Innholdsfortegnelse for 12/8/2021 i Variety

1 Netflix has ordered the original movie “The Thanksgiving Text,” about a woman who accidentally texted a stranger, thinking it was her grandson, and invited him to Thanksgiving dinner. The young man who got the text took her up on the offer, and they have had Thanksgiving together every year since. Abdul Williams is writing the screenplay about Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench (above). Netflix has not set a director, nor has it cast the film. Producers include Robert Teitel and George Tillman Jr. for State Street Pictures. Lawrence Mott will exec produce. — Rebecca Rubin 2 BMG has acquired the entire recorded music catalog of Mötley Crüe. The agreement is for the iconic band’s recorded output spanning a 40-year career, including nine studio albums (from its 1981 debut, “Too…

If you want to win an Oscar, does it help to have a nude scene? That depends on whether you’re competing in the best actor or the best actress category. In the past, we’ve seen victories for actresses who bear it all on-screen — such as Halle Berry in “Monster’s Ball” (2001) and Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (2008). There haven’t been as many accolades for men who do the same. Just look at Michael Fassbender’s performance as a sex addict in “Shame” (2011), which was egregiously ignored despite critical acclaim. This year, several of the best male performances seem to have one thing in common — full frontal nudity. Benedict Cumberbatch coats his body in mud in Netflix’s “The Power of the Dog,” while Bradley Cooper’s manhood is submerged…

For his first film since winning the Oscar for 2018’s “Green Book,” Peter Farrelly again ventured into new regions of the country. The 40-day shoot of “The Greatest Beer Run Ever,” set between fall 1967 and spring 1968, was split between Thailand and northern New Jersey. Thailand filled in for Vietnam; bars, churches and other locations in Newark, Paterson, Jersey City and North Bergen were convincing doubles for New York City of the era. The entire film was to be shot in New Zealand until COVID-19 scuttled those plans. Farrelly heeded the advice of his friend, Sony Pictures Classics co-president Tom Bernard, who told him “if you’re going to shoot in New York, go to New Jersey. It’s cheaper and you got all the same stuff.” On top of that,…

The American movie business started in New Jersey. Between 1893 and 1896 in West Orange, N.J., Thomas Edison was developing the early motion picture tech, inventing new ways to capture images in motion, and the result is that “you have the only fully operational motion picture studio facility in the world,” says Richard Koszarski, professor emeritus of English and cinema studies at Rutgers University. His latest book on film history is “Keep ’Em in the East: Kazan, Kubrick, and the Postwar New York Film Renaissance.” While companies were setting up production operations and offices in New York City, including Edison, “it’s very difficult to film in New York City. In those days, they didn’t have very good artificial lights,” says Koszarski. Making films required enormous skylights and other sources of…

Latin America has submitted 15 contenders in the Academy Awards’ international feature category this time, not quite as big a haul as last year’s tally of 18. Leading the hopefuls is Mexico’s “Prayers for the Stolen,” the fiction debut of Tatiana Huezo, one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch in 2022. Her tale follows three girls as they come of age in a remote village afflicted by the drug trade and human trafficking. The Cannes Un Certain Regard winner is now streaming on Netflix, which is putting all its promotional heft behind it. The film’s producers are Jim Stark (“Coffee and Cigarettes”) and Nicolas Celis, the latter a key producer of Mexico’s first-ever international feature Oscar winner, “Roma,” by Alfonso Cuarón. Huezo’s 2016 documentary, “Tempestad,” represented Mexico at the 90th…

What do Pedro Almodóvar, Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Kenneth Branagh and Jane Campion have in common? They’ve helmed acclaimed films for decades, earned Academy Award nominations and done some of their best work this year … yet they’ve never won a director Oscar. In exclusive new interviews with Campion, Branagh, Almodóvar and Wes Anderson — plus some unpublished thoughts from Paul Thomas Anderson — this reporter discovered how they built on their distinctive histories and tackled new challenges in films that embody their mastery of the form. Since her first feature, 1989’s “Sweetie,” Campion has almost solely explored the inner lives of female protagonists. But her adaptation of Thomas Savage’s 1967 novel “The Power of the Dog” shifts her focus to a sadistic rancher (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his impact…

Scarcely a week after the announcement that a more barebones European Film Awards (EFA) ceremony was to take place Dec. 11 in Berlin with only nominees in attendance, even that compromise proved to be too bold. Given that the EFAs already vie for global attention with Stateside awards campaigns and end-of-year lists, it must be quite a disappointment for organizers and nominees alike. Still, the show — or a virtual version of it — must go on, and as ever, given the vast spread of territories and categories it covers, there’s plenty to be gleaned from the 34th edition’s slate. The vagaries of the rules for the European film nominations mean that oftentimes the resulting lineup is a strange mix of shiny new titles and others at the exhausted end…

Turning Nicole Kidman into Lucille Ball and Javier Bardem into Desi Arnaz in “Being the Ricardos” wasn’t only about creating a facsimile of the iconic 1950s TV duo. Rather, director Aaron Sorkin instructed hair department head Teressa Hill and makeup department head Ana Lozano, “We are not taking a photograph; we are painting a picture.” The approach is generating awards buzz for the below-the-line duo. The film, opening Dec. 10, centers on a week of filming “I Love Lucy,” from table read to shooting an episode. Sorkin also re-creates memorable moments from the series, which ran on CBS from 1951-57, and provides snapshots of the couple’s marriage. That plotline meant creating numerous looks for the TV stars and their real-life personas: Lucille Ball/Lucy Ricardo and Desi Arnaz/Desi Ricardo, as well…

HFPA president Helen Hoehne recently reached out to actor Gabrielle Union to read off the nominations for this year’s Golden Globe Awards on Dec. 13 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. But Hoehne tells me that Union’s publicists declined the invitation, offering no explanation Well, the explanation is obvious. Following the Los Angeles Times’ exposé in February about the organization’s corrupt practices and lack of Black journalists among its 87 voting members, more than 100 publicity firms signed a letter demanding that the HFPA “swiftly manifest profound and lasting change to eradicate the longstanding exclusionary ethos and pervasive practice of discriminatory behavior, unprofessionalism, ethical impropriety and alleged financial corruption.” The publicists advised their clients — some of the biggest names in Hollywood — not to engage with the HFPA until reforms…

On Dec. 1, philanthropist Jacqueline Avant was shot and killed during an armed robbery at her Beverly Hills home. The death of the 81-year-old industry stalwart has been difficult for many in show business to process. This includes Oprah Winfrey, who told Variety that she has spent “some of the happiest days of my life” with Jacqueline and her husband, music mogul Clarence Avant. Here Winfrey shares her sorrow over the tragedy, and a fond remembrance of a woman whose compassion and contributions touched so many. I am still stunned. I’m disoriented by it. Let me tell you, this woman represents to me what the Bible says about “Who can find a virtuous woman?” It always amazed me how she was the calm in the center of any experience. I…

When “The Amazing Race” Season 33 contestants hit the road in February 2020, executive producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri were already keeping an eye on reports of a coronavirus beginning to tear through the world. They had even mapped out plans to shift the race to “Plan B” countries, and ultimately only South America as parts of the world started going into lockdown. But by Feb. 28, with just the first three legs of the competition in the can, “I knew there was something really wrong here,” van Munster says. “We sent everybody home at that momen With no real way to shoot “Amazing Race” in a bubble, the producers had to wait more than a year to call back the crew and contestants and resume production. Finally…

I’ve got good news for Selena Gomez (1) fans. It sounds like we’ll be hearing some new music from the superstar any day. “It’s not going to be that long from now,” Gomez tells me. “It’s not going to be as long as people think.” Then she laughs: “And that’s all I’m going to say about that.” What a year in music it’s been for Gomez. She received her first Grammy nomination — for best Latin pop album — for “Revelación,” her debut Spanish-language EP. “I cried. I cried so much because it’s something that not only means a lot to me, but also a lot to my family and my heritage,” Gomez says. “I worked so hard to try and make that sound as authentic and real as possible.…

BRUCE CAMPBELL has served as Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s top dealmaker for more than 20 years, and over their tenures at NBCUniversal and Discovery, has helped orchestrate many key M&A deals. The transactions ranged from the merger of NBC and Universal Studios to Discovery’s purchase of Eurosport and its 2018 acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive that bolstered its arsenal of lifestyle TV brands. But in early March, Campbell was handed his toughest assignment yet after learning that Zaslav had initiated secret talks with AT&T CEO John Stankey that culminated in the surprise $43 billion WarnerMedia-Discovery spinoff agreement unveiled May 17. “Effectively, a meaningfully smaller company is acquiring the larger company,” Campbell says. “It’s an interesting dynamic that you rarely see.” Campbell was among the handful of need-to-know executives to be…

New Jersey has quickly become the destination of choice for motion picture and television producers. Versatile, economical and accessible, this small state off ers a world of possibilities. There is much to discover in every region. INCENTIVES New Jersey’s tax credit for filmmakers is one of the most robust production incentive programs in the country. It affords a 35% tax credit for cast and crew throughout the state, and a 30%-35% credit for purchases, rentals and services. Another 2% bonus is also available when productions utilize a diverse cast and crew. Furthermore, significant areas of the state fall within the union studio zones, creating additional savings. When you choose to film in New Jersey you can really stretch your budget. AVAILABLE CAST AND CREW New Jersey offers a very deep…

A few days after winning a second term in Trenton, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy spoke with Variety about the impact of the state’s film and television tax incentive program that he initiated three years ago. What has made New Jersey’s incentive program competitive and work well over the past few years? If you look at the economic impact, if you look at the amount of film and television getting done here — studios either built or potentially built — there’s no doubt it’s making a huge impact. One, we are extremely competitive as it relates to incentives. And I would say as part of that, I’m proud of things like the diversity bonus — so it’s not just competitive in a dollar and cents sense, but it’s consistent with…

Now that the deadline for the shortlist is fast approaching, Variety takes a look by region of the various films in the running for foreign-language category. After four consecutive years of losing out to other continents, European cinema reclaimed the international feature Oscar earlier this year with Thomas Vinterberg’s Danish entry “Another Round.” It was a return to form for the region that has traditionally dominated the race, and annually boasts the lion’s share of contenders at the submissions stage. More than 40% of the 93 submissions in this year’s race are European, and with many of the season’s buzziest titles among them, the continent has a strong collective chance of holding onto the gold. Not that buzz always translates to gold in this category, in which no year passes…

With last year’s surprise nominee “The Man Who Sold His Skin” hailing from Tunisia, Oscar handicappers should be sure to give West Asia and North Africa titles close scrutiny this time around. Among the 11 submissions are several titles likely to be highly competitive in the international feature category. These include Iran’s social media critique “A Hero” from previous two-time winner Asghar Farhadi; Israel’s “Let It Be Morning”, a wry satire helmed by Eran Kolirin, about a Palestinian village put under military lockdown by the Israeli army; and Lebanon’s “Costa Brava, Lebanon,” a darkly comic commentary on the realities of modern-day Lebanon from feature debutant Mounia Akl. Although “A Hero” may not be prime Farhadi, it already boasts the Grand Prix from Cannes. The narrative focuses on one of life’s…

The Oscar shortlists hit Hollywood on Dec. 21, with filmmakers and artisans alike waiting to see if their pics have made it. It’s another COVID-challenged year, with theaters still not running at full capacity and screening links de rigueur even as widespread vaccinations boost the confidence in getting back in a cinema. The films below have been gaining traction on the awards circuit so far, but given the contours of kudos campaigns, surprises can and will emerge. Critics groups are beginning to weigh in and some guild nominations are imminent. Oscar nominations will be announced Feb. 8, with the ceremony taking place March 27. DOCUMENTARY FEATURE This category once again offers up an embarrassment of riches, with films such as Denmark’s “Flee” leading the pack — the Sundance winner recently…

GRAY’S GOLD It’s that time of year when film awards ballots are going out. Here’s some advice for voters: make sure you see Netflix’s “The Guilty” before voting. It’s a great piece of filmmaking, and Jake Gyllenhaal gives one of the year’s best performances. However, try not to read about the film. There will be no spoilers in this column, but as Gyllenhaal tells Variety, “It’s important that people approach this movie without too much information.” Here’s what is safe to report: It takes place in a 911 call center, in a short period of time, with Gyllenhaal’s character Joe Bay lor dealing with individuals who are lost, strung out and/or desperate, all while L.A. firefighters are battling a wildfire that complicates everything. “Guilty” is impressive at any level, but…

Greg Akselrud Partner, Chair of Internet, Digital Media & Entertainment Practice Stubbs Alderton Markiles Akselrud counsels actors, directors, producers, influencers, athletes, musicians and production companies on corporate deals ranging from stock buys to new technology launches. Recent matters he worked on include repping a pair of marketing agencies — Michael B. Jordan’s Obsidianworks andEndeavor’s160over90 — in a digital joint venture; GoDigital Media Group in its acquisition of royalty financing company Sound Royalties; and Funny or Die in the sale of its branded content studio to Roku, then the sale of the entire company to Henry R. Muñoz III. Fun deals: The attorney has been especially busy with brand deals for actors and influencers. “They’re really passionate about these brands, so it’s fun to represent them,” he says. Byron Allen Founder,…

“I like being uncomfortable,” Chris Cuomo told Variety in 2018. “I like making other people uncomfortable.” Looks like he succeeded CNN fired Cuomo, its most-watched anchor, over the weekend for exactly that reason. Jeff Zucker, WarnerMedia’s chairman of news and sports, and other executives no longer felt assured about their relationship with the anchor, according to people familiar with the matter. The rupture was a long time coming. CNN stood by Cuomo through altercations captured on video; an accusation of unwelcome physical behavior; and sharp elbows thrown behind the scenes in the newsroom. But there was a harrowing stretch last week: New York State Attorney General Letitia James released documents showing Cuomo took an active hand in helping his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, while the politician was…

Variety‘s Manori Ravindran, Angelique Jackson and Elizabeth Wagmeister were honored as “up and comers” at the 2021 Top Women in Media wards luncheon, presented by AdMonsters and Folio, at the Edison Ballroom in New York City on Dec. 1. “In our industry, there are so many issues,” said international editor Ravindran at the podium. “We see the headlines all the time. But occasionally, you see pieces in entertainment that actually create change in society. That really makes me very proud of doing the job that I do, especially internationally.” Jackson, who is a senior entertainment writer, spoke of the importance of inclusion in media, noting that as a young girl, she saw herself represented in the pages of Ebony or when watching “The Oprah Winfrey Show” on TV. “Now, being…

In 2018, Kyle Richards surprised Jamie Lee Curtis at the premiere of “Halloween,” the return to the original 1978 slasher film that she had appeared in as an 8-year-old child actor, playing the part of Lindsey Wallace. Richards was invited on the red carpet as one of the stars of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” not because of her ties to the horror franchise. But she used the premiere as an audition of sorts. As Richards stepped onto the carpet, news outlets asked her why she wasn’t in the film. She took the mic from “Entertainment Tonight” to do an interview with Curtis, then turned to screenwriter Danny McBride and asked an impromptu question: “Why wasn’t I in this movie?” McBride ended up making a call to director…

Kristie Macosko Krieger, one of the producers for Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” says there was no way they could have pulled off shooting the 20th Century Studios remake without the aesthetic backdrop and financial incentives that the state of New Jersey provided. “We looked all around, and Paterson, N.J. gave a grit and an authenticity to the film that I don’t think we could have gotten anywhere else,” Krieger tells Variety. “They treated us like family, and that felt important since we were making a movie that was special to them and us.” When it was announced that the two-time Academy Award-winning director of “Schindler’s List” (1993) and “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) would be remaking the classic 1961 best picture winner, the team knew the re-creation of the 1950s…

When Mayim Bialik wrote “As Sick as They Made Us,” the story was set in Los Angeles. But when she put her directing hat on and started developing the project with producer Anne Clements, it became clear that making the independent film in California wouldn’t make sense financially. Ultimately the director and producer chose to shoot the film — about family drama and dysfunction — in New Jersey because of its film and television production tax credit. “It was perfect because above-the-line and below-the-line counts [as part of the credit] and we were so close to New York,” Clements says. “So our crew was made up of New Jersey locals as well as some folks from New York.” For four weeks in June, “As Sick as They Made Us” cast…

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car,” Japan’s entry to the Academy Awards’ international category, looks to be the odds-on favorite from Asia to win the category. The drama with a theater world backdrop follows the trajectory of South Korean four-statuette winner “Parasite” in that it began its winning ways at Cannes and is festooned with awards en route to the Oscars. “Parasite” won the Palme D’Or, which “Drive My Car” did not, with that honor going to Julia Ducournau’s “Titane,” which became France’s entry to the category. Nevertheless, “Drive My Car” won three awards at Cannes and like Neon’s “Titane,” has U.S. distribution, where it is currently on theatrical release. The 2008 win for Yōjirō Takita’s “Departures” remains Japan’s only win since the category was made competitive in 1956. While Korean…

In 2003 at the eighth annual Critics Choice Awards, there were three in the actor race: Jack Nicholson for “About Schmidt,” Daniel Day-Lewis for “Gangs of New York” and Robin Williams for “One Hour Photo.” There was a tie — between Nicholson and Day-Lewis — but Williams ended up stealing the show when Nicholson invited him on stage. “Robin would you come up and would you give the funniest acceptance speech I ever gave?” Nicholson inquired. Williams then launched into a lengthy “speech” that had stars from Renée Zellweger to Nicole Kidman howling and was praised by the media. It remains a standout moment in the organization’s long history and a personal favorite of Joey Berlin, CEO of the Critics Choice Assn. (CCA), who has served as executive producer on…

Many shows that are hitting the 100-episode milestone might use that anniversary as an opportunity to break its usual format for the first time in order to make the episode extra special. But “Riverdale” isn’t like many other shows. During its first five seasons, “Riverdale” continuously pushed the boundaries of what it could do with tonal shifts (storylines about serial killers and cults, for example) and new formats (its musical episodes were always audience and cast/crew favorites). As the team behind the show was approaching the 100th episode, they were already working on another one of these major changes: a five-episode mini-arc that was set in a parallel town called Rivervale where supernatural horror abounded. The 100th episode, titled “Chapter One Hundred: The Jughead Paradox,” is the fifth episode of…

FILM REVIEW Director: Steven Spielberg Starring: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, Mike Faist Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” has a brash effervescence. You can feel the joy that went into making it, and the kick is infectious. Spielberg, directing his first musical, moves into the big roomy space of a Broadway-meets-Hollywood classic, rearranges the furniture (the film’s screenwriter, Tony Kushner, has spiced up the dialogue and tossed out the most cringeworthy knickknacks) and gives it all a fresh coat of desaturated, bombed-out-city-block, gritty-as-reality paint. He makes it his own. At the same time, Spielberg stays true to what generations have loved about “West Side Story”: the swoon factor, the yearning beauty of those songs, the hypnotic jack-knife ballet of ’50s delinquents dancing out their aggression on the New York…