Innholdsfortegnelse for 9/14/2021 i Variety

When his tenure as president of the Writers Guild of America West began four momentous years ago, David Goodman knew a groundswell was building for a campaign to end the decades-old practice of talent agencies earning packaging fees from TV shows and movies. As such, the longtime comedy scribe and “Family Guy” showrunner realized that setting a strategy for slaying the dragon of packaging fees once and for all — the issue had percolated in the guild since the early 1970s — would be a top priority. While WGA leaders developed a pitch to bring to members, Goodman fervently hoped that the WGA’s grassroots wouldn’t be too engaged. “People don’t believe me when I say this: I’m hoping they’re going to say, ‘We’re not on board for this,’ because then…

•BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN (No distributor) For those of us who think Led Zeppelin are one of the greatest bands of all time, the first documentary about them is a compelling but not fully satisfying movie. Director Bernard MacMahon spends an hour chronicling the group’s roots in the ’50s and ’60s. And though he interviews Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones, they’re literally the only people he talks to! The film is full of good stuff, but on some level it’s like a Led Zeppelin infomercial. — Owen Gleiberman •BELFAST (Focus Features) Though the Troubles have been depicted to the point of exhaustion on-screen, director Kenneth Branagh avoids many of the clichés in favor of a more personal look back, through a child’s eyes. The cine-memoir is rendered all…

AWARDS CIRCUIT There will almost certainly be several winners clutching their first-ever Emmys the night of Sept. 19 — some of whom are practically shoo-ins, like “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis, who had never been nominated before this year. (Actually, that’s true of his fellow “Ted Lasso” co-stars as well.) Others have been nominated before but are on tap to finally win one, such as Kathryn Hahn for “WandaVision” — and on a terribly tragic and bittersweet note, the late Michael K. Williams, for “Lovecraft Country.” I couldn’t wait to see him land that Emmy, so overdue given his body of work. And I’m so saddened that he won’t be there to soak in that moment. Williams’ death casts a bit of a pall on this year’s ceremony, but there…

Sept. 9-11 Toronto Int’l Film Festival The 46th edition of the fest returned to in-person events with the world premiere of “Dear Evan Hansen” on opening night at Roy Thomson Hall. Although the auditorium has a capacity of 2,630, attendance was cut to about half that due to the pandemic. Festival executive director and co-head Joana Vicente and artistic director and co-head Cameron Bailey surveyed the crowd from the stage. “We’ve missed you,” Vicente said. This year’s lineup comprises 132 films, more than double last year’s 60. Toronto Mayor John Tory said, “This is the greatest city in the greatest country in the world, and we’re stronger than ever.” During the Tribute Awards honorees press conference, moderated by Variety’s Matt Donnelly, “Dune” director Denis Villeneuve said he was hopeful that…

The 41st season of “Survivor” was always going to be different. But after COVID and new attention on the show during the pandemic, it’s been reimagined. “The original title two years ago was going to be ‘Dawn of a New Era,’” Jeff Probst, the show’s host and showrunner, recently told Variety. “With everything that was going on, that title wasn’t appropriate — it didn’t fit anymore. But the essence of birthing a new era did.” In the wake of the blowout spring 2020 “Winners at War” season — featuring 20 former champions — Probst was eager to find a new gear. Then came what he calls “the unexpected gift of the quarantine”: A stretch of time during which he was able to sit and think. “Our schedule is pretty relentless,”…

The Emmys are back live and in-person. That means this year’s nominees and presenters get to glam up once again for the red carpet. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. With that in mind, here Variety highlights ways to shine on the carpet while donating to good causes. From a $15 pair of socks to a $12,000 gold and diamond brooch, there’s something for everyone. Stephanie Gottlieb (1) The New York jeweler’s pavé collection benefits various nonprofits, including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Social Tees Animal Rescue, Gyrl Wonder, GLSEN, Together Rising and the National Infertility Assn. These .86-carat earrings are available in 14K white, yellow or rose gold. $3,100 stephaniegottlieb.com Bombas (2) Add a pop of color to a formal suit or tux with these striped socks.…

A Virtual Summit Featuring Today’s Most Relevant Female Content Creators NEW PANELS INCLUDE KEYNOTE CONVERSATION WITH TAMRON HALL, HOST, “TAMRON HALL” KEYNOTE CONVERSATION WITH MONICA LEWINSKY, PRODUCER, “IMPEACHMENT: AMERICAN CRIME STORY” FEMALE ALLYSHIP IN THE BOARDROOM Nicole Brown President, TriStar Pictures Agnes Chu President, Conde Nast Entertainment Maha Dakhil Co-Head, CAA Motion Picture Group & Co-Head, CAA International Film Group Christy Haubegger EVP, Communications & Chief Inclusion Officer, WarnerMedia Ukonwa Ojo Global Chief Marketing Officer, Amazon Prime Video & Amazon Studios FEMALE PRODUCERS PANEL Victoria Alonso EVP Production, Marvel Studios Dana Goldberg Chief Creative Officer, Skydance Hannah Minghella President, Film, Bad Robot Productions Dawn Olmstead CEO, Anonymous Content Sarah Schechter Chairman, Berlanti Productions Nina Yang Bongiovi Producer & Co-Founder, Significant Productions SEPTEMBER 29 9:30 AM PT | 12:30 PM ET Free to Register but Registration is Limited VARIETY.COM/POWEROFWOMEN #POWEROFWOMEN…

The costumes in Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” tell a rich story on their own. Jacqueline West and Bob Morgan teamed up to create the 1,000 or so looks needed for the three main worlds of the movie: Arrakis, Caladan and Giedi Prime. “For research, I looked at David Lean films — ‘Dr. Zhivago,’ ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ — [as well as] ‘Fahrenheit 451,’” says West. She says she also referenced Greek and Roman mythology because she thought there was a connection there with House Atreides and House Harkonnen. “It all seemed like a kind of a real Greek and Roman tragedy on one level,” West says. Other wide-ranging inspirations included art by Goya, Giotto and Caravaggio; the clothes of desert people such as Bedouins and Tuaregs; tarot cards; the classic fashion of…

1 TikTok Star Addison Rae Signs Film Deal With Netflix TikTok star Addison Rae has signed a multipicture deal with Netflix. The pact comes after Rae recently made her feature acting debut with a starring role in Netflix’s “He’s All That,” a gender-swapped remake of the 1999 high school rom-com “She’s All That.” Rae has more than 83.3 million TikTok followers, making her the third-most-popular person on the platform. She has 39.2 million followers on Instagram and close to 5 million on Twitter. The 20-year-old Louisiana native also released her first single, “Obsessed,” in March. She was nominated for breakthrough social star at the 2021 MTV Movie and TV Awards. — Marc Malkin 2 HBO Max Gets October Launch in Six Nations HBO Max is coming to Europe on Oct.…

France’s Ministry of Culture gave a French toast to Variety’s Steven Gaydos on Sept. 9, naming him a chevalier for his decades of work in entertainment. Julie Duhaut-Bedos, consul general of France in Los Angeles, reminded the crowd that only a few such awards are handed out yearly, to “people who have distinguished themselves by their creations in the artistic or literary field or by the contribution they have made to the influence of arts and letters in France and in the world.” In the ceremony at the French Residence in Beverly Hills, Duhaut-Bedos rattled off multiple accomplishments of Gaydos, who is Variety’s exec VP of global content. She praised his “open-mindedness and advocacy for world cinema, which allowed Variety to achieve a successful international expansion and become the worldwide…

I just got back from New York City, where I covered the MTV VMAs red carpet. To see Lil Nas X blazing his rainbow trail continues to amaze me in the most beautiful way. He is LGBTQ power and awareness personified. And then to top it all off, I had Troye Sivan teasing the upcoming video for his new sex-centric single, “Angel Baby.” Reflecting on his career and now Lil Nas X’s monumental rise, Sivan says, “We’re moving in the right direction.” Meanwhile, Lil Nas X says he’d also love to work with Drake or Nicki Minaj. “Let’s do both of them at the same time!” he says with a big smile. In LGBTQ-adjacent news, it sounds like gay icon Cher and rapper Saweetie will be releasing a collaboration. “Everything…

Semi-private luxury airline Aero is expanding its service from Los Angeles to Las Vegas through Van Nuys Airport starting Oct. 14. “We are super excited to announce the launch of Aero’s next destination: Las Vegas,” Aero CEO Uma Subramanian tells Variety. “There is enormous pent-up demand for new travel experiences and significant need for a seamless, premium air travel service to this timeless leisure destination.” With destinations including Aspen and Sun Valley, Aero boasts high-profile Hollywood clients such as Emma Roberts, Diplo and the Chainsmokers. Founded by Uber’s Garrett Camp, the airline is built on a shared-charter model, delivering a more affordable private flight experience where each plane’s 16 Italian leather chairs function as both window and aisle seats. Oneway premium flights start at $950. Aero guests receive curbside greetings, quick…

One of the most exciting things about the shared Emmy nomination for visual-effects supervisor Stephan Fleet and VFX producer Shalena Oxley-Butler of Amazon Prime Video’s “The Boys” was being able to see each other in person again after a year of working remotely, over video conferencing software and email, from different countries. But the tone when the 73rd annual Primetime Emmy nominees finally gather might not be completely celebratory. Not only did the Television Academy have to limit the number of nominees who can attend, due to health and safety guidelines amid the Delta variant of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but also, the first night of Creative Arts fell on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. “Hollywood always wants to — fortunately, I believe — lead the way…

While some say a village can help raise a child, it is indisputable that it takes a village to create a television show. Although actors have the greatest likelihood of becoming household names, with writers, directors and producers often following closely behind, there are dozens of others who are integral to the process. Some — such as directors of photography, editors and choreographers — have the chance see celebration with guild and Creative Arts Emmy accolades, but others — from script supervisors to assistant directors — toil tirelessly without such public recognition. The dedication and skills they bring to their work are unmatched, though, and should not go unnoticed. To that end, Variety has given Emmy-nominated producers the chance to celebrate select individuals without whom they could not have made…

FILM REVIEW Director: Antoine Fuqua Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Riley Keough, Paul Dano Who is (or are) “The Guilty” referenced in Antoine Fuqua’s tense new Netflix thriller, adapted from the 2018 Danish film of the same name? The title obviously matters, since the “Training Day” director kept it. Fact is, Fuqua changes precious little in what amounts to a pretty direct remake of a nervy, adrenaline-rush crisis-management movie, one that tracks a more-complex-than-itseems abduction from the limited perspective of a conflicted emergency services phone operator. Transferred from Copenhagen to Los Angeles, where it unfolds in the midst of a massive wildfire outbreak, “The Guilty” stars Jake Gyllenhaal and barely anyone else. (Riley Keough, Paul Dano and Ethan Hawke lend their voices, but it’s Gyllenhaal’s big blue eyes we’re watching for the…

Endeavor defied its critics and the odds by successfully pulling off a public offering in April, but the company — a hodgepodge of live-events brands and talent representation — is facing major obstacles navigating the global pandemic and encountering serious resentment among select players who feel left out in the cold. While Endeavor’s stock has overperformed for the two quarters of its publicly traded existence, some of the roughly 300 employees with equity in the company are furious over their diluted options and the new barriers to monetizing their stakes that have been put in place, three insiders familiar with the fraught situation tell Variety. A New York Post report from late August described some stakeholders — particularly the hard-charging dealmakers at Endeavor’s talent agency WME — as “fuming” when…

This time last year, Variety’s annual TV Producers Impact Report had a heavy bent on those who successfully and innovatively pivoted their productions post-shutdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic still raging on, those creating content for traditional broadcast networks, cablers and streaming platforms alike have had to double down on originality of story perspective as well as logistically, to keep things moving forward amid constantly changing health and safety guidelines. Some chose to reflect the times, featuring COVID (among other recent headline-grabbing events) in their shows, while others opted for pure escapism. Either way, they kept general audiences, critics and awards voters all glued to their screens amid extremely trying times. Here, Variety celebrates the live-action, scripted TV producers whose series made the biggest impact over the last year.…

Undeterred by the pandemic, the Zurich Film Festival kicks off this month with an impressive lineup that includes its biggest ever film, James Bond pic “No Time to Die,” which is set to screen just minutes after its Sept. 28 world premiere in London. Zurich was one of the few major fests to have a full physical event last year during the COVID crisis. Despite concerns about new variants, organizers are confident that health safety measures will ensure a welcome return to cinemas. negative COVID test results or proof of recovery from infection. “Here in Zurich to date, 70% of the population is vaccinated,” he says. “The city of Zurich has the highest rate in all of Switzerland and I am really confident that we can do the festival with…

TV REVIEW Drama: FX on Hulu (10 episodes; 6 reviewed); Sept. 13 Starring: Diane Lane, Ben Schnetzer, Olivia Thirlby, Ashley Romans If “Y: The Last Man” were a Word document and you could track its changes, you’d barely be able to see the page for all the edits. The drama’s been in development for long enough to have gone through several showrunners and pilot directors, not to mention a slight network change (from FX to FX on Hulu). Now premiering two decades after Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra published the comic series, TV’s “Y: The Last Man” takes pains to imbue the story — about the aftermath of every creature with a Y chromosome suddenly dropping dead — with more consideration for the nuances of sex and gender than…

Max Harwood is a self-proclaimed “theater geek” living the dream. Not long ago, he went to see one of London’s hottest musicals, “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.” Loosely based on the documentary “Jamie: Drag Queen at 16,” the show (with music by Dan Gillespie Sells and book and lyrics by Tom MacRae) tells the story of a teenage boy who aspires to be a drag queen and the prejudice he faces on his journey. Now, Harwood is starring in the film adaptation, set for a Sept. 17 release on Amazon Prime Video. • Where did you first develop your talent for acting and singing? I’ve always loved performing and did loads of amateur dramatic shows growing up. When I was 18, I met two teachers who did my A-level drama program,…