A group of screenwriters including Eli Roth, Graham Yost and Amy Chozick have issued an open letter decrying the Writers Guild of America’s silence on last week’s Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel.
In the letter, posted to the blog site Medium, the screenwriters mention the statements already issued by other Hollywood guilds, including SAG-AFTRA and the directors’ guild.
“When it comes to taking a stand, the Writers Guild of America has always led by example,” the statement said. “When employers sought to exploit our work, the Guild bravely spoke up. When the BLM movement took flight, the Guild rightfully spoke up. When the #MeToo reckoning came and Hollywood needed to change, again the Guild spoke up. But when terrorists invaded Israel to murder, rape, and kidnap Jews… the Guild stayed silent. It remains the only major Hollywood union to do so.”
SAG-AFTRA and the DGA were among the Hollywood studios,...
In the letter, posted to the blog site Medium, the screenwriters mention the statements already issued by other Hollywood guilds, including SAG-AFTRA and the directors’ guild.
“When it comes to taking a stand, the Writers Guild of America has always led by example,” the statement said. “When employers sought to exploit our work, the Guild bravely spoke up. When the BLM movement took flight, the Guild rightfully spoke up. When the #MeToo reckoning came and Hollywood needed to change, again the Guild spoke up. But when terrorists invaded Israel to murder, rape, and kidnap Jews… the Guild stayed silent. It remains the only major Hollywood union to do so.”
SAG-AFTRA and the DGA were among the Hollywood studios,...
- 10/15/2023
- by Jeremy Bailey
- The Wrap
A group of 22 Hollywood writers has penned an open letter calling out the Writers Guild of America for not issuing a statement condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America each issued statements last week condemning the attack. The writers group — including Eli Roth, Mike Weiss, Amy Chozick, Ellen Rapoport and Seth Fisher — issued the letter on Sunday, noting that the WGA had not made a similar statement.
The letter notes that the WGA issued statements in support of Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo movement.
“But when terrorists invaded Israel to murder, rape, and kidnap Jews… the Guild stayed silent,” they wrote. “It remains the only major Hollywood union to do so.”
The WGA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The DGA condemned the attacks in a statement on Wednesday. SAG-AFTRA followed suit on Friday, and also canceled picketing outside...
SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America each issued statements last week condemning the attack. The writers group — including Eli Roth, Mike Weiss, Amy Chozick, Ellen Rapoport and Seth Fisher — issued the letter on Sunday, noting that the WGA had not made a similar statement.
The letter notes that the WGA issued statements in support of Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo movement.
“But when terrorists invaded Israel to murder, rape, and kidnap Jews… the Guild stayed silent,” they wrote. “It remains the only major Hollywood union to do so.”
The WGA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The DGA condemned the attacks in a statement on Wednesday. SAG-AFTRA followed suit on Friday, and also canceled picketing outside...
- 10/15/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Arlington Road, the 1999 neo-noir thriller starring Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, and Hope Davis, is prepping a possible return as a TV series. It has been announced that Paramount+ is in the beginning stages of developing the project from the film's director Mark Pellington. Seth Fisher, the co-executive producer of The Alienist, will be writing the TV series adaptation…...
- 4/14/2021
- by Gaius Bolling
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: The movie Arlington Road is eying a return as a TV series inspired by the 1999 neo-noir thriller. Paramount+ is in early stages of development on the project, from the film’s director Mark Pellington.
The Alienist co-executive producer Seth Fisher is writing the TV series adaptation. CBS Studios and Village Roadshow Television are co-producing.
Pellington, who is set to direct the potential series, executive produces with Fisher.
The 1999 paranoid thriller movie stars Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack and Hope Davis. Ehren Kruger wrote the script, which won the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Nicholl Fellowship in 1996. The film tells the story of a widowed George Washington University professor who suspects his new neighbors are involved in terrorism and becomes obsessed with foiling their plot. Watch a trailer below.
In addition to Arlington Road, Fisher has a high-profile series in the works at UCP: Fisher and...
The Alienist co-executive producer Seth Fisher is writing the TV series adaptation. CBS Studios and Village Roadshow Television are co-producing.
Pellington, who is set to direct the potential series, executive produces with Fisher.
The 1999 paranoid thriller movie stars Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack and Hope Davis. Ehren Kruger wrote the script, which won the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Nicholl Fellowship in 1996. The film tells the story of a widowed George Washington University professor who suspects his new neighbors are involved in terrorism and becomes obsessed with foiling their plot. Watch a trailer below.
In addition to Arlington Road, Fisher has a high-profile series in the works at UCP: Fisher and...
- 4/14/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
A “Skywatch” series based on the viral short film of the same name is being developed for Peacock by Ucp and Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door.
The short was made by Colin Levy and has racked up over a million views since December. Ucp and Peacock got the rights to the short, which they’ll use as a proof-of-concept for the series, in a competitive situation.
The subsequent series is described as the following: “When an outcast teen hacks into a ubiquitous drone delivery system to pull a prank on his school bully, he accidentally crashes a dangerous prototype – and finds himself entangled in a life-and-death conspiracy.”
Levy will direct “Skywatch,” and will write and executive produce with Mike Sundy. MacFarlane and Erica Huggins will executive produce for Fuzzy Door, with Andre Danylevich for Lightning Hill Pictures, and Jon Huddle and Russell Hollander for Fourth Wall Management. Ucp, a division of Universal Studio Group,...
The short was made by Colin Levy and has racked up over a million views since December. Ucp and Peacock got the rights to the short, which they’ll use as a proof-of-concept for the series, in a competitive situation.
The subsequent series is described as the following: “When an outcast teen hacks into a ubiquitous drone delivery system to pull a prank on his school bully, he accidentally crashes a dangerous prototype – and finds himself entangled in a life-and-death conspiracy.”
Levy will direct “Skywatch,” and will write and executive produce with Mike Sundy. MacFarlane and Erica Huggins will executive produce for Fuzzy Door, with Andre Danylevich for Lightning Hill Pictures, and Jon Huddle and Russell Hollander for Fourth Wall Management. Ucp, a division of Universal Studio Group,...
- 8/26/2020
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
Peacock Developing TV Adaptation Of Dystopian Drone Short Film ‘Skywatch’ With Seth MacFarlane & Ucp
A dystopian sci-fi project from a former Pixar employee has landed at Peacock with Ucp and Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door producing.
The streamer is adapting Skywatch, based on a short film written and directed by ex-Pixar artist Colin Levy, into a series after landing the rights in a competitive situation.
Skywatch started out as a ten-minute short film, which featured a brief appearance from Jude Law and was six years in the making with some Kickstarter contributions.
It tells the story of an outcast teen, who hacks into a ubiquitous drone delivery system to pull a prank on his school bully, he accidentally crashes a dangerous prototype – and finds himself entangled in a life-and-death conspiracy. You can watch the film below.
Levy, who has worked on films including Inside Out and Finding Dory, and his fellow Pixar colleague Mike Sundy co-wrote a feature script based on the short film and Ucp,...
The streamer is adapting Skywatch, based on a short film written and directed by ex-Pixar artist Colin Levy, into a series after landing the rights in a competitive situation.
Skywatch started out as a ten-minute short film, which featured a brief appearance from Jude Law and was six years in the making with some Kickstarter contributions.
It tells the story of an outcast teen, who hacks into a ubiquitous drone delivery system to pull a prank on his school bully, he accidentally crashes a dangerous prototype – and finds himself entangled in a life-and-death conspiracy. You can watch the film below.
Levy, who has worked on films including Inside Out and Finding Dory, and his fellow Pixar colleague Mike Sundy co-wrote a feature script based on the short film and Ucp,...
- 8/26/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Seth MacFarlane has teamed up with She’s Gotta Have It writer Eisa Davis and Chadwick Boseman to develop a drama about Carlotta Walls, the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine.
It marks the Family Guy creator’s second development project with Ucp, a division Universal Studio Group, since striking an overall deal with NBCUniversal. Last week, MacFarlane revealed he was adapting Herman Wouk’s The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, with Seth Fisher (The Alienist) as a limited series.
Based on Carlotta Walls Lanier’s memoir A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High, the series will tell the story of how 14 year-old Carlotta Walls became one of the first black students to attend the all-white Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas following the landmark Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education.
Walls Lanier, who will consult on the project,...
It marks the Family Guy creator’s second development project with Ucp, a division Universal Studio Group, since striking an overall deal with NBCUniversal. Last week, MacFarlane revealed he was adapting Herman Wouk’s The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, with Seth Fisher (The Alienist) as a limited series.
Based on Carlotta Walls Lanier’s memoir A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High, the series will tell the story of how 14 year-old Carlotta Walls became one of the first black students to attend the all-white Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas following the landmark Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education.
Walls Lanier, who will consult on the project,...
- 8/18/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Seth MacFarlane has set his first project under his overall deal with NBCUniversal inked earlier this year. Ucp has put in development The Winds of War (working title), a limited series based on Herman Wouk’s The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, with MacFarlane and Seth Fisher (The Alienist) set to pen the adaptation and executive produce.
The Winds of War is the epic story of one American family’s turbulent voyage across the continents and across the years that spanned the Second World War.
Family Guy and The Orville creator MacFarlane and Fisher will executive produce with Fuzzy Door’s Erica Huggins. Ucp, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio. Rachel Hargreaves-Heald is the executive in charge for Fuzzy Door.
“We are thrilled to announce The Winds of War (and War and Remembrance) as the first of many projects we are developing with Fuzzy Door.
The Winds of War is the epic story of one American family’s turbulent voyage across the continents and across the years that spanned the Second World War.
Family Guy and The Orville creator MacFarlane and Fisher will executive produce with Fuzzy Door’s Erica Huggins. Ucp, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio. Rachel Hargreaves-Heald is the executive in charge for Fuzzy Door.
“We are thrilled to announce The Winds of War (and War and Remembrance) as the first of many projects we are developing with Fuzzy Door.
- 8/12/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Seth MacFarlane has set up his first project under the bumper overall deal he signed with NBCUniversal earlier this year.
The “Family Guy” and “American Dad” creator is developing a limited series called “The Winds of War” (working title), based on Herman Wouk’s novels “The Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance.”
The project hails from Ucp, a division Universal Studio Group, and MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door Productions banner.
It is described as telling the epic story of one American family’s turbulent voyage across the continents and across the years that spanned the Second World War.
MacFarlane will write and executive produce the project, which is being shopped around to broadcast, cable and streaming platforms, alongside Seth Fisher.
“I can’t think of a more exciting project with which to launch my creative partnership with Ucp than Herman Wouk’s ‘The Winds of War.; I’ve been a...
The “Family Guy” and “American Dad” creator is developing a limited series called “The Winds of War” (working title), based on Herman Wouk’s novels “The Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance.”
The project hails from Ucp, a division Universal Studio Group, and MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door Productions banner.
It is described as telling the epic story of one American family’s turbulent voyage across the continents and across the years that spanned the Second World War.
MacFarlane will write and executive produce the project, which is being shopped around to broadcast, cable and streaming platforms, alongside Seth Fisher.
“I can’t think of a more exciting project with which to launch my creative partnership with Ucp than Herman Wouk’s ‘The Winds of War.; I’ve been a...
- 8/12/2020
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
Seth MacFarlane is adapting Herman Wouk’s “The Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance” novels into a limited series for Universal Content Productions, marking the first project under his new overall deal at NBCUniversal.
MacFarlane’s show, which is based on both of those Wouk books and goes by the working title “The Winds of War,” tells “the epic story of one American family’s turbulent voyage across the continents and across the years that spanned the Second World War,” per Ucp, a division of Universal Studio Group.
The “Family Guy” creator will co-write the script and exec produce alongside Seth Fisher (“The Alienist”), with MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door partner Erica Huggins also executive producing. Rachel Hargreaves-Heald is the executive in charge for Fuzzy Door. Ucp plans to shop the show to broadcast networks, cablers and streaming platforms.
Also Read: Seth MacFarlane Moves From 20th Century Fox to NBCU With 5-Year,...
MacFarlane’s show, which is based on both of those Wouk books and goes by the working title “The Winds of War,” tells “the epic story of one American family’s turbulent voyage across the continents and across the years that spanned the Second World War,” per Ucp, a division of Universal Studio Group.
The “Family Guy” creator will co-write the script and exec produce alongside Seth Fisher (“The Alienist”), with MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door partner Erica Huggins also executive producing. Rachel Hargreaves-Heald is the executive in charge for Fuzzy Door. Ucp plans to shop the show to broadcast networks, cablers and streaming platforms.
Also Read: Seth MacFarlane Moves From 20th Century Fox to NBCU With 5-Year,...
- 8/12/2020
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Seven months after exiting his longtime home at 20th Television for NBCUniversal, Seth MacFarlane has set up his first project under his company's $200 million overall deal.
The Family Guy creator is adapting author Herman Wouk's The Winds of War and War and Remembrance as a limited series. Universal Content Productions is the studio on the drama and will shop the series to broadcast and cable networks as well as streaming outlets.
MacFarlane and Seth Fisher (The Alienist, Saints and Strangers) will co-write the script and exec produce. MacFarlane's Fuzzy Door president Erica Huggins will also exec ...
The Family Guy creator is adapting author Herman Wouk's The Winds of War and War and Remembrance as a limited series. Universal Content Productions is the studio on the drama and will shop the series to broadcast and cable networks as well as streaming outlets.
MacFarlane and Seth Fisher (The Alienist, Saints and Strangers) will co-write the script and exec produce. MacFarlane's Fuzzy Door president Erica Huggins will also exec ...
- 8/12/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Writers of Hell or High Water, La La Land, Arrival and Deadpool are among the nominees for this year’s Writers Guild Awards.
Writers of Hell or High Water (pictured), La La Land, Arrival and Deadpool are among the nominees for this year’s Writers Guild Awards, set to be presented at ceremonies hosted by the West and East branches of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) on Feb 19.
Also nominated in the WGA’s original screenplay category are the writers of Loving, Manchester By The Sea and Moonlight. Fences, Hidden Figures and Nocturnal Animals produced the other nominations in the adapted screenplay category.
Documentary nominations went to Author: The Jt Leroy Story, Command And Control and Zero Days, while dramatic TV series getting nods were The Americans, Better Call Saul, Game Of Thrones, Stranger Things and Westworld.
Full list of feature nominees and selected TV nominees:
Original Screenplay
Hell or High Water Taylor Sheridan
La La Land [link...
Writers of Hell or High Water (pictured), La La Land, Arrival and Deadpool are among the nominees for this year’s Writers Guild Awards, set to be presented at ceremonies hosted by the West and East branches of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) on Feb 19.
Also nominated in the WGA’s original screenplay category are the writers of Loving, Manchester By The Sea and Moonlight. Fences, Hidden Figures and Nocturnal Animals produced the other nominations in the adapted screenplay category.
Documentary nominations went to Author: The Jt Leroy Story, Command And Control and Zero Days, while dramatic TV series getting nods were The Americans, Better Call Saul, Game Of Thrones, Stranger Things and Westworld.
Full list of feature nominees and selected TV nominees:
Original Screenplay
Hell or High Water Taylor Sheridan
La La Land [link...
- 1/4/2017
- ScreenDaily
Writers of Hell or High Water, La La Land, Arrival and Deadpool are among the nominees for this year’s Writers Guild Awards.
Writers of Hell or High Water (pictured), La La Land, Arrival and Deadpool are among the nominees for this year’s Writers Guild Awards, set to be presented at ceremonies hosted by the West and East brances of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) on Feb 19.
Also nominated in the WGA’s original screenplay category are the writers of Loving, Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight. Fences, Hidden Figures and Nocturnal Animalsproduced the other nominations in the adapted screenplay category.
Documentary nominations went to Author: The Jt Leroy Story, Command and Control and Zero Days, while dramatic TV series getting nods were The Americans, Better Call Saul, Game of Thrones, Stranger Things and Westworld.
Full list of feature nominees and selected TV nominees:
Original Screenplay
Hell or High Water Taylor Sheridan
La La Land [link...
Writers of Hell or High Water (pictured), La La Land, Arrival and Deadpool are among the nominees for this year’s Writers Guild Awards, set to be presented at ceremonies hosted by the West and East brances of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) on Feb 19.
Also nominated in the WGA’s original screenplay category are the writers of Loving, Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight. Fences, Hidden Figures and Nocturnal Animalsproduced the other nominations in the adapted screenplay category.
Documentary nominations went to Author: The Jt Leroy Story, Command and Control and Zero Days, while dramatic TV series getting nods were The Americans, Better Call Saul, Game of Thrones, Stranger Things and Westworld.
Full list of feature nominees and selected TV nominees:
Original Screenplay
Hell or High Water Taylor Sheridan
La La Land [link...
- 1/4/2017
- ScreenDaily
In a Gold Derby exclusive, we have learned the category placements of the key Emmy Awards contenders for the National Geographic Channel. Last year, the network scored major nominations for "Killing Jesus" (Best TV Movie) and "StarTalk with Neil Degrasse Tyson" (Best Informational Series or Special). Below, see the list of Nat Geo submissions across all categories for 2016. (Please note: Performers not included below may well be submitted by their personal reps.) Subscribe to Gold Derby Breaking News Alerts & Experts’ Latest Emmy Predictions -Break- TV Movie "Saints And Strangers" Movie/Limited Series Actor - Vincent Kartheiser Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actor - Ron Livingston, Ray Stevenson, Raoul Trujillo Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actress - Anna Camp Movie/Limited Series Directing - Paul A. Edwards Movie/Limited Series Writing - Seth Fisher, Walon Green, Chip Johannessen, Eric Overmyer Docume...
- 4/18/2016
- Gold Derby
The Writers Guild of America has just announced the nominations for their annual awards for Best Screenplays (by writers who are guild signatories). That’s right, before you get nervous thinking that your favorite may have been left off the list, you must remember that the WGA is the group that is not all-inclusive and leaves out several of the top contenders each year due to them not being part of the guild or not following their very specific rules. For this reason, you won’t see Inside Out, The Hateful Eight, and Ex Machina in the Original Screenplay category or Room, Brooklyn, or Anomalisa in the Adapted screenplay category.
Taking a look at what’s left over for the nominations, we find many that were expected to make a showing, including Spotlight and Bridge of Spies for Original Screenplay, though they apparently had to sink to really low depths...
Taking a look at what’s left over for the nominations, we find many that were expected to make a showing, including Spotlight and Bridge of Spies for Original Screenplay, though they apparently had to sink to really low depths...
- 1/6/2016
- by Jeff Beck
- We Got This Covered
The Writers Guild of America announced some of its nominees for its 2015 awards on Thursday, including television, new media, and radio, and among the TV nominees are series both new and old, and all beloved.
In the comedy series category, freshman Netflix show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" scored a nomination for best series, as well as an overall best new series nod. "The Last Man on Earth" also landed in that latter category, and was singled out for its pilot episode writing, too.
On the drama side of the equation, lauded "Breaking Bad" spinoff "Better Call Saul" also got best series and best new series nominations, in addition to a an episode writing nod. Newly-minted Emmy winner "Game of Thrones" also scored a best drama citation, as well as an episodic writing nomination.
The full list of nominees released this week are below. Nominations in the theatrical and documentary categories will...
In the comedy series category, freshman Netflix show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" scored a nomination for best series, as well as an overall best new series nod. "The Last Man on Earth" also landed in that latter category, and was singled out for its pilot episode writing, too.
On the drama side of the equation, lauded "Breaking Bad" spinoff "Better Call Saul" also got best series and best new series nominations, in addition to a an episode writing nod. Newly-minted Emmy winner "Game of Thrones" also scored a best drama citation, as well as an episodic writing nomination.
The full list of nominees released this week are below. Nominations in the theatrical and documentary categories will...
- 12/3/2015
- by Katie Roberts
- Moviefone
On the whole, Lionsgate has fared pretty well from the young adult genre. It scooped up two of the biggest book series’ for 12 to 18-year olds and successfully translated them into blockbuster franchises. Now, the studio behind The Hunger Games and The Twilight Saga – on which they collaborated with Summit Entertainment – looks poised to dip back into that same pool for its next project Blackbird.
The movie takes its name from the first novel in a trilogy (because young adult books simply won’t land publishers now if there aren’t another two to follow) by author Anna Carey. Blackbird follows a young girl who wakes one day on a train track with no memory of how she came to be there. Apart from the rising dread in the pit of her stomach, she’s also in possession of $1,000, a tattoo of a blackbird on her wrist, a code, a...
The movie takes its name from the first novel in a trilogy (because young adult books simply won’t land publishers now if there aren’t another two to follow) by author Anna Carey. Blackbird follows a young girl who wakes one day on a train track with no memory of how she came to be there. Apart from the rising dread in the pit of her stomach, she’s also in possession of $1,000, a tattoo of a blackbird on her wrist, a code, a...
- 3/16/2015
- by Gem Seddon
- We Got This Covered
These days, the number of indies premiering on a weekly basis can be both thrilling and intimidating. To help sift through the number of new releases (independent or otherwise), we've created a weekend film guide. Below you'll find basic plot, personnel and cinema information for today's fresh offerings. Happy viewing! Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. today, Friday, March 28th. Synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise. Blumenthal Director: Seth Fisher Cast: Seth Fisher, Laila Robins, Mark Blum, Fred Melamed, Brian Cox, Mei Melancon, Nicole Ansari-Cox Synopsis: "Celebrated playwright, Harold Blumenthal, has passed away after succumbing to cardiac arrest while laughing at his own joke. Now, Harold’s estranged and jealous brother, Saul, must confront his personal hang-ups in order to deliver himself from an epic bout of constipation. Meanwhile, Saul’s wife and son must each grapple with their own personal obstacles through a set of.
- 3/28/2014
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
The theatre breeds no shortage of large personalities, and in the upcoming comedy "Blumenthal," none loomed larger than Harold Blumenthal. And with his recent passing, his legacy hangs over everyone around him in writer/director Seth Fisher's feature debut. Starring Brian Cox, Fred Melamed, Laila Robins, Mark Blum and Mei Melancon, the film tracks Harold Blumenthal's eccentric family from his nephew Ethan, who's trying to navigate relationship issues, Harold's brother Saul who is plagued with constipation, and Saul's second wife Cheryl who wants more out of life. And of course, between them, there is various tension and disagreements, highlighted in this exclusive clip where a visit to the theatre turns into a comic confrontation. "Blumenthal" opens on Friday, March 28th in New York City. And if you catch the 8 Pm screening at Village East, it will be followed by a Q&A with Seth Fisher.
- 3/27/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Here's something you don't generally want to do when dealing with an actor as good as Brian Cox: begin the movie after his character has already died.
That's where we start in Blumenthal, writer-director Seth Fisher's feature debut, and while the film isn't without merit — Fisher's clearly a gifted writer of comedy — the death of Harold Blumenthal (Cox) proves a frustrating narrative catalyst, since Cox's performance (seen in a tribute interview on TV) suggests more inner life than all the rest of the characters combined.
Fisher uses the passing of Harold, a celebrated, award-winning New York playwright, to offer a multi-generational study of the surviving members of the Blumenthal family: drug-rep Ethan (played by Fisher), who peddles birth control ...
That's where we start in Blumenthal, writer-director Seth Fisher's feature debut, and while the film isn't without merit — Fisher's clearly a gifted writer of comedy — the death of Harold Blumenthal (Cox) proves a frustrating narrative catalyst, since Cox's performance (seen in a tribute interview on TV) suggests more inner life than all the rest of the characters combined.
Fisher uses the passing of Harold, a celebrated, award-winning New York playwright, to offer a multi-generational study of the surviving members of the Blumenthal family: drug-rep Ethan (played by Fisher), who peddles birth control ...
- 3/26/2014
- Village Voice
“Blumenthal” is a film about three Blumenthals. There’s Harold (Brian Cox), the famous playwright who died laughing at his own joke. There’s his brother, Saul (Mark Blum), an English professor who feels entitled to a bit of Harold’s success and has had some issues, ahem, not letting things… go. And there’s Saul’s son, Ethan (Seth Fisher), a pharmaceutical rep who’s obsessed with finding the perfect fit. He wears nurse’s shoes and can’t stand his girlfriend Christina’s (Mei Melancon) sloppy eating. At the beginning of this tale of three Blumenthals, Saul is sitting shiva for Harold, and Ethan has just dumped Christina. We also can’t forget Saul’s wife, Cheryl (Laila Robins), an actress assessing her age and her career in the wake of Harold’s death. All of our Blumenthals, in their own analytical/intellectual ways, are reeling out of control,...
- 3/25/2014
- by Katie Walsh
- The Playlist
TBS has put in development Jackass Of All Trades, a male-lead comedy executive produced by John Krasinski. Penned and co-executive produced by first time tv writers Seth Fisher and Danny Mackey, Jackass Of All Trades centers on a devoted stay-at-home dad who, after landing his family in dire financial trouble, resorts to earning a living doing odd jobs off of Craigslist… very odd jobs. Krasinski and Alyson Seeger will executive produce through Sunday Night Prods. alongside Aperture Entertainment’s Adam Goldworm. Fisher wrote, directed and stars in indie Blumenthal and also recurred on The Good Wife. Mackey wrote for the second season of the Warner Bros. Digital series Aim High and also penned the feature adaptation of School Of Fear with McG attached to direct. Fisher and Mackey are repped by Paradigm and Myman Greenspan (Fisher is also with Aperture), though their deal was brokered by Apa, Aperture and and attorney Rob Szymanski.
- 3/19/2014
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
UK Jewish Film Festival kicks off its 17th edition tonight; 53 UK premieres presented.
The UK Jewish Film Festival opens its 17th edition tonight at the BFI Southbank with the UK premiere of The Jewish Cardinal by French director Ilan Duran Cohen.
The festival runs across five cities - London, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester - from Oct 20 to Nov 17. The closing night gala will screen the UK premiere of Eytan Fox’s Cupcakes.
More than 80 films and other special events are planned. There are 53 UK premieres.
Programme highlights include an IMAX screening of Ari Folman’s The Congress, horror film Big Bad Wolves, Seth Fisher’s Blumenthal starring Brian Cox, Jill Soloway’s Afternoon Delight starring Juno Temple, Lucia Puenzo’s thriller Wakolda, documentary Dancing In Jaffa and Tracie Holder’s Joe Papp in Five Acts.
The festival has also started a new VOD channel sponsored by Think Jam (link here).
Festival founder and executive director Judy Ironside...
The UK Jewish Film Festival opens its 17th edition tonight at the BFI Southbank with the UK premiere of The Jewish Cardinal by French director Ilan Duran Cohen.
The festival runs across five cities - London, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester - from Oct 20 to Nov 17. The closing night gala will screen the UK premiere of Eytan Fox’s Cupcakes.
More than 80 films and other special events are planned. There are 53 UK premieres.
Programme highlights include an IMAX screening of Ari Folman’s The Congress, horror film Big Bad Wolves, Seth Fisher’s Blumenthal starring Brian Cox, Jill Soloway’s Afternoon Delight starring Juno Temple, Lucia Puenzo’s thriller Wakolda, documentary Dancing In Jaffa and Tracie Holder’s Joe Papp in Five Acts.
The festival has also started a new VOD channel sponsored by Think Jam (link here).
Festival founder and executive director Judy Ironside...
- 10/30/2013
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
The final installment of the First Time Fest… The First Time Fest’s closing night was held on March 4th. Hosted by Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist), the Players Club lit up with flashes of cameras and smiles of the first time filmmakers anxiously awaiting whose film will win the grand prize- the chance to have their film distributed by Cinema Libre Studios.
Johanna Bennett and Mandy founded the festival after noticing there wasn’t a venue for where new filmmakers can get their film viewed and appreciated. In attendance at the closing night ceremony were Tony Bennett and Jack Huston, as well as Martin Scorsese, who presented the First John Huston Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema to Darren Aronofsky, who was also in attendance. Anthony Rapp presented the awards as guests ate food from Chef Diane Dimeo and drank champagne by Nicolas Feuillatte. Also in attendance...
Johanna Bennett and Mandy founded the festival after noticing there wasn’t a venue for where new filmmakers can get their film viewed and appreciated. In attendance at the closing night ceremony were Tony Bennett and Jack Huston, as well as Martin Scorsese, who presented the First John Huston Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema to Darren Aronofsky, who was also in attendance. Anthony Rapp presented the awards as guests ate food from Chef Diane Dimeo and drank champagne by Nicolas Feuillatte. Also in attendance...
- 4/5/2013
- by Catherina Gioino
- Nerdly
The First Time Fest was created by Johanna Bennett and Mandy Ward as a way to showcase new upcoming filmmakers and their works, and to get them a head start in their industry. The festival occurred on March 1st to 4th at The Players Club in New York, which was a club started by some well-known writers and actors, including Edwin Booth (John Wilkes Booth’s brother), Mark Twain, and more.
While the festival does support new filmmakers in their journey, it also awards previous filmmakers who have made names for themselves. Being that this is the first year of the festival, the first ever John Huston Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema went to Darren Aronofsky. The award is named in honor of John Huston as he was a esteemed member of The Players Club, as well as considered to be one of the most influential writer, actor, director and producers of all times.
While the festival does support new filmmakers in their journey, it also awards previous filmmakers who have made names for themselves. Being that this is the first year of the festival, the first ever John Huston Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema went to Darren Aronofsky. The award is named in honor of John Huston as he was a esteemed member of The Players Club, as well as considered to be one of the most influential writer, actor, director and producers of all times.
- 3/16/2013
- by Catherina Gioino
- Nerdly
This past weekend, March 1st to 4th, marked the first ever First Time Fest at The Player’s Club in New York City. The festival is a celebration of the films of first time film makers which also features a competition in which 12 aspiring film makers get to debut their first film. These 12 filmmakers have competed for their chance to receive major distribution of their film and all competitors will receive advice from those in the industry.
The festival is to help those aspiring filmmakers in the industry obtain important information in making their films successful. There are twelve competition films that come from all over the world to compete against this wonderful grand prize of not only distribution by Sponsor Cinema Libre Studio, but knowledge- knowledge of how to make films and how people got their start.
The festival itself includes films from these 12 competition films as well as...
The festival is to help those aspiring filmmakers in the industry obtain important information in making their films successful. There are twelve competition films that come from all over the world to compete against this wonderful grand prize of not only distribution by Sponsor Cinema Libre Studio, but knowledge- knowledge of how to make films and how people got their start.
The festival itself includes films from these 12 competition films as well as...
- 3/9/2013
- by Catherina Gioino
- Nerdly
Whether you’re the son or daughter of a Hollywood socialite or just a normal person trying to show off his/her vision, making an independent movie is difficult. If you do it right, all the hard work and effort made into putting together that one film stands out. When you trollop along a film festival such as the one in Santa Barbara, independent movies feel harder to come by. The place is littered with foreign films and movies that were shown at previous festivals, so it’s a bit of a big deal when an independent movie such as “Blumenthal” busts its way in.
Writer, director and actor Seth Fisher comes from a theater background but shares an equal love for the big screen. His directorial debut “Blumenthal” touches upon a family who reflects back on their individual life decisions after a beloved and famous relative suddenly passes on.
Writer, director and actor Seth Fisher comes from a theater background but shares an equal love for the big screen. His directorial debut “Blumenthal” touches upon a family who reflects back on their individual life decisions after a beloved and famous relative suddenly passes on.
- 2/17/2013
- by Melissa Molina
- LRMonline.com
Last week, at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, actor Seth Fisher premiered his debut feature film, “Blumenthal,” in which he takes a multi-hyphenate approach to independent filmmaking, as writer/director/star/editor/and more. “Blumenthal” tells the story of a New York City family reeling from the sudden death of famous playwright Harold Blumenthal (Brian Cox), who dies laughing at his own joke. Brother Saul (Mark Blum) feels that Harold stole his ideas, his wife Cheryl (Laila Robins), an aging actress is dealing with her own issues about her body and mortality, and Saul’s son Ethan (Fisher), is an Ocd pharmaceutical rep with a few particular issues with women. Back when he only had a first draft of his script, Fisher launched the blog watchmemakeamovie.com, chronicling his process of independent filmmaking, and garnering fans along the way who contributed to his crowdfunding campaign to make “Blumenthal” a reality.
- 2/9/2013
- by Katie Walsh
- The Playlist
“Blumenthal” is a film about three Blumenthals. There’s Harold (Brian Cox), the famous playwright who died laughing at his own joke. There’s his brother, Saul (Mark Blum), an English professor who feels entitled to a bit of Harold’s success and has had some issues, ahem, not letting things… go. And there’s Saul’s son, Ethan (Seth Fisher), a pharmaceutical rep who’s obsessed with finding the perfect fit. He wears nurse’s shoes and can’t stand his girlfriend Christina’s (Mei Melancon) sloppy eating. At the beginning of this tale of three Blumenthals, Saul is sitting shiva for Harold, and Ethan has just dumped Christina. We also can’t forget Saul’s wife, Cheryl (Laila Robins), an actress assessing her age and her career in the wake of Harold’s death. All of our Blumenthals, in their own analytical/intellectual ways, are reeling out of control,...
- 2/2/2013
- by Katie Walsh
- The Playlist
The body of the Sundance Film Festival isn't even cold yet, but Hollywood filmmakers, publicists, talent, and press will find themselves leaving behind the parkas and gearing up for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival this weekend. It kicked off last night with the premiere of Henry Alex-Rubin's "Disconnect," and today, we've got an exclusive look at the trailer and poster for a film making its debut in Santa Barbara this weekend, Seth Fisher's "Blumenthal." Written, directed by and starring Fisher, the dramedy co-stars Brian Cox as Harold Blumenthal, a legendary playwright whose death leaves his family reeling in any number of improbable ways. Drug rep nephew Ethan (Fisher) tries to navigate his rocky relationships during this time, Harold's brother Saul has his own somewhat embarrassing issues, all while Saul's second wife Cheryl longs for the glory days. And as you'll see in the exclusive trailer below, it looks like.
- 1/25/2013
- by Katie Walsh
- The Playlist
There’s a lot of filmmaking advice out there, but as you know from reading this magazine and website, I favor instruction from people who are in the trenches themselves. Director Seth Fisher sent me an email about his movie, Passing Harold Blumenthal, a while back, and I’m only just getting to it now. Consequently, I missed the chance to plug his Kickstarter — not that he needed it, though, because he successfully raised $50,000. But it’s not too late to plug his blog, which I’ve just paged through. At Watch Me Make a Movie, Fisher is walking you through his process, step by step from development and financing through pre-production all the way through post and, presumably, distribution. (Right now he’s editing, having just added an external monitor to his Macbook Pro set up.)
What’s good about the blog is how practical and direct Fisher’s comments are.
What’s good about the blog is how practical and direct Fisher’s comments are.
- 7/27/2011
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
An all new episode of The Good Wife will be airing on November 23 and it looks like Will and Tammy will be getting it on in the office, while the others are busy dealing with all sorts of trouble. First, a case leads Alicia to believe that personal information about her family is being exposed in a wiretap. Diane seems to think Eli himself is being investigated and wonders if all of his practices are above-board, and Diane also makes the shocking announcement that she and David Lee will be starting their own firm. Is this the end of Lockhart, Gardner & Bond?
Below is a trailer for the upcoming episode, along with a synopsis.
The Firm Represents An Alderman And Alicia's Review Of Wiretap Evidence Reveals Startling Personal Information, On "The Good Wife," Tuesday, Nov. 23
Mykelti Williamson ("Forrest Gump") Guest Stars as Alderman Matthew Wade; Ana Gasteyer ("Saturday Night Live...
Below is a trailer for the upcoming episode, along with a synopsis.
The Firm Represents An Alderman And Alicia's Review Of Wiretap Evidence Reveals Startling Personal Information, On "The Good Wife," Tuesday, Nov. 23
Mykelti Williamson ("Forrest Gump") Guest Stars as Alderman Matthew Wade; Ana Gasteyer ("Saturday Night Live...
- 11/23/2010
- by Clarissa
- TVovermind.com
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