Saturday, December 20, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 941

Guillermo del Toro’s All White “Pinocchio” Stars Ewan McGregor, Cate Blanchett, David Bradley, Newcomer Gregory Mann and Not One Minority Player

Roger Friedman
-
0
Guillermo del Toro’s All White “Pinocchio” Stars Ewan McGregor, Cate Blanchett, David Bradley, Newcomer Gregory Mann and Not One Minority Player

Guillermo del Toro is working on a stop motion animation version of “Pinocchio.” There isn’t a non-white person mentioned here. So you can see the progress we’ve made this year. I mean, how is this possible? Geppetto has to be voiced by a 78 year old English actor? Pinnocchio has to be white? He’s made of wood, for god’s sake! Cricket couldn’t be Asian? I love love love Guillermo del Toro but did no one read the memo?

Here’s the release:

Netflix announced today the cast of Academy Award® winner Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming stop-motion animated musical feature Pinocchio. Newcomer Gregory Mann will star as Pinocchio with Ewan McGregor as Cricket and David Bradley (Harry Potter franchise, Game of Thrones) as Geppetto. Other cast includes Academy Award® winner Tilda Swinton, Academy Award® winner Christoph Waltz, Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett, John Turturro (The Batman), Golden Globe winner Ron Perlman (Nightmare Alley), Tim Blake Nelson (Watchmen), Burn Gorman (Enola Holmes).
Drawing on the classic Carlo Collodi tale, this stop motion musical follows the extraordinary journey of a wooden boy magically brought to life by a father’s wish. Set during the rise of Fascism in Mussolini’s Italy, del Toro’s Pinocchio is a story of love and disobedience as Pinocchio struggles to live up to his father’s expectations.
The film is directed by del Toro and Mark Gustafson (Fantastic Mr. Fox). Del Toro and Patrick McHale wrote the script. The song lyrics are by del Toro and Katz, with music by Academy Award® winner Alexandre Desplat who will also write the score. Gris Grimly created the original design for the Pinocchio character. The film’s puppets are being built by Mackinnon and Saunders (Corpse Bride).
Pinocchio is produced by del Toro, The Jim Henson Company’s Lisa Henson, ShadowMachine’s Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico, as well as Exile Entertainment’s Gary Ungar; it is co-produced by Blanca Lista of The Jim Henson Company and Gris Grimly. Other credits include production supervisor Melanie Coombs, co-production designers Guy Davis and Curt Enderle, animation supervisor Brian Hansen, puppet supervisor Georgina Hayns, director of photography Frank Passingham, art director Rob DeSue, and animatic editor Ken Schretzmann.
A lifelong passion project of del Toro, the film is set to debut in theaters and on Netflix. Principal photography began last Fall at ShadowMachine’s Portland, Oregon studio, and production has continued uninterrupted during the pandemic.
“After years of pursuing this dream project, I found my perfect partner in Netflix. We have spent a long time curating a remarkable cast and crew and have been blessed by continuous support from Netflix to quietly and carefully soldier on, barely missing a beat. We all love and practice animation with great passion and believe it to be the ideal medium to retell this classic story in a completely new way,” says del Toro.

 

(Watch) Hollywood Studio Chief Career Killer Charlotte Kirk’s Two Very Awful Soft Core Casting Couch Music Videos Here

Roger Friedman
-
0
(Watch) Hollywood Studio Chief Career Killer Charlotte Kirk’s Two Very Awful Soft Core Casting Couch Music Videos Here

And now to the musical side of Hollywood studio chief career killer Charlotte Kirk.

In 2016 she made two soft core music videos. They’re on YouTube. Maybe you missed them. They are not included in the MTV Video Music Awards.

At least one of the videos was made by Charlotte’s not-Oscar-nominated director of her low budget movie, “OJ and Nicole.” She played Nicole.

The song, “I Get That Feeling Again” does not refer to her getting the feeling to have affairs with older men who are then ousted from their jobs. Not that feeling.

But the video does include Charlotte writhing around, giving this Meryl Streep some close looks at her derriere. There’s also a couch– a casting couch?– where she’s mauled by some yutz. And there’s a French pug who will probably sue.

Which sugar daddy paid for these videos? Unclear. But it does recall the days when Mel Gibson paid for Oksana Grigorieva’s music videos. I’m actually surprised Mel and Charlotte haven’t met yet. They’d be a great couple!

Poor Charlotte. In the old days, she’d be the No Regrets Jeans girl. Now she’s the No Career girl instead.

 

 

UPDATED Donald Trump Declares Boycott of Ohio-Made Goodyear Tires Because John Kasich Endorsed Biden

Roger Friedman
-
0
UPDATED Donald Trump Declares Boycott of Ohio-Made Goodyear Tires Because John Kasich Endorsed Biden

Donald Trump has declared war on Ohio-made Goodyear Tires because the state’s former governor, John Kasich, endorsed Joe Biden for president.

I personally love Goodyear Tires. I have always had them on my cars for the last 20 years. They will always keep you safe, and have terrific performance. The 66,000 people who work there don’t deserve their president trying to ruin their business, take their jobs, and destroy their lives.

Support Goodyear. Elect Biden.

UPDATE: Goodyear responds:

Lady Gaga Adds Ariana Grande to Her MTV Video Music Awards Performance, Will Win All Categories

Roger Friedman
-
0
Lady Gaga Adds Ariana Grande to Her MTV Video Music Awards Performance, Will Win All Categories

Well, the big news is that MTV has gotten Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande to perform their hit duet “Rain” on the Video Music Awards.

The pair are nominated for 9 awards for “Rain.” And now that they’re going to appear together, they’re going to win all their categories.

Look, we’re not stupid. But I can’t object. They’re a lot of fun, and great singers. Let them win.

I guess The Weeknd will win something, since he’s on the show.

Miley Cyrus is just going to promote her new single.

The rest of the guests — BTS, J. Balvin, Doja Cat, Maluma, Roddy Ricch, and CNCO. — are just filler.

The show airs Sunday, August 30th on all the MTV platforms, at 8pm. Aside from maybe a Yankee game, I have nothing else to do. I’ll watch. So will you.

 

 

Review: DisneyPlus’s “The One and Only Ivan” is a Winner, with Bryan Cranston, and a Diane Warren-Charlie Puth Title Song

Leah Sydney
-
0
Review: DisneyPlus’s “The One and Only Ivan” is a Winner, with Bryan Cranston, and a Diane Warren-Charlie Puth Title Song

Disney’s “The One And Only Ivan” soon to be on DisneyPlus, happily hearkens back to the Disney films of yore.  Based on a real-life story from a children’s book, this winning and heartwarming film is directed by Thea Sharrock and written by Mike White. Given the disaster that was Tim Burton’s “Dumbo” these filmmakers did everything right that Burton got wrong.  By making the characters, human and animal, over-the-top appealing, funny and conflicted, the film strikes every chord of a Disney classic and more.

Bryan Cranston plays Mack who saves the silver-backed gorilla named Ivan as a baby but then puts him in a cage to be main attraction in a circus show at Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, where he is the ringmaster.  When the show’s popularity starts to wane, coupled with Ivan’s unhappiness, Ivan and his pals put together a plan to escape, which includes Ivan coming to terms with his troubled past. Mack resists at first but then relents to letting Ivan and his pals be free.

The CGI and the voices are just terrific; Sam Rockwell plays Ivan, and the other host of actors that lend their talented voices are Angelina Jolie, Danny DeVito, Helen Mirren, Brooklynn Prince, Chaka Khan, Ron Funches, Phillipa Soo and the screenwriter Mike White. All give personality, cleverness and endearment to each enchanting animal.  Bryan Cranston is of course wonderful and shout-outs go to Ramon Rodriguez as the compassionate keeper and Ariana Greenblatt who stunningly plays his young daughter Julia.  She is the first one to truly see that that Ivan, who trusts only her to show his crayon drawings (yup the real-life Ivan did draw) that he and his pals just want to be free.

Diane Warren’s breathtaking song, “Free” sung by Charlie Puth, is the “Born Free” of this generation.  The sanctity of precious animals, the heartwarming tale of the preciousness of animals and a classic Diane Warren song, make for a classic Disney film that is most welcome now. Is this Warren’s 12th Oscar nomination? Yes? And her win? Fingers crossed.

Ron Meyer Steps Down as Chairman of Universal Pictures After Hollywood “Mata Hari” Takes Down 2nd Studio Chief

Roger Friedman
-
0
Ron Meyer Steps Down as Chairman of Universal Pictures After Hollywood “Mata Hari” Takes Down 2nd Studio Chief

What the heck is going on in Hollywood? And who exactly is Charlotte Kirk, a 28 year old Hollywood Mata Hari who has now taken down two studio chiefs?

It wasn’t that long ago that an affair with Charlotte Kirk, unknown to all, wrecked the career of Warner Bros. head Kevin Tsujihara.

Now Ron Meyer, 75, the best liked executive in Hollywood, who’s run Universal Pictures impeccably since 1995, is out because of Kirk.

Meyer is not married now. Two years ago in May 2018, he and his wife Kelly announced their divorce. It was a surprise. Now it seems Meyer possibly had a relationship with Kirk. Today he said, as he resigned, Meyer wrote to his staff:

It is with a heavy heart that I announce my departure from NBCUniversal.

I recently disclosed to my family and the company that I made a settlement, under threat, with a woman outside the company who had made false accusations against me. Admittedly, this is a woman I had a very brief and consensual affair with many years ago. I made this disclosure because other parties learned of the settlement and have continuously attempted to extort me into paying them money or else they intended to falsely implicate NBCUniversal, which had nothing to do with this matter, and to publish false allegations about me. After I disclosed this matter to the company, we mutually decided that I should step down from my role as Vice Chairman of NBCUniversal.

I’ve spent 25 years helping to grow and support an incredible company in a job I love. It is the people at this company that I will miss the most. I regret what has happened and I am sorry for all the people in my life I may have let down, especially and most importantly, my family.

What went on is unclear, although the implication is that Kirk tried to shake down Meyer, he obliged, and realized that it wouldn’t be the end.

NBC Universal CEO Jeff Shell wrote to the staff: “I am writing to share some unfortunate news. Late last week Ron Meyer informed NBCUniversal that he had acted in a manner which we believe is not consistent with our company policies or value. Based on Ron’s disclosure of these actions, we have mutually concluded that Ron should leave the company, effective immediately. We thank Ron for his 25 years of service, and for his significant contributions to NBCUniversal.”

The whole thing is bizarre. If this kind of thing happened in the 30s, 40s, 50s, or even 60s, not a single classic movie would have been made. TCM would be showing maps to the stars houses.

Kirk is a British ‘actress’ with a short list of credits dating back to 2013, the year she had her fling with Tsujihara. While her thespian attributes haven’t led to great roles, she obviously has talents that aren’t apparent yet on screen. She will go down in movie history for her effect on the boardroom more than the screening room. Her Instagram account is self explanatory.

As for Ron Meyer, my guess is he will rise like a phoenix, produce some great movie, and win an Oscar. He’s had personal problems in the past, but they’ve always been eclipsed by his immense decency in business. He has strong friendships and relationships. It would be tragic if this incident marked his whole legacy.

 

 

Comic Hasan Minhaj Says His Netflix Show “Patriot Act” Is Over After Just 2 Years

Roger Friedman
-
0
Comic Hasan Minhaj Says His Netflix Show “Patriot Act” Is Over After Just 2 Years

Political comic Hasan Minhaj says his Netflix show “Patriot Act” is over after just 2 years. The show won an Emmy, Peabody Award, and two Webby Awards. It’s interesting that Netflix didn’t try to have it on this fall during the election. Too controversial? You bet. Great work.

He writes on Twitter:

“What a run.

@patriotact

has come to an end. I got to work with the best writers, producers, researchers, and animators in the game. My 2 babies were born and grew up with the show. TY to

@Netflix

and everyone who watched. Now it’s time to return these screens to Best Buy”

All Hail Regis: Philbin Farewell on His Original Show Pushes “Live with Kelly and Ryan” UP a Whopping 19%

Roger Friedman
-
0
All Hail Regis: Philbin Farewell on His Original Show Pushes “Live with Kelly and Ryan” UP a Whopping 19%

Regis Philbin ended his run on TV a King of ratings.

The numbers for “Live with Kelly and Ryan” week of July 27th– which began and ended with Regis special episodes– were up by a whopping 19%. Amazing.

The Monday show was a live remembrance of Regis with Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest. The Friday show was a repeat of Regis’s farewell from the show he invented in 1985, first aired in 2011.

The average for the week– in the summer, during reruns — was 1.9 million. The show was also up 14% in the key demo.

What a great tribute to Regis, who is much loved and missed. He invented the morning talk show. And no one will ever do it as well!

Ellen DeGeneres Talk Show Bloodbath as 3 Main Producers Fired, Ratings for Reruns Continue to Drop

Roger Friedman
-
0
Ellen DeGeneres Talk Show Bloodbath as 3 Main Producers Fired, Ratings for Reruns Continue to Drop

It’s a blood bath at the Ellen DeGeneres talk show, and her Game of Games show.

Warner Telepictures has fired three top producers including Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman. Variety reported the news.

Staying are Mary Connelly, Andy Lassner and Derek Westervelt. Lassner is the producer you see locked out of Ellen’s house during the last several months, peering in the window of her patio.

As everyone knows, “The Ellen Show” has been the subject of numerous exposes and investigations regarding the backstage behavior of producers.

And as the stories have built up, and “Ellen” has gone into reruns, the ratings have been in a free fall. The latest numbers indicate the show pulling just 1 million viewers average a day, its second week in a row at an all time low. But in the key demo, the show dropped from 0.5 to 0.4, tying with the little known “Steve Wilkos Show.” It’s a 20% drop and bodes poorly for the fall season, which is now delayed until September 14th.

The three fired producers are also off Ellen’s “Game of Game Show,” which has also lost steam this summer in reruns.

That September 14th return show is going to need an Oscar level performance by DeGeneres, whose brand is severely damaged from all the fall out this summer. Even celebrity guests attacked the show, including Brad Garrett and Lea Thompson.

If the ratings are not recoverable for “Ellen,” look for Telepictures to announce a series finale for May 2020.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Sheltering $28 Million in a Tax Free Personal Charity With Annual Donations of $1 Million

Roger Friedman
-
0
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Sheltering $28 Million in a Tax Free Personal Charity With Annual Donations of $1 Million

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has figured out a good way not to pay taxes on his millions: park them in a personal foundation that gives away little money.

DeJoy and his wife’s foundation, named for themselves, claimed over $28.6 million in assets according to their most recent Form 990 federal tax return for 2017.

Their total donations to other tax free groups was $1.3 million. The groups that get DeJoy money are mostly in their home state of North Carolina. Their largest donation was $508K to Duke University. They gave $50,000 to the ultra conservative Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington, DC.

The DeJoys only had $7 million in assets in the 501 c3 back in 2013. It was only in 2014 when they tossed in a whopping $21 million that they started increasing a way of sheltering millions. They give away an average of $1.2 million and let the rest accrue interest annually.

In 2017, they only added $100,000 of their own money to the foundation. But they earned 216,010 from dividends and securities, and $22,948 from interest.

The DeJoys do give a lot to education, but they have a strange relationship with children, especially sick ones. Of that 1.3 million in 2017, only $500 went to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and $250 went to a Ronald McDonald House. How conservative are they? The Jesse Helms Center received $10,000.

 

1...940941942...2,324Page 941 of 2,324

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com