2019. News was swirling heading into Disney Investor Day on Dec. 10 that Horn might possibly retire, but that’s not the case for the motion picture industry vet of 50 years. He remains integral to the Disney production pipeline as the company will commit $14 billion-$16 billion to Disney+ streaming content over the next four years.
Both Bergman and Horn will continue to report to Disney CEO Bob Chapek, and all production studio heads will continue to report in to Bergman and Horn as they oversee big-screen features and Disney+ movies and series.
Together Bergman and Horn have seen the 2012 integration of Lucasfilm and the 2019 absorption of 20th Century studios, and have propelled The Walt Disney Studios to industry box...
- 12/21/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Former 20th Century Fox film executive Emma Watts has been appointed President of Paramount’s Motion Picture Group and will replace Wyck Godfrey in the role, the studio announced on Tuesday.
Beginning July 20, Watts will report to Paramount Pictures Chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos, with whom she worked when he served as chairman and CEO of Fox.
Godfrey, a veteran producer whose credits included “I, Robot” and the “Twilight” franchise, had been overseeing Paramount’s film division since January 2018. He will step down to return to producing movies and TV shows.
In Watts’ new role, she will oversee the studio’s film operations from development all the way up to release, including Paramount Pictures and the indie division Paramount Players, and supervise casting, physical production, postproduction and music. Elizabeth Raposo will continue to serve in her current role as president of production and will report to Watts.
Also Read: Emma...
Beginning July 20, Watts will report to Paramount Pictures Chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos, with whom she worked when he served as chairman and CEO of Fox.
Godfrey, a veteran producer whose credits included “I, Robot” and the “Twilight” franchise, had been overseeing Paramount’s film division since January 2018. He will step down to return to producing movies and TV shows.
In Watts’ new role, she will oversee the studio’s film operations from development all the way up to release, including Paramount Pictures and the indie division Paramount Players, and supervise casting, physical production, postproduction and music. Elizabeth Raposo will continue to serve in her current role as president of production and will report to Watts.
Also Read: Emma...
- 6/30/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Existing creative team remains in place. New leader expected to be named in coming weeks.
The Fox film brand and legacy has lost one of its most powerful champions in the wake of the Disney merger as it emerged on Thursday (30) that Emma Watts, production chief at the recently rebranded Twentieth Century Studios, has resigned.
It is understood Watts came to the decision by herself. The senior executive - one of the few former Fox top brass to survive the cull after Disney acquired the studio and other 21st Century Fox entertainment assets last spring – would have taken stock of...
The Fox film brand and legacy has lost one of its most powerful champions in the wake of the Disney merger as it emerged on Thursday (30) that Emma Watts, production chief at the recently rebranded Twentieth Century Studios, has resigned.
It is understood Watts came to the decision by herself. The senior executive - one of the few former Fox top brass to survive the cull after Disney acquired the studio and other 21st Century Fox entertainment assets last spring – would have taken stock of...
- 1/30/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Emma Watts has resigned as president of production at Twentieth Century Studios, ending a two decade-long run at the film company. The move comes after mutterings that Watts was unhappy about not being given more to do at Twentieth after the company was acquired by the Walt Disney Company in 2019. In her resignation letter, Watts cited a need to “pursue new opportunities.”
It hasn’t helped that many of the films that Twentieth was slated to release, such as “Dark Phoenix” and “Stuber,” bombed at the box office. She is the latest in a long line of Fox veterans and top executives to leave the company following the sale, joining the likes of studio chairman Stacey Snider, domestic distribution chief Chris Aronson (now at Paramount), and Fox 2000 chief Elizabeth Gabler (safely ensconced at Sony in a deal that will have her develop movies based on Harper Collins properties). Some long-time Fox executives remain,...
It hasn’t helped that many of the films that Twentieth was slated to release, such as “Dark Phoenix” and “Stuber,” bombed at the box office. She is the latest in a long line of Fox veterans and top executives to leave the company following the sale, joining the likes of studio chairman Stacey Snider, domestic distribution chief Chris Aronson (now at Paramount), and Fox 2000 chief Elizabeth Gabler (safely ensconced at Sony in a deal that will have her develop movies based on Harper Collins properties). Some long-time Fox executives remain,...
- 1/30/2020
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Fox Searchlight’s A Hidden Life, Terrence Malick’s film that tells the true story of conscientious objector Franz Jägerstätter, who refused to fight for the Nazis in World War II, was screened at the Vatican on Wednesday.
Fox Searchlight chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula confirmed the private screening for dignitaries in the Vatican Film Library event space. It was introduced by Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery of Communications, and Malick was in attendance.
“We thank Terrence Malick for being here and sharing this moment with us,” he said. “The narrative of the film is at the same time beautiful and terrible, and it is a challenge because we are brought to face our souls, our consciences, our fears, our forgetfulness and our avoidance of responsibilities. This narrative overturns the rhetoric of heroism, because it tells of a hidden hero, in a film which speaks of love, of consistency,...
Fox Searchlight chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula confirmed the private screening for dignitaries in the Vatican Film Library event space. It was introduced by Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery of Communications, and Malick was in attendance.
“We thank Terrence Malick for being here and sharing this moment with us,” he said. “The narrative of the film is at the same time beautiful and terrible, and it is a challenge because we are brought to face our souls, our consciences, our fears, our forgetfulness and our avoidance of responsibilities. This narrative overturns the rhetoric of heroism, because it tells of a hidden hero, in a film which speaks of love, of consistency,...
- 12/5/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox Searchlight Pictures has tapped Chan Phung to lead its acquisitions department, as senior vice president of acquisitions and production, the studio announced on Monday. The appointment, which will take effect Nov. 4, was made by Fox Searchlight co-chairmen Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley.
Phung moves to the studio from Netflix, where she served as director of original independent film. At Searchlight, she will report to Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, the presidents of production for film and TV, respectively.
She will be responsible for the acquisition of finished films, as well as working closely with the entire production team to identify and evaluate potential acquisitions of films at the package stage.
Also Read: Barry Jenkins to Direct Alvin Ailey Biopic for Fox Searchlight
“I am excited about taking on this new opportunity and joining the amazing Searchlight team is a privilege second to none,” Phung said in a statement. “I...
Phung moves to the studio from Netflix, where she served as director of original independent film. At Searchlight, she will report to Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, the presidents of production for film and TV, respectively.
She will be responsible for the acquisition of finished films, as well as working closely with the entire production team to identify and evaluate potential acquisitions of films at the package stage.
Also Read: Barry Jenkins to Direct Alvin Ailey Biopic for Fox Searchlight
“I am excited about taking on this new opportunity and joining the amazing Searchlight team is a privilege second to none,” Phung said in a statement. “I...
- 10/28/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Fox Searchlight Pictures’ Chairmen Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley have tapped Chan Phung as Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Production. Phung will be starting on Nov. 4 and will lead the acquisitions department for the division, working closely with the entire production team to identify and evaluate potential pick-ups at the package stage. She will report to Presidents of Production for Film and Television Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum.
Greenbaum and Greenfield stated, “Chan is a tremendous talent in the industry, and we are thrilled to have her as an indispensable part of the Searchlight team. She demonstrates exceptional knowledge and expertise in identifying the type of distinctive films that Searchlight gravitates towards.”
Phung added, “I am excited about taking on this new opportunity and joining the amazing Searchlight team is a privilege second to none. I have long been a fan of Searchlight’s incredibly diverse slate of films.”
Prior to joining Fox Searchlight,...
Greenbaum and Greenfield stated, “Chan is a tremendous talent in the industry, and we are thrilled to have her as an indispensable part of the Searchlight team. She demonstrates exceptional knowledge and expertise in identifying the type of distinctive films that Searchlight gravitates towards.”
Phung added, “I am excited about taking on this new opportunity and joining the amazing Searchlight team is a privilege second to none. I have long been a fan of Searchlight’s incredibly diverse slate of films.”
Prior to joining Fox Searchlight,...
- 10/28/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
During a recent panel at the now-unfolding BFI London Film Festival, Fox Searchlight Pictures co-chairs Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley talked about the present and future of their revered film-distribution arm in the aftermath of Walt Disney Studios’ takeover of Fox.
As reported by Deadline, Gilula said, “We’ve been allowed complete autonomy and the studio [Fox] has never interfered with us. No one at Fox ever said, ‘You have to make this movie, [or] please do us a favor and take this filmmaker or star’s film.’ We’ve had great fortune and we don’t take it for granted that we’ve had that level of independence throughout all the different management changes.”
The 25-year-old prestige studio has notched four Best Picture Academy Award wins — “Slumdog Millionaire,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Birdman,” and last year’s champion “The Shape of Water” — while providing a lower-budget alternative to Disney tentpoles.
This summer,...
As reported by Deadline, Gilula said, “We’ve been allowed complete autonomy and the studio [Fox] has never interfered with us. No one at Fox ever said, ‘You have to make this movie, [or] please do us a favor and take this filmmaker or star’s film.’ We’ve had great fortune and we don’t take it for granted that we’ve had that level of independence throughout all the different management changes.”
The 25-year-old prestige studio has notched four Best Picture Academy Award wins — “Slumdog Millionaire,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Birdman,” and last year’s champion “The Shape of Water” — while providing a lower-budget alternative to Disney tentpoles.
This summer,...
- 10/4/2019
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula on how they deal with changing film industry.
Fox Searchlight Pictures co-chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula have revealed how they are weathering the “turbulence” of a changing film landscape and opened up about the Disney takeover of Fox.
Speaking before an audience at the BFI London Film Festival on Friday (October 4), the duo said it was “business as usual” following the $71.3bn takeover of 21st Century Fox by Disney in March.
“There are some procedural changes but the way we work is exactly the same,” said Utley. “We’re in the same building, we’re on the same lot…...
Fox Searchlight Pictures co-chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula have revealed how they are weathering the “turbulence” of a changing film landscape and opened up about the Disney takeover of Fox.
Speaking before an audience at the BFI London Film Festival on Friday (October 4), the duo said it was “business as usual” following the $71.3bn takeover of 21st Century Fox by Disney in March.
“There are some procedural changes but the way we work is exactly the same,” said Utley. “We’re in the same building, we’re on the same lot…...
- 10/4/2019
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
It’s “business as usual” at Fox Searchlight Pictures, despite the change in corporate parent, co-chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula told an industry audience at the BFI London Film Festival Friday.
The execs said that Disney CEO Bob Iger’s commitment to leave Fox Searchlight alone was reaffirmed when Iger and Walt Disney Studios co-chairmen Alan Horn and Alan Bergman watched Taika Waititi’s Adolf Hitler satire “Jojo Rabbit.” Utley, who described it as “a big test for me,” said: “They really appreciated it and the message it is having, and what we are trying to do. So I don’t see any material changes in the way we work.”
Gilula added: “In some of the press there has been all this concern, but people forget that Disney owned Miramax for many, many years and released all kinds of movies. I think their issue [with Miramax] was not the movies but the management.
The execs said that Disney CEO Bob Iger’s commitment to leave Fox Searchlight alone was reaffirmed when Iger and Walt Disney Studios co-chairmen Alan Horn and Alan Bergman watched Taika Waititi’s Adolf Hitler satire “Jojo Rabbit.” Utley, who described it as “a big test for me,” said: “They really appreciated it and the message it is having, and what we are trying to do. So I don’t see any material changes in the way we work.”
Gilula added: “In some of the press there has been all this concern, but people forget that Disney owned Miramax for many, many years and released all kinds of movies. I think their issue [with Miramax] was not the movies but the management.
- 10/4/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Fox Searchlight co-chairs Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley today stressed the importance of independence and autonomy, during a talk at the BFI London Film Festival.
“We’ve been allowed complete autonomy and the studio [Fox] has never interfered with us. No one at Fox ever said, ‘You have to make this movie, [or] please do us a favour and take this filmmaker or star’s film’,” stated Gilula. “We’ve had great fortune and we don’t take it for granted that we’ve had that level of independence throughout all the different management changes.”
The prestige label – which has won a litany of awards including four Best Picture Oscars for Birdman, The Shape Of Water, Slumdog Millionaire and 12 Years A Slave – was brought into the Disney fold when the rival studio completed its game-changing $71.3bn acquisition this year.
There have been major cuts to the Fox movie division since the Disney acquisition,...
“We’ve been allowed complete autonomy and the studio [Fox] has never interfered with us. No one at Fox ever said, ‘You have to make this movie, [or] please do us a favour and take this filmmaker or star’s film’,” stated Gilula. “We’ve had great fortune and we don’t take it for granted that we’ve had that level of independence throughout all the different management changes.”
The prestige label – which has won a litany of awards including four Best Picture Oscars for Birdman, The Shape Of Water, Slumdog Millionaire and 12 Years A Slave – was brought into the Disney fold when the rival studio completed its game-changing $71.3bn acquisition this year.
There have been major cuts to the Fox movie division since the Disney acquisition,...
- 10/4/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
This year’s edition of the BFI London Film Festival, which starts today, marks Tricia Tuttle’s first in an official capacity as artistic director after she stood in last year while her predecessor was on sabbatical. So what does she have planned?
Tuttle looks back at last year’s performance with satisfaction when, with a total audience of more than 200,000, per screen attendance rose by 12% to an average paid occupancy of 72%, and overall capacity of 84%. This she ascribes to “a strong year for films driving audience interest,” which she believes she’s matched this year with, among 229 feature films, “The Personal History of David Copperfield” opening the festival, and “The Irishman” closing it, and gala screenings including “Knives Out,” “Ford v Ferrari,” “The King” and “Jojo Rabbit.”
Among the festival’s world premieres are Wash Westmoreland’s “Earthquake Bird,” starring Alicia Vikander, Gerard Johnson’s “Muscle,” Michael Caton-Jones’ “Our Ladies,...
Tuttle looks back at last year’s performance with satisfaction when, with a total audience of more than 200,000, per screen attendance rose by 12% to an average paid occupancy of 72%, and overall capacity of 84%. This she ascribes to “a strong year for films driving audience interest,” which she believes she’s matched this year with, among 229 feature films, “The Personal History of David Copperfield” opening the festival, and “The Irishman” closing it, and gala screenings including “Knives Out,” “Ford v Ferrari,” “The King” and “Jojo Rabbit.”
Among the festival’s world premieres are Wash Westmoreland’s “Earthquake Bird,” starring Alicia Vikander, Gerard Johnson’s “Muscle,” Michael Caton-Jones’ “Our Ladies,...
- 10/2/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Plan B’s Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner will also deliver a talk.
The line-up of industry events for the 63rd BFI London Film Festival (Lff) has been unveiled, with names including FilmNation’s Glen Basner, Wild Bunch co-founder Vincent Maraval, Fox Searchlight co-chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula, and Mariette Rissenbeek, who took over as executive director of the Berlinale last year.
Highlights include a series of conversations with leading film executives. Glen Basner will be in London on Oct 3 to talk with BFI deputy chief executive Ben Roberts about FilmNation’s work to date and its expansions into different mediums.
The line-up of industry events for the 63rd BFI London Film Festival (Lff) has been unveiled, with names including FilmNation’s Glen Basner, Wild Bunch co-founder Vincent Maraval, Fox Searchlight co-chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula, and Mariette Rissenbeek, who took over as executive director of the Berlinale last year.
Highlights include a series of conversations with leading film executives. Glen Basner will be in London on Oct 3 to talk with BFI deputy chief executive Ben Roberts about FilmNation’s work to date and its expansions into different mediums.
- 9/9/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
At 25 years old and after nearly 200 films, four Best Picture Oscars, and serving as the creative home for auteurs like Wes Anderson, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Steve McQueen, Fox Searchlight is in an unusual position. As the fall festivals begin with the awards season in hot pursuit, new corporate parent the Walt Disney Co. will be judging its performance to determine exactly how the deeply respected specialty division will serve its new world order.
Searchlight will be absorbed in the care and feeding of three titles this fall with Noah Hawley’s “Lucy In the Sky,” Taika Waititi’s “Jojo Rabbit,” and Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life.” All have hopes for awards, if not box office. But on Disney’s most recent earnings call, CEO Bob Iger delivered what was interpreted as a verbal hand-slap: He noted that, going forward, Fox divisions would be going in a “new direction … applying...
Searchlight will be absorbed in the care and feeding of three titles this fall with Noah Hawley’s “Lucy In the Sky,” Taika Waititi’s “Jojo Rabbit,” and Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life.” All have hopes for awards, if not box office. But on Disney’s most recent earnings call, CEO Bob Iger delivered what was interpreted as a verbal hand-slap: He noted that, going forward, Fox divisions would be going in a “new direction … applying...
- 8/30/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
At 25 years old and after nearly 200 films, four Best Picture Oscars, and serving as the creative home for auteurs like Wes Anderson, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Steve McQueen, Fox Searchlight is in an unusual position. As the fall festivals begin with the awards season in hot pursuit, new corporate parent the Walt Disney Co. will be judging its performance to determine exactly how the deeply respected specialty division will serve its new world order.
Searchlight will be absorbed in the care and feeding of three titles this fall with Noah Hawley’s “Lucy In the Sky,” Taika Waititi’s “Jojo Rabbit,” and Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life.” All have hopes for awards, if not box office. But on Disney’s most recent earnings call, CEO Bob Iger delivered what was interpreted as a verbal hand-slap: He noted that, going forward, Fox divisions would be going in a “new direction … applying...
Searchlight will be absorbed in the care and feeding of three titles this fall with Noah Hawley’s “Lucy In the Sky,” Taika Waititi’s “Jojo Rabbit,” and Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life.” All have hopes for awards, if not box office. But on Disney’s most recent earnings call, CEO Bob Iger delivered what was interpreted as a verbal hand-slap: He noted that, going forward, Fox divisions would be going in a “new direction … applying...
- 8/30/2019
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The phones have stopped ringing. The high energy of a studio lot that released more than a dozen movies last year is gone. This is the general feeling former and current Fox employees have in the wake of hundreds of layoffs since Disney’s acquisition of Fox in March. With the exception of Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula’s art-house division Fox Searchlight, which continues to both release and produce new movies, work on the regular Fox film lot has ground to a near-standstill, according to half a dozen current and former Fox executives who spoke to TheWrap. No new films have been greenlit since the merger and many films that have already been shot have been shuffled to releases in 2020 and beyond. For those executives who still show up to the lot in Century City, where office corridors are increasingly empty, the atmosphere can be unsettling. “I see ghosts everywhere,...
- 8/21/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Disney continued layoffs this week, cutting another several dozen employees at the studio and 20th Century Fox, which Disney acquired in March for $71.3 billion, an individual familiar with the layoffs told TheWrap.
The layoffs, which happened on Wednesday affected several key executives in the production and visual effects departments. At Fox, head of visual effects John Kilkenny, Evp of feature production Dana Belcastro, vice president of feature production Fred Baron, and Evp of postproduction Fred Chandler were all among those let go.
This is the fourth round of layoffs since Disney completed its acquisition of the bulk of Fox’s film and TV assets. In June, a few dozen employees were affected, although details of which departments within the studio’s film arm were hit were unclear.
Also Read: Craig Erwich and Hulu Scripted Content Team Move Under Dana Walden, Disney TV
Along with this week’s layoffs, Disney told...
The layoffs, which happened on Wednesday affected several key executives in the production and visual effects departments. At Fox, head of visual effects John Kilkenny, Evp of feature production Dana Belcastro, vice president of feature production Fred Baron, and Evp of postproduction Fred Chandler were all among those let go.
This is the fourth round of layoffs since Disney completed its acquisition of the bulk of Fox’s film and TV assets. In June, a few dozen employees were affected, although details of which departments within the studio’s film arm were hit were unclear.
Also Read: Craig Erwich and Hulu Scripted Content Team Move Under Dana Walden, Disney TV
Along with this week’s layoffs, Disney told...
- 8/1/2019
- by Trey Williams and Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Disney continued to make cuts across the studio’s film division on Wednesday, following its acquisition of Fox’s film and TV entertainment assets.
A few dozen employees were affected, according to an individual with knowledge of the layoffs.
This most recent round of layoffs is the smallest so far after Disney’s $71.3 billion acquisition of Fox, but details of which departments within the studio’s film arm were hit were unclear.
In May, Fox’s corporate communications team was among the departments hit in the second round of layoffs on the film side.
Also Read: Bob Iger Says It Would Be 'Very Difficult' for Disney to Film in Georgia if Anti-Abortion Law Takes Effect
The Mouse House began layoffs in March by letting go of senior-level staff and executives at Fox in what is expected to amount to more than 4,000 jobs being eliminated as part of its Fox integration.
A few dozen employees were affected, according to an individual with knowledge of the layoffs.
This most recent round of layoffs is the smallest so far after Disney’s $71.3 billion acquisition of Fox, but details of which departments within the studio’s film arm were hit were unclear.
In May, Fox’s corporate communications team was among the departments hit in the second round of layoffs on the film side.
Also Read: Bob Iger Says It Would Be 'Very Difficult' for Disney to Film in Georgia if Anti-Abortion Law Takes Effect
The Mouse House began layoffs in March by letting go of senior-level staff and executives at Fox in what is expected to amount to more than 4,000 jobs being eliminated as part of its Fox integration.
- 6/19/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Additional layoffs are coming for Disney and Fox, a spokesperson for Disney confirmed to TheWrap on Wednesday.
The cuts are set to take place across Walt Disney Studios, which now includes Fox, but details about which departments are expected to be impacted are being kept private until the staff is notified. The number of staffers expected to lose their jobs was not disclosed.
The spokesperson didn’t provide any additional information.
An individual with knowledge of the situation, however, told TheWrap that Fox senior vice president of corporate communications, Chelsey Summey, who has been at the studio for more than seven years, was part of the Wednesday’s layoffs. Summey oversaw the studio’s external and internal communications, including box-office reporting, trade media relations, transactional announcements and internal communications.
She was promoted to her most-recent post in 2017, and prior to joining Fox she served in various corporate communications and publicity roles at Paramount.
The cuts are set to take place across Walt Disney Studios, which now includes Fox, but details about which departments are expected to be impacted are being kept private until the staff is notified. The number of staffers expected to lose their jobs was not disclosed.
The spokesperson didn’t provide any additional information.
An individual with knowledge of the situation, however, told TheWrap that Fox senior vice president of corporate communications, Chelsey Summey, who has been at the studio for more than seven years, was part of the Wednesday’s layoffs. Summey oversaw the studio’s external and internal communications, including box-office reporting, trade media relations, transactional announcements and internal communications.
She was promoted to her most-recent post in 2017, and prior to joining Fox she served in various corporate communications and publicity roles at Paramount.
- 5/15/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
When Disney executives visit the Fox lot in Century City, the home of their newly acquired TV and film studios, they’re greeted by a big new banner that says “Welcome to Fox” and doors newly painted with the word “Fox.”
It’s not so much a welcome as a way of marking territory, one Fox insider told TheWrap Friday, three days after Disney closed its $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s film and TV assets — and two days after it started layoffs that are expected to cost as many as 4,000 Fox employees their jobs.
The insider said the banner and “Fox” logos, which went up Thursday, were a way of reminding Disney that under the new deal, it is renting the Century City property from Fox: “This is still our lot.”
Also Read: Dana Walden Pumps Up New Disney Staff in Memo: 'Overwhelmed By the Excitement' for Future...
It’s not so much a welcome as a way of marking territory, one Fox insider told TheWrap Friday, three days after Disney closed its $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s film and TV assets — and two days after it started layoffs that are expected to cost as many as 4,000 Fox employees their jobs.
The insider said the banner and “Fox” logos, which went up Thursday, were a way of reminding Disney that under the new deal, it is renting the Century City property from Fox: “This is still our lot.”
Also Read: Dana Walden Pumps Up New Disney Staff in Memo: 'Overwhelmed By the Excitement' for Future...
- 3/23/2019
- by Jennifer Maas, Tony Maglio and Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Disney film chief Alan Horn told Fox staffers on Thursday morning to expect ‘quite a bit of change’.
After a ruthless first wave of senior Fox executive redundancies on Thursday (March 21), Walt Disney Studios released a sanitised announcement detailing its senior leadership team following the acquisition of the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox earlier this week.
Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn sent a note to the circa 3,000 Fox staff on Thursday telling them to expect ”quite a bit of change” before news of the first Fox senior executive lay-offs leaked out. Among Thursday’s more dramatic headlines, Fox International...
After a ruthless first wave of senior Fox executive redundancies on Thursday (March 21), Walt Disney Studios released a sanitised announcement detailing its senior leadership team following the acquisition of the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox earlier this week.
Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn sent a note to the circa 3,000 Fox staff on Thursday telling them to expect ”quite a bit of change” before news of the first Fox senior executive lay-offs leaked out. Among Thursday’s more dramatic headlines, Fox International...
- 3/22/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Disney film chief Alan Horn told Fox staffers on Thursday morning to expect ‘quite a bit of change’.
After a ruthless first wave of senior Fox executive redundancies on Thursday (March 21), Walt Disney Studios released a sanitised announcement detailing its senior leadership team following the acquisition of the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox earlier this week.
Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn sent a note to the circa 3,000 Fox staff on Thursday telling them to expect ”quite a bit of change” before news of the first Fox senior executive lay-offs leaked out. Among Thursday’s more dramatic headlines, Fox International...
After a ruthless first wave of senior Fox executive redundancies on Thursday (March 21), Walt Disney Studios released a sanitised announcement detailing its senior leadership team following the acquisition of the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox earlier this week.
Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn sent a note to the circa 3,000 Fox staff on Thursday telling them to expect ”quite a bit of change” before news of the first Fox senior executive lay-offs leaked out. Among Thursday’s more dramatic headlines, Fox International...
- 3/22/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The Walt Disney Studios has officially unveiled its senior leadership team now that Disney’s $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s film and TV assets is closed. It comes at the end of a long day at 20th Century Fox Film, where several big names were laid off as the merger begins to take its form.
The Walt Disney Studios umbrella will be led by chairman Alan Horn and president Alan Bergman, who have been making the rounds to finalize their lineups this week.
“At the core of The Walt Disney Studios is the world-class content we produce – from unforgettable experiences for the screen and stage, to stories and characters that find their way into the hearts and homes of fans everywhere,” Horn said in the release Thursday which did not mention today’s layoffs. “Bringing together the legacies, talent, and capabilities of Disney and Fox greatly expands our...
The Walt Disney Studios umbrella will be led by chairman Alan Horn and president Alan Bergman, who have been making the rounds to finalize their lineups this week.
“At the core of The Walt Disney Studios is the world-class content we produce – from unforgettable experiences for the screen and stage, to stories and characters that find their way into the hearts and homes of fans everywhere,” Horn said in the release Thursday which did not mention today’s layoffs. “Bringing together the legacies, talent, and capabilities of Disney and Fox greatly expands our...
- 3/22/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Following the dismissal of top executives in distribution, marketing and strategy on Thursday, new 20th Century Fox owner Disney has clarified its new top leadership.
Five distinct Fox labels and a portion of their leadership have been welcomed into the Disney fold, the company said. This includes Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Family, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox 2000, and Blue Sky Studios.
The Elizabeth Gabler-run imprint Fox 2000 will be shuttered, Variety previously reported earlier in the day, though the late Thursday announcement from Disney noted Gabler will continue on through “the completion of the current slate.” Animation label Blue Sky Studios is expected to complete the release of two films in production, Variety reported last year, though its fate after that point is unknown.
Remaining studio leadership at labels like Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, Lucasfilm and Marvel remains unchanged. Fox Film lost a series of top leaders in marketing,...
Five distinct Fox labels and a portion of their leadership have been welcomed into the Disney fold, the company said. This includes Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Family, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox 2000, and Blue Sky Studios.
The Elizabeth Gabler-run imprint Fox 2000 will be shuttered, Variety previously reported earlier in the day, though the late Thursday announcement from Disney noted Gabler will continue on through “the completion of the current slate.” Animation label Blue Sky Studios is expected to complete the release of two films in production, Variety reported last year, though its fate after that point is unknown.
Remaining studio leadership at labels like Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, Lucasfilm and Marvel remains unchanged. Fox Film lost a series of top leaders in marketing,...
- 3/22/2019
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Disney’s $71 billion acquisition of Fox may be complete, but the studio’s distribution team now must figure out how to integrate Fox’s existing movie slate into its own.
The Burbank-based studio plans to release all of Fox’s films, an individual with knowledge of the slate tells TheWrap, but some of the 13 Fox films slated for release in the next 12 months will be moved around in the coming weeks to avoid competing against Disney’s own 2019 slate. Disney declined to comment.
The likeliest target for a move: James Gray’s sci-fi film “Ad Astra,” starring Brad Pitt as an astronaut who chases after his father (Tommy Lee Jones) who disappeared on a failed mission to Neptune decades earlier. Fox has booked the film to open May 24 — the same day as Disney’s live-action adaptation of the animated hit “Aladdin,” making a date change all but inevitable.
Also Read:...
The Burbank-based studio plans to release all of Fox’s films, an individual with knowledge of the slate tells TheWrap, but some of the 13 Fox films slated for release in the next 12 months will be moved around in the coming weeks to avoid competing against Disney’s own 2019 slate. Disney declined to comment.
The likeliest target for a move: James Gray’s sci-fi film “Ad Astra,” starring Brad Pitt as an astronaut who chases after his father (Tommy Lee Jones) who disappeared on a failed mission to Neptune decades earlier. Fox has booked the film to open May 24 — the same day as Disney’s live-action adaptation of the animated hit “Aladdin,” making a date change all but inevitable.
Also Read:...
- 3/21/2019
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
The other shoe has dropped: Fox began the process of laying off about 4,000 employees on Thursday, one day after the film and TV studio finalized its multibillion-dollar sale to Disney, a studio executive told TheWrap.
Senior-level staff will likely be the first impacted by the cuts, the executive said. Fox human resources began calling employees at the senior vice president, executive vice president and presidential level to deliver the news on Thursday.
Fox head of distribution Chris Aronson was among the first executives at the studio to get the call, putting out a statement on Thursday announcing that he had been let go.
Also Read: Disney Studio Chairman Alan Horn Tells Fox Staff to Prepare for 'Quite a Bit of Change'
“I am extremely grateful for my time at [Twentieth Century Fox] under the leadership of Tom, Jim, and Stacey,” Aronson said in the statement. “It has been an honor...
Senior-level staff will likely be the first impacted by the cuts, the executive said. Fox human resources began calling employees at the senior vice president, executive vice president and presidential level to deliver the news on Thursday.
Fox head of distribution Chris Aronson was among the first executives at the studio to get the call, putting out a statement on Thursday announcing that he had been let go.
Also Read: Disney Studio Chairman Alan Horn Tells Fox Staff to Prepare for 'Quite a Bit of Change'
“I am extremely grateful for my time at [Twentieth Century Fox] under the leadership of Tom, Jim, and Stacey,” Aronson said in the statement. “It has been an honor...
- 3/21/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn and president Alan Bergman sent an email to Fox staff on Thursday asking for patience as the company begins its new journey following the multibillion acquisition of Fox’s film and TV assets.
Horn and Bergman said they plan to make announcements soon regarding the company’s leadership structure, but that it will take some time to reach a fully integrated state.
“Although there is much to look forward to, we know this integration will entail quite a bit of change across our organizations,” Horn and Bergman wrote in the memo. “We want to acknowledge that and assure you we are committed to engaging in this process thoughtfully and communicating changes as we are able.
“Day-to-day, our top priorities remain the same: to support the great content we’re creating and deliver a superb experience to our consumers, and to continue to build an inspiring,...
Horn and Bergman said they plan to make announcements soon regarding the company’s leadership structure, but that it will take some time to reach a fully integrated state.
“Although there is much to look forward to, we know this integration will entail quite a bit of change across our organizations,” Horn and Bergman wrote in the memo. “We want to acknowledge that and assure you we are committed to engaging in this process thoughtfully and communicating changes as we are able.
“Day-to-day, our top priorities remain the same: to support the great content we’re creating and deliver a superb experience to our consumers, and to continue to build an inspiring,...
- 3/21/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
At long last, Disney has completed its $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s film and TV assets.
With the deal wrapped up, Disney will take over ownership of 20th Century Fox film and TV studio, cable networks FX, Fxx and National Geographic, and certain cable and international television assets. Disney also acquires Fox’s 30 percent stake in Hulu, giving it majority control. The new assets should strengthen Disney’s position as a content behemoth, especially as it launches Disney+ later this year, its own streaming competitor to Netflix.
“This is an extraordinary and historic moment for us–one that will create significant long-term value for our company and our shareholders,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said. “Combining Disney’s and 21st Century Fox’s wealth of creative content and proven talent creates the preeminent global entertainment company, well positioned to lead in an incredibly dynamic and transformative era.”
Meanwhile, what...
With the deal wrapped up, Disney will take over ownership of 20th Century Fox film and TV studio, cable networks FX, Fxx and National Geographic, and certain cable and international television assets. Disney also acquires Fox’s 30 percent stake in Hulu, giving it majority control. The new assets should strengthen Disney’s position as a content behemoth, especially as it launches Disney+ later this year, its own streaming competitor to Netflix.
“This is an extraordinary and historic moment for us–one that will create significant long-term value for our company and our shareholders,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said. “Combining Disney’s and 21st Century Fox’s wealth of creative content and proven talent creates the preeminent global entertainment company, well positioned to lead in an incredibly dynamic and transformative era.”
Meanwhile, what...
- 3/20/2019
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
In today’s film news roundup, Fox Searchlight starts a shorts channel, Uma Thurman signs with ICM and Miramax signs animation exec Michael Lachance.
Searchlight Shorts
Fox Searchlight Pictures’ chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula have announced the launch of “Searchlight Shorts” as a collection of short films.
The shorts are available on Fox Searchlight’s YouTube channel and “Searchlight Shorts” Facebook page. The first film to be released on the Fox Searchlight social media channels is the recent best live action short Oscar winner “Skin,” in which a young boy has an innocent encounter with an African American man at a supermarket and his parents react to the exchange with racial violence.
Other short films to be featured include “Feathers” and “Birdie,” which were acquired in late 2018; “Lavender,” which made its premiere at Sundance earlier this year; and the recently acquired “Sew Torn.” Fox Searchlight plans to release a...
Searchlight Shorts
Fox Searchlight Pictures’ chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula have announced the launch of “Searchlight Shorts” as a collection of short films.
The shorts are available on Fox Searchlight’s YouTube channel and “Searchlight Shorts” Facebook page. The first film to be released on the Fox Searchlight social media channels is the recent best live action short Oscar winner “Skin,” in which a young boy has an innocent encounter with an African American man at a supermarket and his parents react to the exchange with racial violence.
Other short films to be featured include “Feathers” and “Birdie,” which were acquired in late 2018; “Lavender,” which made its premiere at Sundance earlier this year; and the recently acquired “Sew Torn.” Fox Searchlight plans to release a...
- 3/19/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The reigning queen of period pieces, Keira Knightley, knows a thing or two about historical clothing.
“Lining. Lining is always important,” the Oscar-nominated actress playfully advised on Wednesday at the premiere of her post-wwii drama “Aftermath.” “If you get a lot of itchy stuff always put lining in it. I have learned that from having done a number of these. Now I know, always ask for lining.”
Reflecting on the script that highlights a love triangle in the midst of rebuilding Germany in 1946, Knightley told Variety, “I read it and thought I can’t do another World War II film. And then it just really stuck in my head, and I think it is because what I never realized was that the real triumph of that generation was actually that they managed to rebuild that continent. It was utterly destroyed by that conflict…I thought, God, I never actually thought...
“Lining. Lining is always important,” the Oscar-nominated actress playfully advised on Wednesday at the premiere of her post-wwii drama “Aftermath.” “If you get a lot of itchy stuff always put lining in it. I have learned that from having done a number of these. Now I know, always ask for lining.”
Reflecting on the script that highlights a love triangle in the midst of rebuilding Germany in 1946, Knightley told Variety, “I read it and thought I can’t do another World War II film. And then it just really stuck in my head, and I think it is because what I never realized was that the real triumph of that generation was actually that they managed to rebuild that continent. It was utterly destroyed by that conflict…I thought, God, I never actually thought...
- 3/14/2019
- by Elizabeth Taylor
- Variety Film + TV
Disney has set March 20 as the closing date for its acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
Disney announced the formal closing process Tuesday morning, indicating that the company has received the last major approval for the deal from regulators in Mexico. Disney said current 21st Century Fox shareholders will have until 5 p.m. Et Thursday to choose the amount of cash and Disney stock to receive in the $71.3 billion transaction.
Disney said it expects the historic union of two of Hollywood’s pioneering studios to “become effective at 12:02 a.m. Eastern time on March 20.” The completion of the Disney-21st Century Fox deal also signals the emergence on March 19 of Fox Corporation, the new entity to emerge from the 21st Century Fox assets that Disney is not buying. Disney is also assuming about $13.8 billion in net debt from 21st Century Fox.
21st Century Fox shareholders will receive a mix of...
Disney announced the formal closing process Tuesday morning, indicating that the company has received the last major approval for the deal from regulators in Mexico. Disney said current 21st Century Fox shareholders will have until 5 p.m. Et Thursday to choose the amount of cash and Disney stock to receive in the $71.3 billion transaction.
Disney said it expects the historic union of two of Hollywood’s pioneering studios to “become effective at 12:02 a.m. Eastern time on March 20.” The completion of the Disney-21st Century Fox deal also signals the emergence on March 19 of Fox Corporation, the new entity to emerge from the 21st Century Fox assets that Disney is not buying. Disney is also assuming about $13.8 billion in net debt from 21st Century Fox.
21st Century Fox shareholders will receive a mix of...
- 3/12/2019
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Major questions still loom as Disney prepares to close its multi-billion dollar acquisition of Fox’s film and TV assets. Such as, what structure will the studio take? And will Disney continue to operate Fox’s film assets as is, or rebrand the studio that has been around for more than 80 years?
Disney CEO Bob Iger took a step toward answering some of those questions on Thursday during the company’s annual shareholder meeting in St. Louis, Missouri.
He said the Fox brand will remain intact, and that Mouse House plans to continue releasing 20th Century Fox films.
“The company itself will be The Walt Disney Co., but there will still be companies, especially on the movie side, with the Fox name,” Iger said during the meeting, which Disney live-streamed. “We will continue to make movies under the Fox brand and Fox Searchlight brand. And FX, which isn’t Fox,...
Disney CEO Bob Iger took a step toward answering some of those questions on Thursday during the company’s annual shareholder meeting in St. Louis, Missouri.
He said the Fox brand will remain intact, and that Mouse House plans to continue releasing 20th Century Fox films.
“The company itself will be The Walt Disney Co., but there will still be companies, especially on the movie side, with the Fox name,” Iger said during the meeting, which Disney live-streamed. “We will continue to make movies under the Fox brand and Fox Searchlight brand. And FX, which isn’t Fox,...
- 3/7/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Studio will promote on social media channels.
Fox Searchlight has snapped up rights to another short film, acquiring Sew Torn written and directed by 18-year-old filmmaker Freddy Macdonald.
The film will be made available on Fox Searchlight’s social media channels. Sew Torn tells of a seamstress, her thread, and a deal gone bad.
Dagna Litzenberger-Vinet stars with Cor Boersma, and Thomas Douglas in the film, which Searchlight said combined a “surprising blend of American cinema starring European actors in Swiss locales”.
The Zurich-based, Los Angeles-born Macdonald produced the film and Call Me By Your Name producer Peter Spears is the executive producer.
Fox Searchlight has snapped up rights to another short film, acquiring Sew Torn written and directed by 18-year-old filmmaker Freddy Macdonald.
The film will be made available on Fox Searchlight’s social media channels. Sew Torn tells of a seamstress, her thread, and a deal gone bad.
Dagna Litzenberger-Vinet stars with Cor Boersma, and Thomas Douglas in the film, which Searchlight said combined a “surprising blend of American cinema starring European actors in Swiss locales”.
The Zurich-based, Los Angeles-born Macdonald produced the film and Call Me By Your Name producer Peter Spears is the executive producer.
- 3/4/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired Sew Torn, the new short film by 18-year-old writer-director Freddy Macdonald. The short is Macdonald’s fifth, and will be made available on Fox Searchlight social media channels.
“Freddy Macdonald is a very promising filmmaker with a fresh and confident storytelling style. We’re thrilled to get this short film in front of audiences worldwide,” said Fox Searchlight Pictures’ Chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula.
The Zurich-based, Los Angeles-born Macdonald, said Fox Searchlight, “combines a unique and surprising blend of American cinema starring European actors in Swiss locales.” Sew Torn is a tale of a seamstress, her thread, and a deal gone bad. The film stars Dagna Litzenberger-Vinet, Cor Boersma, and Thomas Douglas.
The film was produced by Macdonald and executive produced by Peter Spears (Call Me By Your Name).
“Having worked with Dagna, Cor, and Thomas, and my cinematographer Sebastian Klinger on a number...
“Freddy Macdonald is a very promising filmmaker with a fresh and confident storytelling style. We’re thrilled to get this short film in front of audiences worldwide,” said Fox Searchlight Pictures’ Chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula.
The Zurich-based, Los Angeles-born Macdonald, said Fox Searchlight, “combines a unique and surprising blend of American cinema starring European actors in Swiss locales.” Sew Torn is a tale of a seamstress, her thread, and a deal gone bad. The film stars Dagna Litzenberger-Vinet, Cor Boersma, and Thomas Douglas.
The film was produced by Macdonald and executive produced by Peter Spears (Call Me By Your Name).
“Having worked with Dagna, Cor, and Thomas, and my cinematographer Sebastian Klinger on a number...
- 3/4/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
First role for McDormand since she won Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
Fox Searchlight has acquired worldwide rights to Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland starring Frances McDormand in her first role since winning the Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
David Strathairn also stars, and the cast includes Linda May and Charlene Swankie. McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Zhao produced the film from Highwayman Films, Hear/Say Productions and Cor Cordium Production.
Zhao’s follow-up to The Rider follows a woman in her 60s who after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West,...
Fox Searchlight has acquired worldwide rights to Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland starring Frances McDormand in her first role since winning the Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
David Strathairn also stars, and the cast includes Linda May and Charlene Swankie. McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Zhao produced the film from Highwayman Films, Hear/Say Productions and Cor Cordium Production.
Zhao’s follow-up to The Rider follows a woman in her 60s who after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West,...
- 2/13/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
First role for McDormand since she won Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
Fox Searchlight has acquired worldwide rights to Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland starring Frances McDormand in her first role since winning the Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
David Strathairn also stars, and the cast includes Linda May and Charlene Swankie. McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Zhao produced the film from Highwayman Films, Hear/Say Productions and Cor Cordium Production.
Zhao’s follow-up to The Rider follows a woman in her 60s who after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West,...
Fox Searchlight has acquired worldwide rights to Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland starring Frances McDormand in her first role since winning the Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
David Strathairn also stars, and the cast includes Linda May and Charlene Swankie. McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Zhao produced the film from Highwayman Films, Hear/Say Productions and Cor Cordium Production.
Zhao’s follow-up to The Rider follows a woman in her 60s who after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West,...
- 2/13/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Guy Nattiv’s Oscar-nominated short film Skin has been acquired by Fox Searchlights Pictures.
The acquisition was announced today by Fox Searchlight Pictures’ Chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula and Evp, Global Acquisition & Co-Prod, Tcf Acquisitions Ray Strache.
“We’re thrilled to work with Guy Nattiv on his brilliant short film Skin. It has a powerful message with excellent direction and acting,” said Gilula and Utley.
Written by Nattiv and Sharon Maymon, the film is tells the story of a young boy who has an innocent encounter with a black man at a supermarket and his parents react to the exchange with racial violence. The two families find themselves in a clash with shocking consequences.
The film stars Danielle Macdonald, Jonathan Tucker, Jackson Robert Scott, Lonnie Chavis and Ashley Thomas.
Produced by Jaime Ray Newman, Andrew Carlberg, Tim Harms and Guy Nattiv, Skin was executive produced by Matt Luber,...
The acquisition was announced today by Fox Searchlight Pictures’ Chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula and Evp, Global Acquisition & Co-Prod, Tcf Acquisitions Ray Strache.
“We’re thrilled to work with Guy Nattiv on his brilliant short film Skin. It has a powerful message with excellent direction and acting,” said Gilula and Utley.
Written by Nattiv and Sharon Maymon, the film is tells the story of a young boy who has an innocent encounter with a black man at a supermarket and his parents react to the exchange with racial violence. The two families find themselves in a clash with shocking consequences.
The film stars Danielle Macdonald, Jonathan Tucker, Jackson Robert Scott, Lonnie Chavis and Ashley Thomas.
Produced by Jaime Ray Newman, Andrew Carlberg, Tim Harms and Guy Nattiv, Skin was executive produced by Matt Luber,...
- 2/8/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox Searchlight has acquired rights to Lavender, a short film from writer-director Matthew Puccini that just premiered in the Shorts Program at the Sundance Film Festival. The studio plans to make the pic available on its social media channels.
Lavender stars Michael Urie, Michael Hsu Rosen and Ken Barnett and tells the story of a young gay man as he develops a complicated relationship with an older married couple. Urie and Rosen recently starred in the recent Broadway revival Torch Song, while Barnett toplined the Tony-winning Fun Home.
Searchlight toppers Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula said the they were “always looking for fresh filmmaking talents, and the short film world led us to a talented director in Matthew Puccini.”
The movie, produced by Casey Bader, Tyler Rabinowitz and Corey Deckler, was supported by the Creative Culture program at the Jacob Burns Film Center. Jason Michael Berman, Sam Abbas and Natalé Olsen are executive producers.
Lavender stars Michael Urie, Michael Hsu Rosen and Ken Barnett and tells the story of a young gay man as he develops a complicated relationship with an older married couple. Urie and Rosen recently starred in the recent Broadway revival Torch Song, while Barnett toplined the Tony-winning Fun Home.
Searchlight toppers Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula said the they were “always looking for fresh filmmaking talents, and the short film world led us to a talented director in Matthew Puccini.”
The movie, produced by Casey Bader, Tyler Rabinowitz and Corey Deckler, was supported by the Creative Culture program at the Jacob Burns Film Center. Jason Michael Berman, Sam Abbas and Natalé Olsen are executive producers.
- 1/25/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired the short film “Lavender,” which screened as part of the Shorts Program at the Sundance Film Festival, chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula and Evp, global acquisition & co-prod, Tcf acquisitions Ray Strache announced Friday.
“Lavender” is written and directed by Matthew Puccini. The film will be available on Fox Searchlight social media channels.
“Lavender” follows the story of a young gay man as he develops a complicated relationship with an older married couple. It is a tender, poignant look at an unconventional relationship as it blossoms and ultimately unravels.
Also Read: Ashton Sanders' 'Native Son' Acquired by HBO Films
The film stars Michael Urie, Michael Hsu Rosen, and Ken Barnett. Urie and Rosen recently starred in the Broadway production of Harvey Fierstein’s “Torch Song.” Barnett recently starred in the Tony Award-winning “Fun Home.”
“Lavender” is produced by Casey Bader, Tyler Rabinowitz and Corey Deckler.
“Lavender” is written and directed by Matthew Puccini. The film will be available on Fox Searchlight social media channels.
“Lavender” follows the story of a young gay man as he develops a complicated relationship with an older married couple. It is a tender, poignant look at an unconventional relationship as it blossoms and ultimately unravels.
Also Read: Ashton Sanders' 'Native Son' Acquired by HBO Films
The film stars Michael Urie, Michael Hsu Rosen, and Ken Barnett. Urie and Rosen recently starred in the Broadway production of Harvey Fierstein’s “Torch Song.” Barnett recently starred in the Tony Award-winning “Fun Home.”
“Lavender” is produced by Casey Bader, Tyler Rabinowitz and Corey Deckler.
- 1/25/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Short screens again on Friday, Saturday and February 2.
Fox Searchlight has picked up Matthew Puccini’s Sundance short Lavender and will make the film available on its social media channels.
Lavender screened screened as part of the Shorts Program in Park City on Thursday and screens again on Friday, Saturday and the final Saturday on February 2. The story centres on a young gay man who develops a complicated relationship with an older married couple. Michael Urie, Michael Hsu Rosen, and Ken Barnett star.
Casey Bader, Tyler Rabinowitz and Corey Deckler served as producers on Lavender, which was supported by the...
Fox Searchlight has picked up Matthew Puccini’s Sundance short Lavender and will make the film available on its social media channels.
Lavender screened screened as part of the Shorts Program in Park City on Thursday and screens again on Friday, Saturday and the final Saturday on February 2. The story centres on a young gay man who develops a complicated relationship with an older married couple. Michael Urie, Michael Hsu Rosen, and Ken Barnett star.
Casey Bader, Tyler Rabinowitz and Corey Deckler served as producers on Lavender, which was supported by the...
- 1/25/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
As Hollywood gears up to head to Park City, Utah, for the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, one of the questions on everyone’s mind is how busy prominent streamers like Netflix and burgeoning platforms like Apple and Disney+ will be on Main Street.
Two years ago, Netflix and Amazon Studios dominated the indie marketplace with big-dollar acquisitions like “Mudbound” and “The Big Sick.” Last year, however, they had a quieter festival. Netflix picked up a handful of films like “The Kindergarten Teacher,” and acquired others well after the festival, while Amazon bought zilch.
Many indie film buyers and sellers believe that Netflix and Amazon have shifted their focus to their own production as opposed to acquiring titles, but that doesn’t mean the big streamers won’t pounce on a title or two that catches its team’s fancy.
“We go into every festival with our eyes open,” Chan Phung, Netflix’s director of independent film,...
Two years ago, Netflix and Amazon Studios dominated the indie marketplace with big-dollar acquisitions like “Mudbound” and “The Big Sick.” Last year, however, they had a quieter festival. Netflix picked up a handful of films like “The Kindergarten Teacher,” and acquired others well after the festival, while Amazon bought zilch.
Many indie film buyers and sellers believe that Netflix and Amazon have shifted their focus to their own production as opposed to acquiring titles, but that doesn’t mean the big streamers won’t pounce on a title or two that catches its team’s fancy.
“We go into every festival with our eyes open,” Chan Phung, Netflix’s director of independent film,...
- 1/23/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven and Trey Williams
- The Wrap
20th Century Fox has been in the news this past year not just for hits like “Deadpool 2” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but also because the storied studio is about to be absorbed by Disney as part of a $71.3 billion acquisition of Fox’s TV and film entertainment assets.
But apart from a few modest hits and indie division Fox Searchlight scoring four major awards contenders, 2018 wasn’t a stellar year for Fox’s film division. The studio fell to No. 5 in box office market share — 9.6 percent as of Monday — after holding the No. 3 or 4 slots for the past three years, according to BoxOfficeMojo.
“I wouldn’t categorize their performance as a disaster — I would call it middling,” Tuna Amobi, media analyst at Cfra Research, told TheWrap. “Some of that also had to do with the way the studio has been managed conservatively over the years — they have not traditionally taken...
But apart from a few modest hits and indie division Fox Searchlight scoring four major awards contenders, 2018 wasn’t a stellar year for Fox’s film division. The studio fell to No. 5 in box office market share — 9.6 percent as of Monday — after holding the No. 3 or 4 slots for the past three years, according to BoxOfficeMojo.
“I wouldn’t categorize their performance as a disaster — I would call it middling,” Tuna Amobi, media analyst at Cfra Research, told TheWrap. “Some of that also had to do with the way the studio has been managed conservatively over the years — they have not traditionally taken...
- 12/26/2018
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Netflix has snatched up film production veteran Kira Goldberg away from Fox, an individual with knowledge of the hire told TheWrap.
Goldberg served as executive vice president of production at Fox, and worked most recently on the studio’s rock and roll hit “Bohemian Rhapsody,” as well as last year’s “The Greatest Showman,” “The Post” and 2016’s “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.”
She spent six years working at Fox, specializing in all original non-branded films, and championed “The Greatest Showman” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Also Read: Bron Studios Hires Former Fox Searchlight Executive Cassandra Butcher as Chief Marketing Officer
At Netflix, Goldberg will report directly to Tendo Nagenda, who the streaming giant lured away from Disney earlier this year. Nagenda, a highly valued and respected production executive at Disney, was brought in under Netflix film head Scott Stuber to lead film production at Netflix.
Netflix has made strides...
Goldberg served as executive vice president of production at Fox, and worked most recently on the studio’s rock and roll hit “Bohemian Rhapsody,” as well as last year’s “The Greatest Showman,” “The Post” and 2016’s “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.”
She spent six years working at Fox, specializing in all original non-branded films, and championed “The Greatest Showman” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Also Read: Bron Studios Hires Former Fox Searchlight Executive Cassandra Butcher as Chief Marketing Officer
At Netflix, Goldberg will report directly to Tendo Nagenda, who the streaming giant lured away from Disney earlier this year. Nagenda, a highly valued and respected production executive at Disney, was brought in under Netflix film head Scott Stuber to lead film production at Netflix.
Netflix has made strides...
- 12/6/2018
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
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